Energy Weapons VS Ballistic Weapons
- Thread starter Ralts Bloodthorne
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Storyteller01
First Post
Or in someone comes up with a concept we haven't found yet. Any ideas?
Roudi
First Post
Lioness, the next Urban Combat Mecha, will feature a unique main gun. It fires concentrated Higgs Bosons. To put its effect simply, it converts creatures and objects within its blast radius into bulk matter (I think it's a really neat concept, because it doesn't involve damage rolls at all... just high DC saves). It's an incredibly destructive weapon, but it does have its drawbacks, such as a recharge time (1d4+2 rounds). Plus, since the weapon pulls "ammunition" from the ambient air around it, recharging the weapon creates a shimmering effect around the mech... making it highly visible and restricting the visibility of the crew (did I mention it also knocks out the mech's sensors while recharging?). It's definitely not meant for a mech operating alone, but if backed up by a full unit, the Lioness can do some amazing damage.
I thought this might qualify as a new concept.
I thought this might qualify as a new concept.
Mustrum_Ridcully
Legend
In some ways, I think the idea was already out there.hobgoblin said:heh, i find it funny that no-one jumped on my replicator gun idea
or maybe it have been tought about before?
In Startrek TNG, there was a robot that could replicate its own tools. (They became intelligent for some reason)
In DS9, they mined the wormhole with self-replicating mines, making it impossible to disarm the minefield (at least for some time, until the Cardassians figured out a critical weakness).
In DS9, they also had a projectile-based weapon (mentioned before) that was equipped with a transporter device to beam the bullet through wands and floors. Since Replicators and Transporters are based on the same technology, it is not a long step to create a replicator gun.
Mustrum_Ridcully
Legend
If there is such a concept, we haven't found it yetStoryteller01 said:
fuindordm
Adventurer
A couple of points:
Knockback and physics:
Knockback from a ballistic weapon will depend heavily on the nature of the collision. Rubber bullets are likely to knock someone down because (1) they rebound and therefore transfer up to twice as much momentum to the target than a stopped bullet would, and (2) the duration of the collision is minimized. A large momentum transfer, coupled with a short impact duration, translates into a very effective force on the target.
For regular bullets, the effective force on the target will be greatest if the bullet is stopped by a vest (full momentum transfer, short collision); somewhat less if the bullet stops insisde the body (full momentum transfer, longer collision); and least if the bullet exits the body (partial momentum transfer, longer collision).
This is also the reason you're supposed to let your legs fold under you and roll on the ground when you fall;
you lengthen the duration of the collision, and reduce the effective force of impact on your bones and muscles. The recoil compensators on guns work on the same principle.
Science Fiction:
Babylon 5 made the good point that ballistic weapons can be very dangerous inside a ship--they used some kind of energy weapon that could hurt organics, but wouldn't do more than put a scorch mark on the hull. I would think that for any spacefaring culture that would be sufficient reason to develop energy weapon technology, such as the army's shiny new microwave guns.
Cheers!
Ben
Knockback and physics:
Knockback from a ballistic weapon will depend heavily on the nature of the collision. Rubber bullets are likely to knock someone down because (1) they rebound and therefore transfer up to twice as much momentum to the target than a stopped bullet would, and (2) the duration of the collision is minimized. A large momentum transfer, coupled with a short impact duration, translates into a very effective force on the target.
For regular bullets, the effective force on the target will be greatest if the bullet is stopped by a vest (full momentum transfer, short collision); somewhat less if the bullet stops insisde the body (full momentum transfer, longer collision); and least if the bullet exits the body (partial momentum transfer, longer collision).
This is also the reason you're supposed to let your legs fold under you and roll on the ground when you fall;
you lengthen the duration of the collision, and reduce the effective force of impact on your bones and muscles. The recoil compensators on guns work on the same principle.
Science Fiction:
Babylon 5 made the good point that ballistic weapons can be very dangerous inside a ship--they used some kind of energy weapon that could hurt organics, but wouldn't do more than put a scorch mark on the hull. I would think that for any spacefaring culture that would be sufficient reason to develop energy weapon technology, such as the army's shiny new microwave guns.
Cheers!
Ben
The Edge
First Post
In my own setting (probably best described as being on the lower tech end of sci-fi') ballistic weapons are still used as well a energy weapons.
