Laser Blasters

 

A strike from a space-based blaster cannon drills through an incoming missile, sending sparks flying.

A laser blaster is a weapon that emits a rapid train of many dozens of nanosecond pulses of laser light, each with the energy of a firecracker, and delivered within less than a millisecond. Each pulse is so intense it causes matter it is incident upon to violently explode, blasting out a small crater. Each subsequent pulse falls within the craters blasted by previous pulses, allowing the beam to achieve high penetration.

The closer the range to the target, the more tightly focused the blaster beam will be when incident on the target. This allows better penetration of hard materials at closer ranges. At less than half the 1/2 D range, apply a (2) armor divisor. At less than one quarter the 1/2 D range, the armor divisor increases to (3). At less than one-tenth the 1/2 D range, the armor divisor jumps to (5). This Armor Divisor only applies to DR due to material toughness, strength, and general resiliance; not to sheer mass getting in the way. Hence, do not apply the armor divisor to cover DR determined from an object's HP. This is summarized in the table below:
Fraction of ½D range Armor Divisor*
1 (1)
0.5 (2)
0.25 (3)
0.1 (5)
* DR after applying armor divisor is never less than the mass-derived cover DR.

Blaster pulses are so intense they will catastrophically self-focus in transparent solid or liquid matter. After the first meter of transparent material, treat the material as no longer transparent. Consequently, blasters have difficulty firing through water - treat each meter of water after the first as cover DR 40. The extreme intensity of blasters also makes ultraviolet blaster beams practically unusable in an atmosphere, since two-photon absorption eliminates nearly all the beam. Ultraviolet blasters are still used for space combat.

TL 12, beam color 1.5 micron

Change beam color
Beam Color:
TL Weapon Type Damage Acc Range Mass (kg) ROF Shots Min ST Bulk Rcl Cost LC
12Pocket Cutterpi-1 9 3 1/- 0.09/0.0018 3 300 2 0 1 50 3
12Holdout Blasterpi-1 9 3 25/- 0.09/0.0018 3 300 2 0 1 60 3
12Pocket Blaster Pistolpi+0 14 7+3 110/- 0.4/0.007 3 300 4 -1 1 250 3
12Blaster Pistolpi+0.5 16 7+3 120/- 0.7/0.05 3 1200 5 -2 1 400 3
12Heavy Blaster Pistolpi+1 20 7+3 180/- 1.1/0.07 3 1200 6 -2 1 600 3
12Pistol Cutterpi+1 20 3 4/- 1/0.07 3 1200 6 -2 1 600 3
12Auto Blaster Pistolpi+1 18 7+3 180/- 1.5/0.1 6 1800 6 -2 1 800 2
12Blaster Carbinepi+1 20 14+3 300/- 2/0.12 5 1500 5† -3 1 1.2 k 2
12Assault Blasterpi+1.5 25 14+3 500/- 3/0.15 4 1200 6† -4 1 1.8 k 2
12Hunting Blasterpi+2 28 14+3 500/- 3.5/0.035 3 180 7† -4 1 2 k 3
12Heavy Duty Cutterpi+2 30 3 10/- 4/0.25 4 1200 7† -4 1 2.5 k 2
12Battle Blasterpi+2 30 14+3 500/- 5/0.25 4 1200 8† -5 1 3 k 2
12Sniper Blasterpi+2 30 14+3 900/- 6/0.25 3 1200 9† -5 1 3.5 k 3
12Dinosaur Blasterpi+3 40 14+3 1000/- 8/0.04 1 60 10† -6 1 5 k 3
12Light Support Blasterpi+2 30 21+5 900/- 10/1.5p 10 6000 12M -7 1 6 k 2
12Heavy Support Blasterpi+3.5 55 21+5 2 km/- 60/9p 10 6000 28M -10 1 35 k 1
12Strike Blasterpi+4.5 75 21+5 5 km/- 180/25 10 6000 50M -10 1 100 k 1
12Blaster Cannonpi+7.5 250 21+5 25 km/- 2500/150 4 1200 183M -10 1 1.5 M 1
12Space Blaster Cannonpi+9 400 21+5 120 km/- 18000/800 4 1200 467M -10 1 10 M 1

