John Bogan ([email removed]) writes
> Lasers should be limited to about 50 Mj/tech-level, which is an arbitrary
> limit,
> but is needed for game balance. Joule for joule, lasers are more versatile
> than
> PA's or MG's and have a superior ability to deliver damage to the target.
> Allow them to compete directly, and there rapidly becomes no point to
> building
> PA's and MG's. Putting a limit on them keeps them at the low end of the
> weapons
> spectrum, where they have traditionally been in Traveller.
Perhaps, but lasers provide a solution to the question of how to arm a small
ship to have some impact against large ships. You are right on the effect on
Traveller "tradition" however -- traditionally, HG fighters are so much
twaddle.
The X-ray laser bothers me, however. Unless my spreadsheet in completly wrong
(and it works for the book example) with an X-Ray laser I can punch full
power out to 80 hexes with a nominal (1 meter) focal array. I would sooner
see some meaningful range depreciation. On the other hand, if you make a
set of technological assumptions, you should live the consequences.
For the lasers I am designing (6-8 Gj input energy) some limitation on power
transmission might make some sense. As it is the light SDB I am designing
right now will look like a capaciter with an attitude -- mostly HPG's.
Because I do intend to design to the rules as written, pushing the envelope
where needed. If we all do that, we may find the tradeoffs between armour,
punch, and speed that the new rules impose. If there are truely none, if
there turn out to be no limitting factors, then we can talk about fixes.
In the meantime, do you have a sheet of factor 2000 armour you would like a 1m
hole in? :-).
Les Howie
Prograph International