Why do Aleans use energy weapons?

[Prince Cherico]

Energy weapons in HU do about the same damage as guns and
in some cases worse damage so why do Aleans bother using
them?

1. Cheapness- Energy weapons can be recharged essentially for
free, a ships engens provide more then enough energy to provide
essentially limitless ammo. Essentally per shot the cost of a bullet
is going to be a lot more expensive then the cost of a energy weapon
shot.

2. Space- Space ships can only hold so much cargo, and for a
merchent ship with limited room that Cargo space means money.
A room filled with bullets for your arms can better be used for
money making cargo then spare ammo that sits there and does
not turn a profit.

3. Effect- In space the worst thing that can happen is you blow a
hole into your ship, when you have big holes in your ship you lose
breathable air, reasources, and the cargo your trying to transport,
and maby even your lives. When your fighting off the lastest batch
of space pirats blowing up your own ship makes little sense.

For these reasons Space fairing peoples use less effective energy
weapons some times the most effective weapon is not the best
weapon.

[Daniel Stoker]

It also helps to have a few moving parts as possible to reduce the amount of wear and tear on an item. An Energy Pistol would have a lot fewer then an automatic pistol would. Granted they may balance out with the fact that it's easier to repair/replace parts in a slug thrower, then it would be to make a new circuit board for an energy pistol.


Daniel Stoker

[RockJock]

Another possibility is that gunpowder based explosives may not work in some atmospheres where energy weapons will.

Slug throwers may be considered inhumane. Energy weapons are used because they leave clean holes and cauterize the wounds instead of the injuries from slug throwers. Sort of the same reason why full metal jackets are used instead of other rounds during war.

[RockJock]

The Zero G recoil is a problem that for some reason I thought had already been mentioned. As for altered chemical makeup for the propellant, I agree that it wouldn't be that difficult, but would probably need different mixes for different situations.

[Stone Gargoyle]

Energy ammo is more environmentally friendly also. Energy can dissipate whereas ammo leaves residue and slugs. There is also the aspect of being less traceable when committing a crime. No bullet, no evidence.

[Stone Gargoyle]

You know, I do not believe the environmental friendliness of a firearm has ever being discussed before, consider yourself a trend setter

Oh, I do.

[Stone Gargoyle]

I'm not sure that incinerating your environment with an energy weapon should be considered "environmentally friendly."

Maybe not, but at least there is less debris from the weaponry itself.
I do not think "friendly" and "weapon" go in the same sentence very often in general. As in, "He had a nice, friendly nuclear missile."

[Daniel Stoker]

You lost me.. why are lasers radioactive?
(Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation)


Daniel Stoker

[Prince Cherico]

You lost me.. why are lasers radioactive?
(Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation)


Daniel Stoker

some people dont know that there are several types of radiation
including Microwave, radio, and others that dont cause Radiation
poisioning or adversly affect the environment

[Blight]

Slug-Throwers: will always be superior due to a couple thing.
1. Better damage: A slug tearing throw a body causes massive trauma. A laser burns threw in a micro-second or less very little trauma.
2. Cheaper: chemical propellants are cheap even a solid fuel that is ignited by electricity like O2 so to be used in no atmosphere are cheaper. The super conductors, lenses, and exotic materials used in making an energy weapon will always cost then there is the power supply..
3. Out put Versus input: Slug throwers give you tremendous out put for little input. With an energy weapons the best you can hope for is even money...
4. Simplicity...A slug thrower is infantry proof. meaning a grunt in the field with a very little training can repair one..An energy weapon well...
Energy weapon are used in games cause they are neat. But they aren't that effective...
(edit for spelling)

[Stone Gargoyle]

You lost me.. why are lasers radioactive?
(Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation)


Daniel Stoker

I do not think that the residue is harmful. The heat of a laser is what is radiated and burns, but once emitted dissipates. The damage is the pain you feel as your arm is seared off, not any residual after effects.

