When I hit something with a railgun, I wanna see it go FLYING backwards. After all, there must be mass because the gun weighs 800kg. So let's put the mass to good use and give the projectiles a push. Please.

Following physics, you and your rail should both go flying apart at exactly the same speed. The speed of the rail and relative velocity (forward and back) of the target ship should be added and applied to your enemy when it hits. Of course, that's not the case, because it'd make gameplay suck. What's the purpose of this post? Damned if I know.

Not true Ctishman, you have to take inot account the mass of the ship and the rail gun projectile. The ship will move, but not at exactly the same velocity with the same displacement.

I'm an art major! So sue me! :)

Ah yes, okay. But aside from physics questions, I'm pretty sure making rails carry lucicrous stopping (or going) power is going to unbalance them, as the person who gets the first hit will have a huge advantage, not only scoring damage, but inhibiting their opponent's ability to aim.

mv=mv.

Moving on. I should explain the following as well.

Rails fire a single scrap of metal at high velocity. (Basic definition). If there are damage to CERTAIN parts of the ship (IE engine, etc) rails would be fine. As it is, rails will be fine in 6 months (AT which point, rails can be used specifically to disable turrets on say, capital ships, or if ships ever get damage to only certain points)

I just want to see ships have area specific damage, that will make rails fine.