' Wrote:Once more, the forward gun of Lib and Dragon cruiser is a weapon against battleships, carriers and probably battlecruiser. Against cruiser, destroyer, gb and even smaller ships the forward gun is not designed to be used.
Well, you may hit smaller ships with, but i think most shots will miss. A cruiser forward gun will never go to become useful against small targets. So everyone can stop to complain about the guns uselessness against fighters, gb's and even destroyer or cruiser. The guns purpose won't be changed ever.
Nevertheless i have to agree that something must be done. The advantage of the gun to LM and missile turrets is the energy efficiency. This advantage it pays with the disadvantage of an only straight fired projectile.
In my opinion the better efficiency cannot compensate the more tactical importance of rotating turrets. I know, thats the reason, why the Lib and Drgon cruiser got better agility, turning and reverse speed for balance.
One point remained unbalanced in my opinion. Lib and Dragoncruiser have the huge gun and 7 - 8 turrets, while most other cruiser have 11 - 12 (Kusari dessi should not be compared to any cruiser because of its size. It can be balanced to other cruiser, but not compared to). So other cruiser can mount a greater variety of turrets.
I don't want anymore turrets on Lib and Dragon cruiser, but this big huge gun should have more damage output (double the damage of LM and missile turrets) and range as it has currently. The better energy efficiency is not enough. Every battleship and carrier captain should be really scared and break into sweat when facing such a cruiser, aware of being destroyed very fast without any support.
In my opinion these cruiser should eat battleships at breakfest, but be cannonfodder to any other shipclasses with minimal closer defensive capabilities against fighters.
AoM
For the record I never said it should be effective against gunboats. A well piloted gunboat (or cruiser even) would still evade 60% of the shots with an increased rate of fire.
However, I suppose doubling its range/damage/Projectile-speed WOULD also be anotehr way to do it. Just as hard to hit with, but it also means it has a chance in a fight as you would rely on it much less other than for an inital closing strike attempt or two, and as you said it would become a major threat to larger ships (or anything caught napping).