Energy pulse vs Energy stream weapons

[derb]

Which do you choose and why? I like the fact pulse weapons take 50% less space and don't degrade damage with range, but they are much more costly to develop...

[Cylapse]

For style sake, I love stream weapons.... just the thought of an intense fusion beam cutting its way thru **** *heh* Pulse weapons are cool though, and I was hoping I would be able to mod a set of Pulse Cannons that doubled as extremely weak PDS, but doesnt seem possible *winks* Ah well.

I say stream... but then again I dont recall what the pulse research area gives you.. Any enlightenment?

[Arak Koba]

Pulse gives you Meson I think.

[Growltigga]

personally, I do both and use both, I think the stream beams on large mounts are fab not style makes we use the smaller meson bLasters on smaller hulls

[Phoenix-D]

"but they are much more costly to develop... "

Actually, in the long run Pulse is MUCH cheaper.

Phoenix-D

[geoschmo]

Meson BLasters (Pulse) are an excellent early to early-mid game weapon. You can research them quickly, the don't take up a lot of space, and they are fairly cheap. With large mounts on light cruisers they can be devestating.

Eventually they get out-damaged by the PPB (Phased) , and out-ranged by the APB (Stream) though, so later in the game you will want to phase them out of yout front line ships.

Geoschmo

[Phoenix-D]

On a per unit basis, yeah, they get outdamaged.. but they're smaller.

Meson VI = 35 damage, 20kt
APB XII = 65 damage, 30kt

3 Meson VIs = 105 damage
2 APB XIIs = 130 damage

So at point-blank range, you give up 25 damage. Here's the interesting part- at max Meson range, you actually do MORE damage. But then the APB ship moves one farther away and you do no damage

It's similar for the PPB.
3 Meson VIs = 105 damage
2 PPB Vs = 120 damage, phased

15 damage this time. Again, the Mesons out-damage the PPBs at max range- but this time the opposing weapon can't fire from beyond Meson range. So against PPBs you can get away with max range attacks, assuming you have phased shields. Mesons are much cheaper to research than APB, too.

Phoenix-D