Descriptions
     Pocket Cutter: A pocket tool often used for cutting or drilling, which can also be used for self defense or more nefarious purposes at extreme close range. Skill: Beam Weapons (Pistol). Aperture 0.035 cm. Beam energy 0.12 kJ. Energy used per shot 0.12 kJ. Extra power cell 0.0018 kg, $0.09.
     Holdout Blaster: An easily concealable blaster for personal defense. It lacks a proper grip and sights, limiting its ergonomics and accuracy. Skill: Beam Weapons (Pistol). Aperture 1 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.35. Beam energy 0.12 kJ. Energy used per shot 0.12 kJ. Extra power cell 0.0018 kg, $0.09.
     Pocket Blaster Pistol: A compact blaster designed for concealed carry. Skill: Beam Weapons (Pistol). Aperture 2.5 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.2. Beam energy 0.5 kJ. Energy used per shot 0.5 kJ. Extra power cell 0.007 kg, $0.35.
     Blaster Pistol: A common blaster sidearm, popular with law enforcement and civilians who feel they need protection. Skill: Beam Weapons (Pistol). Aperture 2.5 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.25. Beam energy 0.8 kJ. Energy used per shot 0.8 kJ. Extra power cell 0.05 kg, $2.5.
     Heavy Blaster Pistol: A large, bulky sidearm with a powerful beam discharge. Skill: Beam Weapons (Pistol). Aperture 3 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.25. Beam energy 1.2 kJ. Energy used per shot 1.2 kJ. Extra power cell 0.07 kg, $3.5.
     Pistol Cutter: A cutting and drilling tool with a pistol grip. Skill: Beam Weapons (Pistol). Aperture 0.07 cm. Beam energy 1.2 kJ. Energy used per shot 1.2 kJ. Extra power cell 0.07 kg, $3.5.
     Auto Blaster Pistol: A large, fully automatic sidearm for paramilitary use. Skill: Beam Weapons (Pistol). Aperture 3 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.25. Beam energy 1.1 kJ. Energy used per shot 1.1 kJ. Extra power cell 0.1 kg, $5.
     Blaster Carbine: A light and maneuverable longarm for heavy hitting power in crowded conditions. Skill: Beam Weapons (Rifle). Aperture 5 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.15. Beam energy 1.5 kJ. Energy used per shot 1.5 kJ. Extra power cell 0.12 kg, $6.
     Assault Blaster: A common light infantry weapon. Skill: Beam Weapons (Rifle). Aperture 6 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.15. Beam energy 2.5 kJ. Energy used per shot 2.5 kJ. Extra power cell 0.15 kg, $8.
     Hunting Blaster: A blaster popular with hunters and sportsmen, capable of dropping large game. Skill: Beam Weapons (Rifle). Aperture 6 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.18. Beam energy 4 kJ. Energy used per shot 4 kJ. Extra power cell 0.035 kg, $1.8.
     Heavy Duty Cutter: A two-handed torch for tough cutting and drilling jobs. Skill: Beam Weapons (Rifle). Aperture 0.11 cm. Beam energy 5 kJ. Energy used per shot 5 kJ. Extra power cell 0.25 kg, $15.
     Battle Blaster: An infantry longarm with enough punch to drill through most personal battlefield armor at close range. Skill: Beam Weapons (Rifle). Aperture 6 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.2. Beam energy 5 kJ. Energy used per shot 5 kJ. Extra power cell 0.25 kg, $15.
     Sniper Blaster: A long range blaster for precise shooting from a distance. Skill: Beam Weapons (Rifle). Aperture 10 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.11. Beam energy 5 kJ. Energy used per shot 5 kJ. Extra power cell 0.25 kg, $15.
     Dinosaur Blaster: A blaster designed for very large, dangerous, thick skinned game, whether rhinos, elephants, or Tyrannosaurus. Skill: Beam Weapons (Rifle). Aperture 8 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.2. Beam energy 12 kJ. Energy used per shot 12 kJ. Extra power cell 0.04 kg, $2.
     Light Support Blaster: A squad support level weapon designed for sustained rapid fire. Skill: Gunner (Beams). Aperture 10 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.11. Beam energy 5 kJ. Energy used per shot 5 kJ. Extra power cell 1.5 kg, $70.
     Heavy Support Blaster: A rapid fire light anti-material blaster. Skill: Gunner (Beams). Aperture 12 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.18. Beam energy 30 kJ. Energy used per shot 30 kJ. Extra power cell 9 kg, $500.
     Strike Blaster: An anti-vehicular blaster common on aircraft and light armored vehicles. Skill: Gunner (Beams). Aperture 20 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.15. Beam energy 80 kJ. Energy used per shot 80 kJ. Extra power cell 25 kg, $1200.
     Blaster Cannon: A blaster common on tanks and naval ships. Skill: Gunner (Beams). Aperture 30 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.3. Beam energy 2500 kJ. Energy used per shot 2500 kJ. Extra power cell 150 kg, $8000.
     Space Blaster Cannon: A blaster with a large aperture for long distance space combat. Skill: Gunner (Beams). Aperture 100 cm. Depth of focus multiplier 0.15. Beam energy 12000 kJ. Energy used per shot 12000 kJ. Extra power cell 800 kg, $40000.
Accessories
     Recharging pack: A battery pack that can recharge power cells between firefights. It does not provide enough power to directly shoot most blasters, but it can continuously provide 10 kW of power while the power cell is at less than maximum capacity, for a maximum energy of up to 40000 kJ. Divide the power supplied by the energy per shot of the laser to find the time to recharge one shot, divide the maximum energy by the energy per shot to find the total number of shots that can be supplied when fully charged. Mass: 1 kg. Cost: $100.

Custom Blaster weapon
Description:
TL:
Damage: d +
or d ×
Shots:
Energy Source: TL: Internal Magazine
Aperture (cm):
Beam Color:
ROF:
Configuration:
beamer - a weapon without stock or pistol grip, like a flashlight or cutting tool.
pistol - a weapon with a pistol grip but without a stock.
rifle - a weapon with shoulder stock and grip.
cannon - a weapon designed to be fired from a tripod, turret, or weapon mount.
pointer - a weapon where the beam is directed through an external turreted beam pointer telescope.

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