Weak Weapons

Jiub · Weak Weapons

Maybe there is already a topic about this, I don't know. Anyways, the laser weapons in Star Wars (in a lot of sci fi movies and series, really) seem rather weak to me. They hit Leia in the shoulder in ROTJ, and she was obviously stunned and in pain for a moment, but all things considered, she wasn't that bad off. Now, I would say that if she had a real bullet in her shoulder, I think it would have been harder to kill that storm trooper who came up later. I'm not an expert though.

And it is not really as much the effectiveness (although since it is supposed to be futuristic, I would think that they would have developed something that kills with one shot), but more the accuracy that bothers me. They stand there and fire weapons that can only fire about one round per a second (maybe more time), and half the time don't hit their mark when they do fire. Today we have smart bullets ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_bullet ) and we have the more common Machine guns that can fire off multiple rounds in a second, and with so many rounds that it doesn't really matter if the first bullet hits its' mark.

I looked up the E-11 (primary weapon of the storm troopers) and it was based on the Sterling submachine gun, a weapon that was phased out in 1988 for a better weapon. I would think that the most powerful Empire in the universe could come up with a better weapon than that. I have seen better ones in SW video games, but most are still submachine guns that don't always hit their mark.

Laser weapons I do approve of are the lightsaber, anything that can send out a more constant beam, and most lasers on ships. In the hands of a Jedi, a lightsaber can still be a powerful weapon. Haven't seen much that sends out a constant stream, and it would be dangerous, but very effective. And most of the ship weapons are either more powerful, or more rapid fire.

Anakin

Good topic you brought up. As you may know, blasters and laser cannons have a variety of different power levels and charges so what Leia may been hit with is not as strong as others and vice versa.

There are slug-throwers in the Star Wars universe which are like modern projectiles in our reality which fire solid rounds but oddly, in the SW Universe, they are considered more primitive than the blaster.

Jiub

Yeah, in JKA there is the Heavy Repeater and the FC-1 flechette launcher. Those are the only two weapons I have seen that I consider would be a weapon that I would want in battle. There are also the explosive weapons, of course. Those are still not nearly as common as the E-11.

As for the power levels, I guess that you are right there. But why would they have it on a low power level if they are in battle and want to shoot to kill?

Anakin

Well I'm just saying perhaps that the stormtroopers "lethal" power level isn't that powerful per se. Ya gotta also remember what a blaster shoots. Eh nerdly speaking I think its highly a charged bolt of energy from a compact plasma compresser and when it hits a target, it pretty much burns a hole into the flesh.

It should, like lightsabers instantly cauterize the wound from the heat (not always the case) which actually helps the target by ruling out internal bleeding and blood loss.

Rive Caedo

There are three primary advantages that blaster-type weapons have over kinetic weapons:

1. Although not true in some of the video games and a few expanded universe sources: blasters have basically a near-limitless number of bullets.

2. In addition to this near-infinite ammo, there's no need to reload.

3. A blaster never jams.

However, in addition to the obvious "many modern bullets can basically rip your arm off or blow your head completely apart - blasters don't seem to do that" there's also one other disadvantage: a kinetic weapon can be more easily silenced and it doesn't send out a big red/green beam that gives away your position (although this does also allow you to more easily see where you're shooting).

Due to these aspects - if I was on a specific mission and knew I needed to take a single target down or something, I'd probably want a kinetic weapon. But for real life applications, I'd rather have a blaster at my side.

Also: Leia has a "hero shield" - if one of the random rebels running around had got snagged with that same shot in the shoulder he would have spun around and died Razz

Darth Splinter

I'd like to have one of the Trandoshan weapons from Republic Commando at my side, like the SMG or the heavy repeater.

And Rive, from what I've seen in my books(Essen. Weapons and Tech.) most blasters take cartridges. I don't know. I just don't see how any weapon could have a limitless ammo source.

