[d20 Future] What type of damage do lasers do?

[VorpalBunny]

Yeah, I know it's a silly question but my local FLGS (Waldenbooks) hasn't gotten it in yet. I'm working on a conversion of Expedition to the Barrier Peaks and I'd like to see how d20F handles lasers and such to see if I can steal some ideas.

I just need to know the damage type if any (fire, etc.) - not the damage amount or anything else (to keep from stepping on WotC's toes since the d20 SRD isn't rerleased yet).

 

[Justin D. Jacobson]

Fire.

(That's the shortest post I've ever posted. Although I've just ruined it by adding this little note. Oh well.)

 

[VorpalBunny]

LOL

Thanks.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Fire.

There that's my shortest post and I didn't even ruin it by posting hours too late or....


Crap.

 

[tomBitonti]

Probably not what you expect ...

Hi,

Not sure if the question is what type of damage do lasers do
-- according to D20 modern -- or what type of damage should lasers do?

Way back there was a generic supplement called "Guns, Guns, Guns",
"3G" for short, that said that lasers generally cause concussion damage,
very much like a bullet. A typical laser doesn't impart enough energy to
cut you in half. Instead, what happens is a small steam explosion at the
point of incidence. I suppose that there would also be be a small burn at
that point.

I'm not sure if this is for continuous lasers or for pulsed lasers; I presume
that its for pulsed lasers.

One of the points made by 3G is that it takes a lot of energy to heat water,
which is why you only get a steam explosion. Also, the big plus for lasers
is that you don't have to worry about ballistics (although you do have to
worry about dispersion). Let me see if I can dig up my old 3G book ...

Thx,

Tom Bitonti