One thing I did find puzzling about TNE was that whilst X-ray lasers became an option at TL-13, according to FF&S, they never featured in any published designs. I found this odd, given their advantages - lower power needed, giving the option of high ROFs at much lower impacts than the conventional Grav-focused lasers. Disadvantages were lower ranges, and an inability to conduct planetary strikes in any appreciable atmosphere. The former might be offset by a greater chance to hit at range X with the higher ROFs (Antony, you seem to have a good handle on this - what do you think?) the latter could be considered a game-stopper by a navy that wants dual-purpose weapons.
My Hiver designs use them as primary turret and point defense
platform
---
from my T989
Eamon Watters wrote:
One thing I did find puzzling about TNE was that whilst X-ray
lasers became an option at TL-13, according to FF&S, they never
featured in any published designs. I found this odd, given their
advantages - lower power needed, giving the option of high ROFs
at much lower impacts than the conventional Grav-focused lasers.
Disadvantages were lower ranges, and an inability to conduct
planetary strikes in any appreciable atmosphere. The former might
be offset by a greater chance to hit at range X with the higher
ROFs (Antony, you seem to have a good handle on this - what do
you think?) the latter could be considered a game-stopper by a
navy that wants dual-purpose weapons.
Eamon
I used them quite a lot on my BARD designs - the high ROF was just too good to pass up. I also use them on dual-purpose weapons: Grav-focussed main array, with smaller x-ray array(s) that fire at a higher ROF for Point Defense.
________________________________
From: "" <>
My Hiver designs use them as primary turret and point defense platform
---
from my T989
Eamon Watters wrote:
One thing I did find puzzling about TNE was that whilst X-ray lasers became an option at TL-13, according to FF&S, they never featured in any published designs. I found this odd, given their advantages - lower power needed, giving the option of high ROFs at much lower impacts than the conventional Grav-focused lasers. Disadvantages were lower ranges, and an inability to conduct planetary strikes in any appreciable atmosphere. The former might be offset by a greater chance to hit at range X with the higher ROFs (Antony, you seem to have a good handle on this - what do you think?) the latter could be considered a game-stopper by a navy that wants dual-purpose weapons.
You are correct that the reason is because of atmospheric performance. We
wanted to have lasers out there that were AS EASY TO USE by the players as
possible, and if they wanted to fire it at an incoming aircraft while
sitting at the starport and found out it didn't work, that seemed like it
would take a whole lot of the fun out of "I've got a laser turret." A
whole lot of work in all of the lasers, the CLC rifles, etc., was to find
a frequency "sweet spot" where they'd work well in atmo, and that's where
we put the shipboard lasers as well.
Dave
> One thing I did find puzzling about TNE was that whilst X-ray lasers
> became an option at TL-13, according to FF&S, they never featured in any
> published designs. I found this odd, given their advantages - lower power
> needed, giving the option of high ROFs at much lower impacts than the
> conventional Grav-focused lasers. Disadvantages were lower ranges, and an
> inability to conduct planetary strikes in any appreciable atmosphere. The
> former might be offset by a greater chance to hit at range X with the
> higher ROFs (Antony, you seem to have a good handle on this - what do you
> think?) the latter could be considered a game-stopper by a navy that wants
> dual-purpose weapons.
>
> Eamon
I believe at one time i designed a missile around the 2300 missile that was essentially a drone with a warhead and 2 slung submunitions. It really kicked arse.
Derek Stanley
Sent from my iPhone...
On 2012-06-28, at 19:43, Eamon Watters <> wrote:
> One thing I did find puzzling about TNE was that whilst X-ray lasers became an option at TL-13, according to FF&S, they never featured in any published designs. I found this odd, given their advantages - lower power needed, giving the option of high ROFs at much lower impacts than the conventional Grav-focused lasers. Disadvantages were lower ranges, and an inability to conduct planetary strikes in any appreciable atmosphere. The former might be offset by a greater chance to hit at range X with the higher ROFs (Antony, you seem to have a good handle on this - what do you think?) the latter could be considered a game-stopper by a navy that wants dual-purpose weapons.
>
> Eamon
>
Personally I think it was the lack of tuning available on the earlier x-ray
lasers. Until TL15 x-ray lasers were all fixed wavelength so perhaps
versatility was a factor. The tunable lasers are general purpose while x-ray
lasers are best in vacuum situations.
>From TL15 this is not such an issue as the tunable x-ray lasers start to
appear.
Antony
From: []
On Behalf Of Eamon Watters
Sent: Friday, 29 June 2012 10:44 AM
To:
Subject: [Traveller_TNE] Where are the X-ray lasers?
One thing I did find puzzling about TNE was that whilst X-ray lasers became
an option at TL-13, according to FF&S, they never featured in any published
designs. I found this odd, given their advantages - lower power needed,
giving the option of high ROFs at much lower impacts than the conventional
Grav-focused lasers. Disadvantages were lower ranges, and an inability to
conduct planetary strikes in any appreciable atmosphere. The former might be
offset by a greater chance to hit at range X with the higher ROFs (Antony,
you seem to have a good handle on this - what do you think?) the latter
could be considered a game-stopper by a navy that wants dual-purpose
weapons.
I think the TL-15 tunable lasers are still gravitic-focussed, and so would not have the power advantages of a pure X-ray focusing array (or should I say horn?)
Eamon
________________________________
From: Antony Farrell
Sent: Friday, 29 June 2012, 15:54
Subject: RE: [Traveller_TNE] Where are the X-ray lasers?
Personally I think it was the lack of tuning available on the earlier x-ray lasers. Until TL15 x-ray lasers were all fixed wavelength so perhaps versatility was a factor. The tunable lasers are general purpose while x-ray lasers are best in vacuum situations.
>From TL15 this is not such an issue as the tunable x-ray lasers start to appear.
Antony
From: [] On Behalf Of Eamon Watters
Sent: Friday, 29 June 2012 10:44 AM
To:
Subject: [Traveller_TNE] Where are the X-ray lasers?
One thing I did find puzzling about TNE was that whilst X-ray lasers became an option at TL-13, according to FF&S, they never featured in any published designs. I found this odd, given their advantages - lower power needed, giving the option of high ROFs at much lower impacts than the conventional Grav-focused lasers. Disadvantages were lower ranges, and an inability to conduct planetary strikes in any appreciable atmosphere. The former might be offset by a greater chance to hit at range X with the higher ROFs (Antony, you seem to have a good handle on this - what do you think?) the latter could be considered a game-stopper by a navy that wants dual-purpose weapons.