So what's the deal with large gimballed beams?

[DidierDrbois]

OK. Fixed beams have been my default weapon in every boat ever, since the Sidewinder. In fact, I have never used a gimballed laser of any kind. However, sitting the Python's upper hard points, the convergence of the beams is not ideal, and anything smaller than a Cobra (including the damned thing) is a major annoyance. Hitting a sub target is not easy either but at least in that situation, both beams are hitting the target.
_
So I thought, let's give the god-forsaken gimbals a whirl and see what the fuss is all about.
_
First off, finding these things alone is a nightmare. I dropped into at least 10 hi-tech systems on my own, then into further 10 posted by commanders on the forum (April '15 data!). I found all the guns I could have ever imagined, except the large gimballed beams! For those who are interested, after what was Iliad and Odyssey combined, I got them in Wolf 906. Btw, people seem to claim that large gimballed cannon is 'rare', but every hi-tech station I visited was selling them.
_
Now. Let me say this. Large gimballed beams, and therefore I imagine all gimballed lasers, are absolute garbage! They constantly wobble about, take ages to align to firing position and when they finally fire, they jolly continue to wobble about, all over the place! Aimed at a power plant they even manage to miss the rest of the bloody Anaconda from a few metres away. Kiting anything? Forget it, these things are off-target some 80% of the time!
_
I am going back to fixed lasers only and never looking back, but the fail of gimbals is simply too spectacular to be believable or explicable! Am I missing something you think and if not, why the heck do 98% of loadouts recommend these terrible, useless, stupid things? And why are they so damn rare... it only goes about supporting this myth that they're best, which they clearly aren't?

 

[elrogarddublanc]

I made 5 million yesterday with a pair of them. They are different, and you need to get into their rhythmn, but there's no doubt they are ship rippers.

For ages I was a multi multi cannon guy, loving the withering hail of constant hits, but tired of the trek back for ammo. So invested in a pair for class 3 gimballed beams. Took me a good hour to get used to them. Finally saw the light when they chewed through a fully shielded eagle in about 5 seconds.

 

[Troa Barton]

I wish there was a way to increase their aim. But I prefer gimbaled overall at least that way half of your weapons aren't completely missing the target for half the fight.

Just dont don't try turrets or you're really going to be mad lol

 

[Jon Jaymes]

When I was flying a Cobra I had 2 gimballed pulse lasers and fixed multi-cannons in the smaller points. The gimballed were great for downing shields and the multis were great against hull from short range. Maybe they should not have been all on the primary fire, to save reload money, but the sound of both types firing was great

Jon Jaymes

 

[Mr.]

I made 5 million yesterday with a pair of them. They are different, and you need to get into their rhythmn, but there's no doubt they are ship rippers.

For ages I was a multi multi cannon guy, loving the withering hail of constant hits, but tired of the trek back for ammo. So invested in a pair for class 3 gimballed beams. Took me a good hour to get used to them. Finally saw the light when they chewed through a fully shielded eagle in about 5 seconds.

Nice. I'm the same.

 

[Morlock5K]

Don't better sensors increase your aim ability, what sensors are using?

 

[hoppingdeth]

I've used a combination of gambled beams and cannons on my A class Cobra from day one and there isn't a ship in the galaxy that these haven't pulled to pieces.

Their reduced hitting power over fixed beams is more than made up for the fact that they never miss.

 

[Dommarraa]

Don't better sensors increase your aim ability, what sensors are using?

No. They don't

 

[Poseidal]

Don't better sensors increase your aim ability, what sensors are using?

No, they do not.

The thing to remember about gimbaled beams is they're a knife fighting weapon. At range you're better off with fixed. On my Clipper I run a fixed beam and one gimbaled one and use them at different times (same if trying to burst something down though).

 

[Gold Member]

I use 2 gimballed beams and 2 cannons. Only used fixed for a few days since the cone in which I can hit something with gimballs is pretty big.

But you should know that if your target uses chaff the gimballs will swing around wildly for a frustrating amount of time (probably 7 seconds or so depending on how much is in the way). I use that time to reset the fight, make sure my system/engine/weapon capacitor charge is full, and then start shooting. One other thing. I'm always super careful in the middle of a furball (usually in RES) because if my target explodes the gimballs will immedately lock dead straight while firing, increasing the chance of earning a bounty for a stray shot.

Really, give gimballs a try, but if you're used to using fixed and are good at it, the higher damage you get from each hit might make the harder targeting worthwhile.

 

[DidierDrbois]

I made 5 million yesterday with a pair of them. They are different, and you need to get into their rhythmn, but there's no doubt they are ship rippers.

For ages I was a multi multi cannon guy, loving the withering hail of constant hits, but tired of the trek back for ammo. So invested in a pair for class 3 gimballed beams. Took me a good hour to get used to them. Finally saw the light when they chewed through a fully shielded eagle in about 5 seconds.

