Lasers

[Major B]

Penetration (in mm of steel) is a function of energy denisty (j/cm^2), but it's logarithmic, not linear.

Actually the figures for penetration do follow a logarithmic progression. At least it is not linear. The value is calculated in two steps. First, penetration in cm is determined in a linear formula ((input power / 4) * 10). Then, this value is compared to the armor table (on page 5 of the Striker Design Sequence Tables) to derive the armor value the laser will penetrate – and this table is not linear. When I post the full chart I am building, the progression will be more evident but here is an example drawn from the draft:


In the lower ranges, increasing input power +1 Mw (from 3 to 4) increases penetration by 4 (from 22 to 26).


In the mid range, increasing input power +5 Mw (from 45 to 50) increases penetration by 2 (from 53 to 55).


In the higher range, increasing input power +25 Mw (from 125 to 150) increases penetratio by 2 (from 65 to 67).


I think that the values for damage should also follow something other than a linear progression but I do not yet have a good idea for what that progression should be. Unless a better idea comes along, I’ll stick with what the RM provides and return the higher values shown for lasers below 10 Mw. I'll interpolate/estimate the range values for the other laser models I am adding to the table and post them to see if they make sense. I’m not trying to retcon the entire treatment of lasers, rather just adjust enough to make the treatment consistent.


I’m also considering dropping attenuation down by a range band (so 3 becomes 2 and so on). My worry is that the current Striker-derived values may make lasers too powerful compared to other kinetic or energy weapons. Any thoughts om this or the damage value conversion?

 

[Major B]

Okay, I'm dropping the range bands down by one which still changes some of the RM values but overall the change is less striking. I've also adjusted back to the damage values in the RM for 0.5 and 1 Mw models. Next I want to expand the listing of lasers, but first I want to set the high end of the scale with the conflicting "known" data for a 250 Mw laser. In the next post I'll fill in the middle.

First I'll add the values found on page 80 of the MT Player’s Handbook:

[FONT=Courier New]TL 8 Beam Lasers:[/FONT]
 
[B][FONT=Courier New]   Input                        Pen/      Maximum         Auto Danger[/FONT][/B]
[B][U][FONT=Courier New]TL[/FONT][/U][/B][B][FONT=Courier New] [U]Power[/U] [U]Volume[/U] [U]Weight[/U]    [U]Price[/U] [U]Attn[/U] [U]Dam[/U]  [U]Range[/U]           [U]Tgts[/U] [U]Space[/U]  [U]Sig[/U] [U]ROF[/U][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Courier New]8   0.5   0.033  0.033    2,000  5/2   4  Distant (2.5)     2    1.5   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8   1.0   0.066  0.066    4,000 10/3   5  Distant (5.0)     2    3.0   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8   5.0   0.330  0.330   20,000 28/3  10  Very Distant (25) 2    4.5   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8  10.0   0.660  0.660   40,000 36/4  20  Very Distant (50) 2   15.0   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8  25.0   1.650  1.650  100,000 47/4  50  Regional (125)    2   30.0   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8  50.0   3.300  3.300  200,000 55/4 100  Regional (250)    2   45.0   H  40[/FONT]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8 250.0   _____  _____  _______ 70/5 500  Far Orbit (_____) _   45.0   H  __[/FONT][/COLOR]
 
[FONT=Courier New]Entries in black match entries from the previous post. [COLOR=#0070c0]Entries in blue are[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=#0070c0]additions from page 80 of the MT Player’s Handbook.[/COLOR][/FONT]

Applying the formulas from Striker described in a previous post provides the following additions and two corrections.

First correction: penetration should be 73, not 70.
Second, maximum range is not Far Orbit, it is Continental (1250).

