Thinking about swithing from Plasma accelerator to Rail gun

Tikanderoga

Tikanderoga
Hi all

I'm currently flying an A rated Python with 3 Pulse and 2 PAs.
But I'm having a hard time hitting with the PA, mainly due to the flight time of the projectiles. So I'm thinking about switching to Rail guns in stead.

Since I'm farming my combat score, max DPS is key.
My ship is heavily modded, got a Power plant G5 with a nearly god roll, so that shouldn't be an issue. The ship does like to run hot while fuel scooping though, so that's a bit a different issue.

So hit me:
Keep 3 x3 Pulse and replace 2 PA with RG
Been thinking about Beam lasers instead of Pulse too, and make them Efficient, just like all the rest of my weapons.
 

Earth Ultimatum IV.

Earth Ultimatum IV.
Lol no. And get a proper powerplant, G2 or less.

la-me-sand-fire-causes-20160724-snap
 

yolomcbobbinz

Y
PA is hard to use but rewarding. I use one on the large hardpoint at the bottom of the python haven't used rails since their buff but I heard they produce less heat. Why I like PA over rails is they have some splash and deal greater hull damage than rails which have better module damage there's a video by vindicator Jones about the two if you have a hard time leading with the PA'S I'd use rails
 
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thirstyfish

thirstyfish
I use a pair of rails on my FDL. Worked great before 2.3. Haven't flown it since 2.3, but I am looking forward to it. Just need to get the thing out to the dweller to get at least some sort of mod on the power distributor.
 

Slim_Sumo

Slim_Sumo
I have been working on making railguns relevant as a primary damage source since they took the massive nerf when engineers hit. That being said I have rolled over 2000 times on rails, here is my experience.
Rail guns have the potential to roll up to -60% thermal load as a secondary. This suffers a diminishing return, and you net roughly 35% reduced heat. Last patch, on a long range imperial hammer, I had -57% thermal load on an imperal hammer as a secondary. Took the thermal load from 12 down to 8.6. This made them usable in pairs on an FAS, though not for extended firing.
With sturdy mount, you can get a base roll of -31% thermal load. paired with a secondary roll of up to 60%, totals out at 91%. Diminishing returns bring this down to approximately 55%. I currently run 2 imperial hammers on my FAS, with this patches 15% heat buff to the railgun, I brought the thermal load from 11 to 5.1, and 5.3 between the two of them. Hammers fire 3 times, so the total thermal load is 15.3 and 15.9. An FAS can stand on the trigger indeffinately and not severely overheat.
Hammers also generate 50% more heat (but do 20% more damage) than standard class 2 rails. Standard rails can be brought down to a 9ish thermal load. This lets you fire 3 for the same heat as 2 hammers.
Close range is one that I've been expirimenting with the last few days. Close range needs some adjusting from the devs as no matter what weapon you put it on the penalties far outweigh the benefits. However a grade 3 close range you can still pull roughly 30% increased damage, at around 1200-1500 meter range after the penalty. **EDIT And if you can manage a 40%+ thermal reduction on the secondary you can still bring the heat down 10-20% END EDIT** It's the only mod that increases damage for rails, and you rarely fire a rail outside of 1500 meters anyways, since at that range the target is hard to hit and the damage dropoff is huge, dealing half damage past 1000m.
If you run 2 rails in pve I would run both as super penetrators, lets you hit the powerplant from any angle, along with absolutely wrecking every internal module in its path. A nose to butt shot on a conda will hit nearly every module.
If you pvp one penetrator and one cascade rail. I don't know how well the FDL handles the heat with the perfectly rolled rails, I would guess pretty well but not as good as most ships.
If you want to roll Sturdy Mount grade 5 rails, go to the system Khaka, planet 1. It drops everything you need for materials.
 
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5miley

5miley
OP .... have you tired modding your PAs with Long Range effect from the engineers ?

Speeds up the projectile making targets easier to hit
 

Tikanderoga

Tikanderoga
5miley said:
OP .... have you tired modding your PAs with Long Range effect from the engineers ?

Speeds up the projectile making targets easier to hit
Click to expand...
Yep, I have. Tried long range, not enough love, too much heat. I went efficient, which made it really well suited for a trigger happy chap like me.

@Slim_Sumo
Great post, thanks. I got two super penetrator rolls on my RGs, tried them already in PvE. Let's just say that inderdicting Python didn't like it at all. but I had to go short range, so 811 and 816m or under. best for a sure hit and max damage anyway.
 

Sabier

Sabier
I haven't used my Python for a while, but it has 4 PAs and a gimballed multicannon on the bottom (for small/nimble targets). I used them in pairs, with primary fire for the two on the right and secondary fire for the two on the left (or other way around). Maximum fun. Plasma is love. Don't sell your PAs ;)
 

IndigoWyrd

IndigoWyrd
I've tried rails.. I actually use a pair on my FdL, but that charge time... ... ... ... and then sounds like someone farted through a straw.
I like the PA though, and that slow moving ball of ____ you is amazing, once you get use to it. Or them. Try this:

[video=youtube;Eb7dYMY96gw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb7dYMY96gw[/video]
 

Threeofseven

Threeofseven
I much prefer rails over PAs simply because I feel PAs are only good against large ships. I know some people are good with them against eagles and such but I'm not. Rails are very easy to aim.
 
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