Hybrid weapons are blasters and rails (aka Plasma cannons, shotguns, sniper rifle).

Laser weapons would be any (and probably all) of the Amarr weapons, which right now are the Laser Rifle and Scrambler Rifle (since the Scrambler pistol doesn't overheat.)

This is common knowledge in EVE, but I can understand how those who haven't played would be left somewhat in the dark.

Fun Fact: Hybrid weapons are called that because the ammo they use can either have the plasma suspended in the round run though a cyclotron and then spat out (like the Plasma Cannon, AR, and Shotgun), or the whole round (plasma + container) can be fired from a rail gun (which is what all the rail weapons fire, plasma suspended in a container, allowing the kinetic damage from the hypersonic container to do damage as well as the release of plasma upon impact.)

I was just giving my theory of why it may have fallen through the cracks on CCP's to-do list. They've been dealing with it so long it's just second nature.

The easiest way to figure it out is by who makes it. The Caldari prefer missiles and rails, the Gallente prefer blasters (and drones), the Minmatar are very behind the curve of everyone else and thus still use gunpowder weapons ("projectiles"), and the Amarr are very laser heavy (though also dabble in some drones [and an offshoot kingdom likes missiles]).

Viziam, Carthum = Amarr
Ishukone, Wyrkomi, Kaalakkiota = Caldari
Duvolle, Allotek, Creodron = Gallente
Boundless Creation, Freedom Extension (Or just "Freedom" in DUST) = Minmatar

If anything, it's almost as if the Amarr bonuses are expressely for the Scrambler Rifle. You can fire 80% of a Laser Rifle's battery (aka magazine) before it'll overheat on you, and that's if you're firing it nonstop. The SR? You get maybe 6 shots in quick succession before it overheats and vents it all into your face for 50 points of damage. It'll be the weapon to benefit the most from the heat reduction skills, and I'd bet my bottom dollar that the bonuses apply.

But I certainly understand your caution. SP isn't something you can make 150k of for a single game, unlike ISK.

+1

I am interested in finding out about the melee damage too.

I also wonder if I use two side arms, one in the light weapon slot and one in the side arm slot, and have a sidearm damage mod, does that apply to both sidearms? Or just the weapon in the sidearm slot?

Hybrid (plasma) - assault rifle, plasma cannon, ion pistol (not yet released), shotgun
Hybrid (railgun) - forge gun, sniper rifle, magsec SMG (not yet released), rail rifle (not yet released), bolt pistol (not yet released)
Laser (beam) - laser rifle
Laser (pulse) - scrambler pistol, scrambler rifle
Projectile - SMG, HMG, combat rifle (not yet released), precision rifle (not yet released)
Explosive - mass driver, swarm launcher, flaylock pistol

Still would like to know about damage mods.

Can I suggest. A heavy gun that shot explosive rounds like mini rockets that fired almost at an arc? but slowly.

What about ranges...