[FONT=Courier New]TL 8 Beam Lasers:[/FONT]
 
[B][FONT=Courier New]   Input                         Pen/      Maximum          Auto Danger[/FONT][/B]
[B][U][FONT=Courier New]TL[/FONT][/U][/B][B][FONT=Courier New] [U]Power[/U] [U]Volume[/U] [U]Weight[/U]     [U]Price[/U] [U]Attn[/U] [U]Dam[/U]  [U]Range[/U]            [U]Tgts[/U] [U]Space[/U]  [U]Sig[/U] [U]ROF[/U][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Courier New]8   0.5   0.033  0.033     2,000  5/2   4  Distant (2.5)      2    1.5   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8   1.0   0.066  0.066     4,000 10/3   5  Distant (5.0)      2    3.0   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8   5.0   0.330  0.330    20,000 28/3  10  Very Distant (25)  2    4.5   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8  10.0   0.660  0.660    40,000 36/4  20  Very Distant (50)  2   15.0   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8  25.0   1.650  1.650   100,000 47/4  50  Regional (125)     2   30.0   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8  50.0   3.300  3.300   200,000 55/4 100  Regional (250)     2   45.0   H  40[/FONT]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8 250.0  [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]16.500 [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]16.500 1,000,000 [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]7[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]3[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]/5 500  [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]Continental[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New] ([/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]1250[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]) [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]2[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]   45.0   H  [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]40[/FONT][/COLOR]
 
[FONT=Courier New]Entries in black match entries from the previous post. [COLOR=#0070c0]Entries in blue are [/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=#0070c0]additions from page 80 of the MT Player’s Handbook. [/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000]Entries in red are [/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=#c00000]additions and corrections from ported Striker rules. [/COLOR][/FONT]

Finally, data from page 73 of the RM conflicts in two or three particulars but at least the price remains consistent. The TL listed on page 73 is 7 when it should be 8. Also, the weight is 5.0 rather than 16.5.

[FONT=Courier New]TL 8 Beam Lasers:[/FONT]
 
[B][FONT=Courier New]   Input                         Pen/      Maximum          Auto Danger[/FONT][/B]
[B][U][FONT=Courier New]TL[/FONT][/U][/B][B][FONT=Courier New] [U]Power[/U] [U]Volume[/U] [U]Weight[/U]     [U]Price[/U] [U]Attn[/U] [U]Dam[/U]  [U]Range[/U]            [U]Tgts[/U] [U]Space[/U]  [U]Sig[/U] [U]ROF[/U][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Courier New]8   0.5   0.033  0.033     2,000  5/2   4  Distant (2.5)      2    1.5   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8   1.0   0.066  0.066     4,000 10/3   5  Distant (5.0)      2    3.0   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8   5.0   0.330  0.330    20,000 28/3  10  Very Distant (25)  2    4.5   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8  10.0   0.660  0.660    40,000 36/4  20  Very Distant (50)  2   15.0   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8  25.0   1.650  1.650   100,000 47/4  50  Regional (125)     2   30.0   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8  50.0   3.300  3.300   200,000 55/4 100  Regional (250)     2   45.0   H  40[/FONT]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8 250.0 [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]16.500   [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#4f6228][FONT=Courier New]5.000[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New] 1,000,000 [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]7[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]3[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]/5 500  [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]Continental[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New] ([/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]1250[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]) [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]2[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]   45.0   H  [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]40[/FONT][/COLOR]
 
[FONT=Courier New]Entries in black match entries from the previous post. [COLOR=#0070c0]Entries in blue are [/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=#0070c0]additions from page 80 of the MT Player’s Handbook. [/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000]Entries in red are [/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=#c00000]additions and corrections from ported Striker rules. [/COLOR][COLOR=#4f6228]Data in green is a [/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=#4f6228]correction from page 73 of the RM.[/COLOR][/FONT]

The expanded TL 8 beam laser list is almost done. I should be able to post it soon. In the meantime, have I missed anything or misinterpreted what I've found and applied in this post?

 

[McPerth]

Just as a matter of comparison, I'd like to note that this makes a TL 8 laser carabine somewhere among the 0.5 and 1 Mw laser vehicle weapons for penetration (7/2), and just under the 0.5 Mw one for damage (3), and I guess they are not about 0.5 Mw powered...