Darth Samuel

Ther hero shield is somewhat slipping away. We know that leia has to die at some point between 43 BBY and 130 BBY. Plus Chewie died. And if you count major EU characters, Anakin and Jacen Solo both died, along with Mara. Confused

Sirak Sazen

You have to conside several things in this discussion. The Star Wars universe and the "Earth universe" both evolved quite differently. As it went on, we began with projectiles such as canonballs and bullets. They went on and developed plasma rays and energy beams such as blasters and lightsabers. As the developmental tree brached off, we both advance our respective methods into state-of-the-art status.

Another is that Star Wars was created in the '70s when sci-fi was really starting to be big. What is more science-fictiony than a gun that shoots red lights and melts flesh? By today's standards, it would be primitive for a Galaxy millions of years ahead of us not to create something better than a gun that shoots red lights and melts flesh.

Anakin

But the EU has really expanded upon the "scientific" aspects of the blaster weapons so that it doesen't seem to far-fetched.

Jiub

In at least some of the SW games that I have played, laser weapons do have an ammo limit, which I think is stupid. I don't know what is up with that. Oh well, I mostly just use the lightsaber anyways.

Lord Vexen

I think if Stormtroopers or droids had a real gun then everyone of their enemies would die. I mean, a bullet seems to go faster than a blaster bolt, so a Jedi couldn't deflect/burn it.

Jiub

Yes, that is true. But since lasers are actually light they should travel as fast as light. Unless it was a constant stream, you shouldn't even be able to see it traveling.

Anakin

I thought Blasters just emit compressed energy particles?

Darth Samuel

The problem with real guns is that they need to be clean and have limited ammo. Energy ones have basically limitless ammo. I'd rather have a slightly weaker weapon that is limitless than a somewhat more powerful weapon that would have to stop eventually.

Lord Invictus

Jiub

Rive Caedo

Jiub

Yes, I guess that they could. But it seems like ship weapons are all either more powerful or more automatic than most ground weapons.

Yes, but as I said before, it doesn't matter how much ammo you have if the other guy shoots you while you are still just standing there firing inaccurately once a second and he is firing either more accurately or almost definitely more rapidly (with the weapons that we have here on Earth.)

Rive Caedo

Well there's another issue related to ammo types though. Heat can make bullets swell and harder to load and easier to misfire or jam. I assume cold has similar effects - frost making misfires and jams much much easier.

If you're in the Hoth trenches trying to scrap ice off your spare ammo clips, the guys with blasters are going to overrun you Very Happy

Anakin

The blaster ammo runs out when all the compressed energy in the ammunition cartridge dissipates.

Jiub

Ga'nen

I thought they were limited in charges? I forgot what makes up a blaster but there's something in there made from compressed gas that eventually runs out. I can't think of the name nor do I have access to wookieepedia from work. Sad

Rive Caedo

Right, Anakin just mentioned it:

Sirak Sazen

It just hit me. Tell me if this rings a bell.

Quote:

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Rive Caedo

It's a long time ago, but it's still supposed to be futuristic technology Smile

Jiub

So, blaster weapons are more effective if you are in extreme weather conditions (even then if you haven't been there a long time and don't leave your gun out, it shouldn't be a big problem to use guns.) Or maybe if you have 100 people attacking you simultaneously. You will still probably die in this case, but at least you don't have to worry about running out of ammo and can go down fighting.

And yes, I realized that SW does say "A long time ago..." and thought about that even as we were using the word "futuristic", but they are still supposed to be more advanced than us. Stupid aliens took all the technology and left all of us humans here on Earth with nothing. Wink

Anakin

It says in a galaxy far far away not a different Universe. A couple hundred thousand lightyears from the Milkyway.

Jiub

Yes, it says "A long time ago in a galaxy far far away..." We were more talking about the time thing. What do you mean?

Darth Samuel

So what if the time is different. Their society may have evolved faster and gotten space travel down and then hyperspace. Seriously, not all galaxies are the same.

Lord Vexen

Darth Splinter

Jiub

Darth Samuel

I'm talking about compared to our society, not in their own timeline. -_-

Anakin

Yeah, they'd be fighting with muskets in Starwars: "A very very long time ago."