47 replies to this topic

[Stringburka]

The LPLs do have a bit better heat profile and is easier to catch targets when moving at high speed than PPC's, though. And take one less crit.

And LPL's heat is only marginally higher than LL.

[NRP]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: LPLs need to weigh 1 ton less. Their weight makes running more than one of them a deal breaker in many builds in which I'd like to use them. Everything else is just about right.

[Ryebear]

They have a niche:

When in a close range quick strike mech 1 ML paired with a LPL works better than 2 LLs. And in my CTF-3D I have 2 PPCs for sniping covering the long range. There is no value in matching them with LLs over LPLs. LPLs DO have a shorter beam duration whatever the guy up there says, which makes it easier to hit things while Im flying in the air, or more importantly, chasing off lights which PPCs dont do very well. If I switch out the LPLs for LLs I can get a slightly faster engine, not really much of a need for a snipey JJ mech.

Dont get me wrong though, the range drop in pulse lasers is incredible. If the range was upped to something like 375 that would be really cool. Same goes for Small and Medium pulse lasers and their miserly ranges.

Edited by Ryebear, 17 February 2013 - 09:47 AM.

[Deathlike]

A range tweak for LPL (350m or better) and maybe some other tweaks to LPL is better than trying to change its tonnage.

You can't change tonnage. Outside of the fact it does seriously favors the LPL over the LL (range being the only real difference), but there actually already is a lot of good that LPL has going for it (quicker dealt damage over a shorter period). This resembles the half-ton ammo thread...

If you want to balance something over a unmovable target (which for any weapon in this game, tonnage), you need to balance the values around it... not try to revamp it altogether.

Also, I get the feeling people are trying to use the large pulse laser as their primary weapon system... and that's not really what they are for. I've seen really bad light mech configs that include a large pulse laser... it's simply a bad idea.

SPL on the other hand, probably could be revamped altogether...

Edited by Deathlike, 17 February 2013 - 10:11 AM.

[Ursh]

I sort of dig on the new Large Pulse Laser. I find them pretty vicious when in pairs or quad configurations.

I run a quad L-pulse K2 and a 2xLpulse Cicada 3M.

Both are effective.

[juju2112]

How fast does a Cicada 3M with 2 LPL go?

[The Amazing Atomic Spaniel]

Awesome 9M, 3LPL and 3SSRM2. Goes 80 kmh and spiffing good fun.

[Dauphni]

LPLs are pretty devastating weapons, especially when using more than one at a time. That said, I don't think they're strictly better or worse than regular Large Lasers. It depends more on the role you have in mind for your Mech.

For example, my Catapult C1 is a close range support/ambush brawler with of 2xLPL+2xML, complemented by streaks. The LPLs are the primary damage dealers, and they really shine in it. That was true before the heat tweak, and even more so now. On the other hand, my K2 is more of a medium range support mech, and I run it with 4xLL. I've tried the 4xLPL build, and while it's not exactly bad, I do feel it's relatively less effective. My C1 and the LPL K2 have similar damage, range and heat profiles, but the C1 is far more versatile due to its varied loadout, and thus more deadly.

Comparing the LL and LPL K2s, you're basically trading off a lot of range, movement speed and protection for marginally more damage in a little shorter time. I feel the decrease in survivability factors outweighs the increase in damage delivery characteristics. The effects of range really shouldn't be underestimated. The rest of that could be mitigated by making the LPLs lighter. Right now, for the same weight as a 4xLPL, you can make a 4xPPC, which makes a pretty awesome non-gauss sniper out of the K2, instead of a mediocre brawler.