About range, the TL 8 laser carabine is given as Distant, without exact range cited (as are in vehicle weapons), so, taking the letter of the book, it would be 5 km, same as the 1 Mw vehicle range, though less precise (rifle table vs TL 7-8 crew service weapons table).

EDIT: All this given, it could be worth in some instances to build a laser carabine in your vehilce instead a 0.5 Mw beam laser. If so, what table will it use to hit (as even being a carabine, it could rely on the vehicles assets and stability to aim)?

How much power will it use (I guess you could connect it to the vehicle PP instead of relying on backpack batteries, and even if so, you could have several of them and just switch among them, as their weight would be qiute less than the 0.5 Mw laser)? END EDIT

Sorry if this adds to the mess instead of helping clarify it, but I thought the comparison would be interesting.

 

[77topaz]

Just as a matter of comparison, I'd like to note that this makes a TL 8 laser carabine somewhere among the 0.5 and 1 Mw laser vehicle weapons for penetration (7/2), and just under the 0.5 Mw one for damage (3), and I guess they are not about 0.5 Mw powered...

About range, the TL 8 laser carabine is given as Distant, without exact range cited (as are in vehicle weapons), so, taking the letter of the book, it would be 5 km, same as the 1 Mw vehicle range, though less precise (rifle table vs TL 7-8 crew service weapons table).

EDIT: All this given, it could be worth in some instances to build a laser carabine in your vehilce instead a 0.5 Mw beam laser. If so, what table will it use to hit (as even being a carabine, it could rely on the vehicles assets and stability to aim)?

How much power will it use (I guess you could connect it to the vehicle PP instead of relying on backpack batteries, and even if so, you could have several of them and just switch among them, as their weight would be qiute less than the 0.5 Mw laser)? END EDIT

Sorry if this adds to the mess instead of helping clarify it, but I thought the comparison would be interesting.

Is a TL 8 laser roughly the upper range for what we have here on Earth?

 

[Major B]

Sorry if this adds to the mess instead of helping clarify it, but I thought the comparison would be interesting.

You'd have to try pretty hard to add to this mess. I was going to bring the personal laser weapons into the discussion at some point so thanks for picking an appropriate time.

EDIT: All this given, it could be worth in some instances to build a laser carabine in your vehilce instead a 0.5 Mw beam laser.

Under the current rules it would be of great benefit for designs where space and power supply are limited. Check page 77 of the Imperial Encyclopedia and you'll see that the laser carbine volume is 0.005 kl. In comparison to a 0.5 Mw laser, you save .028 kl ov volume and you get better penetration (7 vs 5) while only sacrificing a point of damage (3 vs 4). Also, the laser carbine costs Cr 2,500 - only Cr 500 more than the .5 Mw laser.

If your design is built at TL9, the laser rifle compares even better.

Getting back to the attenuation figures from Striker, this comparison has me thinking that the longer attenuations would be better to provide more benefit to the vehicle-mounted systems when compared to the manpack lasers. Take a look at the table up above and see if adding 1 to each attenuation figure would make the vehicle systems better in your book.

 

[Major B]

I've adjusted attenuation values back to those derived from the Striker rule set based on McPerth's comparison of a TL8 laser carbine to the 0.5 Mw laser.

Below is an expanded table showing a more complete progression of input power possibilities. The values are calculated using the formulas spelled out in a earlier post (except for danger space and the damage values for each laser smaller than 5 Mw input power).

