Newcomer / Intro Cannons suck?

[Achuta]

I recently outfitted my ship with two gimballed cannons, but I've found they miss about 50% of the time, which is bad since there are only 6 shots in the magazine before you have to reload.
Is there any way to be more accurate with the large cannons? I know a lot of veteran players use them, so I feel I might be doing it wrong.

 

[mossfoot]

I recently outfitted my ship with two gimballed cannons, but I've found they miss about 50% of the time, which is bad since there are only 6 shots in the magazine before you have to reload.
Is there any way to be more accurate with the large cannons? I know a lot of veteran players use them, so I feel I might be doing it wrong.

Cannons are best used at close range - wait for the enemy to have either a predicable (ie straight) flight path, or they are in a moment of motionlessness as they change directions (the latter can allow for hits at longer ranges too).

Also try going to the settings UI panel and change the targeting from leading to trailing - I found it much more useful.

 

[Achuta]

Also try going to the settings UI panel and change the targeting from leading to trailing - I found it much more useful.

Thanks for the tips. I'll have to try it this way, but I'm just more used to the leading mechanic from dogfighting in other (Earth-based) games.

 

[Monk]

As they say, it's not the size that matters, it's how you use it!

I like using cannons as my follow up to a barage of lasers. The clipper is pretty good at getting close and really sticking it to em.

 

[CMDR Kiethoo Wolfsong]

If you can aim, ditch the gimb and use fixed. If your ship has good harpoint positions fixed cannons can be aimed really well.

If you can't aim or your hard points are too spread apart to target smaller ships, just get real real close.....that usually works.
Then again there are always Missile Racks.

 

[Ben Ryder]

Been using turret cannons on an anaconda and they hardly ever fire. They are located in the points underneath the ship. Thinking to switch to fixed or gimbals. Any suggestions?

Will they still be useless if I can not see the cross hair / target finder?

 

[Ism]

Cannons are good close up on large targets when its shields are down.
I've had power plant targeted on both Pythons and Anacondas and dropped it 20-25% when I get a solid hit with 2 gimballed class 2.
Great for when Lasers are depleted and you need that finishing touch.

 

[Bertrand Du Guesclin]

Cannons are good close up on large targets when its shields are down.
I've had power plant targeted on both Pythons and Anacondas and dropped it 20-25% when I get a solid hit with 2 gimballed class 2.
Great for when Lasers are depleted and you need that finishing touch.

^ this

I had a gimballed large canon and a gimballed pulse on my vulture, Anacondas and Pythons were dropping like flies.

I now have the same kind of setup on my Dropship : one large beam, 4 medium canons, and yep Condas and Pythons are still dropping like flies.

In addition, these setups are a lot less power-hungry, so you can put more pips in SYS.

Been using turret cannons on an anaconda and they hardly ever fire. They are located in the points underneath the ship. Thinking to switch to fixed or gimbals. Any suggestions?

Will they still be useless if I can not see the cross hair / target finder?

I never used a Conda myself, but ballistic turrets are useless in my opinion, especially the canons, because they fire constantly and automaticaly, not taking the ennemy's movements into account.

With canons, you really need to line up your shot, and wait for the ennemy to fly in a straight line in order to hit at medium to long ranges, and turrets don't have this kind of fire discipline.

Switch to any laser turret, it'll be better.

edit : also if your turrets don't fire even if they are supposed to, check your firing mode ? if set up correctly, I don't know what the problem might be :/

 

[Ben Ryder]

^ this

I had a gimballed large canon and a gimballed pulse on my vulture, Anacondas and Pythons were dropping like flies.

I now have the same kind of setup on my Dropship : one large beam, 4 medium canons, and yep Condas and Pythons are still dropping like flies.

In addition, these setups are a lot less power-hungry, so you can put more pips in SYS.




I never used a Conda myself, but ballistic turrets are useless in my opinion, especially the canons, because they fire constantly and automaticaly, not taking the ennemy's movements into account.

With canons, you really need to line up your shot, and wait for the ennemy to fly in a straight line in order to hit at medium to long ranges, and turrets don't have this kind of fire discipline.

Switch to any laser turret, it'll be better.

edit : also if your turrets don't fire even if they are supposed to, check your firing mode ? if set up correctly, I don't know what the problem might be :/

Thanks. I'm already maxed on lasers for a steady flow so need some kentics. No need for multi cannons. The lasers take out small ships. So I'm looking for the best low heat alternative against big ship hulls with a decent cache of ammo.

 

[Bertrand Du Guesclin]

Thanks. I'm already maxed on lasers for a steady flow so need some kentics. No need for multi cannons. The lasers take out small ships. So I'm looking for the best low heat alternative against big ship hulls with a decent cache of ammo.

Medium and large canons are what you are looking for, but only on fixed or gimballed mounts as you have to fire them manually to be effective.

If you want to stick with turrets, I suppose multi-canons are better because they provide a steady flow of projectiles. You'll still miss a lot, but some of them will hit. Missing is less punishing than on a Canon because of the larger clip size.

 

[Marak]

I got a class 4 cannon on my Anaconda - I use it for small ships.

It's like clay pigeon shooting! PULL!


(I want a C4 fragment cannon next)

 

[CmdrJacks]

Been using turret cannons on an anaconda and they hardly ever fire. They are located in the points underneath the ship. Thinking to switch to fixed or gimbals. Any suggestions?

Will they still be useless if I can not see the cross hair / target finder?

I have that issue on the ASP with gimbals but you can use it to your advantage by firing as they move from above you to below you like springing a trap. Don't know if it's viable on a conda.

 

[Crazy Jedi]

I fly with beam lasers in my class 1 slots and canon in my class 2s.
its a great combo but , as has been stated before, you have to use the canon when u see the whites of their eyes and not before. Can be devastating then

 

[newman1702]

I tend to use gimballed cannons on large ship's power plants, once their shields are down. Well, large ships and Vultures I don't even bother if shields are up or if the ship is smaller. Chances to hit are too low and those Eagle, Viper, Adder etc hulls melt fast enough under laser fire. Close range is mandatory in most cases, you learn to recognize opportunities to hit from medium range after a while (for example a ship suddenly reversing direction, inertia will keep carrying it in it's old vector for a while until engines can compensate. For a second the ship will be almost stationary, which is a great time to lob a couple of cannon shells at it even if not at point blank).