That is not a good comparison.
An infrared laser of that size and recharge rate would only cost 324.
Use visible light, and you are at the same cost with better damage retention and damage profile... well worth the increased crew requirements.
Yeah, the big thing to remember that at equal size, plasma carronades have the same range as the
lowest range-tech laser. But their damage dropoff is worse. I feel like I need to illustrate this.
35cm C8 Plasma Carronade
Damage Output 32 Rate of Fire: 20 seconds
Max Range 320 000 km Carronade Size: 11 HS Carronade HTK: 5
Power Requirement: 32 Power Recharge per 5 Secs: 8
Cost: 90 Crew: 22
Materials Required: 18x Duranium 18x Boronide 54x Corundium
Development Cost for Project: 7500RP
35cm C8 Infrared Laser
Damage Output 32 Rate of Fire: 20 seconds Range Modifier: 1
Max Range 320 000 km Laser Size: 11 HS Laser HTK: 5
Power Requirement: 32 Power Recharge per 5 Secs: 8
Cost: 45 Crew: 33
Materials Required: 9x Duranium 9x Boronide 27x Corundium
Development Cost for Project: 450RP
These are designs of the same size, with lasers using the lowest available range technology. So, by cursory examination, the
worst laser is only better than the carronade by it's cost, impact damage depth, and crew, right?
Wrong, actually.
They... Wait.
35cm C8 Infrared Laser (1) Range 320 000km TS: 8000 km/s Power 32-8 RM 1 ROF 20
32 16 10 8 6 5 4 4 3 335cm C8 Plasma Carronade (1) Range 320 000km TS: 8000 km/s Power 32-8 RM 1 ROF 20
32 16 10 8 6 5 4 4 3 3Well, what do you know. So I was mistaken. Plasma carronades are just "kinda bigger" infrared lasers, except for the fact that the Damage Per HS is identical, the carronades are much more expensive, and their damage profiles are suboptimal. Case closed anyway, I guess, considering the existence of spinal mounts.