[FONT=Courier New]TL 8 Beam Lasers:[/FONT]
 
[B][FONT=Courier New]   Input                         Pen/      Maximum          Auto Danger[/FONT][/B]
[B][U][FONT=Courier New]TL[/FONT][/U][/B][B][FONT=Courier New] [U]Power[/U] [U]Volume[/U] [U]Weight[/U]     [U]Price[/U] [U]Attn[/U] [U]Dam[/U]  [U]Range[/U]            [U]Tgts[/U] [U]Space[/U]  [U]Sig[/U] [U]ROF[/U][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Courier New]8   0.5   0.033  0.033     2,000  5/3   4  Distant (2.5)      2    1.5   H  40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]8   1.0   0.066  0.066     4,000 10/4   5  Distant (5.0)      2    3.0   H  40[/FONT]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8   1.5   0.099  0.099     6,000 14/4   6  Very Distant (8)   2    3.5   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8   2.0   0.132  0.132     8,000 18/4   7  Very Distant (10)  2    3.5   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8   2.5   0.165  0.165    10,000 20/4   7  Very Distant (13)  2    4.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8   3.0   0.198  0.198    12,000 22/4   8  Very Distant (15)  2    4.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8   4.0   0.264  0.264    16,000 26/4   9  Very Distant (20)  2    4.5   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Courier New]8   5.0   0.330  0.330    20,000 28/4  10  Very Distant (25)  2    4.5   H  40[/FONT]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8   6.0   0.396  0.396    24,000 30/4  12  Very Distant (30)  2    6.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8   7.0   0.462  0.462    28,000 32/4  14  Very Distant (35)  2    8.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8   7.5   0.495  0.495    30,000 33/4  15  Very Distant (38)  2    9.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8   8.0   0.528  0.528    32,000 34/4  16  Very Distant (40)  2   10.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8   9.0   0.594  0.594    36,000 35/4  18  Very Distant (45)  2   12.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Courier New]8  10.0   0.660  0.660    40,000 36/5  20  Very Distant (50)  2   15.0   H  40[/FONT]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  11.0   0.726  0.726    44,000 37/5  22  Regional (55)      2   16.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  12.0   0.792  0.792    48,000 38/5  24  Regional (60)      2   17.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  13.0   0.858  0.858    52,000 39/5  26  Regional (65)      2   19.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  14.0   0.924  0.924    56,000 40/5  28  Regional (70)      2   20.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  15.0   0.990  0.990    60,000 41/5  30  Regional (75)      2   21.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  20.0   1.320  1.320    80,000 44/5  40  Regional (100)     2   25.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  22.5   1.485  1.485    90,000 45/5  45  Regional (113)     2   28.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Courier New]8  25.0   1.650  1.650   100,000 47/5  50  Regional (125)     2   30.0   H  40[/FONT]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  27.5   1.815  1.815   110,000 48/5  55  Regional (138)     2   33.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  30.0   1.980  1.980   120,000 49/5  60  Regional (150)     2   35.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  35.0   2.310  2.310   140,000 51/5  70  Regional (175)     2   38.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  40.0   2.640  2.640   160,000 52/5  80  Regional (200)     2   40.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  45.0   2.970  2.970   180,000 53/5  90  Regional (225)     2   43.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Courier New]8  50.0   3.300  3.300   200,000 55/5 100  Regional (250)     2   45.0   H  40[/FONT]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  60.0   3.960  3.960   240,000 57/5 120  Regional (300)     2   45.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  70.0   4.620  4.620   280,000 59/5 140  Regional (350)     2   45.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  80.0   5.280  5.280   320,000 60/5 160  Regional (400)     2   45.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8  90.0   5.940  5.940   360,000 61/5 180  Regional (450)     2   45.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8 100.0   6.600  6.600   400,000 63/6 200  Regional (500)     2   45.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8 125.0   8.250  8.250   500,000 65/6 250  Continental (625)  2   45.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8 150.0   9.900  9.900   600,000 67/6 300  Continental (750)  2   45.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]8 200.0  13.200 13.200   800,000 71/6 400  Continental (1000) 2   45.0   H  40[/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Courier New]8 250.0[COLOR=#c00000]  16.500  [/COLOR][COLOR=#4f6228]5.000[/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000] 1,000,000 [/COLOR]7[COLOR=#c00000]3[/COLOR]/[COLOR=#c00000]6 [/COLOR]500  [COLOR=#c00000]Continental [/COLOR]([COLOR=#c00000]1250[/COLOR]) [COLOR=#c00000]2   [/COLOR]45.0   H  [COLOR=#c00000]40[/COLOR][/FONT]
 
[FONT=Courier New]Entries in black match entries from the previous post. [COLOR=#0070c0]Entries in blue are [/COLOR][/FONT]
[COLOR=#0070c0][FONT=Courier New]additional models built using the Striker rule set. [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]Entries in red are [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#c00000][FONT=Courier New]additions and corrections from Striker. [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#4f6228][FONT=Courier New]Data in green is a correction from [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#4f6228][FONT=Courier New]page 73 of the RM.[/FONT][/COLOR]

The obvious problem with volume and weight needs to be addressed next.

