Re: Tractor/Repulser Beam
 

The classic use, extremely effective in SE III but not so much so in SE IV, is to place them 'around' a short-range weapon like the Ripper beam. The order that weapons are placed in a ship determine the order that those weapons are fired (not considering range limits of course). So, this was a way to over-come the range limits of the Ripper beam or another short range but very powerful weapon like the Graviton Hellbore. Putting a tractor beam first results (hopefully) in the target being pulled into range, then they get mauled by the short-range but very powerful weapon(s), then putting repulsor beam Last results in the mauled target getting pushed back out to long range where their own weapons are less effective. This is only useful in 'turn based' combat of course. It will be a completely ineffective strategy in SE V.

Re: Tractor/Repulser Beam
 

As it should be. It is just exploiting the absurdities of turn based combat. There is no logical reason why this should work. Just because you are in a tractor beam doesn't mean you can't fire your weapons. Pretty much every sci fi universe with tractor beams has plenty of examples of the tractored ship still firing its weapons, especially at the tractor beam emmitters. Assuming it is a case where the tractored ship is still more or less functional, of course.

Re: Tractor/Repulser Beam
 

Functional, and hostile.

It would be really awesome if you could use repulsor beams on your own ships, to say, slingshot a ramming cruiser into the enemy lines at incredible speeds, or pull crippled ships to help them keep up with the fleet or get them out of the line of fire.
Perhaps even to just tow into weapons range your super-massive gun platform that was designed with just barely enough engine power to traverse warppoints.