Plasma Accelerator or Rail Gun?

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

Currently using a Rail Gun for that subsystem sniping (landing a shot is ohh so satisfying) but I was wondering what the general preference is? Pros and Cons? I know projectile speed is certainly a big difference....

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

Though I guess it should be noted that I can fit a large Plasma Accelerator, while there are no large Rail Guns...perhaps that answers my question...

[stummies]

I'd give it a shot with part costs being 100% buyback. You're rail is getting a penalty due to it's size when used against larger ships I believe, the PA would be noticeably better, trick is just getting used to it.

Reference: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=127951

"However if you want to attack larger ships you want the largest weapon you can fit so a higher class is better. There is no bonus for using a higher class weapon against smaller ships, just a penalty for smaller weapons attacking larger ships." -Mike Evans (Designer)

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

Yep. I'm sold. PA is AWESOME.

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[Python]
L: 3C/G Beam Laser
L: 3C/G Beam Laser
L: 3B/F Plasma Accelerator
M: 2F/T Multi-cannon
M: 2F/T Multi-cannon
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster

BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 7C Power Plant
TM: 6D Thrusters
FH: 5A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 4D Life Support
PC: 7A Power Distributor
SS: 6D Sensors
FS: 5C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 32)

6: 6A Shield Generator
6: 6E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 64)
6: 6E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 64)
5: 5E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 32)
5: 5E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 32)
4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
3: 3E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 8)
3: 3C Fuel Scoop
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
---
Shield: 726.27 MJ
Power : 18.25 MW retracted (73%)
24.78 MW deployed (99%)
25.00 MW available
Cargo : 220 T
Fuel : 32 T
Mass : 612.0 T empty
864.0 T full
Range : 19.13 LY unladen
14.26 LY laden
Price : 105,439,417 CR
Re-Buy: 5,271,971 CR @ 95% insurance

[Whiteneck]

Plasma AC for sure. 100 magazine, and the best weapon in game ATM. Keep in mind that the AC is manually fired, so no gimbaled pew pew pew bullshit.

Its a mans weapon.

Unless your set on griefing new players in open, your a retard for not using it.

Then again, if you are not PVP, who gives a fuck. The NPC anacondas can be taken down with pulse lasers...so whatever...

[uvelius]

Plasma!!
You have to aim, you have to calculate speeds, but if you do that ... very satisfying boom indeed.

► Show Spoiler

[blazingmaniac]

PA is the only viable and worthwhile Huge weapon and a very good Large one as well. Like others have said already, very satisfying when you land it in a fire fight.

[Cmdr Kharma]

Yep PA.....

Had a huge one on my FDL (In the cross platform Beta)......

One shotted smaller ships.....

BUT you do have to learn how to use it......Up close and personal is best.....

I did get lucky and one shot a ship from 1.8 Km...That was a "YES" moment....Even did a little dance.....

Sad I know....

[StaticRadion]

I don't know how useful the hybrid thermic/kineticI weapons really are so I don't use them. On my Python I like two 2C/F Plasma and two 3C/F cannons with a single 3C/G Beam Laser for small stuff if I really want to get down. Otherwise like has been said before if i am just res hunting then 4 pulse lasers and a single cannon.

I have yet to take anything but a clipper into open for pvp so I cant speak to how fixed weapons perform on actual CMDRs. On the other hand turrets seem to make them panic when they just cant seem to shake me off or get me to stop the beam lasers of constant shield draining.