PPC vs Large Laser

[Buronkai]

Greetings.

While checking some builds i started to look at these 2 weapons.
The PPC does only 1 more damage, has 180 more reach but has the minimun of 90, generates more heat, uses 1 slot more, weights 2 tons more and is not instant which can result in a miss against long range targets.

In terms of numbers, the Large Laser seems to be a more effective weapon, but i have the feelings there's more than number involved here.

So i ask, why should i choose PPCs over LLs? which are the situations where one outperforms the other?

[Nero]

Just think about it, PPC is a single projectile instantly launched, Laser has to keep burning through the enemy for a period of time. With laser you can aim right at the target, with PPC you gotta aim in advance of the target.

I can't reliably hit fast mechs with PPC so they're not really for me.

Doesn't PPC also have some bonus power like disabling ECM or something?

[The Animal]

PPCs are one shot (similar to ballistics), Lasers you need to have the duration of the beam in the target to reach the max damage... PPCs also disables targets ECM for a bit...
dont know what fit your style better, but i usually choose lasers, pulse lasers have a short duration beam, so you can use a Large Pulse Laser instead of PPC for example...

[Ishan451]

Originally posted by Buronkai:

So i ask, why should i choose PPCs over LLs? which are the situations where one outperforms the other?

Lasers have to be on the spot for their entire beam duration to do their damage. If you want you can draw a line with your lasers on the snow next time you are in Polar. You will notice that it doesn't draw a line but several "circles", that is because Lasers are a Damage over Time weapon.

To do all the 10 damage you have to keep that beam from the first second to the last second on the enemy, and preferable on the same part of the enemy, regardless of their movement. With a burntime of upwards of a second, you can imagine its gonna be hard to keep the beam on the enemy for that long. This is of course a mixed blessing, as you can start shooting and then move the beam onto the enemy and still do some damage, even though you would have missed.

Some damage is better than no damage, right?


PPCs on the other hand... well when the projectile hits it does all the damage at the location it hit. It will also turn off ECM temporarily.

Of course, if your aim is just slightly off, PPCs will not hit. To compound the issue many PPCs have a minimum range of 90meters. PPCs are not a replacement for Lasers, but they have their uses.

[Unleashed3k]

Originally posted by Buronkai:

Greetings.

While checking some builds i started to look at these 2 weapons.
The PPC does only 1 more damage, has 180 more reach but has the minimun of 90, generates more heat, uses 1 slot more, weights 2 tons more and is not instant which can result in a miss against long range targets.

In terms of numbers, the Large Laser seems to be a more effective weapon, but i have the feelings there's more than number involved here.

So i ask, why should i choose PPCs over LLs? which are the situations where one outperforms the other?

PPC is pinpoint damage, you shoot and all the damage goes to the one spot you hit (except cl-erppc which deal another 5dmg spread around the point you hit).

LLaser or LPulse deal their damage over time, so it is more likely that you will spread their damage all over a moving target.

You can compare them like a RAC compare to a normal IS AC, one deals damage for several seconds but you have to face the enemy, the other deals instant damage and you can turn your torso away.

ERPPC and Snubnose PPC do not have a minimum range.

I prefer PPC over LLaser because they do pinpoint and I can twist my torso more often to spread my incoming damage.
I only dropped the ERPPC from my Gauss/PPC builds, because they now generate ghostheat and so I switched them with LPulse, because their beamtime is shorter than LLaser.

[Nero]

Yes after the fourth time he probably understands that lasers can be aimed directly at the target and PPC a bit in advance of it.

But just to make sure the message really gets through: You have to aim where the enemy is going with PPC not where he is, otherwise you'll miss and all that sweet damage misses. With lasers you can aim directly at the target but it takes time and the damage may spread over multiple parts.

If needed I'll draw you a diagram and a schematic and I think I can maybe make a 3D model and animate it or make a video with playmobil.

[Unleashed3k]

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

Yes after the fourth time he probably understands that lasers can be aimed directly at the target and PPC a bit in advance of it.

But just to make sure the message really gets through: You have to aim where the enemy is going with PPC not where he is, otherwise you'll miss and all that sweet damage misses. With lasers you can aim directly at the target but it takes time and the damage may spread over multiple parts.

If needed I'll draw you a diagram and a schematic and I think I can maybe make a 3D model and animate it or make a video with playmobil.

Now you're salty because 2 people wrote at the same minute and another one answered 3min earlier WHILE the other 2 were writing?

Wow, you're really a funny troll

[Ishan451]

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

If needed I'll draw you a diagram and a schematic and I think I can maybe make a 3D model and animate it or make a video with playmobil.

I am looking forward to that playmobil animatronic!

[Xilo The Odd]

hey hey, listen!

PPC is a projectile while lasers are a beam! one needs to lead the target the other is direct fire!

but in all seriousness, the other factors to think about are weight between the weapons and what you can afford to bring. if you got 10 tons of space, a couple large lasers might be better than a single PPC or heavy PPC in some cases.

the heat between the weapon types is vastly different as well, i can fire a pair of large lasers, sometimes 3 of em and not overheat, fire 3 PPC and thats your only shot. till your mech cools off. Light PPC excluded.

PPC also has the bonus of temporarily negating enemy ECM, the bigger the PPC the longer the duration. snub nose and normal PPC share the same amount of ECM jam time.

for hitting stand still and slow moving targets, PPC can be very useful for hit and run tactics, for hitting a target in general be it a fast mover or average target, Beams and pulses work well too.

it all boils down to your skill, what you find yourself doing better with, and then quirks the mech might have for those weapon types.

[Unleashed3k]

Originally posted by Ishan451:

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

If needed I'll draw you a diagram and a schematic and I think I can maybe make a 3D model and animate it or make a video with playmobil.

I am looking forward to that playmobil animatronic!

Or at least with bricks:
http://brickmechs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Atlas_MW4-40.jpg

[Nero]

I'll be firing up LDD Lego Digital Designer soon. Just gotta decide on which map to make it in either Plexus or Manifold.

[The Animal]

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

I'll be firing up LDD Lego Digital Designer soon. Just gotta decide on which map to make in it either Plexus or Manifold.

Manifold playmobil!

[JC]

Lasers are easier to hit the target :)

[Avlaen]

PPC is generally inferior, the only advantage it has is the minor range increase and that it does all its damage to one location and dosent require keeping on target (so you can turn to protect your weapons easier)

[Unleashed3k]

Originally posted by Canoness Avlaen:

PPC is generally inferior, the only advantage it has is the minor range increase and that it does all its damage to one location and dosent require keeping on target (so you can turn to protect your weapons easier)

So everything you mentioned above makes them "inferior"??? LoL

[Xilo The Odd]

Originally posted by c0dex Unleashed3k:

Originally posted by Canoness Avlaen:

PPC is generally inferior, the only advantage it has is the minor range increase and that it does all its damage to one location and dosent require keeping on target (so you can turn to protect your weapons easier)

So everything you mentioned above makes them "inferior"??? LoL

yes being able to spread damage is inferior havnt you kept up with the current meta?!

that said though the only drawback to PPC is leading targets (minor) and minimum distance on some models. the minimum distance isnt so bad but butt hugging lights will ruin your whole layout if your loaded down to not be able to damage things within 90m.