[Black Wolf]

I don't think the main FS campaign ever really gives you the incentive to really learn the advantages of some of the seemingly weaker weapons. I've been FREDding high-difficulty, restricted-loadout missions of late, and have gained massive respect for some of the less loved weapons. The basic loadout I'm using at the moment is Myrmidon with Akheton/Subach + Rockeyes, tornadoes, Tempests. The tornadoes are for occasionally taking down fast, nimble but weak fighters from a reasonable distance, because they track well, like the Harpoon. The Rockeyes are for turrets, since you can use them from >1500m away i.e. outside of beam range, and you can fire off all five in the Myrmy's top bank in around 2 seconds (less if you dual fire). Even without trebs, you can easily defang freighters and light cruisers from a distance. The Akheton helps with that as well, but when you don't need it, yo can put on the Subach and drop gun energy down to almost zero. It's got a good enough range and fire rate to make up for the less than stellar damage, and when you need to pump out extra pain, dual firing the Tempests does the job nicely. So really, I don't think there's an ideal loadout - it's more about using your weapons to their full advantage by choosing the most appropriate application.


All that aside, when I'm unencumbered by plot required restrictions, I'll grab a Prom S on a Sekhmet and load up with Trebs, Harpoons and Helios

[Galemp]

I really really hate flying the Potato but sometimes you just gotta spit out Trebuchets all over the place.

I take the Thoth with Prom S + Tempests whenever possible: offensively the quad lasers are superb, and there's plenty of energy and secondary bank capacity to go around; defensively its shape is hard to hit and nimble too.

Sometimes, though, I mix things up with a Myrmidon carrying EMP missiles, Tempests and Tornadoes. It's good to have some variety.

[eliex]

Somehow I prefer flying the Pegasus whenever it is available. 
I guess that my flying style is based on primaries and speed.

[terran_emperor]

My preference is power. I'm like the terminator - i go in guns blazing, overwelming the enemy with superior firepower

My favourite loadout is an Erinyes loaded with either Dual Kaisers or Kaiser/Maxim for primaries, and Harpoon/Trebuchet for secondaries.

Power ratings look something like this

=   =
=   =
=   =   =
=   =   =
G   S   E
=   =   =
=   =   =
=   =
=   =

[Snail]

I'm lazy. I just take a Tauret or an Ares and lob missiles at people.

Oh, and if anyone gets to close, Kaysers and Maxims. Or Harpoons if I'm especially lazy.

[Jadehawk]

My Preference for primaries is the Kaiser if my ship's got a good power reserve. If not, the ol standby Prometheus S is the standard preference.
The Maxim is a joke with that stupid recoil. Why would anyone want to have that with all that recoil is beyond me. And from a professional stand point, it's not something you would see on a fighter that cannot dampen the recoil which I find funny in this game.
All these lasers, warping to far distances and they can't create a decent dampening for the Maxim gun. If you ask me, they could if they place it in a damping field sort of like a Mag Lev train you see in Europe that keeps it stationary, yet not cause any problems with the host ship.

My Secondaries preference is the Trebunchet depending on the mission at hand. If that's not an ideal tactical solution, then it's the Harpoon. Anything else I'm waisting my time.

[Mars]

The recoil doesn't actually effect accuracy. It's just mildly annoying.

[Kie99]

Ares

2 Banks of Maxim
4 Banks of Kayser

Tornado - Like a "Die" button for fighters)
Trebuchet - Can take out a wing of bombers below Seraphim class before they get anywhere near the ship they're trying to attack.

[dragonsniper]

Ares

2 Banks of Maxim
4 Banks of Kayser

Tornado - Like a "Die" button for fighters)
Trebuchet - Can take out a wing of bombers below Seraphim class before they get anywhere near the ship they're trying to attack.

Do you mean 2 Maxim guns and 4 Kayser guns? Cause if you do...

[terran_emperor]

The maxim is sweet cos you can snipe out turrets from a safe distance (Despite what Trashman says)

[dragonsniper]

Is it the Maxim that shakes the screen when you shoot?

[Rodo]

Is it the Maxim that shakes the screen when you shoot?

right!

[terran_emperor]

The maxim uses a recoil - though it doesnt affect your aim. It also has a 3km range - i would expectnothing less from a mass driver.

Trashman once argued, at great length with Karajorma, that the Maxim's range was a mistake on part.

[Mars]

To be fair, it horribly effects the balance, because from the point you get the Maxim on, anti-fighter defenses are moot.

That's fine in a single campaign, but aftermarket campaigns usually either ignore the maxim, or ignore cruisers.

[Snail]

Send fighters after him.

[eliex]

Send fighters after him.

Send Shivan fighters after him with lots and lots of shielding. 

[Androgeos Exeunt]

A good way to circumvent any sort of ship vibration (be it from a hit, using the afterburners, or using the Maxim) is to switch to Chase View. When you do so, however, be sure you don't have to rely on your lead indicator.

[BengalTiger]

For the Erynies: Maxim+Maxim; Trebuchet+harpoon.

8 maxims give the shield damage of 4 Subachs, so it's like flying a Perseus with an all-Subach armament, only with much higher projectile speed, and much longer range. With good aiming, you can splash a Mara before it can shoot back.

The Trebs properly used will give unshielded targets 3 km away, perfect for shooting with the Maxims (single fire prefered, shooting continuously sucks batteries too fast) before they can do anything.

And the Harpoons are as a backup weapon, in case any fighters manage to avoid the Treb with their name on it.

For the Perseus: All Kayser; Treb+Harpoon.

With this ship, it's best to use single fire mode for the missiles, a-burn close to a damaged target and finish it quickly with the primaries. With dual fire the Trebs run out really fast, and a single one is more than enough for any fighter charging at you.

And the GTF Pegasus:

Subach for primary, 3 Trebs+4 Harpoons, or all Harpoons for secondaries.

With 3 Trebs and some luck you can have a wing of 4 Maras changed into a wing of 1 Mara and 3 flying pieces of junk, and you're able to shoot all 4 down easily without backup.

With the All-Harpoon loadout it's good to have some friends because you won't have the advantage of superior range, but you'll be able to challenge 2 or 3 wings of enemies before running out of missiles.

[Molybdenum]

It came up when playing Derelict on hard.

The Kayser is rarely available in that campaign. I've learned to use the Prommy to some effect.

My favorite loadout vs. Terrans and Vasuldans is a Persues with 1 bank of Prometheus S and another with Morning Star for ragdollising and stopping their heavy ships and toasting bombs.

Versus Shivans its the same except Subach instead of Morning Star. Their ships are light and they fly away to far if you hit them with MS. Subach just makes them blow fasters.

Secondaries depend on whether I need Trebs or Tornadoes. I either case its either two banks of Trebs or two banks of Tornadoes.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

Derelict, Derelict...

I think I use Subachs pretty often.