Thu Apr 17, 2003 3:23 am by matt_lever
Rather than being damage-orientated, I think they are based more on how 'advanced' they are. For example, a cheap ship, like a Starfighter, can only take up to, what is it, level 4? But if you go for a high-level requirement, expensive ship, they have both the hardpoints and the energy banks to take the weapon. A level 10 weapon probably uses more energy in one shot than a Dagger has in its entire battery. Military weapons are generally higher-grade than their civilian counterparts.
Also, the level of a weapon affects whether you can buy it at all, probably to encourage advancement. You have to be a certain level yourself to buy a certain level of weapon. And the high-level weapons even require you to be friendly with those selling them.
So, I think its to do with their sophistication more than their damage, and simply if you and your ship are qualified to use them. I could be wrong, but hey, I only got this game on Friday.
I see that weapons have different levels or classes. Like Class 6 weapons. But some do the same damage as class 5 weapons. What's the difference?