Newcomer / Intro Gimballed vs Fixed

[Kalius]

Yes, sorry; this has probably been asked a hundred times but I'm on my phone and can't search properly.

What are the drawbacks of gimballed weapons other than cost? I'm very new to the game and I don't understand why I would use fixed Weapons. Is it just the risk of chaff? Are fixed more accurate than gimballed if you're a good shot?

Any Info will be appreciated, cheers for reading.

 

[Shoridan]

Gimballed are definitely more user friendly unless you have the uncanny ability to keep your target in your sights whenever you want.

Cons:
- They are quite inaccurate in range against smaller ships.
- Chaff neutralizes them for some effect (can unlock target and shoot like fixed, but without the fire correction fixed have)
- Slightly less powerful than fixed version

The pros are obvious

 

[Tuub t Tute]

And they cost more credits.

 

[Kalius]

So... Providing you're a good shot, fixed weapons are:

Cheaper
More powerful
More accurate

Bout right?

 

[Shoridan]

And they cost more credits.

That they do, yes.
They are however very useful against NPC's (who hardly use chaff), and they allow you to keep firing while focusing more on maneuvering your ship.
Keep in mind that the location of the hardpoint is important (if it's below your ship like with the small ones on the cobra you will not be able to shoot at things flying above you, etc...), so keep your target in the proper firing area.

Gimballed also excel at taking our subsystems at close range. If you face a larger opponent try aiming for the power plant subsystem, you are almost guaranteed to kill it before you drop the hull to 0% if you fire from the right angles to hit it.

 

[[VR] Frank_G]

So... Providing you're a good shot, fixed weapons are:

Cheaper
More powerful
More accurate

Bout right?

Yes and if i recall it right, fixed weapons consume less energy. Only a tiny but, but it can make all the difference. Oh, and accuracy depends on you. If you do it better than a gimbaled weapon, then the answer is yes . And as you are not affected by chaff, the weapon isnt affected too.

 

[Shoridan]

So... Providing you're a good shot, fixed weapons are:

Cheaper
More powerful
More accurate

Bout right?

Theoretically yes, but keeping a fast nimble target in your sights all the time is not easy even for the best. Gimballed gives you a much larger firing arc, and makes it much easier to take down those targets at close range.
Once again, as soon as an Eagle, Sidewinder, Viper or other ships of that size show you a low profile side from 1.5k+ ranges expect to miss a lot. Fixed are much more useful for ranged combat as it is easier to keep target in sights and the fire correction makes them very accurate.
For dogfights and taking down those smaller ships, gimballed is far more effective. Provided they don't have chaff of course.

Yes and if i recall it right, fixed weapons consume less energy. Only a tiny but, but it can make all the difference. Oh, and accuracy depends on you. If you do it better than a gimbaled weapon, then the answer is yes

They often take much less energy simply because you can't shoot them as often

 

[willowfan]

Drawback - Gimballed weapons aren't as powerful as their fixed counterparts

Advantage - It's far easier to stay on target.

The added time that you can keep a target in your sights outways the loss of raw power imo

 

[InMemoriamSirocco]

Fixed weapons:

-pack more of a punch per hit
-often need less power to operate than their gimballed counterparts (at least kinetic weapons)
-are more precise over long distances (at least the lasers)
-are best against big, slow moving targets

Cons:
-need much practise and skill, especially against nimble targets and subsystems

Gimballed weapons:

-weaker damage output, but much better chance to hit anything
-less precise over long distances, more of a close combat weapon
-are more precise against subsystems
-equally good against nimble and slow targets
-require less practise and skill, help to take down prey much faster

Cons:
-often need more power to operate
-can be temporarily countered by chaff (which can be circumvented by deselecting the target, thus making them fixed)

 

[NeilF]

There's one (obvious) thing not mentioned very often... Gimballed weapons obviously give you a larger arc of fire. Two small ships are circling each other and firing. The ship with gimballed weapons could be able to resolve a target even though the enemy is just keeping out of center. Meanwhile the fixed weapons ship, just can't get the angle to fire.


Personally I'm a gimballed man... Just find them too useful! (& the subsystem targetting is icing on the cake)

 

[Jayce]

Gimballed also help if you are using multiple types of weapons, and want to unload them all at once. For example, lasers shoot strait, multi-cannons require you to lead/trail the target due to bullet travel time; if one or the other weapon type isn't gimballed then you can not hit with both at the same time, except for at close range.

 

[Poseidal]

Yes and if i recall it right, fixed weapons consume less energy. Only a tiny but, but it can make all the difference. Oh, and accuracy depends on you. If you do it better than a gimbaled weapon, then the answer is yes . And as you are not affected by chaff, the weapon isnt affected too.

For lasers, fixed usually require the same or more energy (due to higher damage), at least at higher classes.

 

[smiths121]

Hello Kalius,

You will see lots of opinions on this! All the old timers have their theories of what to use when. My advise is, outfitting is a zero loss game so you should design loadouts in EDshipyard, and try them at out your local res site or nav point.

My opinion.
I tend to use fixed lasers and gimbled multi-cannons together in Eagle/Viper - these ships are every maneuverable. gimbled multi-cannon and cannon for that matter are much better at aiming at subsystems than I am. I use lasers take down the shield and lasers+multi-cannon to strip hull, and lasers to finish off to save ammo. I can only aim well enough to strip shields.

On Cobra and above, I pretty much use Gimbles. The Cobra can maneuver, but in my humble it is not in the same league as the Viper (that is a whole other opinionated debate).

Simon

 

[NeilF]

Gimballed also help if you are using multiple types of weapons, and want to unload them all at once. For example, lasers shoot strait, multi-cannons require you to lead/trail the target due to bullet travel time; if one or the other weapon type isn't gimballed then you can not hit with both at the same time, except for at close range.

^^ Yes, another very good point!

 

[magot]

i advise you to start using fixed from start , especially as you are flying small and agile ships . gimbaled are for old people , with poor reflexes and poor eye vision

 

[willowfan]

i advise you to start using fixed from start , especially as you are flying small and agile ships . gimbaled are for old people , with poor reflexes and poor eye vision

Rubbish.

I would say something stronger but the forum would probably block it

 

[Jayce]

Also, dont forget about sub systems

 

[NeilF]

i advise you to start using fixed from start , especially as you are flying small and agile ships . gimbaled are for old people , with poor reflexes and poor eye vision

"Just because you can bang in nails with your hand, it doesn't make you a better carpenter"

 

[Alex J]

Rubbish.

I would say something stronger but the forum would probably block it

I ve tested them all .. have 5 ships including Anaconda ..... I like fixed weapons for distance and taking shields down ... when shields are down gimballed is far superior for hitting power plant as your firing arc is almost all screen, and not just the dot that you have to put precisely on target ... My FDL uses 4 gimballed pulses ... i can manage the same results with fixed .... it just takes that little longer .... and whoever disagrees ...... put yourself in a res and time your results......

Fixed has nothing to do with being a better pilot/aimer ..... IMO maybe they shouldn t have included gimballed ones. .... but they are there and they assure a faster kill .... Time it commanders!

 

[NeilF]

IMO maybe they shouldn t have included gimballed ones.

IMHO I agree (& I use them)!

Fixed and gimballed are so different it's crazy to try and balance them, hence we have all these chaff and balance/nerf issues now.

Would have been a far more interesting result if we'd only been given one weapon aiming type, but not both. And if we had to choose one, then non-gimballed would have been more interesting.