X-Pulse Lasers
X-Pulse Lasers, or XPLs, are improved versions of regular Pulse Lasers.
Overview
X-Pulse Lasers work in much the same way as the regular Pulse Lasers with one major difference: they don't require a cool down time and thus can be fired indefinitely, making them effective brawling weapons since their high rate of fire gives them an impressive DPS. Because of the high rate of fire, X-Pulse Lasers can also be competent anti-Battle Armor weapons.
DPS wise X-Pulse Laser is more powerful than both a Pulse Laser or a Standard Laser of similar type. Problem with X-Pulse Lasers is that it is very easy to generate dangerous heat levels with sustained firing -- something that is especially tempting during intense fire fights. When used heavily, it is best to keep an eye on the unit's heat, and to switch to controlled bursts when nearing hazardous heat levels.
Another common problem with X-Pulse Lasers is that while they can provide blistering pinpoint damage, doing that requires staying long times out of cover staring your target. So, good amount of armor and/or the skill of choosing the right time to engage are usually helpful when trying to utilize the full DPS potential of the XPLs. The long engagement times required for effective use can also make taking down air units difficult.
Only Inner Sphere units use X-Pulse Lasers.
Weapon Stats
| Weapon | Max Range |
Beam Duration | Damage |
Damage Type |
Shots /min |
Sustained DPS |
Heat /Shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SXPL | 300m | 0.06s | 14 | Energy | 413.8 | 103 | 2 |
| MXPL | 500m | 28 | 206 | 3.5 | |||
| LXPL | 750m | 47 | 344 | 8.5 | |||
| Air SXPL | 450m | 14 | Energy‑air | 118 | 2 | ||
| Air MXPL | 600m | 28 | 236 | 4 |
| All stats are current as of release 0.10.3 |
SXPL and MXPL
Both the SXPL and MXPL are prime brawling weapons. When used in a brawl extra care should be taken to avoid over-heating as such close-range confrontations tend to be very sharp with heavy exchanges of fire. Use of Coolant may be unavoidable. While they both have impressive damage, applying it consistently to a single component can be difficult. Note as well that your enemy can also rotate armor facings, you cannot while making full use of their damage.
LXPL
With a 750 meter range, the Large X-Pulse Laser is a prime medium-range weapon. When combined with a good firing position that provides cover to hide behind while dissipating heat the LXPL is a powerful sniping weapon that also proves its worth when the range closes. As with all Large Lasers heat can quickly become an issue. The LXPL also shares the engagement time difficulties as other XPL. An enemy with high burst damage weapons closing can quickly prove problematic.
Canon
In 3055 the Federated Commonwealth started research on the X-Pulse Laser, with the first Prototypes entering production in 3057. Although the project was derailed by the FedCom Civil War it didn't stop the deployment of the prototypes. Effectively amounting to modified Inner Sphere pulse lasers, the X-Pulse weapons could cycle faster and discharge with greater power -- although with the cost of significantly greater waste heat. The Clans have no equivalent of the weapon, though the Clan Pulse Lasers maintain a healthy range and moderate damage advantage over the IS X-Pulse.
In CBT the X-Pulse falls under the Experimental Rules Level, and is not part of the core game.
Usage
The following Inner Sphere assets equip X-Pulse Lasers:
| Air SXPL | SXPL | Air MXPL | MXPL | LXPL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
