I have a two builds a 2750 Strike Frigate or a 3000dt Strike Frigate both J4, M4 each has a fighter contingent and ZSNLF Contingent for small scale raiding and ground actions. But where I need some help understanding exactly what kind of target is game for a 50dt Particle Accelerator compared to a 100dt Particle Accelerator. Ships I get, but say the target is a high port? or can PA’s be effective against ground targets?
If the context is a TL=14 Frigate, you basically have 3 options.
A 100 ton Particle Accelerator Bay weapon is better than either a 50 ton Particle Accelerator Bay weapon OR 10x Particle Accelerator Single Barbettes.
Why? Well @ TL=14 using LBB5.80 ...
100 ton Bay ... Code: 9 = base 4 to hit, 280 total tons (weapon, power plant, fuel, not including crew), MCr395
50 ton Bay ... Code: 5 = base 6 to hit, 140 total tons (weapon, power plant, fuel, not including crew), MCr200
100 ton Bay ... Code: 6 = base 6 to hit, 150 total tons (weapons, power plant, fuel, not including crew), MCr340
Realistically speaking, you're best options in the 2750-3000 ton hull displacement range @ TL=14 would be:
1x 100 ton Particle Accelerator Bay (code: 9)
1x 50 ton Missile Bay (code: 9)
+various turret weapons to make up the remainder.
That said, if you can pare your displacement down to slightly under 2000 tons (1900-1999), you'll still get a hull size -1DM while still being "almost as powerful" of a starship, meaning your Frigate design might not take quite so many hits so quickly.
Of course, in the sub-2000 ton range, you would only be able to mount a single bay weapon (100 ton particle accelerator) along with up to 9 turrets (mix of missiles, sandcasters and whatever else you might be able to spare EPs for after paying for a model/8fib computer) would be the smarter play, I'm thinking.
