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Beams vs. Cannons & Weapon Types

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
Has anyone gotten far enough in the game as to find out if beams are simply better than cannons for escorts, or if they just play different? Is the DPS drastic? Do you play differently?

Also, there are like a zillion weapon types in the game, but I don't know the difference.

I know that Quantum go faster than Photons, hit a little harder, and have a longer cooldown, but that's about it. Can someone point me toward some info?

Thanks
Post edited by baddmoonrizin on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2010
    I could use this info as well, I haven't gotten far enough to know much about weapon types and which I prefer yet, so any info the weapons would be appreciated.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2010
    Take a read of the manual that is linked from the launcher. There is some information in there about the various weapon classes and how they affect damage to the shields and hull.

    The second place to go look is the exchange. In there you will basically get a listing of every weapon there is and looking through the stats and firing arch of all the different types should give you a good idea of the trade offs involved in the different weapons.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2010
    Im not sure about beams vs cannons but I know a little bit about photon and quantum torpedo's. Photon torpedo's do higher DPS via shorter cooldown, quantum do less DPS but more damage per torpedo.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Bump? Anyone? Come on, someone has to have answers
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    there is really only 4 basic weapon types for guns. Beam Array, Bank, Cannon, and Turret.

    Beams and Banks work using the beam skills (Overload ect) while Cannon and Turrets use cannon skills (rapid fire ect). Beams are low DPS but huge firing arc. Banks are half way between beams and cannons better DPS smaller arc. Cannons have the highest DPS by the smallest arc (45 for dual cannons). Turrets have 360 arc but the lowest DPS.

    MK III Cannons and higher are only usable on escorts.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Weapon types have an inverse correlation of firing arc to DPS. In order from least DPS/largest arc to most DPS/lowest arc:

    Turret (360 degree)
    Beam Array (250 degree)
    Cannon (180 degree)
    Dual Beam (90 degree)
    Dual Cannons/Dual Heavy Cannons (45 degree)

    Dual cannons are very effective on escorts because they can use their maneuverability to keep their targets in the narrow firing arc to lay on the damage. Only escorts can use Mk 3+ cannon type weapons anyway.

    There are also 6 energy weapon types:

    Phaser - chance to temporarily shut down one of the target's subsystems for a short period
    Disruptor - chance to reduce enemy damage resistance
    Plasma - chance to inflict DoT on hull
    Tetryon - chance to do extra damage to shields
    Polaron - chance to reduce subsystem power by 25 (not sure for how long, and not sure if it's all or just one)
    Antiproton - I've heard these have extra crit damage... seems like kind of a waste though.

    The ones lower on the list only show up in higher tiers of weaponry so you won't see them early on.

    There are also 6 types of torpedos and mines:

    Photon - Basic torpedo, damages crew
    Quantum - Similar to photon, higher burst damage at the cost of dps, plus flies faster, damages crew
    Plasma - Lower dps but can inflict DoT on hull - High Yield version shoots a slow, heavy, targettable torpedo instead of a salvo
    Chroniton - Chance to slow enemy down
    Transphasic - Low dps, but they have a much higher bleedthrough against shields
    Tricobalt - Very high damage and long recharge, and they can't be boosted by Torpedo BO powers.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Geez, I just picked up the rare Plasma cannons from the time travel mission, they do absurd damage that completely outclasses my phaser cannons, literally double the DPS! Is this the way **** is? Are phasers completely useless endgame?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Arkalius80 wrote:
    Weapon types have an inverse correlation of firing arc to DPS. In order from least DPS/largest arc to most DPS/lowest arc:

    Turret (360 degree)
    Beam Array (250 degree)
    Dual Beam (90 degree)
    Cannons/Dual Cannons/Dual Heavy Cannons (45 degree)

    Dual cannons are very effective on escorts because they can use their maneuverability to keep their targets in the narrow firing arc to lay on the damage. Only escorts can use Mk 3+ cannon type weapons anyway.

    There are also 6 energy weapon types:

    Phaser - chance to reduce enemy weapon power
    Disruptor - chance to reduce enemy damage resistance
    Plasma - chance to inflict DoT on hull
    Tetryon - chance to do extra damage to shields
    Polaron - reduces enemy crew complement
    Antiproton - Don't know what is special about these.

