Power of Trek weapons, exaggurated??

[Howedar]

If they'd fired them at a low enough yield not to hurt themselves, they'd have no effect on the enemy ship either. You prove nothing.

[SirNitram]

Just a random thought... Is there any Canon evidence a torpedo is Matter/Antimatter?

[Raxmei]

If they'd fired them at a low enough yield not to hurt themselves, they'd have no effect on the enemy ship either. You prove nothing.

Inverse square law. If you detonate the torpedo closer to the enemy than to yourself, the enemy absobs more energy than you. Since torpedoes generally explode right next to the target, there should be no problem causing damage, even with a reduced yield.

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

I don't really care, because even at 64 megatons, a photon torpedo is no match for an ISD's firepower.

On the "Spacebattles.com Babies" part of Mike's Mail page, Mike said that the TM phaser power descriptions were overstated, since a phaser was never seen demolishing half a building, and then the Spacebabies Chorus responded with an "adjustable power level" rebuttal, when there were several instances in Star Trek where a phaser with such firepower would be helpful to the Federation. Still, the Spacebabies said "The power levels could be adjusted". I brought that up for some reason.

[Alyeska]

I don't really care, because even at 64 megatons, a photon torpedo is no match for an ISD's firepower.

On the "Spacebattles.com Babies" part of Mike's Mail page, Mike said that the TM phaser power descriptions were overstated, since a phaser was never seen demolishing half a building, and then the Spacebabies Chorus responded with an "adjustable power level" rebuttal, when there were several instances in Star Trek where a phaser with such firepower would be helpful to the Federation. Still, the Spacebabies said "The power levels could be adjusted". I brought that up for some reason.

Never shown? What about the time when they used phasers to drill through 40km of solid rock in 19 seconds? (TNG Inheritance)

And I would prefer you not be so insulting when referring to me.

[SPOOFE]

Never shown? What about the time when they used phasers to drill through 40km of solid rock in 19 seconds?

I think he was referring to hand phasers. That's what the "destroy half a building" reference is attributed to, anyway.

[Alyeska]

Never shown? What about the time when they used phasers to drill through 40km of solid rock in 19 seconds?

I think he was referring to hand phasers. That's what the "destroy half a building" reference is attributed to, anyway.

Ah, yes, that episode with Riker. Ok, that makes sense.

[Master of Ossus]

Incidentally, power levels on phasers can be adjusted. This is canon. However, maximum power clearly does not have the firepower that has been attributed to them by some rabid trekkies. I find it amusing that many other rabid trekkies (and sometimes the same ones), also insist that power levels on SW weapons cannot be adjusted. Once, someone told me in one thread that the power levels of phasers are clearly adjustable, while on the very next thread he visited he claimed that the power of energy weapons is never scalable. When I pointed out his inconsistency he said that what he had meant to say was that MOST energy weapons are not scalable, but since phasers are clearly more advanced than SW blasters, they have adjustable yields while SW blasters do not. Go figure.

[Alyeska]

Incidentally, power levels on phasers can be adjusted. This is canon. However, maximum power clearly does not have the firepower that has been attributed to them by some rabid trekkies. I find it amusing that many other rabid trekkies (and sometimes the same ones), also insist that power levels on SW weapons cannot be adjusted. Once, someone told me in one thread that the power levels of phasers are clearly adjustable, while on the very next thread he visited he claimed that the power of energy weapons is never scalable. When I pointed out his inconsistency he said that what he had meant to say was that MOST energy weapons are not scalable, but since phasers are clearly more advanced than SW blasters, they have adjustable yields while SW blasters do not. Go figure.

Well, I have seen *little* evidence indicating that SW blasters can change power settings, however I have not seen anything that says they CAN'T change their power levels. The stun option favors power settings more then anything else.

In the NJO series we see something else very important. We see that intially changing the power levels on a fighters weapons was not an easy task, but on the other hand it was relatively easy for capital ships to lower their power settings when needed.

[Master of Ossus]

But in ESB we heard General Veers say "Maximum firepower." There are very few other ways to interpret that quote, other than believing that the firepower of AT-AT weapons is adjustable. ICS repeatedly talks about maximum powers on different weapons, and the EGWT shows a power adjust knob on the E-11.

