Best defense turrets against fighters?

[GCU Grey Area]

Last night on a whim decided to give M Beams another go.

Replaced all but one set of M turrets on my Odysseus E with them (exception was a pair of Tracking turrets, normally kept disarmed & primarily there to make it easier to resupply the ship's Moreya attack wing with missiles). L turrets were Beams already. This turret configuration worked surprisingly well when tested on a trade run through multiple Xenon sectors, transporting 3 M freighters full of hull parts to the Yaki base (incidentally Odysseus E is a damn fine blockade runner). Although M Beam is low damage the pinpoint accuracy meant they were shooting down fighters at an adequate rate.

Was not expecting them to work so well given my previous experience with them. May have been wrong about them, or perhaps they were changed since the last time I used them? It was quite a while ago. Alternatively, perhaps it's because I had quite a lot of them (10 on the Odysseus & a further 4 on a docked Gorgon) & they just work better in greater numbers? Whereas previously I only ever tested them on an M ship. Decided I'm going to keep them, at least for a while, to see what happens. Hmm... wonder what happens if you fill a Raptor with them...

[chew-ie]

Alternatively, perhaps it's because I had quite a lot of them (10 on the Odysseus & a further 4 on a docked Gorgon) & they just work better in greater numbers? Whereas previously I only ever tested them on an M ship. Decided I'm going to keep them, at least for a while, to see what happens. Hmm... wonder what happens if you fill a Raptor with them...

I'll quote myself from page 1 for that:

While what you said so far is true, I'd like to add that having M turrets with beams is a tactical choice. IF you have a lot of M slots on the ship (e.g. Rattlesnake, Raptor) or have a dedicated anti-fighter Behemoth a battery of M-beams helps to stall shield generation of hostile S ships.

You can even give them more potential by adding lens mods (more range) or more damage. I prefer more range as they can tag hostile S ships longer / earlier. For some variety you can use the TER M beams - they've a different sound & color. (but same damage)

I prefer laser beams over pulse / shotguns / plasma. I also use ARG flak, but it gets boring (and loud ^^) to have all-flak setups only. Beams also help to have zero collateral damage.

If you're at it - try a Dragon with full complement of laser beams as main weapons. Nice to watch and it totally roasts enemy targets.

[Waltz9]

I go with pulse turrets all the way.
They may be weaker but there projectile speed is very high so less chance to evade or miss.
Went with my Syn to an enemy sector and it easily wiped all drones/M/N/P out.

I hate the bolt turrets because they miss way to much, and I barely notice damage from lasers, Only good thing lasers are for is to keep shields down from ships but then again useless because enemy ships would just fly out of range to restore their shields.

So I go with Pulse

[GCU Grey Area]

You can even give them more potential by adding lens mods (more range) or more damage. I prefer more range as they can tag hostile S ships longer / earlier. For some variety you can use the TER M beams - they've a different sound & color. (but same damage)

Went with the standard Slashers I use for pretty much every turret. Considered Lens but it's only an extra 200m or so for M Beam. Really wish there were more Beam specific mods. Went with Paranid turrets incidentally. Know they have a lousy turn rate compared to some of the others but prefer to use Paranid turrets on a Paranid ship. Just seems fitting & they do a good enough job. May take them a little longer to lock onto a fighter, but once they do it never lasts long.

I prefer laser beams over pulse / shotguns / plasma. I also use ARG flak, but it gets boring (and loud ^^) to have all-flak setups only. Beams also help to have zero collateral damage.

Agree on Flak. Far too noisy for my poor old ears.

If you're at it - try a Dragon with full complement of laser beams as main weapons. Nice to watch and it totally roasts enemy targets.

Interesting idea, may have to setup a Kuraokami that way (current game is Terran Defector/Yaki Sympathiser). Almost always have a Beam Emitter on any ship I'll fly myself (favourite tool for opening lockboxes, shooting mines, etc), but so far only ever one. Never tried a full set. Not sure why.

[Imperial Good]

TER L Pulse Laser. My Asgards kill thousands of Xenon fighters with them.