With the actual values in the wiki (thanx go to Nickierv) we can discuss the plasma canon. I nearly can't remember the last game, where one commander has researched it. And if you check these values it seems obvious: You receive more heat (26) than the target (17). So I would suggest to change it to these values: (Less heat, more heat to target, less damage) Please try to keep the discussion on the plasma canon values.
I'd prefer it to be a cannon similar to HE in fire speed and heat output, however it bypasses armor resistances, affecting only the base HP, its damage should be greater than ranged cannon against high resistance armors like reflective, reactive, and absorbant, but weaker against HP based armors like composite and regenerative, and to a degree reactive because it's got high HP but it would be better than other cannons which suffer the damage reduction as well. This would make it a solid cannon choice and give it strengths no other cannon has, it can potentially be the most powerful cannon, but it can also be weaker against some armors, and it has a serious heat output which offsets its strength, making ranged which is in the same tree still a perfectly good choice.
The problem is the damage ratio, if you're up against 2 tanks, you're basically keeping them overheated rather than actually killing them. Does need to give more heat out than it gives itself though.
The thing is, whilst these values are all well and dandy and better than the current ones, I still think it's a bit shit. Relying on a weapon that does no damage just isn't feasable.
Plasma is support. Tech tree doesn't like support weapons. Plasma shit. Options: Better tech tree Remove Waste of time: Tweak
But Plasma as support weapon makes only sense for the Plasma MG. You won't have a tank with canons only as support tank. So I tried to change Plasma to a normal canon, that is better than standard canon but weaker than HE, Ranged and Rail. But maybe because Physics already have a canon, the plasma canon should really be removed or changed into plasma missle.
Wouldn't it be more plausible to move one of the cannons from physics into the mech/bio tree? Physics has 2 cannons, 2 mgs and an uber missile. Bio has 1 mg, 1 ml. Chem has 1 mg, 1ml, 1 cannon Elec has 1 uber cannon and 2 mls. Mech has nothing. Tbh looks like bio tree is missing some plasma, no?
Except for the minor problem that as far as I know, empires doesn't have tyranids, and therefore no 'bio plasma'. If you wanted to you could get rid of bio ML and add a bio cannon which does the same thing, the function of bio seems to fit a cannon more than it does a missile anyway.
I have no idea what the Brits are up to, but as an American, I am yet to hear of a biological cannon shell. but Biological warheads are not unheard of. (not that we use them)
The current values suck. 5 shots to overheat the target, and you can only get 4 off? The new numbers look good, if anything , lower the cycle to 1,8 and damage to 70. If you want to revamp the cannon, why not the mg as well?
People are stupid. Don't forget that the other target is shooting too. I don't have the values in front of me, so here we go, abstract-style. You're shotting a plasma cannon, they're shooting a standard. You shoot and hit. You gain say 10 heat, they gain 5. At the same time, they shoot you. They gain 10 heat, you gain 0. Net result: Your heat, 10. Theirs, 15. If plasma heats them more than you, you could never, ever lose a tank battle.
Heat is a lame way to fight, none enjoys sitting ducks infront of eachother with some occasional shooting. It should not have a positive heat to target / heat ratio that would me it both lame and overpowered.
What Apogee said makes sense, although right now its like that but the opposite. You shoot them but overheat, and then they kill you. Plasma needs something new I guess. Mega splash, damage over time, % damage to hull, whatever. It either needs a neat new mechanic or just plain more damage.
Except plasma gives you 15 heat and the other cannons give the enemy 5. Heat to target is a silly mechanic, I want to blow tanks up not overheat them. I want mega pyrotechnic awesome in my tank, I want plasma to shoot plasma, not cannon shells.
