Captain Hesperus wrote:Downside of having multiple forward-firing weapons is that they don't converge, so if you are firing at a distant target (like you should with Mili-lasers) only 1 or 2 beams will hit, meanwhile the temperature would jump up super fast as all four lasers would be overloading the cooling system.
Captain Hesperus
I thought each laser had its own cooling system.
While beam convergence (a.k.a. harmonizing ones guns when in a WW-II fighter plane) for a particular distance may not be feasible in Oolite, it may not be necessary or even desireable.
Some points for consideration...
-Beams that converge also diverge beyond the point of convergence.
The divergence could prevent hits at long ranges.
-During a dogfight, having four forward mounted lasers increases the opportinity to hit a target. If one or two beams miss because the target is only partially within the line(s) of fire, then you're still glad to have scored some damage on a manuverable target.
-During a strafing run on a larger ship, having four forward mounted lasers hit simultaneously will increase the damage done in during a window of opportunity.
-The quicker the target it destroyed, the sooner you can stop firing and allow the lasers to cool.
If each laser has its own cooling system, and if each laser could be set to fire in sequence (instead of all forward mounted lasers firing simultaneously) then a pull of the trigger could create the effect of one laser firing for four times the duration of time normally possible.
"I shouldn't have taken off in this crate without more ammo..." Sergeant Knox - Star Blazers