doctorcheese wrote:
 quote:
There are so many different beam weapons that I would like to use (and see used on me), but it seems that you can't get close enough to get in a shot.
Actual, there is only one beam weapon: Phased Polaron Beams (PPBs).  These weapons are better than every other beam weapon except a (very) few racial-tech weapons.  Research Physics twice and then Phased weapons.  Ta-da, you now have the best beam weapon in the game.  You should be able to get these by turn 25 or so with most game settings.  Enjoy.