I really enjoy missiles. Just for the hell of it.
Packhounds especially, if you can be bothered to unlock them.
Basically I suck at combat (as a prefix to my following statements, just so you know whos talking) so I have never really been ambitious (trying to be competitive in PvP etc..). None of my loadouts are "meta" in any way. I just try everything and use what's fun. I think that's how the whole game should be played anyway.
I have a really good NPC pilot and I use fixed beam SLFs, so I never had an issue with enemy shields. Many smaller ships, my fighter can just deal with on her own so my loadouts can be as ineffective and weird as I like and I am still more or less successful in PvE combat.
So missiles are fun. I also like large cannons because they sound awesome and if you have a crap ton of them on something like Federal Gunship, it's hilarious. Same with Frag cannons - just turn your whole ship into a giant flying shotgun, screw aiming and high-level manoeuvres, just get close and fill their ship with pellets the size of cars.
I also really like burst laser turrets. One of my favourite "combat" ships is the Cutter. I put "combat" in quotes, because my favourite way of "combat" in a Cutter is sitting in the middle of the RES in the external camera mod, watching my SLF pilot and my turrets melt everything around them. Very relaxing. Almost like mining.
As far as engineering goes, I usually mod my kinetic weapons for projectile speed (because it's easier to hit with them, although you have to make sure all your projectiles have the SAME speed), missiles for ammo capacity and lasers for lower heat generation.
But again, I am pretty much the opposite of a good combat pilot so don't take my advice seriously in any way.
Just have fun.
