Why Military Laser nerfed?

[sceptic]

Hi. C64 player here.
The military laser in C64's Elite was not crappy like Oolite.
The main difference, it never overheats insane fast. Why did you f** up military laser?? There is no difference with Beam laser now!
With you so-called military laser it is imposibble to fight against 4-5 shipped clusters in anarchy or similar planets.

[Disembodied]

Hi Sceptic. The most significant difference between the beam and the military lasers is that the military lasers have a much longer range, as well as doing more damage: use the longer range to your advantage. While I can't comment about any difference in overheating time between Oolite and the C64 version, I can tell you that I can regularly and reliably defeat pirate packs in an adequately equipped Cobra III ... I make sure I target the smallest ships first; I make sure I engage the pack from long range; I take careful aim and make every shot count; and I am careful not to let myself get surrounded.

It's difficult to make direct gameplay comparisons between Oolite and 8-bit versions of Elite: Oolite's AI is a lot smarter, for a start, and it was a lot easier to hit things at long range in Elite (the pixels were a lot bigger!). Oolite is undeniably a difficult game to get good at, but it can be done with a bit of practice.

[Cody]

I guess you should learn how to play the game before moaning, sceptic... and welcome aboard.

[sceptic]

Thanks for your answers and comments.
Yeah I may bit acted hasty to criticise on military laser.
After buying "scanner target ench" now there is a reticle which turns red. Gives distance and other data about the target and now it is possible to hit them from far far away.
I was a teenager when playing Elite on C64 (with casette). It was my most favorite game. I think simplicity makes this game one of a kind. Simple space black and some white dots as stars and few debris to feel that you are moving.
Thanks guys who sticked to the original ideas of Elite. Oolite is still having that simplicity with only a few graphics improvements.
Apoligies once more.
(I was "deadly" with more than 100k credits during my days of Elite)

[UK_Eliter]

Hi Sceptic. The most significant difference between the beam and the military lasers is that the military lasers have a much longer range, as well as doing more damage: use the longer range to your advantage. While I can't comment about any difference in overheating time between Oolite and the C64 version, I can tell you that I can regularly and reliably defeat pirate packs in an adequately equipped Cobra III ... I make sure I target the smallest ships first; I make sure I engage the pack from long range; I take careful aim and make every shot count; and I am careful not to let myself get surrounded.

With the exception of making every shot count, I haven't been doing any of this! How have I survived? (The answer is probably: having a fairly uber ship, and using injectors for respite when taking heavy damage. Still, perhaps I have other tactics that compensate. I'm sure this - tactics - is a topic that has been much discussed!)