900 range ballistics heavy weapons (anything not Gauss, Storm Needler, or TPCs) on capitals outrange non-beams on Paragon (900 * 1.6) > (700 * 2). I would consider that medium range as capital weapons go. Would be long-range compared to what smaller ships can do. Sure, Paragon can do a lot of damage with plasma or autopulse, but lack of mobility and high DP cost work against it, especially against cowardly enemies. Also, Paragon would probably need to vent spam for quad plasma cannon. In fleet battles, it is not a choice between just deploying Paragon or another capital, it is Paragon or another capital and cruiser. 60 DP is a lot even with 500 map size.
The main advantages of Tachyon Lance are extreme range, hitscan, good burst damage, and shield pierce. If enemies get very close to attack Paragon, your smaller weapons (blasters, pulse lasers, or whatever) should be enough to deal with them. If not, then Paragon will likely die no matter what heavy weapons it had.
If I use shorter-ranged heavy weapons on Paragon, I like to use dual flak in the universals for better anti-missile and to chew up weak enemies.