Quote:
would be happy to learn more about the weapons I can get
Vortex is similar with Anaconda in mass (421t vs 438t), over 400t which allow some nice things like Twin Cannons but no Battle Cannons which need two times larger ship (800t).
The next step is depending on your preference, I do not know if you are:
A) ready to use the bleeding edge features of the game in the
latest build (v1.83) and save often due to you will be a beta tester, or
B) prefer to run the last official version (1.82).
In case B) you still can find exotic weapons in [wiki]New Lasers[/wiki] pack, just need some time to process the information and select your favorite. Ask again if you are not understand something.
There is another big cannon in
Eco Lasers package named to Eco Artillery, available from 400t mass. A really costly one but worth the money, one of the strongest lasers in the official game today.
If you like the defensive features of Vortex then there is another tool for you in the Eco Lasers package: Eco Reactor occupy the space of a laser but generates energy for you when really needed.
The most powerful features need to step into the A) case or wait some months (or a year) until the next stable version (1.84) will be released. Ask if you want it, in short:
- [wiki]Multiple Lasers[/wiki] give multiple firepower but multiple heat also,
-
Separated Multiple Lasers can avoid multiple heat if the weapons are enough far from each other.
Vortex is enough wide for 3 separated forward laser mounts even with Twin Cannons.

Just this ship is not yet supported in the Multiple Lasers package, but if you would like to use it with 3 forward lasers in the latest Oolite then I can make it in the foreseeable future.