Posted by: joeclark77
« on: September 27, 2017, 01:15:46 PM »I'm 95% sure lasers outrange HPM of the same tech level. And lasers outrange same-level beam FC's. This means you'll need to be at a higher tech than your opponent in both BFC range and HPM range if you want to use HPM's from outside laser range.
So don't do it from outside laser range! How many sensors and fire controls does the average ship carry? I would think that if you have dedicated destroyers firing nothing but full broadsides of HPMs, even at a fraction of the enemy's tonnage you should be able to engage in a short-range melee battle and survive. Assuming you're fast enough to close with the enemy.
Note: I have never tried this, preferring to use fighters, but it seems sensible...