The off-axis thrust issue is a major bugaboo. Essentially, it amounts to the question of whether or not the G rating is just the main drive, or and such. But in general, yes, G's used to evade are not G's used for major vector change, BUT, keep in mind that on the scale we're talking, doding a shot after a ping is below the scale.
At 1 LS, that free trader is getting 2 seconds, and thus 20meters, and yes, can dodge on detecting a ping.
A real world laser, however, would be ineffectual at those ranges due to the diffraction limit. (See FF&S1). ISTR that the IR lasers would have a minimum diffraction at an LS of about half a kilometer.... and thus not do a whole terrible lot.
To get realistic ranges out of Bk2 combat, simply drop the penalty bands for lasers from 2500mm and 5000mm to 250mm and 500mm. (This puts the turrets in line with the best non-gravitic turrets in TNE... about 1/6 LS...)
At 1 LS, that free trader is getting 2 seconds, and thus 20meters, and yes, can dodge on detecting a ping.
A real world laser, however, would be ineffectual at those ranges due to the diffraction limit. (See FF&S1). ISTR that the IR lasers would have a minimum diffraction at an LS of about half a kilometer.... and thus not do a whole terrible lot.
To get realistic ranges out of Bk2 combat, simply drop the penalty bands for lasers from 2500mm and 5000mm to 250mm and 500mm. (This puts the turrets in line with the best non-gravitic turrets in TNE... about 1/6 LS...)