[UmberGryphon]

So I mentioned that PPB 5s had a damage-per-turn-per-kiloton of 1.6 in a normal mount. I went home for lunch, and I looked up some other weapons. Enveloping Acid Globules 5 have a value of 100/2/40=1.25, and Wave Motion Guns 3 have a value of 140/3/70=0.6666.... Telekinetic Projector 5s have a value of 70/1/40=1.75, but even in late game the computer has enough obsolete non-phased-shielded ships so that I don't wish I was psychic in endgame just for TkPs.

So PPBs can be gotten early enough that they can be your first direct-fire weapon, but have enough punch that using them all the way through to endgame is completely reasonable.