Pre-igniter vs Auto-loader

[Ozei]

...And if you're stacked with BL2's, you don't need no autoloader OR preigniter!...

I strongly disagree. I've had a run with three BL2's and a couple of auto-loaders at the same time, and BL2 is really one of the weapons that truly benefits from autoloaders. BL2 already has very high damage-per-minute, and cutting down loading times with autoloaders and skilled gunner can actually double the DPM. So 3x15%+19%=64% reduction in loading times, so it's almost triple the DPM (if you manage to get 3xautoloader and skilled gunner). That's actually kind of ridiculous; you can get those BL2s firing every four seconds, and I doubt nothing could last against that kind of barrage.

Even just one autoloader reduces loading times 15% so that makes your stack of BL2:s fire six times every minute versus five times without (20% boost to DPM), add a crewmember (even non-skilled one) and you have one heck of killing machine.

TL;DR: if I have BL2(s) and I see autoloader somewhere, I'm like "ME WANTSSS DAT!!!"

[Twinge]

It stacks multiplicatively rather than additively, so triple reloader plus level 2 crewman gives you a final cooldown of 49.7% - so just a hair over double speed. Still fantastic, of course.

[spacecadet13]

Of course you WANT an autoloader to go with your multiple BL2's, but you don't NEED one! You're pretty OP already, and adding an autoloader to that combo is just overkill.

Autoloader makes every weapon and weapon loadout better...can't say the same for ignitor - early on, when you can one-shot or cripple ships with Glaive or BL3 or missiles, then maybe PI is better for those weapons in those circumstances, but with a weapon combo based around say, Ion Blast I & II and a heavy laser, would you really want a preignitor over an autoloader?

[BKT]

IMO one of the biggest advantage of Pre-igniter is that it has the unique ability to transform a terrible weapon combination into a usable or even a kickass one, open up more tactics a to be use effectively & with better reliability. This is especially true for ships with 4 weapon slots since there's more room to switch things around.

Auto-Reloader, on the other hand, does not change anything much for most weapon setup and circumstances; it just increased the effectiveness of the same thing that you've been doing— a benefits which Pre-igniter shares (more or less, depend on what you use).

[Smauler]

Actually, considering the Reloader is 40 and the Pre-igniter is 120, the real question is:

What's better, a pre-igniter or *three* auto-loaders?

Now I'm drooling thinking about 3 auto-loaders.

Funny you should mention that... I had a recent game with possibly my deadliest ship ever. 2 Ion 2s and a burst laser II... 3 offensive drones... and 3 autoloaders. It wasn't the hardiest ship in the world, but it took out enemy ships faster than _anything_ else I've ever seen.

Back on topic... I almost always do whatever I can to get a pre-igniter. In some cases, it's not worth it though... like with 2 ion 2s and a burst II. The ions will fire first anyway, some of the time twice before the enemy has got a shot off.

Big, heavy weapons work best with the pre-igniter. That being said, anyone who wouldn't take 2 burst IIs over 1 burst III doesn't know the stats. Smaller weapons are almost invariably better in FTL. I remember when I used to get excited at picking up a burst III or glaive beam. Now I almost invariably sell them, unless I'm desperate for any weapon.