Difference between revisions of "Extended Range Lasers"

Revision as of 15:21, 20 September 2020

Extended Range Lasers, or ERLs, are an upgraded version of Standard Lasers which have a range advantage compared to other laser weapons.

Overview

Extended Range Lasers are effective at greater range than Standard Lasers, however they produce noticeably more heat, which can cause problems for units that mount many energy weapons and especially in environments with a higher ambient temperature. Like any other laser weapon system, ER Laser's deal damage over the burn time (0.5s), requiring the beam to be maintained on the target (or better, the same location on the target) for the duration.

The Clan versions of ER Lasers's have slightly improved range and noticeably improved damage, but also produce significantly more waste heat.

Weapon Stats

Gameplay & Hints

Extended Range Small and Medium Lasers

ER Small Lasers and ER Medium Lasers are still best used as short to mid-range weapons, focusing damage upon a single component, or raking across critically damaged sections. Unlike its Inner Sphere counterpart, the Clan ERML has the range to be used in medium- to intermediate-range engagements. The additional range and damage make for quite a significant boost in performance. Stricter trigger discipline is required with the ERML, as sustained firing (despite consistent, efficient damage for its mass) produces much higher heat loads. While units packing large groups of ERML are frightening to face, they produce an equally frightening amount of heat to be dissipated, and as such may only get one or two bursts off before nearing shutdown. Chain firing or non-standard weapon groupings can help mitigate this issue, however. Similar traits and pilot discipline correspond to both the IS and Clan ERSL, however to lower degrees due to their considerably lower heat and damage outputs.

Extended Range Large Laser

The ER Large Laser is best used in sniping positions, where a unit can more safely pick away at enemy units and is given more time to dissipate the intense heat generated when firing the weapon. While the Inner Sphere ERLL lacks some of the range and punch of its Clan counterpart, it is more efficient heatwise and should not be underestimated. In contrast, few units can fire more than two CERLL at once due to the massive heat load generated, though this does not account for factors such as ambient temperature.

Canon

Newhart Industries located on New Earth in Terran Hegemony introduced the ERLBL in 2620. The ERLBL became the central focus of the HSR-200-D Hussar BattleMech released five years later, and the success of the 'Mech's blend of speed and its single powerful weapon entrenched Newhart Industries as one of the principle weapon manufacturers of the Terran Hegemony.

Although the Succession Wars would cause the Inner Sphere to lose the technology in 2950, the Clans applied the concept to other laser sizes and produced the ERMBL and ERSBL during the 2820's. Clan Smoke Jaguar would later also introduce he ER Micro Beam Laser in 3060 as part of their ProtoMech project, just before being annihilated in Operation Bulldog.

As with all lost Star League-era technology, plans for the ERLBL were recovered in the Inner Sphere with the discovery of the Helm Core and the weapon entered wide deployment in Inner Sphere forces first with the Draconis Combine in 3037. Later, after contact with the Clans, the Inner Sphere would also develop their own versions of the ERMBL and ERSBL, with the Free Worlds League releasing the first ones in 3058.

Clan ER Lasers have both improved range and deal more damage then the Inner Sphere versions of the weapons.

BT - TechManual reference pg 226

BattleTech reference

Usage

The following assets equip ER Lasers: