lasers - a few questions on my mind

[Snowdog]

Hi Guys,
Is there an optimal range for damage with lasers? ? I am using a pair of E3 turret (I think) on a Vulture and was assuming the closer I am to the target the more damage I would do but was not sure if that was true in Elite?

Also does the laser do more damage if it is fully charges, as opposed to being almost drained? Should I let it recharge or just keep firing?

Like I said its been on my mind and now that the community goal is over I have time to post it.

thanks for taking the time,

 

[CMDR Memphis]

First of all, you want gimballed or fixed lasers on your vulture.
You can keep firing, charging it up does not do anything - I also do not know of an optimum range, main problem is that it is harder to hit a Viper at 3 klicks out.

 

[#43734]

It feels like they loose damage with distance. I used to go really near to increase the damage output. But I cannot prove it with test results and what Cmdr Mephis said is correct, at least for gimballed and turret weapons.

 

[Innigo]

Honest answer; don't know, but it certainly feels like they have more punch as the range drops, but that might simply be because i'm hitting more consistently. Gimballed beams all the way for me... till their shields are down and then it's multicannons, unless it's a smaller target and there's minimal risk, in which case I'll stick to the beams to conserve ammo