78 replies to this topic

[ArmandTulsen]

Pulse lasers all the way.

Though, due to the current state of PLAS in the game, I use mostly LAS.

[Sable Dove]

Large Lasers: Regular
Medium Lasers: Pulse
Small Lasers: Regular

LPLs are underpowered currently. SPLs are pretty much inferior to SLs in every way.

[Moonsavage]

Pulse: Weight penalty + Heat penalty + Range penalty... What's to like?

Okay they put damage down faster, but the shorter cycle time is more than offput by the increased heat.

I think maybe there's a glitch in the interpretation of "more heat" for pulse lasers. they are shafted at both ends.

[Sable Dove]

Moonsavage, on 20 January 2013 - 05:08 AM, said:

Pulse: Weight penalty + Heat penalty + Range penalty... What's to like?

Okay they put damage down faster, but the shorter cycle time is more than offput by the increased heat.

I think maybe there's a glitch in the interpretation of "more heat" for pulse lasers. they are shafted at both ends.

You forgot that they actually do more damage in addition to dealing it faster. My 3 MPL Spider is far better than if I used 3 MLs. MPLs allow me to dismantle an enemy; hit 1-2 locations instead of 3-4.

[Cest7]

Too much heat for equal damage

[Der BruzZzler von Wiesndoof]

I prefer regular Lasers, but in my masterlevel Spider 5V, i use dual Medium Pulse Lasers with 10 DHS's to keep them cool. It is enough to fire continuously.

[Lyrik]

With regular lasers I'm doing more damage.
With pulse lasers I get more kills.

Dead mechs don't shoot back.
Even heavy damaged mechs still have the ability to kill you.

Perhaps I should learn to keep the beam pinpointed

[M4rtyr]

I'm using 4MPLs in mu Hunchie 4SP. I don't think there is a huge difference between the two options (for mediums anyway). Sure they run hotter but in a mech like that you don't really lose anything. Sure I could put a slightly larget engine in instead and go another `10Kph faster. But I'd rather have the higher pinpoint damage for lights and also making holes for SRMs. The mech has AMS, all weapon harpoints maxed, ammo, enough DHS so I don't overheat unless I lose control, and only 2 points short of max armor (don't get why 2 points are lost since they wouldn't even be .5 a ton but anyway). Why not take the MPLs in that case. Now for other builds, wouldn't touch them.

The one thing I don't get is how people say the range drop impacts them. Please with how people play and, more so, how close range the maps get. VERY VERY few times am I outside of 200m from anyone to shoot at. There is more then enough cover or other players always close anyway. I mean hell there's almost always a light in close nipping at someones heels you can shoot at the very least.

[Alex Warden]

depends on the build/ weight limitations or what ever... i use both types, but with mediums, i clearly prefere pulses...

[Koningswulf]

Pulse lasers are useless
they have very short range and a weights a lot more than the similar lasers and also have a high heat compared.
Only advantage for the pulse lasers is a small damage increase.
Pulse lasers need to have their weight lowered as well as their heat some to be balance with the lasers.
Half the range is punishment enough for a slight damage increase,

[Vapor Trail]

Usually my builds follow a progression, and I start with Pulses, and progress to regular lasers.

Usually the pulse lasers do a decent amount of damage, but given the heat that the pulses put out I generally find that the extra weight in the pulse laser can be more effectively used as heat sinks.

My opinion, in general, is that the damage and concentration bonuses on the Pulse lasers aren't quite enough to overcome the weight consumption, range reduction, and heat output.

In specific, the SPL is completely outclassed by the Medium Laser. Unless you're going for a hyperspeed, short-range, hit and run spam-boat where strike time, weight, and heat (in particular) are at a premium, like a SLunchback, for example, the Medium laser is probably a better choice... and the SL might be easier to mount, due to being half the weight.

In the large arena, the advantages of the LPL don't seem to be enough to balance out the disadvantages. The range reduction in particular is nasty. Basically you're better off with a couple Medium Lasers than hanging on to the Large Pulse. I've made 4 LPL and 6 LPL Stalker builds work... but doing so was really, really ugly at times. Against anything with range it was completely outclassed, and against shorter ranged builds you had to be exceptionally lucky and/or good (head shots) because they outdamage you by at least a factor of 1.25 to 1.5 with SRMs, medium lasers, and such.

