Mechanics of the plasma launcher

[vokain]

thread for discussion of the plasma launcher

Plasma launcher: surprisingly good weapon
Without locking on, which takes about 2-3 seconds depending on how well your reticules are on the enemy, the plasma launcher is about as useful as a plasma grenade. When you hold down the trigger, it charges the gun up. Upon release, a "plasma grenade" is launched out homing on the person you tracked. You can charge one up to four plasma grenades to shoot, but i recommend the less the better, unless you see a group. Fully charging and firing expends like half the gun battery, if i recall correctly

I've only used the plasma launcher a few times, so please add some input!

[hobbert]

they have toned it down quite a bit since the beta. its lock on isnt nearly as good

[skitrel]

I hate it, it's incredibly easy to dodge and is really only useful against unsuspecting enemies.

The fact that there's a chance you might miss even makes it useless against an unsuspecting opponent, in the time it takes to charge, lock on and ultimately miss I could have put 5 pistol or dmr shots into his brain.

The grenade launcher on the other hand.... It's a thing of beauty, instant kill with a direct hit, does next to nothing if you miss and is entirely under your own control. Fantastic skill based power weapon.

[individual]

It's terrible for direct assaults (unlike the rocket launcher), but it is good at killing campers by free-firing into the room they're in and for destroying vehicles. Same as with the GL