Plasma Accelerators - Which Mod?

GunnerBill

GunnerBill
I've tried PA's for the first time in a while and I like them!

Obviously in standard form (for PvE) they run a bit hot, is Efficient the mod to go for or perhaps more bang with OC'd...

What's the best mod/special effect for this bit of kit?
 

Aashenfox

Aashenfox
If you are in a fast ship, you can just about get away with efficient (in a slow ship you will rarely be close enough to deal with teh awful projectile speed), but really you should be going focused and dealing with the heat (focused will run even hotter, but the faster projectile, as Conch said, makes it much harder to miss).
 

Muetdhiver

Muetdhiver
I really like focused on most PA's.

On the other hand, rapid fire on a pair of APAC installed on a FAS is a lot of fun as far as melting faces is concerned.
(The heat though [big grin])
 

IndigoWyrd

IndigoWyrd
Pretty broad question, as there is no hard and fast answer.

It really depends on the ship and the size of the PA.

Efficient is always a good first choice though, as it still gives some Damage/DPS boost, while reducing the heat produced substantially.

However.. if used in conjunction with the Thermal Conduit effect, then heat is your friend, as it increases the damage output.

Sturdy is also a viable option if heat control is an issue, as this will also reduce the heat produced.

Overcharged can deliver a significant damage increase, far more than Efficient, however it also diminishes the amount of ammo for these (negated by Plasma Slug, but means more frequent reloading), as well as greatly increases heat production and power draw. The biggest over-powered gun in the galaxy does no good if you can't power it!

Ultimately it really comes down to how you plan on using them.

Personally, I like to use mine like this:

[video=youtube;Eb7dYMY96gw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb7dYMY96gw[/video]
 

Aashenfox

Aashenfox
It's not really that subjective imo. All the other mods are rubbish except efficient and focused. There, I said it, flame if you want. Rapid fire makes too much heat, thermal conduit is rubbish as a special cos it requires you to continue firing when what you really need to do is STOP. Lightweight? Lol. Overcharged just accentuates everything that's bad about PAs, long range is worthless because projectile speed. Short range, lol. Sturdy... Is actually pretty good, especially for hull tank FAS. I use efficient on the FAS, cos I can easily get in range, and focused on the python and the gunship cos the projectile speed is critical on those, they don't dance. I think objectively it's quite simply a fast ship/slow ship thing with efficient vs focused.
 

Grisnir

G
Aashenfox said:
It's not really that subjective imo. All the other mods are rubbish except efficient and focused. There, I said it, flame if you want. Rapid fire makes too much heat, thermal conduit is rubbish as a special cos it requires you to continue firing when what you really need to do is STOP. Lightweight? Lol. Overcharged just accentuates everything that's bad about PAs, long range is worthless because projectile speed. Short range, lol. Sturdy... Is actually pretty good, especially for hull tank FAS. I use efficient on the FAS, cos I can easily get in range, and focused on the python and the gunship cos the projectile speed is critical on those, they don't dance. I think objectively it's quite simply a fast ship/slow ship thing with efficient vs focused.
Click to expand...

long range also increase the projectile speed
 

GunnerBill

GunnerBill
Thanks for all the help!

I'm using a 4A on a FDL with Gimballed MC's and also trying 2 x 3A on a FAS also with MC's. I tried them on the Vulture but obviously couldn't hit anything smaller than a dropship!

Both are fully engineered so power, speed etc are not an issue.
 
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Sidonis

S
Ted Striker said:
What does focused really do for PA though? It doesn't need the piercing so is it just about increased range?
Click to expand...

The thing with focused engineering is the Shot-speed acceleration (up to 100% faster) with the grade 5 upgrade - Faster Shots --> Easier to hit even small targets.
 

UnhappyDev

UnhappyDev
For PVP, long range with phasing sequence.

For PVE, efficient with phasing sequence.

Lots of practice needed whatever you go for though :)
 

Sidonis

S
Ted Striker said:
What does focused really do for PA though? It doesn't need the piercing so is it just about increased range?
Click to expand...

The thing with focused engineering is the Shot-speed acceleration (up to 100% more) with the grade 5 upgrade - Faster Shots --> Easier to hit even small targets.
 

Aashenfox

Aashenfox
Grisnir said:
long range also increase the projectile speed
Click to expand...

Yeh, you're right, long range isn't bad either. But to answer the other post asking about piercing on focused, it's pretty good on PAs because of module splash damage, but yeh, really is for the projectile speed.
 

Starbreaker

Starbreaker
LR or Focused comes down to what drawbacks you find acceptable. LR removes damage falloff, unmodified is 2km and focused can bring that up to 4km.

Drawbacks G5.

LR: 20-50% more mass, 15-20% increased power draw.
Focused: 0 to -4% reduced ROF, 0-10% increased thermal load.
 

Grisnir

G
Aashenfox said:
Yeh, you're right, long range isn't bad either. But to answer the other post asking about piercing on focused, it's pretty good on PAs because of module splash damage, but yeh, really is for the projectile speed.
Click to expand...

Focused is the poor mans Long Range, because getting the mats for G5 Focused is far easier than getting mats for G5 Long Range, which means it's easier to get to matching PAs with 1700+ m/s projectile speed
 

Aashenfox

Aashenfox
Grisnir said:
Focused is the poor mans Long Range, because getting the mats for G5 Focused is far easier than getting mats for G5 Long Range, which means it's easier to get to matching PAs with 1700+ m/s projectile speed
Click to expand...

I could go with that if they were actually used at any more than 2km, which they just aren't, I know, I use em all the time, on all my ships. Might hit a corvette at 3km out occasionally, but that's tuff enuff. Therefore the extra module damage is nice as long as you can keep the negatives down (get lucky) and as you say, it's easier to get a set of god rolled focused.
 
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