[Sarda]

Lrms have a min range perfect to the range of a medium pulse laser. Thus they are perfect for me.

Edited by Sarda, 20 January 2013 - 07:53 AM.

[King Arthur IV]

short range and more heat. are nono for me

the damage isnt worth it, if you cant fire anymore without over heating. my builds seem to boat things, so 4mpl would basically mean an additional lasers heat. and when you boat them, they start to become heavy. i guess it depends on the mech and the hardpoints.

[jakucha]

I find them more fun and a bit more interesting, and try to use them when it's viable. As soon as they fix the large pulse in whatever patch I'll start using that too. Good fit for something like a 4SP because you can really hurt targets up close combined with SRM. I think too many people try them and assume they're worse just because they're doing worse with them due to heat management, but they're actually useful. Aside from LPL which has too much heat as the devs have even mentioned.

Edited by jakucha, 20 January 2013 - 10:18 AM.

[Kenach]

Pulse lasers have nice sounds and animations, but overall regular lasers are just way better IMO with more range, less heat and less weight for nearly same damage.

Edited by Kenach, 20 January 2013 - 10:26 AM.

[Cato Phoenix]

I prefer 9 pulse in my 4P.

[Eddrick]

I don't really like lasers to begin with in this game. But, if I had to take one. It would be a regular one. For some odd reason, building around them doesn't work for me. I think it's the heat.

[Taemien]

Koningswulf, on 20 January 2013 - 06:29 AM, said:

Pulse lasers are useless
they have very short range and a weights a lot more than the similar lasers and also have a high heat compared.
Only advantage for the pulse lasers is a small damage increase.
Pulse lasers need to have their weight lowered as well as their heat some to be balance with the lasers.
Half the range is punishment enough for a slight damage increase,

Kenach, on 20 January 2013 - 10:25 AM, said:

Pulse lasers have nice sounds and animations, but overall regular lasers are just way better IMO with more range, less heat and less weight for nearly same damage.

King Arthur IV, on 20 January 2013 - 10:14 AM, said:

short range and more heat. are nono for me

the damage isnt worth it, if you cant fire anymore without over heating. my builds seem to boat things, so 4mpl would basically mean an additional lasers heat. and when you boat them, they start to become heavy. i guess it depends on the mech and the hardpoints.

These are examples of players who only look at math for their success.

Do not follow these examples. The numbers are NOT the only way to see how successful a weapon will be in all applications. Only by utilizing the weapons in their proper roles will you be successful.

Put away the calculators and spreadsheets, they do not help you in MechWarrior.

[King Arthur IV]

Taemien, on 20 January 2013 - 10:47 AM, said:

These are examples of players who only look at math for their success.

Do not follow these examples. The numbers are NOT the only way to see how successful a weapon will be in all applications. Only by utilizing the weapons in their proper roles will you be successful.

Put away the calculators and spreadsheets, they do not help you in MechWarrior.

let me add this. "i over heat and want some extra tons and range" that is why i dont use it. math or no math it is on play style. if "I" changed the way i play and build, then sure "I" could use them but im not changing.

the op was which do "you" prefer and "I" prefer normal not cuz of math but cuz of the way "I" play

if you have a way of using them correctly, please share instead of taking a jab at us for not using them or else your post is useless to what op was asking.

Edited by King Arthur IV, 20 January 2013 - 11:02 AM.

[Taemien]

King Arthur IV, on 20 January 2013 - 11:01 AM, said:

let me add this. "i over heat and want some extra tons and range" that is why i dont use it. math or no math it is on play style. if "I" changed the way i play and build, then sure "I" could use them but im not changing.

the op was which do "you" prefer and "I" prefer normal not cuz of math but cuz of the way "I" play

if you have a way of using them correctly, please share instead of taking a jab at us for not using them or else your post is useless to what op was asking.

Read page one, I already did.

Next time read the discussion in the thread. You posted AFTER my suggestion, so you got jabbed for not reading it.