I think it strange that starfighter power is not easily modifiable, but remember that adjustable power settings are of far more benefit to infantry and ground forces. That way, they can alter their firepower to suit different targets. For starfighters, this is less useful because almost all of the shots fired in starfighters would be most effective if set at full power, or relatively full power.

Finally, in Tales from Jabba's Palace, Sergeant Doalyn, having killed a Krayt Dragon, switches his blaster easily from firing explosive shots to firing a cutting laser, which allows him to cut through the Dragon's hide and extract the valuable Krayt Dragon Pearls, from inside the beast. This is more of a different setting than an adjustable power, but it clearly indicates that hand-blasters are easily adjustable. I think that stun setting appears to be a different mechanism, rather than a different power, but it also provides more evidence that blasters in SW are extremely versatile weapons.

[Vympel]

There's more than just the "maximum firepower" Veers quote. Notice also that the blast the AT-AT subsequently fires (after picking off a rebel soldier with its 'ear' guns) is VERY 'chunky' compared to the rest of the blasts fired by the AT-AT chin guns during the battle- notice for example the view from Veers AT-AT right after he says "prepare to target the main generator"- much less intense than those fired at the generator at max firepower.

Also the corpses of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru suggest that they were hit with a hand blaster at full power- or maybe a thermal detonator but the stormies in question would have to be pretty sadistic. Someone once said the bodies were burned but it's clear from the scene that they were gunned down where they stood.

[Master of Ossus]

I don't see that it is clear that they were gunned down where they stood. The damage on their bodies is indicative of flame throwers, not blasters or even thermal detonators. Your point on AT-AT weapons is correct, however. They clearly have variable firepowers, both with their "chin" and "ear" guns.

[SPOOFE]

In the NJO series we see something else very important. We see that intially changing the power levels on a fighters weapons was not an easy task

Hmm... I knew that they had difficulty changing a starfighter's "focal point" for their weapons (the X-wing series mentioned this... as much as it inflated starfighter firepower as a plot device, it did provide a good chunk of extra info) on the fly. Which book was this from? Anybody have a quote handy?

[Dooey Jo]

If the stormtroopers would have used a thermal detonator, there wouldn't have very much left of the house, so I find it hard to believe that Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru were killed by a thermal detonator...

[Master of Ossus]

To me, the damage pattern indicated is indicative of flame throwers (flame projectors, in universe). They were fleeing from the house, and were set ablaze as they ran. That is what I see from the damage and the state of their bodies.

[THEHOOLIGANJEDI]

To me, the damage pattern indicated is indicative of flame throwers (flame projectors, in universe). They were fleeing from the house, and were set ablaze as they ran. That is what I see from the damage and the state of their bodies.

Well since the Stormtrooper were carrying heavy Blater rifles I always assumed that they used those on them. Oh and I read somewhere that Blasters can Vaporize. I think it was the Star Wars Encyclopedia, do know how official that source is.

[SirNitram]

To me, the damage pattern indicated is indicative of flame throwers (flame projectors, in universe). They were fleeing from the house, and were set ablaze as they ran. That is what I see from the damage and the state of their bodies.

Downside: We see the Stormtroopers that did it, and they are carrying carbines and one of them is carrying a heavier gun. Keep in mind this group also blasted the Sandcrawler apart.

[THEHOOLIGANJEDI]

To me, the damage pattern indicated is indicative of flame throwers (flame projectors, in universe). They were fleeing from the house, and were set ablaze as they ran. That is what I see from the damage and the state of their bodies.

Well since the Stormtrooper were carrying heavy Blater rifles I always assumed that they used those on them. Oh and I read somewhere that Blasters can Vaporize. I think it was the Star Wars Encyclopedia, do know how official that source is.

oops I meant don't.

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

Why would they use flamethrowers? Was it some psychological thing? DId they want to torch the house but not destroy it?

[Sea Skimmer]

Hand blasters at least don’t seem to start fires all that well.

[Master of Ossus]

Why would they use flamethrowers? Was it some psychological thing? DId they want to torch the house but not destroy it?

