Gauss or PPC?

[Dem0n_Dude]

What's the best weapon in people's opinion? I worked out the damage that each weapon does in 1 minute:
The gauss does (42.2 x 88)= 3713.6 damage to shields and (17.9 x 88)=1575.2 damage to hull.
The PPC does (46.5 x 43)=1999.5 damage to shields and (8.2x 43)= 352.6 damage to hull.

Range is Gauss-4.78km PPC-6.62km.
By the looks of it disregardin range the gauss completly outclasses the ppc but ppc is quite popular and there must be a reason for it.

[ephemeron]

The range makes a big difference. Say you've got two M2's closing at a combined speed of 100 m/s -- that's a good 18 seconds during which PPC can do damage but Gauss can't. And you can prolong that time if you want to keep your distance (e.g., you're in a ship with PPC's fighting a K with GC's).

Also, I'm pretty sure the damage values in the encyclopedia are per second rather than per shot. I get 2532 shield/1074 hull per minute of Gauss fire and 2790/492 for PPC. GC's get through hull sufficiently faster that I think they'll still kill most big game in less total firing time than PPC's, but PPC's will do the job in less total time.

[delray]

- Your in-game Encyclopedia contains information about damage per second for all weapons. Just check there.

- DPS to shields for PPC is 46500, GC has DPS of 42200. This would basically make GC an ammo-based alternative to PPC but sadly it has whole 2 KM lower range so isn't as useful in front batteries as IonC/PPC (because front you want to start shooting before enemy starts).

- I usually mount PPC+IonC up front and a mixture of PPC/GC/IBL/CIG on sides. I could go full PPC but it's boring.

[Dem0n_Dude]

oh thx for clarifying that i guess ill go for ppc thx alot

[mrbadger]

I like the Gauss Cannon, it's a pretty good multi ship battle weapon, and of course it doesn't drain the power pack of the ship using it.

I have a Ray kitted out with all Gauss Cannons in its front turret, and it's a serious capital ship masher.

The Ammo lasts forever too (well, ages).

[RandomBandit]

You can 'charge' the PPC up...I am not sure what this does exactly, but I observed increased damage output. Assuming the gauss cannon lacks this ability, it could make a substantial difference in performance (even if the damage per energy spent remains the same).

[Frostynso]

You can 'charge' the PPC up...I am not sure what this does exactly, but I observed increased damage output. Assuming the gauss cannon lacks this ability, it could make a substantial difference in performance (even if the damage per energy spent remains the same).

With PPC it doesn't make a major difference, unlike with the PSP, where it makes a huge difference.

[delray]

Yeah, and with IBL you lose damage if you charge.

[yelgrun]

If you have up to 50 million dollars, u need to kill Khaak M2, get Baron Thresher and load it with PPC. It's poor man destroyer.

[Ares23]

Get the Truelight Seeker, put GC's upfront.... now THAT is a poor man's destroyer

[Zloth]

Put those cannons on there and you've got a fine ship for transporting GC ammo. It's just a Goner ship - can't have any weapons, right? Muuhahahhaa. Gotta love a Q ship.

[delray]

It's one of the must-do things in X3TC: You just have to load your Truelight Seeker with GCs and go sink a Q.

[yelgrun]

Spoiler

Show

Do we get Truelight Seeker only after goner's plot?

{spoiler tags! - Carlo}

[Ares23]

yes

[kurush]

Gauss is impressive on Shrike and Truelight Seeker If you are on a destroyer with adequate laser gen, use PPC. And Shrike sucks compared to Panther even with Gauss/IBL combo (where applicable). Due to poor speed and fewer turrets. At least I am not as successful in it when clearing Khaak sectors.

[arcana75]

IMHO there is only 1 trial by fire to determine which weapon is better:

Fight a Khaak M2 head on and tell me which weapon saves ur ship

[Bomar]

Now I have never gone up against a Khaak cap ship yet(Dont know if i ever really want to just yet ) But I can usually take down the xenon capital ships without to much trouble in a shrike. Granted I do send a handful of drones after it to crash that windows OS they have on board....

[arcana75]

Now I have never gone up against a Khaak cap ship yet(Dont know if i ever really want to just yet ) But I can usually take down the xenon capital ships without to much trouble in a shrike. Granted I do send a handful of drones after it to crash that windows OS they have on board....

Khaak Gamma Kyon Emiters have about 4-5+km range and have high damage and fire rates and they don't miss, so strafing to avoid big and slow bullets from Xenon cap ships will be out of the question.

Firing slow bullets at Khaak M2s, u begin to realise while ur bullets are enroute, ur own shields are already 50% from the Khaak's insta-barrage.

With a PPC, u can take out the M2 at ~4.5k, b4 it even starts to fire at u. U can start firing at ~7.5km or even earlier.

Of cuz it's a complete different story if u use "kite" tactics or tons of drones and swarm missiles.

[pjknibbs]

You can take down a Kha'ak M2 in a GC-equipped Shrike no problem. More than one might be an issue because you do take a bit of a hit to your shields, though.

[arcana75]

You can take down a Kha'ak M2 in a GC-equipped Shrike no problem. More than one might be an issue because you do take a bit of a hit to your shields, though.

I guess so, but is it a cakewalk or is some flying involved? That's my point.