Pulse Photon weapons or 'lasers' as their more commonly known as, are the most common weapon around, being cheep, reliable and with a high ammo cappacity, they became the weapon of choice but by no means replaced ballistics. Ballistic weapons have also advanced and are equally as leathal as a equivilent photon weapon.
Both weapons have pros and cons; for example a laser rifle is very quiet, but will easily give away your position from the flash unless you have a spectrum regulator attached, but which will also slightly reduce its damage. A bullet based rifle will make a lot of noise with out a silencer but won't show a bright trail of light leading right to you.
A major reason why photon weaponry was acepted so well by millitarys is its ammo beneifits. All photon weapons need a special power pack much like any clip, these will provide enough power for many shots (about 140 for an assualt rifle). Other than a fairly high ammo capacity, a big plus is that with the right bit of kit and a suply of electricity photon packs can be recharged. Removeing need for ammo convoys etc, any generator or power suply is a source.
However in my setting most laser weapons don't have multiple/variable power settings and can stun no differently than any bullet would. Sheilds are less an issue as they are primarily only used in space where they can opperate without the distubance of gravity, and then work equally well at stoping both attacks (but weakend less by small projectiles).
Theres also other weapons of course such as plasma weaponry, which isn't realy an energy weapon, also rail guns, corrite bullets (explosive nastys), sonic weapons (#1 for dealing with riots), Ion (lousy for most jobs, special uses). And more but this isn't the place to go on about my seting.
Basicly I agree that theres no reason that ballistic weaponry would disapear.
Pulse Photon weapons or 'lasers' as their more commonly known as, are the most common weapon around, being cheep, reliable and with a high ammo cappacity, they became the weapon of choice but by no means replaced ballistics. Ballistic weapons have also advanced and are equally as leathal as a equivilent photon weapon.
Both weapons have pros and cons; for example a laser rifle is very quiet, but will easily give away your position from the flash unless you have a spectrum regulator attached, but which will also slightly reduce its damage. A bullet based rifle will make a lot of noise with out a silencer but won't show a bright trail of light leading right to you.
A major reason why photon weaponry was acepted so well by millitarys is its ammo beneifits. All photon weapons need a special power pack much like any clip, these will provide enough power for many shots (about 140 for an assualt rifle). Other than a fairly high ammo capacity, a big plus is that with the right bit of kit and a suply of electricity photon packs can be recharged. Removeing need for ammo convoys etc, any generator or power suply is a source.
However in my setting most laser weapons don't have multiple/variable power settings and can stun no differently than any bullet would. Sheilds are less an issue as they are primarily only used in space where they can opperate without the distubance of gravity, and then work equally well at stoping both attacks (but weakend less by small projectiles).
Theres also other weapons of course such as plasma weaponry, which isn't realy an energy weapon, also rail guns, corrite bullets (explosive nastys), sonic weapons (#1 for dealing with riots), Ion (lousy for most jobs, special uses). And more but this isn't the place to go on about my seting.
Basicly I agree that theres no reason that ballistic weaponry would disapear.
ukgpublishing
First Post
I have a pyscological love of ballistic weapons and all things that go Bang, so one of the concious design elements in the upcoming "Year of the Zombie - Dead Future" has been the prevalence of hi tech ballistics. We have energy weapons, as well the plasma thrower being a classic example. But something deep down in me needed those scenes from aliens in Dead Future, the marines firing in wild and uncontrolled (so short controlled) burst, as the horde of aliens (undead) went down, and so did the ammo counters.
Still, the types of weapons used in a future campaign, will vary, and more often in terms of the right kind of flavour, over other conciderations.
Anyway for a brief sample of some of the nice weapons we have in Dead Future, you can download the Matrox "Predator II" SL19 Assault Rifle here. Please note this is definately pre-edit, so any glitches or typo's are there entirely intentionally
Enjoy
Still, the types of weapons used in a future campaign, will vary, and more often in terms of the right kind of flavour, over other conciderations.
Anyway for a brief sample of some of the nice weapons we have in Dead Future, you can download the Matrox "Predator II" SL19 Assault Rifle here. Please note this is definately pre-edit, so any glitches or typo's are there entirely intentionally
Enjoy
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