    The ones lower on the list only show up in higher tiers of weaponry so you won't see them early on.

    There are also 6 types of torpedos and mines:

    Photon - Basic torpedo
    Quantum - Similar to photon, higher damage against hull but less against shields, plus flies slower
    Plasma - Lower dps but inflicts DoT on hull
    Chroniton - I think these slow down the enemy
    Transphasic - Low dps, but I think they have a really high bleedthrough against shields
    Tricobalt - Very high damage and long recharge, and they can't be boosted by Torpedo BO powers.

    Heavy torpedo launchers operate the same way, but can be shot down as they move so slowly and are such a large target

    Ammended.

    /10char
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Arkalius80 wrote:

    Phaser - chance to reduce enemy weapon power
    Disruptor - chance to reduce enemy damage resistance
    Plasma - chance to inflict DoT on hull
    Tetryon - chance to do extra damage to shields
    Polaron - Not sure how this works but can reduce enemy power settings
    Antiproton - Don't know what is special about these.

    The ones lower on the list only show up in higher tiers of weaponry so you won't see them early on.

    There are also 6 types of torpedos and mines:

    Photon - Basic torpedo
    Quantum - Similar to photon, higher burst damage at the cost of dps, plus flies faster
    Plasma - Lower dps but inflicts DoT on hull
    Chroniton - I think these slow down the enemy
    Transphasic - Low dps, but I think they have a really high bleedthrough against shields
    Tricobalt - Very high damage and long recharge, and they can't be boosted by Torpedo BO powers.

    This is what I want to know more about. Because frankly, it seems to me like the last 4 weapon types completely outclass everything below them
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Maybe it's just me but Plasma weapons seems way OP.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Two-Shot wrote: »
    Has anyone gotten far enough in the game as to find out if beams are simply better than cannons for escorts, or if they just play different? Is the DPS drastic? Do you play differently?

    Also, there are like a zillion weapon types in the game, but I don't know the difference.

    I know that Quantum go faster than Photons, hit a little harder, and have a longer cooldown, but that's about it. Can someone point me toward some info?

    Thanks
    I had the same problem until some nice poster gave me this link
    http://sto-intel.org/wiki/Category:Starship_Weapons#Beams
    Makes life a whole lot easier :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Arkalius80 wrote:

    Phaser - chance to reduce enemy weapon power
    Disruptor - chance to reduce enemy damage resistance
    Plasma - chance to inflict DoT on hull
    Tetryon - chance to do extra damage to shields
    Polaron - Not sure how this works but can reduce enemy power settings
    Antiproton - Don't know what is special about these.

    QUOTE]

    Actually, phasers have a chance to temporariy (think <5 seconds) take your targets shield, weapons, engines, and/or auxiliry (mispelled) systems offline. Similar to using the target shields/weapons/ect.. ability for science ships or bridge officers, but with a much lower chance of success.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I had the same problem until some nice poster gave me this link
    http://sto-intel.org/wiki/Category:Starship_Weapons#Beams
    Makes life a whole lot easier :)

    Finally, someone who knows what they are talking about. Thanks man, you saved me a ton of grief.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Two-Shot wrote: »
    Geez, I just picked up the rare Plasma cannons from the time travel mission, they do absurd damage that completely outclasses my phaser cannons, literally double the DPS! Is this the way **** is? Are phasers completely useless endgame?

    In my experience, plasma weapons have the same dps as the same level phaser weapons. Is it an uncommon or rare item that has a boost to damage?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Actually, phasers have a chance to temporariy (think <5 seconds) take your targets shield, weapons, engines, and/or auxiliry (mispelled) systems offline. Similar to using the target shields/weapons/ect.. ability for science ships or bridge officers, but with a much lower chance of success.

    Fixed it. The version I had in there was based on how it used to be in beta.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    SP3CTREnyc wrote:
    Heavy torpedo launchers operate the same way, but can be shot down as they move so slowly and are such a large target

    Ammended.

    I've never seen a heavy torpedo launcher and I don't think they exist.

    You're probably thinking of the heavy plasma torpedo which is what you get instead of a multi-torp salvo when you use a high yield BO power with a plasma torpedo launcher.
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