25mm Payload Rifle [Ultratech]

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Eh, it would actually be pretty useful for variable velocity artillery, there's a reason howitzers have separate powder and projectile, and that is perfectly useful for grenade launchers.

Variable velocity is liquid propellant which is separate from ETC in UT.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Variable velocity is liquid propellant which is separate from ETC in UT.

Oh right. Yes, that's a distinction that shouldn't exist. ETC is just spark-ignited liquid propellant, and I don't think anyone is seriously considering any other form of liquid propellant gun.

[Joseph Paul]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Oh right. Yes, that's a distinction that shouldn't exist. ETC is just spark-ignited liquid propellant, and I don't think anyone is seriously considering any other form of liquid propellant gun.

This seems to be contradictory to the research done so far which includes the ignition and control of combustion of solid propellants.

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Joseph Paul

This seems to be contradictory to the research done so far which includes the ignition and control of combustion of solid propellants.

I took a look at LP, ETC, and ETK weapons a bit here. I was expecting to show that there's no way to make them work, terribly overpowered, etc.

They may be terribly overpowered, but they're not flat-out crazed.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Joseph Paul

This seems to be contradictory to the research done so far which includes the ignition and control of combustion of solid propellants.

Huh...so you're thinking ETK is spark-ignited solid propellant? That's not how it was presented in third edition, though there could have been a deliberate change. In that case, ETK should be a fairly small base improvement that stacks with LP.

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

I took a look at LP, ETC, and ETK weapons a bit here. I was expecting to show that there's no way to make them work, terribly overpowered, etc.

They may be terribly overpowered, but they're not flat-out crazed.

Interesting. How do you feel the MinST should be affected? HT has +P ammo boost MinST by the same factor as damage (x1.1 either way). Should ETC etc be the same? That would certainly limit its ability to be used by non-powered infantry.

Originally Posted by Anthony

Huh...so you're thinking ETK is spark-ignited solid propellant? That's not how it was presented in third edition, though there could have been a deliberate change. In that case, ETK should be a fairly small base improvement that stacks with LP.

I've always assumed ETC uses solid propellant, and ETK uses liquid (basically being ETC+LP).

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by Varyon

I've always assumed ETC uses solid propellant, and ETK uses liquid (basically being ETC+LP).

Since the energy is provided externally, they can use whatever material has suitable thermal properties. I've always assumed it was something like the ablative plastic used in laser-pumped rockets.

[AlexanderHowl]

Not possible, the energy required is insufficient for a laser. The idea behind the technology is to use a spark to ignite an exothermic reaction that creates a plasma rather than a gas from a solid propellant. Since the plasma can be directed by an EM field, it allows for more of the energy of the reaction to be used to propel the projectile rather than being wasted by ramming into the barrel (reducing felt recoil and strain on the barrel).

[Joseph Paul]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Huh...so you're thinking ETK is spark-ignited solid propellant? That's not how it was presented in third edition, though there could have been a deliberate change. In that case, ETK should be a fairly small base improvement that stacks with LP.

No, I am thinking we are playing with the wrong abbreviations.

You had written previously that "Oh right. Yes, that's a distinction that shouldn't exist. ETC is just spark-ignited liquid propellant" Did you mean ETK?

My post was entirely about research in to ETC which has been used with both solid and liquid propellants.

The UT Designers Notes say that ETK is similar to both LP and ETC weapons and includes variable power shots. But no mention of specific liquid carrying magazines.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Joseph Paul

No, I am thinking we are playing with the wrong abbreviations.

I was just thinking about what it was in 3e, actually. In any case, 50% for simple ETC seems quite high.