I may stick with them for a little while since they're such a pain to find. I do figure it may be me rather than them that's the fail, thanks!

I wish there was a way to increase their aim. But I prefer gimbaled overall at least that way half of your weapons aren't completely missing the target for half the fight.

Just dont don't try turrets or you're really going to be mad lol

Yeah, with the Python I'm constantly wasting one full laser on smaller ships. It's hacking me off! Haha, and there I was thinking, how about slapping some turrets on? Thanks for the heads-up

 

[GammaZ]

They are probably bad for ships with bad maneuverability, like python. To use them you need to be very close to enemy ship, like ~100m, and at >1km they are indeed completely useless. But when you manage to stay close enough they are awesome. They hit selected subsystem 95% of the time and does not require you to point at exactly the same spot on enemy ship.

 

[colprice2002]

I've just upgraded from a type 7 to a python (as well as a vulture etc).

I've found that the large burst gimballed lasers are better than beams. Certainly, they seem to fire on target more than beams - which tend to wands.
With 3 on these on the python, they cut through shields quickly, and inflict hull damage as well.
I have a pair of medium beam lasers (gimballed), these are good for maintaining fire while everything else recovers they do seem more accurate than the larger beams.

Try downgrading to the big burst lasers and see how you fing them

 

[Bokugo]

Pulses always seemed the least wibbly wobbly out of the three. I couldn't stand the beams either :T They definitely are the knife of the fight, and I like to keep my distance sometimes.

 

[DidierDrbois]

I use 2 gimballed beams and 2 cannons. Only used fixed for a few days since the cone in which I can hit something with gimballs is pretty big.

But you should know that if your target uses chaff the gimballs will swing around wildly for a frustrating amount of time (probably 7 seconds or so depending on how much is in the way). I use that time to reset the fight, make sure my system/engine/weapon capacitor charge is full, and then start shooting. One other thing. I'm always super careful in the middle of a furball (usually in RES) because if my target explodes the gimballs will immedately lock dead straight while firing, increasing the chance of earning a bounty for a stray shot.

Really, give gimballs a try, but if you're used to using fixed and are good at it, the higher damage you get from each hit might make the harder targeting worthwhile.

Good point re chaff, although you know when your gimballed aim is being chaffed; the reticules go mental. The 'wobble' I'm talking about is slow and steady, and constant. Why? Gimballed multicannons don't seem to be doing that.
_
Anyhow, I'll once more take all your responses into consideration with thanks and continue the quest for fun (first) and effective (second) combat Python. Plasma accelerator is next, woo!

 

[NullAndVoid]

I've just upgraded from a type 7 to a python (as well as a vulture etc).

I've found that the large burst gimballed lasers are better than beams. Certainly, they seem to fire on target more than beams - which tend to wands.
With 3 on these on the python, they cut through shields quickly, and inflict hull damage as well.
I have a pair of medium beam lasers (gimballed), these are good for maintaining fire while everything else recovers they do seem more accurate than the larger beams.

Try downgrading to the big burst lasers and see how you fing them

That is my experience as well and my exact favourite setup for a Python.

 

[xondk]

Personally I think fixed weapons should be able to be changed slightly, allowing them a custom or such convergent point, maybe allow in outfitter to select and set them to converge at a fixed distance that you decide?

 

[DidierDrbois]

Pulses always seemed the least wibbly wobbly out of the three. I couldn't stand the beams either :T They definitely are the knife of the fight, and I like to keep my distance sometimes.

Hmm. Pulse you say. Less wobbly you say. They're DIRT cheap too, might save me some dosh for a better shield. Hmm. Thanks!

 

[khaitom]

Sounds like they're about right. Lots of posts about earlier iterations were complaining gimbals were cheat-mode.

They do take some getting used to. Once they lock on twitchy movements will break it. You'll need to get used to slightly slower, smoother changes in velocity. Let them do more of the work and concentrate in keeping the target within the gimballs spread, using fixed when you can rather than keeping fixed on target and wondering why gimballs don't keep up.

I've always gone for beams so can't speak for the differences v pulse/burst.

 

[Krieger]

I may stick with them for a little while since they're such a pain to find. I do figure it may be me rather than them that's the fail, thanks!



Yeah, with the Python I'm constantly wasting one full laser on smaller ships. It's hacking me off! Haha, and there I was thinking, how about slapping some turrets on? Thanks for the heads-up

Another point in favour of gimballed weapons is that they allow you more freedom to manoeuvre your ship while firing. E.g. you can fly in lag pursuit to keep the target at some distance to have time to react to its manoeuvres. You can't do that with fixed weapons unless you use FA-off, however, that makes aiming fixed weapons more difficult because there is no attitude stabilisation in FA-off. FA-off increases pilot workload and that is not a good thing in combat.