Cannon: Difference between revisions

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Cannons are a highly specialized weapon, designed for precision damage against modules and punching above their class with extremely high efficiency. In service of this design, they are dramatically more powerful in smaller sizes and on fixed mountings. Notably, cannons have different projectile velocities at different sizes.
Cannons are a highly specialized weapon, designed for precision damage against modules and punching above their class with extremely high efficiency. In service of this design, they are dramatically more powerful in smaller sizes and on fixed mountings. Notably, cannons have different projectile velocities at different sizes.


Comparing cannons with [[Multi-cannon|multi-cannons]], both deal kinetic damage, but the similarities end there. Cannons are better as fixed weapons, while multicannons serve better on a gimballed mount. Multicannons are best at general hull damage, while cannons are more adept at module damage . While multi-cannons are a reliable damage dealer, rate of damage is gradual and much may be deflected by [[Armour Hardness]]. In contrast, cannons do much more damage with a single hit and have relatively high armour piercing values and an exceptionally high hull breach chance, but they also have a low rate of fire and a small magazine size with a long reload time, making them one of the trickier type of weapons to use effectively.
Comparing cannons with [[Multi-cannon|multi-cannons]], both deal kinetic damage, but the similarities end there. Cannons are better as fixed weapons, while multicannons serve better on a gimballed mount. Multicannons are best at general hull damage, while cannons are more adept at module damage. While multi-cannons are a reliable damage dealer, rate of damage is gradual and much may be deflected by [[Armour Hardness]]. In contrast, cannons do much more damage with a single hit and have relatively high armour piercing values and an exceptionally high hull breach chance, but they also have a low rate of fire and a small magazine size with a long reload time, making them one of the trickier type of weapons to use effectively.


There are behavioral similarities between cannons and [[Plasma Accelerator|plasma accelerators]] (both fire slow moving projectiles at a slow rate of fire). However, the plasma accelerator deals both thermal and kinetic damage, a fraction of which is absolute, meaning it negates the resistances on the target's shield or hull to deal full damage. In exchange, accelerators are dramatically less efficient, and serve as a less-specialized primary weapon.
There are behavioral similarities between cannons and [[Plasma Accelerator|plasma accelerators]] (both fire slow moving projectiles at a slow rate of fire). However, the plasma accelerator deals both thermal and kinetic damage, a fraction of which is absolute, meaning it negates the resistances on the target's shield or hull to deal full damage. In exchange, accelerators are dramatically less efficient, and serve as a less-specialized primary weapon.