[Stone Gargoyle]

Slug-Throwers: will always be superior due to a couple thing.
1. Better damage: A slug tearing throw a body causes massive trauma. A laser burns threw in a micro-second or less very little trauma.
2. Cheaper: chemical propellants are cheap even a solid fuel that is ignited by electricity like O2. The super conductors, lenses, and exotic materials used in making an energy weapon will always cost then there is the power supply..
3. Out put Versus input: Slug throwers give you tremendous out put for little input. With an energy weapons the best you can hope for is even money...
4. Simplicity...A slug thrower is infantry proof. meaning a grunt in the field with a very little training can repair one..An energy weapon well...
Energy weapon are used in games cause the are neat. But they aren't that effective...

Well, not yet, anyway. This is futuristic fiction we are talking about, though, not reality by any stretch of the imagination.

[Blight]

Your right Stone Gargoyle, What can i say i really like guns that go bang

[dragon_blaze_99]

(Blight
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject:
Your right Stone Gargoyle, What can i say i really like guns that go bang)

I think one of the rifts books says that some of the arms manufactures add the sounds from old movies to up sales so guns that make sounds are better

[Stone Gargoyle]

Your right Stone Gargoyle, What can i say i really like guns that go bang

As do I, which is why I wish somone could come up with small handheld rocket launchers that spark and let out a huge bang when you shoot.

[Stone Gargoyle]

Q: Why do aliens use energy weapons?

A: Because they look cool doing it.

Granted, that reason doesn't fit in-game, but the fact of the matter is that energy weapons fit most people's idea of weapons that technologically advanced peoples from distant planets would carry. The general populace expects that when an alien unloads his firearm, he's going to use some form of laser, not hot lead. People can get bullets in anything set on Earth in a modern setting, they don't need aliens for that. However, if you want energy blasts in a modern setting, that's when the aliens show up.

Think about it. If one of the aliens in War of the Worlds started unloading a .50 cal, would a majority of the audience find it 'believable'?

That is the differentiation aspect. Star Trek did a bit of that by having Klingons use ancient melee weapons predominantly in the newer series and having Ferenghi use particle throwing whips. The idea is that development between species might go identically and to avoid boredom with the generic nature of having everyone with the same weapons.

[Stone Gargoyle]

(Blight
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject:
Your right Stone Gargoyle, What can i say i really like guns that go bang)

I think one of the rifts books says that some of the arms manufactures add the sounds from old movies to up sales so guns that make sounds are better

Yes, that seems to be one of the things that makes guns attractive to the consumer. Tiny guns with little noise have never been as popular as big guns with a booming effect.

[AlanGunhouse]

Yopu fgorget one important point, energy weapons have less "kick" than physical weapons. In zero gravity, fighting with bullets will throw you back who knows how far.

[Kalinda]

You know, I do not believe the environmental friendliness of a firearm has ever being discussed before, consider yourself a trend setter

Nope, it's been thought of before. The US military actually spends a fair amount of money cleaning up spent lead after their live fire exercises, and are looking into using ammo that doesn't use lead cores. You can also buy shotgun ammo that doesn't use lead, so that fish and ducks won't get sick from contact with spent pellets.

[kamikazzijoe]

Don't forget to take into account the level of civility. Lasers cleanly cauterize the wound when hit. Bullets tear massive chunks out and remain lodged inside. I wouldn't be surprised if there were Geneva style conventions against bullets.

[Stone Gargoyle]

Don't forget to take into account the level of civility. Lasers cleanly cauterize the wound when hit. Bullets tear massive chunks out and remain lodged inside. I wouldn't be surprised if there were Geneva style conventions against bullets.

It would be an interesting topic to be legislated by lawmakers in the gaming universe, providing those ever necessary news blurbs the characters come across now and then.

[Sir_Spirit]

You lost me.. why are lasers radioactive?
(Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation)


Daniel Stoker

some people dont know that there are several types of radiation
including Microwave, radio, and others that dont cause Radiation
poisioning or adversly affect the environment

Thermal Radiation is basically Heat.

[Sir_Spirit]

You know, I do not believe the environmental friendliness of a firearm has ever being discussed before, consider yourself a trend setter

ACTually the ARmed forces beat him to it.