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Railgun vs. Blaster
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Takashi Rintarou
Garoun Investment Bank
Gallente Federation
#1 - 2014-09-03 01:56:42 UTC
Which would be better against a frigate: A railgun with 9km optimal range and 5km falloff (125mm Carbide Railgun I) firing antimatter charges or a blaster with 2km optimal range and 1km falloff (Regulated Light Ion Phase Cannon I) and a longer-range charge, like Iridium, Tungsten, or Iron?

Railgun seems better because blaster only gets like .8 or so more damage multiplier and railgun has MUCH larger range but blaster has a much larger tracking speed, so I wasn't sure.

Sorry, I'm fairly new to combat in Eve Online. Thanks!
Baron' Soontir Fel
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#2 - 2014-09-03 02:02:08 UTC  |  Edited by: Baron' Soontir Fel
You pretty much should only be using Antimatter or the T2 ammos in blasters (null and void). I highly highly suggest you sink the 4 days in and get T2 blasters immediately if you want to PvP.

You use blasters if you're fighting within 0-3km. (usually orbit at 500m)

Use rails if you fighting outside that. (Fighting at 8km with a scrambler and webifier, and usually an AB)

Both are good against frigates, you just need pick the right ones for the job.


Also, blasters have better tracking, so you can orbit a railgun user and cause him to miss if you're faster than him.




Good luck!
Takashi Rintarou
Garoun Investment Bank
Gallente Federation
#3 - 2014-09-03 02:15:06 UTC
I was originally planning on using Rails at 8km isk with a scrambler and webifier, and a microwarp drive.
I am using a destroyer to track down the frigate, the MWD is to make sure it doesn't get away. Should I swap that out for a afterburner to get rid of the penalty to signature radius?
Yang Aurilen
State War Academy
Caldari State
#4 - 2014-09-03 03:37:49 UTC
Takashi Rintarou wrote:
I was originally planning on using Rails at 8km isk with a scrambler and webifier, and a microwarp drive.
I am using a destroyer to track down the frigate, the MWD is to make sure it doesn't get away. Should I swap that out for a afterburner to get rid of the penalty to signature radius?


Range control in scram kiting ships is important. It's no good if your prop mod shuts off due to scram and allow whoever you are fighting to molest you at tight orbit. Then again it all depends on where are you fighitng. Plex fighting has its perks with AB users.

Post with your NPC alt main and not your main main alt!
Luwc
State War Academy
Caldari State
#5 - 2014-09-03 07:45:19 UTC
that depends on what frigate.

a lot of people prefer high dps blaster fits but this only works if you are fast enough to catch and hold your target.

in all honesty.

T2 railguns are pretty legit. escpecially on small stuff.

you get good tracking and damage with javelin ammo and got total range control even up to "sniping / kiting" range with spike

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Fourteen Maken
Karma and Causality
#6 - 2014-09-03 09:32:33 UTC
Takashi Rintarou wrote:
I was originally planning on using Rails at 8km isk with a scrambler and webifier, and a microwarp drive.
I am using a destroyer to track down the frigate, the MWD is to make sure it doesn't get away. Should I swap that out for a afterburner to get rid of the penalty to signature radius?


I don't think you can scram kite a frigate in a destroyer, so just put blasters on. I think web, scram, and AB in mids is the best set up so If you get them tackled on the warp in you should always be able to dictate range unless it's a dual web hookbill or something. If you don't get them tackled on the warp in and they are in a kiting frigate an MWD on a destroyer won't save you anyway.
Arla Sarain
#7 - 2014-09-03 12:25:13 UTC
Fly atron
Neutron blaster
Null
3km optimal+8km Falloff = 11km range
And better tracking than railguns.

That being said, it's difficult to say what's absolutely better because one can debate about these forever.

It all boils down to who can fly faster in a straight line. A faster railgun user will keep transversal low, stay in enemy's falloff whilst being close to his own optimal dealing more damage.
A faster blaster user will close in on the railgun user and without even orbiting will win the DPS race cos blaster damage > railgun damage at close range.

IMHO consider application - what do you want to do later on? Range fights or brawl? And pick based on these.
Bronson Hughes
The Knights of the Blessed Mother of Acceleration
#8 - 2014-09-03 14:30:25 UTC  |  Edited by: Bronson Hughes
Some things:

1. Never fit blasters with anything but Antimatter or T2 rounds. Trading damage for a pitiful increase in your already short optimal range is never worth it.

2. Blasters vs. rails depends on your style of fighting, and that of your opponent. If you want to get in their face, or you think they want to get into yours, go with blasters. If you are less certain about effective range control, go with rails.

3. Rails have the benefit of a much larger engagement envelope. If you get long-point tackled with rails you can usually shoot back to some degree, but if you get long-point tackled with blasters all you have are drones.


Personally, on frigates and cruisers I generally (but not always) go rails. I used to be 100% blasters, but after getting kited a few times, I came to appreciate the longer range. Nano rail Thoraxes I've found to be particularly nice because they're fast and have good range. With battleships, I almost always go blasters because Neutrons + Null can still apply damage out to long-point range.

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