Energy Weapons Energy weapons use various forms of focused radiation to strike enemy targets. They can damage both shields and armor, making them useful in a wide range of tactical situations. In addition, the instantaneous nature of these weapons provides for a high degree of accuracy, even when firing on distant targets. These weapon's effects dissipate quickly with range, decreasing their effectiveness on enemies located at a distance. Compression Laser Energy weapons can be purchased at a reasonable cost and come in a variety of weight classes. Their power requirements-to-damage ratio is quite good making them acceptable for mounting on smaller chassis or as secondary weapons on larger Hercs. As an added bonus most Bioderms possess above average skill in this category. When it comes to Herc-mounted weaponry, these are definitely the standard. ______________________________________________________________________ Standard Lasers (SE series) Utilizing Light Amplification through Stimulated Emission of Radiation to form a powerful beam of coherent light, this series combines low cost, simple technology and good range potential to make excellent low-end weapons. Though effective against shields, the SE series does only moderate damage to the armor beneath. This is not problematic when facing light Cybrids, but buyers are encouraged to pair SE lasers with missile or cannon weapons to maximize damage potential against tougher targets. Compression Lasers (SC series) Taking advantage of a proprietary Sierra Combine technology, the SC series lasers use a group of powerful superconducting magnets to amplify a standard laser beam increasing its hitting power at no additional energy cost and with only a minimal gain in weapon mass. The net effect is to double the damage done to armor while maintaining the shield-penetrating power of the popular SE series. Though more expensive than the earlier laser type, the SC series provides excellent value as a fully "stand-alone" weapon. A good choice when equipping lighter Hercs. SCX (experimental compression laser) The SCX weapons system represents the cutting edge of current laser technology. Combining the latest in compression laser research with new advances in the field of plasma weaponry, this weapon packs a incredible punch. Because this prototype device was rushed into on-site testing to help counter the rising Cybrid threat it does suffer from minor design problems such as excessive power requirements and tremendous weight. As further design work on the project is done the SCX technology will hopefully be able to reach its full potential. Pulse Lasers (SP series) A further refinement of the SE technology, the SP's use advanced cooling systems along with rapid-discharge capacitors to enable a quick succession of laser "pulses" to be emitted at the target. Further streamlining of the onboard power interfaces allows these weapons to deliver three times the damage of the standard laser with a mere 30% increase in power consumption. The added systems do increase the mass of the weapons, limiting their use to heavier Hercs. The last weapon in this series, the SP 1200, has the distinction of being the largest and most powerful laser weapon ever built for use on a mobile unit. Gatling Lasers (SE 700, SP 800) Utilizing enhanced target acquisition systems and fast-response servos, the SG series overcomes rate-of-fire limitations imposed by current technology by tying in multiple lightweight laser tubes to a single power system. This in effect creates a single weapon capable of engaging multiple targets in rapid succession. Incorporation of proven technologies serves to reduce cost and enhance serviceability. Compression Blasters These weapons represent the culmination of the SCX program and are at the apex of current energy weapons technology. Compression blasters use a powerful EM carrier wave to penetrate shields and deliver succeeding packets of fusible nuclei to the armor beneath, initiating an uncontrolled fusion reaction on the surface of the target. Design work carried over from the SG program enhances the power of these weapons by allowing a high rate of fire and rapid refusing of the carrier wave to target multiple enemies in quick succession. ______________________________________________________________________ Energy Weapons Table v2.0 (to view the key for this table, click here.) Name Tech Ammo RoundsPT Range(Max/100%) Energy(TF/PT) DAMvS DAMvA PenDAM Ind Area Effect Cost Weight Vuln SE 400 Laser 0 N/A 1 10/2 20/20 50 10 0 N N 600-40 55 300 SE 660 Laser 0 N/A 1 15/3 27/27 75 15 0 N N 2,800-191 100 300 SE 1000 Laser Cannon 1 N/A 1 20/4 36/36 120 24 0 N N 7,000-480 175 300 Blast Mortar 1 N/A 1 15/3 15/15 75/60/0/0 15/12/0/0 0 Y 2 5,250-360 350 100 SC 400 Compression Laser 2 N/A 1 10/2 18/18 50 20 0 N N 2,000-171 60 300 SC 1000 Compression Laser 2 N/A 1 20/4 36/36 120 48 0 N N 6,500-556 180 300 SCX Compression Laser 2 N/A 1 15/4 48/48 180 72 0 N N 7,200-771 250 400 SP 500 Light Pulse Laser 6 N/A 1 10/2 30/30 150 30 0 N N 1,200-250 60 300 SP 750 Standard Pulse Laser 6 N/A 1 15/3 36/36 240 48 0 N N 7,000-1,467 180 300 SP 1200 Magna Pulse Laser 6 N/A 1 20/4 45/45 360 72 0 N N 11,000-2,306 390 300 SE 700 Laser Gatling 7 N/A 4 10/2 10/40 64/256 12/48 0 N N 4,500-1,179 50 350 SP 800 Pulse Laser Gatling 8 N/A 2 18/4 24/48 160/320 40/80 0 N N 8,800-2,883 75 350 Light Compression Blaster 11 N/A 2 20/4 15/30 80/160 64/128 0 N N 4,240-6,400 210 200 Heavy Compression Blaster 11 N/A 2 20/4 25/50 160/320 128/256 0 N N 12,240-11,520 425 200 Name Tech Ammo RoundsPT Range(Max/100%) Energy(TF/PT) DAMvS DAMvA PenDAM Ind Area Effect Cost Weight Vuln _________________________________________________________________ Main Menu This page was last updated on December 21, 1996 [images on this page copyright 1996 J.S. 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