Does it make sense to skip beam weapon and jump to plasma?

[Wavering]

I got some light plasma rifles and even Guided Fusion Launcher from slingshot mission. Do I really need research beams now?

[VoiD]

If you're not on impossible and you have interrogated a Muton (plasma research credits) then why not.

Edit: It's also not really worth it to produce plasma weapons, expensive as ♥♥♥♥, so you'll need to capture some extra plasmas anyway.

The only exception being the plasma snipers and alloy cannons as aliens don't have it.

[Arkelis]

It does if you have the research team to get the plasma weapons in a reasonable time frame. If it says like 41 days and 5-10 for beams I would still advise beams as the tougher aliens will be hell before you get your plasma otherwise :D

However if you have your tactics sorted and don't mind fighting with lesser weapons for the extra time it takes to get the plasma then go for it :D

So to sum up it can make sense yes but is dependant on your current playthrough which only you know the number of days of :D

[Tenacious Rodent]

I allways use the lasers because they look more fun then boring plasma.

[Znail]

It's even easier now as if you beeline to Plasma so will EXALT use Laser weapons that you can then use.

[VoiD]

Can't equip lasers without the reasearch

[himmatsj]

It makes sense, but worth it? No. Even with 40 engineers, each plasma weapon costs $200-$300, and why make yourself sweat in between? This strategy is possible, people have done it, but it just makes things complicated and serves no outward benefit.

[Arkelis]

Początkowo opublikowane przez himmatsj:

It makes sense, but worth it? No. Even with 40 engineers, each plasma weapon costs $200-$300, and why make yourself sweat in between? This strategy is possible, people have done it, but it just makes things complicated and serves no outward benefit.

A valid point unless you can capture a few live aliens for thier weapons which is much easier now with the introduction of flashbang grenades :D

In saying that I agree with you and I think it's best to go through the stages of beam with plasma later :D

[SWFanatic]

If you're on easy or normal you can get away with it. On classic and impossible you really need more damage output to survive long enough to get plasma research complete.

[Poor Dick]

Are you playing EU or EW? And are you playing with Progeny and/or Slingshot?

I've skipped lasers on EU, but I can't imagine making it work in EW, and/or with Progeny. You'll need better weapons by the time you encounter the whaling ship, if nothing else.

[Poor Dick]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Arkelis:

Początkowo opublikowane przez himmatsj:

It makes sense, but worth it? No. Even with 40 engineers, each plasma weapon costs $200-$300, and why make yourself sweat in between? This strategy is possible, people have done it, but it just makes things complicated and serves no outward benefit.

A valid point unless you can capture a few live aliens for thier weapons which is much easier now with the introduction of flashbang grenades :D

I'd like to say I agree with Arkelis. Honestly, I can't recall the last time I've had to fabricate plasma pistols or plasma rifles - I've got them all from captures. Now, the problem with capturing aliens for 7 plasma pistols, 4-6 light plasma rifles, and 4-6 plasma rifles is that you might have serious problems with weapon fragments: a common problem I have.

[yang573]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Voidian:

Can't equip lasers without the reasearch

I think you can equip all EXALT weapons without research. I saw a playthrough where the person had his heavy use an EXALT heavy laser before he even researched it.

I believe the reason you can't use alien weapons before research is because the captured weapons aren't meant to be used with humans, and without research can't be modified to fit humans. EXALT opperatives are all humans, however, and with this theory, your soldiers should be able to use any EXALT weapons.

[Arkelis]

Początkowo opublikowane przez yang573:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Voidian:

Can't equip lasers without the reasearch

I think you can equip all EXALT weapons without research. I saw a playthrough where the person had his heavy use an EXALT heavy laser before he even researched it.

I believe the reason you can't use alien weapons before research is because the captured weapons aren't meant to be used with humans, and without research can't be modified to fit humans. EXALT opperatives are all humans, however, and with this theory, your soldiers should be able to use any EXALT weapons.

If this is true then it can only be a possibility on easy or normal because I know for sure you cannot use Exalt laser weapons on classic or above without the research. He may also have been using a mod but I don't know if such a mod exsists as I don't use them :D

[The Faceless Man]

During my 2nd playthrough, seemed a viable alternative to focus plasma research instead of laser, but even with muton research credit, the wait is quite long.

I'm going to see if I can pull it off on my next playthrough.

[WarLust]

On lower difficulties, it can be better to bypass laser. On I/I, epsecially with the longer research times with EW, you'll be hurtin' if you don't get lasers ASAP. As a side note, I never research heavy or precision lasers on I/I, because they aren't needed and take up too much research time - heavies and snipers deal enough damage until they get plasma. Laser rifles and a few laser pistols on the other hand will help tremendously. Make sure to give your EXALT operative a laser pistol. If he's an assault with Rapid Fire and Mimetic Skin, he will probably get a few kills by himself.

[The Faceless Man]

Actually, now that I think of it, on Classic and Impossible, this tactic would be incredibly dangerous.

The real issue isn't the research time, but rather the overall cost. You can only "collect" light plasma rifles and plasma rifles from captured aliens, but to build the other weapons, it costs close to 350 big ones with 40 engineers. (not to mention the alloys and elerium also)

I don't remember it ever costing that much in EU, but I think it's safe to say they wanted Plasma to be very difficult to attain.