Should the 250 Mw laser’s volume match the weight given on page 73? This is still not small enough to fit three lasers into a 13.5 kl turret.

Should we come up with a new formula for volume and weight for lasers 50 Mw and above that will provide a 250 Mw model that is at or below 3.5 kl (the maximum that I think can fit into a standard turret)?

I’d like to see some feedback on these questions while I work on the TL 13 beam laser table.

 

[McPerth]

The obvious problem with volume and weight needs to be addressed next.

Should the 250 Mw laser’s volume match the weight given on page 73? This is still not small enough to fit three lasers into a 13.5 kl turret.

Should we come up with a new formula for volume and weight for lasers 50 Mw and above that will provide a 250 Mw model that is at or below 3.5 kl (the maximum that I think can fit into a standard turret)?

I’d like to see some feedback on these questions while I work on the TL 13 beam laser table.

Well. I've always seen the volume and weight of all vehicle/craft weapons as the volume weight of all the mount. IIRC (I have not my books with me right now) the star rated lasers are not given a volume by themselves, but the volume of the turret is given and it is specified they may hold 1 - 3 weapons. As I understand it, the weapons themselves are quite smaller than that (after all, again IIRC, their weight is 1 ton), but the mechanisms of the turret are what really take volume.

Think on a B17 bomber turret. The volume/weight of their 0.50 cal MGs where quite small, compared with the volume/weight of the whole turret.

About vehicle weapons, we agreed (or so seemed to me) the 0.5 Mw is roughly equivalent to the laser carabine in firepower (more precise at long ranges and with more danger space), and yet it needs quite more volume and weight. As I understand it, most of this volume and weight added is the mount where this laser is.

 

[aramis]

The problem is that a Striker designed 250MW laser is some 16kL; the turret laser is 250MW, but <4.5kL (as 3 of them fit inside a 13.5kL turret).

 

[Omnivore]

I got shot down for saying this earlier, but at the risk of another shot I'll say it again: Simply assume the tactical Striker lasers and the shipboard lasers are of different types - example chemical/gas tactical lasers and free electron shipboard lasers (or solid state shipboard lasers). Given the different environments and operational criteria it even makes a certain amount of sense.

Otherwise you're left with an ungodly hack of two separate (and both wrong) presentations of lasers.

 

[Major B]

I got shot down for saying this earlier, but at the risk of another shot I'll say it again: Simply assume the tactical Striker lasers and the shipboard lasers are of different types - example chemical/gas tactical lasers and free electron shipboard lasers (or solid state shipboard lasers). Given the different environments and operational criteria it even makes a certain amount of sense.

I haven't shot that idea down - it is the fallback solution if there is not a workable way to make the different treatments of lasers work together. For now I'm just working on the assumption that the two systems are identical but they perform differently in the different environments (in atmosphere vs out).

I don't remember you mentioning the two types of laser before though. Can you give more information of the differences between chemical/gas and solid state lasers? My lack of scientific background is showing again.

Edit: I looked back and you did mention the types but I missed it. So thanks for reposting it.

Otherwise you're left with an ungodly hack of two separate (and both wrong) presentations of lasers.

I don't think it is ungodly at all. There are so many similarities between the starship systems and the vehicle systems that there are only a few details needed to make them work together seamlessly. whether the presentation that results is right or wrong is subjective. Plausible may be the best we can hope for.

 

[Omnivore]

No longer a contributor to this board.