CRB 2nd Ed. Do i understand shipboard lasers?

[Torbyne]

I am new to Traveller and slowly working through my PDF of the 2nd ed book, can someone let me know if i have this right?

Pulse lasers have a +4 DM and 2D damage while beam lasers have a +8 DM and 1D... but that +8 also counts towards Effect so that an average roll from an even moderately competent Gunner will result in something like a 15 or 16 on the attack which will almost guarantee a critical, right? I am coming from a background in 3.PF DnD so i have sort of taken to comparing it to critical threat range and critical multiplier. It also seems like Pulse lasers scale a lot better in multi-weapon mounts with pulse going from average damage roll of 7 to an 11 in a triple mount while beam lasers scale from 3.5 to 5.5 in a triple. How accurate are these view?

 

[AnotherDilbert]

From the table on p156 and p158
Pulse Laser: To Hit +2, Damage 2D
Beam Laser: To hit +4, Damage 1D

You also have negative modifiers on the to hit roll, like range(p156), Evade(p151), Evasive Action(p156), so hits are not guaranteed.

The Effect is added to damage, but armour is directly subtracted, so even if you hit damage is not guaranteed.

It also seems like Pulse lasers scale a lot better in multi-weapon mounts with pulse going from average damage roll of 7 to an 11 in a triple mount while beam lasers scale from 3.5 to 5.5 in a triple.

Correct, more damage dies are good.

Missiles do more damage, unless you counter them with Point Defence or Electronic Warfare.

 

[Torbyne]

From the table on p156 and p158
Pulse Laser: To Hit +2, Damage 2D
Beam Laser: To hit +4, Damage 1D

You also have negative modifiers on the to hit roll, like range(p156), Evade(p151), Evasive Action(p156), so hits are not guaranteed.

The Effect is added to damage, but armour is directly subtracted, so even if you hit damage is not guaranteed.

It also seems like Pulse lasers scale a lot better in multi-weapon mounts with pulse going from average damage roll of 7 to an 11 in a triple mount while beam lasers scale from 3.5 to 5.5 in a triple.

Correct, more damage dies are good.

Missiles do more damage, unless you counter them with Point Defence or Electronic Warfare.

Ok, i thought something was off in my math, i had somehow doubled the accuracy bonuses. i need to review that section again when i get home. Evade is thrust points dedicated to evading and is a straight conversion of 1 pt thrust spent on evading cancels one point from the attack roll and evasive action is a penalty equal to the effect of a pilot roll?

With the corrected math that pulse laser is looking like an all around better option for hitting and damage over the beam. too bad though, i like the visual of the beam lasers better

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Evade is thrust points dedicated to evading and is a straight conversion of 1 pt thrust spent on evading cancels one point from the attack roll and evasive action is a penalty equal to the effect of a pilot roll?

Evade is just computer software, no thrust needed.
Evasive Action costs 1 Thrust to dodge one attack, no roll just Pilot skill (& characteristic & augmentation) as - to hit.

 

[Torbyne]

Evade is thrust points dedicated to evading and is a straight conversion of 1 pt thrust spent on evading cancels one point from the attack roll and evasive action is a penalty equal to the effect of a pilot roll?

Evade is just computer software, no thrust needed.
Evasive Action costs 1 Thrust to dodge one attack, no roll just Pilot skill (& characteristic & augmentation) as - to hit.

whoops. looks like i will be rereading that whole chapter tonight.