Quote:
Originally Posted by Eagle of Fire
That's the very basis of the laser VS plasma argument.
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I wasn't comparing laser to plasma, but laser rifle to heavy laser. Auto shot with laser rifle means shooting three times with 46% accuracy each spending 34% of TUs for all three; snap shot with heavy laser (it doesn't have auto) means shooting once with 50% accuracy and spending 33% of TUs, or three times spending 99% of TUs. It's not difficult to realize that laser rifle is far better no matter the situation. Same goes for snap and aimed, the rifle's better accuracy (since you say you don't like to rely on luck) and less TU spending, more than makes for the greater power of a single heavy laser shot.
There's no such thing as relying on luck or not, you're always doing it. What you must do is choosing the tactic that gives you better odds. Sometimes it's better for the overall odds to shoot more times and sometimes to shoot more carefully, it depends basically on the range. (But the influence of range is not documented and sometimes the right decision is uncertain.)
As for rifles and pistols, I can't see why using the inferior rifles would give me better odds against tough enemies. Rifles are as useless against them as pistols and I of course use grenades every time if I don't have a more powerful alternative. One single rifle shot has a power of 30, and the pistol has 26 which is almost the same. Plus the pistol is cheaper in terms of TU and you'll be able to shoot more times, and so you can actually deal more damage in a turn with the pistol than with the rifle, even though each shot is slightly weaker.