Plasma SLF or Beam SLF?

[Essential NPC]

Seems like the highest DPS SLF's are the Plasma repeater with chaff and Beam lasers with heat sinks. I've been using the plasma repeater and I'm pretty pleased with my SLF's survivability. Is there a noticeable increase in damage output with beams that make it worth losing chaff?

 

[JohnCarter]

I have a competent rank crew member and started out with the plasma build on the imperial fighter. She did very well then I read somewhere that if you're using the A.I crew the difference in builds don't really matter however if you are piloting the fighter the stronger build is the beams and heatsink option. I switched to the beams and didn't notice any discernable difference for my crewmember. I haven't tried the beam build long enough to determine any difference for myself. I think it's going to come down to weather you're a PVP or PVE player and personal preference. I'm interested what others have experienced so far.

 

[DustyArne]

Voted plasma.

But i carry 2 ships in my Anaconda, a gimballed beam Condor for small/medium ships, and a plasma Taipan for medium/large ships.

The Taipan has the highest DMG output, but since i can stay on target longer with the Condor, I think my personal DPS is higher with the condor.

That is why i use the Taipan only for big game. Lol.

 

[Crusina Luachra]

Beam has the undisputed highest DPS. Having best sinks is a plus so you can fire even longer

 

[Lucius-Darcia]

I have tryed the plasma version but i make it always burning. Never overheated the beam setup and with the heatsinks, the extended firerate is unbelievable strong. Also NPC crew can handle hitscan weapons better!

 

[Xaevryn]

I'm honestly gonna have to vote Plasma Repeaters with Chaff. The Plasma Repeaters are deceptively powerful. And since any SLF has low shields and armor, turret/gimbal weapons are your nemesis. So having the Chaff launcher on there is honestly pretty vital in insuring the fighter stays alive long enough to make an impact.

 

[mossfoot]

If your goal is to drop shields so you main ship can deal major damage to take out weapons, then I advise beams. Depending on the scenario, though and how much cover you can provide.

 

[mung0]

How is beam dps when even the pulse laser drains the capacitor dry in a heartbeat? Plasma's clip size & reload cycle, times really well with the cap size & recharge to keep you firing, and firing, and firing. You get a little cooked eventually but it doesn't matter. Meanwhile chaff helps keeps you alive.

 

[mossfoot]

How is beam dps when even the pulse laser drains the capacitor dry in a heartbeat? Plasma's clip size & reload cycle, times really well with the cap size & recharge to keep you firing, and firing, and firing. You get a little cooked eventually but it doesn't matter. Meanwhile chaff helps keeps you alive.

If you're flying the fighter yourself you can use a heat sink to ignore capacitor drain while it's active. Can really melt thing in that time if you've got a solid lock. Can't say how NPC pilots handle it, though

 

[UnhappyDev]

Plasma all the way for me.

 

[Ozram]

I have both on my Conda and they are both pretty effective in the hands of my "Dangerous" NPC.

 

[Lucius-Darcia]

How is beam dps when even the pulse laser drains the capacitor dry in a heartbeat? Plasma's clip size & reload cycle, times really well with the cap size & recharge to keep you firing, and firing, and firing. You get a little cooked eventually but it doesn't matter. Meanwhile chaff helps keeps you alive.

The beams use surprisingly much lesser capacitor energy than pulses or plasma. You can fire very long and for a really long shot, mossfoot already mentioned, fire a heatsink. Than you can hold the trigger for about 10 seconds.
The heat generation is also much lesser than with the plasmas. My first thought was, the Dev's have confused plasma and beam behavior.

I think i don't need chaff. When i got shot in the fighter than only from railgun and PA (yes....) so far. I think one or two times also from frag canons but gimbaled weapons never got me in the iFighter. It was always a fixed weapon that has knocked me out
(npc's are cheaters.....)

 

[mung0]

The beams use surprisingly much lesser capacitor energy than pulses or plasma. You can fire very long and for a really long shot, mossfoot already mentioned, fire a heatsink. Than you can hold the trigger for about 10 seconds.
The heat generation is also much lesser than with the plasmas. My first thought was, the Dev's have confused plasma and beam behavior.

I think i don't need chaff. When i got shot in the fighter than only from railgun and PA (yes....) so far. I think one or two times also from frag canons but gimbaled weapons never got me in the iFighter. It was always a fixed weapon that has knocked me out
(npc's are cheaters.....)

Wait, beam drains less cap than pulse?! How in the world.. I skipped even bothering to try beam after seeing first-hand how inefficient pulse was. Well now I know better! Gonna give it a try, thanks

 

[Ozram]

Wait, beam drains less cap than pulse?! How in the world.. I skipped even bothering to try beam after seeing first-hand how inefficient pulse was. Well now I know better! Gonna give it a try, thanks

Yeah beam doesn't drain nearly so fast as you'd imagine. It also hits ridiculously hard. Most importantly, it really shows off the weapon colour mods.
Edit: Make sure it's the fixed beam variety.

 

[Tempestfox3]

Can't vote on mobile but having tried both for the imp fighter. Fixed Beams are certainly the way to go. Best damage output by far.

Plasma repeaters spend too much time reloading to keep up the damage output.