Editing Beam Overview (section)

==Energy Weapon Types==
Energy weapons usually has two paired techs: one that determines the weapon damage, and one that determines the weapon range, often with some interplay between the two. Additionally, all energy weapons are powered by a capacitor which draws energy from a ship-based [[Power Plants]]. Therefore, all energy weapons depend on the capacitor recharge rate technology. There are several types of Energy Weapons:

* '''[[Lasers]]''' are the staple energy weapon. They have the longest ranges of any energy weapon at a comparable tech level, but they also have a steep damage drop-off with range. Lasers can be mounted in turrets. Focal size determines damage and wavelength determines damage fall-off. Both interplay to determine range.
: Lasers are the yardstick for other beam weapons and are reasonably good at everything. Larger lasers can be used as offensive weapons and have a good damage output. Small lasers can be used as dedicated point defence weapons, or slightly larger ones can be used in a dual point defence / anti-ship role.
: In [[CSharp|C#]], Lasers can have [[spinal mount]]s, which can allow a single larger weapon to be added to each ship. 

* '''[[Particle Beams]]''' have no range drop-off, causing the same damage across their entire range. Their range is slightly worse than lasers, and at equal tech levels, a particle beam will out-damage lasers at its maximum range who will do only a portion of its damage. Particle beams cannot be turret-mounted. Particle Beam Range determines range and Particle Beam Strength determines damage.
: A ship armed with particle beams should attempt to engage at longer ranges against other beam armed ships to take advantage of its fixed damage, while enemy damage decreases with range. This is a pure anti-ship weapon and would perform badly if used as a point defence weapon. 
: In [[CSharp|C#]], the Particle Beam also adds a Particle Lance option at higher technology levels. This dramatically increases the size, cost, and damage of the system, while also giving it a [[damage template]] that is extremely good at punching holes in armour. 

* '''[[Mesons]]''' are short-ranged weapon, effective at bypassing defences. They do very little damage per shot (they are fixed at 1), but they ignore [[Armour and Shields|shields and armour]] causing [[Internal Damage]]. They can be turret-mounted. Focal size and focusing technology interplay to determine range.
: Mesons turrets are quite a popular choice for point defence, partly because they are ideal against an opponent who uses armoured missiles and partly because they are a very good anti-ship weapon at point blank range.

* '''[[High-Powered Microwave]]''' (HPM) are short-ranged like a meson cannon but effective against shields and electronic systems. HPMs also do little damage per shot (fixed at 1) and ignore armour. But, they do bonus damage (x3) to shields, and once shields are down, microwaves only affect electronic components. They cannot be turret-mounted. Focal size and focusing technology interplay to determine range.
: HPM can be a powerful weapon, if used properly. Although it causes no damage to the majority of a ship's systems, it can blind the enemy, either forcing him to retreat or rendering him vulnerable to more destructive weapons. However, it is also quite expensive, costing twice as much as a similar size Meson Cannon, and difficult to employ effectively because of its relatively short range.

* '''[[Plasma Carronade]]''' have the highest damage of any energy weapon, but are extremely short-ranged. They have only one background tech besides capacitor recharge rate: Plasma Carronade calibre, and there is no way to enhance range beyond increasing the damage output. They are generally larger than other energy weapons of equivalent tech level and thus more damaging, but their extemely short range renders them with limited use. They cannot be mounted on turret.
: If you are outclassed technologically then build a ship with a few of these and wait for your opponent beyond a jump point. It cannot be turret mounted and is far from ideal as a point defence weapon.
: In [[CSharp|C#]], Plasma Carronades can have [[spinal mount]]s, which can allow a single larger weapon to be added to each ship.