They say a picture paints a thousand words, so here's 3000 then.
How (not to) use rail guns:
- Thread starter Vadim Kleitsin
- Start date
I see nothing wrong here 
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Is the wrong part the fact that you got so messed up by an expert NPC in an Eagle? Don't want to be insulting, but that's the only Issue I can see.
[hint] check temperature % reading [/hint]
I saw it but thought nothing of it, right over my head. 350 isn't all that hot, I run a ship that I cook like that in combat. It's good times, no?
Rail guns engineered are probably the most effective and diverse weapons in the game in any player mode with so many options including the Power Play versions. Some might like PAs better. RGs can do surgical hits stopping a target using SCBs then switch to penetrator engineering to take out modules.They also require many advanced player skills to use them properly including hitting the target at any distance, heat management and advanced flying skills (FA off and thrust management) to avoid incoming fire. That is why a master PvPer in an Imperial Courier can take out a PvPer in an Anaconda will less skills.
If you are going for the small fry use a fast ship with engineered beams firing forever and get bored killing them. I like the Vulture which has power and heat issues but others love the Viper Mk IV. If going for the big fish practice a lot more getting all the needed skills down. If getting killed figure out which skill is missing.
My 'Space Lobster' with beams often get opponents laughing at the paint job then hesitating..Good for me.
Regards
If you are going for the small fry use a fast ship with engineered beams firing forever and get bored killing them. I like the Vulture which has power and heat issues but others love the Viper Mk IV. If going for the big fish practice a lot more getting all the needed skills down. If getting killed figure out which skill is missing.
My 'Space Lobster' with beams often get opponents laughing at the paint job then hesitating..Good for me.
Regards
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Here is an Imperial Eagle build that stung a few PvPers. As for rrobes's post something like this Corvette build?
I'm awaiting the last CG with the KWS reward with long range and fast scan perfect for the Corvette rail gun build.
We'll see.
UPDATE: The KWS is out and I updated the Corvette build with the specs. Only 6.6 KM range (versus 8.8 for G5),
2 sec scan time, integrity 24, max angle 10.50 and 4.80Mw power draw. Looks like it needs a Corvette a monster
power plant to run it!
I'm awaiting the last CG with the KWS reward with long range and fast scan perfect for the Corvette rail gun build.
We'll see.
UPDATE: The KWS is out and I updated the Corvette build with the specs. Only 6.6 KM range (versus 8.8 for G5),
2 sec scan time, integrity 24, max angle 10.50 and 4.80Mw power draw. Looks like it needs a Corvette a monster
power plant to run it!
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On mine I use 3 MCs and the 4 rails like yours, no point defense, no warrant scanner, (takes too long, make up the diff with more kills in less time and fill those utes with shield boosters), no docking computer, no fighter or fuel tank, just hull reinforcements.
For my Prismatic shields, I lean towards thermal as that seems to be the stuff that mostly comes my way.
And I can't bring myself to use the 8A sensor, 320 tons? Ridunculous!.
Love rails for that instant hit satisfaction.
rrobes is right not needing Pointe Defense on a highly engineered Corvette unless we are totally stupid or had too many adult beverages. It happens.
All NPCs (Non Player Characters if you don'r know what it means) love thermal weapons so thermal engineering is best. PvPers is another story but there are other engineering options to deal with them.
A Corvette is an offensive combat ship and needs sensors to do it to gather targeting info. Here's the difference on my build.
8A stock sensors speed 285 / boost 371 / unladen jump 27.11
8A G5 lomg range sensors speed 283 / boost 367 /unladen jump 25.95.
With huge ships only powering them really matters versus a plus using them.
320 tons for sensors on a Corvette isn't a big deal versus having the resources to gather info on a target and engage. Nor is this an Asp Explorer that can jump 60 LY. It is the ultimate hunter killer with a great pilot and maybe an Elite crew hired to fly your fighters. Mastering rail guns on a Corvette or a Cutter gives a player advantages in any play mode but bring support friends just in case!
The bad guys in ED have figured out how to wing up and enjoy taking you out. You trying to do it all by yourself? OK...
Have fun.
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Speaking of iEagle / Eagle rail builds - oddly enough I was experimenting with an eerily similar loadout to the OP's. I was testing the viability of a tri-rail setup on an Eagle, but I planned on using three lightweight rails for Distro Draw reductions... as well as the Plasma Slug experimental for longevity...
...Yeah. It's a weird build. Still workshopping it, and I may even replace the top rail with an Efficient Turreted Beam Laser (a technique I use for my AX tri-Gauss FAS, and it's very effective for cold orbiting).
Plasma slug rail guns are fine for staying in the fight in say in a Combat Zone but using them in an Eagle with a class 2 fuel tanks won't last long. I tried a rail gun Fer de Lance with Plasma Slugs and had to add a fuel tank to support them. My Corvette build with a 7C fuel tank for the rails with plasma slugs doing the most damage gives me unlimited firepower and a 500 LY jump range and no fuel scoop required. We don't need no stinkin' Fleet Carriers! Meanwhile while other rails engineered to taking out surgical issues as in SCBs are limited. It is all about firing the right weapon at the right time.
Has the OP with all these posts learned about how to properly use rail guns? We'll see...
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Great! Out of interest, if I select Military Grade Hulls which will tame top boost speed down to 707m/s which would still make her super fast against most medium-large opponents. In your experience would this be a worthwhile consideration or exchange for PvP?
There's a spare 2C (4 ton) fuel tank in one of the Class 2 optional internals for a total of 8 tons of fuel - which brings the total potential damage pool up to 8,360 MJs. For comparison, a lightweight tri-rail setup that doesn't use an Experimental has a total potential damage pool of 5,661 MJs. The Plasma Slug setup has the damage pool of an additional 1.4 lightweight railguns in 8 tons of fuel (assuming I use all of it for the rails and nothing else).
I'm tempted to add another 2 ton tank to push that damage pool over 10,000 MJs, but I'm worried that would compromise the hull integrity. My usual loadout has 1,050 MJs in the hull, whereas the above build has 850 MJs.
As I mentioned earlier - this is still build is still very early in the conceptual stage. I was hesitant on using Plasma Slug rails on an Eagle, but I did like the results I saw from some preliminary testing today and am willing to put in some more time and materials to see if this can actually work.
Flying a ship in ED is totally all about understanding the universe you are flying in, the capabilities of the ship you are flying and the dangers you will encounter. Always be alert per your situational awareness. Engineering your ship and weapons makes this a lot easier. With excellent pilot skills a player doesn't need hull, module or Guardian shield reinforcements. Flying better than anyone else in the game wins. It totally upsets PvPers outlying them in a Type-6. Awesome flying skills does this.Less skills add expensive defense options to your ship. Enjoy.
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I'm waiting for a doubled engineered Wake Scanner with long range and fast scan in a CG. When that happens 400,000 or more players across the world are going to go nuts getting it if they know about it. I won't care if it is combat which I like upgrading my current NPC pilot or delivering materials. I will just want it for me will kill get to get it. Go figure.
Have a Nice Day
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