3 ms·

DEWS have pretty severe limitations on range: blooming, inverse square law, particulates, humidity, weather, etc etc. Add relatively low weapon impact and the o

DEWS have pretty severe limitations on range: blooming, inverse square law, particulates, humidity, weather, etc etc. Add relatively low weapon impact and the offensive applications are, eh, let's say not numerous. Defensive DEWS on the other hand . . that's where it's at. That's gonna shake things up, first in ships[1], then getting smaller and smaller. Like kilometer-thick armor made of light. [1] We might see what's called "the return of scale", since more defense requires more lasers, more lasers means more power, more power means more nukes, and more reactor power means bigger bigger bigger. It could bring the concept of the "arsenal ship" back from the dead.

underseacables 3y ago
OK… Does ...this mean light sabers too?!
- MilStdJunkie 3y ago
  Light sabers are magic[1], Mr. Underseacables. As the GM notes, "It's magic. I ain't gotta explain s#!t." [1] Inconsistent magic, at that. The greatest concentration of energy for a light saber in the films is Queer God Gym penetrating approximately 1m thickness of, let's say iron, at a rate somewhere around a meter a minute. If the cutting element is indeed using temperature to do this, it's flash-broiling everything in a sixty meter radius. On the other hand, you have the piss-poor penetration of Kylo's original red saber, which doesn't penetrate more than a few inches into wood or flesh. Screw it. Lightsabers are fun.
  - lopsotronic 3y ago
    Qui Gonn Jinns saber in that scene is outputting at least 321,260,978 KW. So yup. Note from the world of Star Wars gamemastering in old fashioned simulationism: most trauma from DEWS interaction with human or organic target is still kinetic, because penetration of even an inch or two immediately creates a pretty intense steam explosion. A "plasma bolt" that instantaneously burned through into the thoracic cavity would be messier than force feeding the target a hand grenade. More like a stick of dynamite. "Clean" laser weapons of science fiction would not be the reality; lasers powerful enough to cut off arms would be making meaty explosions. This sounds like a super duper efficient way to trauma, but it's still magic. That's a TON of energy - throwing an equivalent ball of explosive is easier and doesn't waste 90% of the emitter power on heating up air.

underseacables 3y ago

OK… Does ...this mean light sabers too?!

MilStdJunkie 3y ago
Light sabers are magic[1], Mr. Underseacables. As the GM notes, "It's magic. I ain't gotta explain s#!t." [1] Inconsistent magic, at that. The greatest concentration of energy for a light saber in the films is Queer God Gym penetrating approximately 1m thickness of, let's say iron, at a rate somewhere around a meter a minute. If the cutting element is indeed using temperature to do this, it's flash-broiling everything in a sixty meter radius. On the other hand, you have the piss-poor penetration of Kylo's original red saber, which doesn't penetrate more than a few inches into wood or flesh. Screw it. Lightsabers are fun.
- lopsotronic 3y ago
  Qui Gonn Jinns saber in that scene is outputting at least 321,260,978 KW. So yup. Note from the world of Star Wars gamemastering in old fashioned simulationism: most trauma from DEWS interaction with human or organic target is still kinetic, because penetration of even an inch or two immediately creates a pretty intense steam explosion. A "plasma bolt" that instantaneously burned through into the thoracic cavity would be messier than force feeding the target a hand grenade. More like a stick of dynamite. "Clean" laser weapons of science fiction would not be the reality; lasers powerful enough to cut off arms would be making meaty explosions. This sounds like a super duper efficient way to trauma, but it's still magic. That's a TON of energy - throwing an equivalent ball of explosive is easier and doesn't waste 90% of the emitter power on heating up air.