Star Wars: approach and effective TL

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Frost

All of these would be fairly persuasive arguments for a conventional metal blade either retained from an earlier phase of the orders history or adopted as a training aid.

I am not so convinced by the notion that these carry over to a better than state of the art plasma torch dragooned into use as a personal weapon. If the campaign were running at TL 11^ or if the psychic powers were intact then maybe the calculation might be different but without one or both of these options they are just not appropriate.

The logical replacement, unless somebody can think of anything funkier, is probably going to be a conventional blade.

And gaming terms that's even a better choice. The _practical_ use of sword skills in a space opera context (once you omit the Force), is for use when you get crashlanded on the lost colony and have to spend months there and will run out of ammo before the whole business is over. A sword with a battery is counter-indicated.

[Prince Charon]

No real reason not to have both, though. One of the things that you get in the EU and the RPGs is lightsabres with variable lengths. So, you adjust the blade-length depending on whether you're using it as a plasma-torch, a germ-free scalpel, a 'universal key', et cetra, but you still have a mundane machete in the survival kit, and a survival knife on your belt.

Plus, for ceremonial purposes, and for intimidating mooks, the long glowy blade that cuts through armour and force fields just looks better than the more practical weapon.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

Plus, for ceremonial purposes, and for intimidating mooks, the long glowy blade that cuts through armour and force fields just looks better than the more practical weapon.

A melee weapon that does 8D(5) is utterly, utterly practical compared to one that does maybe 2D Cut.. If it cuts in half machetes that try and Parry it it's even more practical than that.

Thank you but no,. I'm going to carry that machete's weight in extra batteries or even a folding solar set-up to trickle charge all of my electrical gear. Luke actually pulled something like a potable fusion generator out of his X-wing anyway.

Disallow lightsabers if you want to change Star Wars into Dull Wars but don't try and claim the superiority of machetes. :)

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Gustavus Adolphus

The problem is that the range is very low compared to projectile weapons. Why using a blaster with only 120 meters of range when you can use a railgun who has 3.000 meters of range?

I think you are confusing ratings of effective range with GURPS maximum range.

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I think you are confusing ratings of effective range with GURPS maximum range.

Actually, I did a confrontation on two maximum ranges; the "1/2D effective range" of a standard blaster pistol is a poor 40 meters, according to SW databases. Wow.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Gustavus Adolphus

Actually, I did a confrontation on two maximum ranges; the "1/2D effective range" of a standard blaster pistol is a poor 40 meters, according to SW databases. Wow.

Again, I think these might be attempts to match rated effective ranges of real world weapons. The M9 pistol has a maximum effective range of 50 meters for example.

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Well, only 120 meters of TOTAL range for a blaster pistol and 300 (100 fully effective) for a blaster rifle, I don't think it's so-advanced technology.

The Colt M16A2 rifle has an effective range on 400 meters for example. The BlasTech E-11 blaster rifle has 1/2D 100m, MaxD 300m. Very poor range for a war rifle, IMHO.

[LokRobster]

On Lightsabers: you have to have them. BUT, they are rare. You can't just have a factory and turn out production to equip an army.

This is easy to do, and explain: it requires being Force Sensitive to even be capable of making one, and special training to assemble it correctly. So why doesn't a Lone Jedi start up a custom line of hand-made Lightsabers and get rich? To get the training requires a Trainer, and presumably some kind of accompanying Vow or Disipline of Faith or Fanaticism that precludes such activity. That being said, there isn't anything actually stopping the Lone Ranger Lightsabers Limited business existing.... It's just not very likely.

Use of a "found" Lightsaber could occur, but it would not be out of genre convention to require a DX roll when used as a combat weapon to keep from accidentally chopping off your nose or leg! Using it as a handy door-opener seems to be pretty popular, though, for folks that get a Lightsaber but no skills to go with it.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Gustavus Adolphus

Well, only 120 meters of TOTAL range for a blaster pistol and 300 (100 fully effective) for a blaster rifle, I don't think it's so-advanced technology.

Probably because they are basing it on the rated range for the actual (WWI or WWII era) weapon that the "blaster" prop is. At least that seems about right.

In GURPS just use GURPS stats. "Maximum effective range" is already handled by the Speed/Range table.

Edit: The Blas-Tech E-11 was actually a Sterling L21 with a rated effective range of 200 meters.

[Mathulhu]

Originally Posted by Gustavus Adolphus

Actually, I did a confrontation on two maximum ranges; the "1/2D effective range" of a standard blaster pistol is a poor 40 meters, according to SW databases. Wow.

I believe that is referencing d20 saga edition in which a slug rifle has a maximum range of 450 meters.

I mostly see star wars as to 7^. You have to leave out so many of the world changing effects that it is easier to describe it relatively to the world at the time it was filmed and then add the exceptions using super science.