In fact, "projectile" does not mean "cannon" in this game. "Cannon" are "energy cannons", that fire a pulse instead of a steady beam. "Projectiles" are torpedoes of any sort.
kinda like this, (::::), instead of beam-like (::::::::::::::::::::) longer version. it more densier energy cannonball that do more damages than light density beams, it just take longer to create cannons.
torps are projectiles and when impacted, it explodes.
Fun with arbitrary terms! No, "cannons" in this game do not involve projectiles. That's just a title to distinguish one energy weapon from beams and turrets. Unless you count a "packet" of directed energy, but here they do not.
Now, depending on where the reference is made, "projectile" weapons can mean both torpedoes (legitimately projectiles by most definitions) and mines. I would say that you're using your mine wrong if it somehow became a projectile, but in STO they do move under their own power, and that muddies the distinction from a torpedo.
If something* modifies one or the other, it should say "torpedo" or "mine" damage. If it modifies both, it should say "projectile" damage somewhere.
Where "kinetic" and "physical" are in/excluded tortures the dictionary even more...
*something: skills, traits, consoles, equipment/set bonuses, BO abilities, Doff modifiers...
Torpedos, Cluster Torpedos, Mines, Cloaking Tractor Beam Mines, these sorts of things are considered projectiles. I guess that basically covers it from my understanding.
Kinetic damage is usually (but not always) caused by projectiles (torps and mines). Even Plasma torps do kinetic damage (but have a plasma damage-over-time when they hit).
Kinetic damage is heavily resisted by shields.
Physical damage is usually (but not always) a type of Exotic damage (similar to Radiation or Electric)
As others have said, projectiles= torpedoes and mines. Kinetic can kind of be considered a damage type unto itself, and weapons that deal kinetic damage (Borg Cutting Beam, torpedoes, mines) will state that they yield kinetic damage in their description.
Cannons are their own weapon type, however to add to the fun we now have the Kelvin phaser beam emitters which act as beam arrays but visually look like cannons. Great weapons from a visual standpoint if you prefer the damage or flexibility of beams but the visuals of cannons- only phasers and polaron available right now to my knowledge and it is a bit beyond the scope of your question.
Note: Kinetic and physical work differently on ground. On Ground Kinetic is for stuff like Grenades or the TR116 rifle. Physical is usually melee damage.
Comments
torps are projectiles and when impacted, it explodes.
Now, depending on where the reference is made, "projectile" weapons can mean both torpedoes (legitimately projectiles by most definitions) and mines. I would say that you're using your mine wrong if it somehow became a projectile, but in STO they do move under their own power, and that muddies the distinction from a torpedo.
If something* modifies one or the other, it should say "torpedo" or "mine" damage. If it modifies both, it should say "projectile" damage somewhere.
Where "kinetic" and "physical" are in/excluded tortures the dictionary even more...
*something: skills, traits, consoles, equipment/set bonuses, BO abilities, Doff modifiers...
Kinetic damage is heavily resisted by shields.
Physical damage is usually (but not always) a type of Exotic damage (similar to Radiation or Electric)
Cannons are their own weapon type, however to add to the fun we now have the Kelvin phaser beam emitters which act as beam arrays but visually look like cannons. Great weapons from a visual standpoint if you prefer the damage or flexibility of beams but the visuals of cannons- only phasers and polaron available right now to my knowledge and it is a bit beyond the scope of your question.
STO Beta Test and Launch Veteran
My character Tsin'xing