Year ago lasers were the worst weapon in game...
Plasma Did more hull damage...
Light Cannons did more Shield damage...
Both had more range...
But you could kill ships and pretend to be awesome...



Perks
Heavy Weapons
Modern
The perk that increases fire rate...

20 seconds of shooting 3 hard points of starting lasers into a starting ship with 2 crew with ~+20% energy damage each gave me a massive totally broken and overpowered
67 shield damage total...