Unclear why they would use flameprojectors, but those are the only weapons that cause damage similar to what is seen in the movie. Note that the two bodies made it out of the house before being consumed by the flames, and note also that it was not a complete combustion. The house was not structurally damaged by the attack, but the Empire's goal was clearly to spread fear, at the time. Perhaps, also, flame projectors were more certain to destroy electronics (remember they were trying to prevent the DS plans from getting out, at the time, so if the Lars family had uploaded them to a computer in their household, it would have necessitated destruction). It is unclear why they would not have used ion guns for this, and blasters on Owen and Beru.

[Patrick Ogaard]

The answer to the blood-smeared, smoking bones of Beru and Owen is right there in official literature. The reference is in Han Solo at Stars' End, by Brian Daley.

What was done was The Burning: a blaster set at low power (turning it into what is essentially a plasma torch) is used to burn and sear the flesh of an interrogation victim, normally starting with the legs to prevent escape. Other prisoners are made to watch, to help break their resistance before they themselves are subjected to torture.

Obviously, the Stormtrooper black ops team interrogated some of the Jawas before killing them, and then proceeded to the moisture farm. Owen and Beru were then questioned and tortured, but either they did not break or, as the movie indicates, could not have known where Luke and the new droids had disappeared to.

[Dooey Jo]

The stormtroopers are known to be quite insane and sick bastards so they probably used the most painful weapon they had to interrogate Owen and Beru but as Master of Ossus says, flame throwers is probably the only weapon that could set everything on fire.

[BioDroid]

One thing to consider, is that the Imperials did not want it to look like imperials (Raiding the farm and setting fire to it might be a Tusken Raider tactic for all we really know.) After all, they tried making the attack on the Jawa Sandcrawler look like an attack by Sand People. It was probably some officers attempt to cover up the scene.

[Patrick Ogaard]

There is an official account that matches precisely the blood-smeared, scorched skeletons that we see: The Burning. No need for flame projectors or anything else not found in the basic stormtrooper armory. The burning of the farm's underground areas is explained easily enough by nothing more complicated than a few close range blaster shots into flammables.

Han Solo at Star's End , by Brian Daley, 1979 (Daley also wrote the Star Wars radioplay)

>>"...You Know what I refer to, Solo-Captain?"

Han did. The Burning was a torture involving the use of a blaster set at low power, to scorch and sear the flesh off a prisoner, leaving only blood-smeared bone. Usually, a leg would be first, immobilizing the vicitim; then the rest of the skeleton was exposed, inch by inch. Any other prisoners could be made to watch, to break their will. The Burning seldom failed to obtain answers, if answers were to be hand; but in Han's opinion, no being who employed such methods deserved to live. >>


There are also references to variable power levels and focus of blasters in the above novel and its sequels. In Han Solo and the Lost Legacy , from 1980, Han and company are embroiled in a desperate fight with the ancient, armored war robots of Xim the Despot.


>>Han threw aside the useless assault rifle and drew his blaster, setting it for maximum power. Chewbacca stepped back, removing the magazine from his weapon and takng one of the larger ones from his bandoleer. Han stepped in front to cover him in a stiff-armed firing stance. He sqeezed off bolt after bolt, deliberately and with great concentration, into the approaching robot's cranial turret. Four blaster rounds stopped the machine just as it fired in response. Han ducked the heatbeam that split the air where he had stood. As the robot fell, the beam traced a quick arc upward. >>


Later in the battle, the gunman Gallandro temporarily saves Han's bacon by shooting one of the robots. Gallandro is using a custom blaster pistol:

>>The war-robot seemed to block out the sky, a machine out of a nightmare. But abruptly its cranial turret flew apart in a blast of charred circuitry and ruptured power routing as a thread-thin, precisely aimed beam found its most vulnerable point. Han scarecely had the presence of mind to take a step back, nearly treading on Chewbacca, as the automaton crashed at his feet like an old tree.>>


Han commenting on the shot:
>>"It was him, Gallandro," Han told his partner, "A fifty-, maybe sixty-meter tight-beam shot." The Wookie shook his head in bewilderment, mane flying.>>