So as per the formula above (take it with a grain of salt it's a very old quote from Wolfman)

damage = base damage + 0.6 * shots fired

So the damage per "shot" of the laser is determined by how long you've held the trigger down. So if you fire a bunch of shots (into a rock, some cover, off in the air) before you put the beam on the target you have higher damage per shot and the target has less time to react and you're more likely to get the kill. This is called preheating.

One other trick is don't put your beam on the target until they're far enough away from cover that you'll be able to kill them.

I'm sure you know about pre-heating by now.

As a relative noobie on this game, I've specced into two weapons so far: MDs and lasers.
I love them both to my death (which is often). I like the laser and MD for the same reasons: precision. MD's don't have it, lasers do.
THat makes the laser harder to use, IMO. A bit of spray can really help you out when you are strafing around, and a laser is more like a mobile sniping stand.
As a late discoverer, it's hard for me to say what it's been, but presently, I can only melt folks who have no cover when I don't have to move.
It is an assist king, however, and I'm ok with that. Plus, you really can just vaporize shields in no time--and that's with just regular armor and level 3 laser. That makes it helpful for the other 500 guys with ARs to finish off! Plus, I use it like a laser pointer, e.g. the bad guy is over here ---------->

There's a thread stickied above that gives you all the weapon ranges. Laser Rifle optimal range is about 80m. So you want to always try to fire at this range for max damage. Then you have continuous fire and heat build up, something the grand majority of people don't understand.

Currently the STD laser overheats at 40/100 ammo. Laser Rifle is crap atm, that's why you don't see them. It was good in Chromosome, some even say OP. The Viziam could overheat as low as 8-12/100 ammo. This is the reason it did such ridiculous damage along with its high base damage. Yes less heat build up increases damage, that's why you see the Viziam has same base damage as the STD and ELM. Continuous fire increases damage, if you stop at 20/100 ammo you'll do more damage than stopping at 40/100.

Friend me and hit me up in game and we'll do a LR tag team. We'll both rock LRs and do double the dps by primarying the beams

umm, proto suits and weapons are POINTLESS
im not pay over 57K ISJ for ONE thing if i get 150K ISK a game.....

im not pay over 57K ISK for ONE thing if i get 150K ISK a game.....