It seems to me that laser weapons in Traveller aren't differentiated enough from projectile weapons. They also feel a bit crippled with the need for a hefty backpack power source, although they also do substantially more damage than other firearms.
Here's my take on lasers, which hopes to make them feel a bit different to projectile weapons, and also make them a bit more flexible and appealing to characters.
Ammunition
Lasers can be powered by small, disposable power packs, much the same size as magazines for equivalent projectile firearms. In fact, the backpack and vehicle umbilical power connectors slot into the same receptacle, giving the user flexibility.
The amount of power pumped into the laser can be varied by the user. Laser shots can be reduced in power to cause injury rather than death, and to conserve battery power.
Aiming:
Laser beams travel at the speed of light - that means, if you can get the target in your sights, you can hit them. There is no need to 'lead' a moving target. There is no need to adjust your aim based on range to the target - the laser beam is as straight as - well - a laser.
The following rules changes make it much easier to hit a target with a laser weapon. They do make lasers much more powerful, but I think they are realistic when compared to projectile weapons.
Damage
Contrary to popular belief, laser beams do diverge slowly. This means that the energy delivered per unit surface area on the target diminishes with range. Also, atmospheric absorption reduces the amount of energy delivered to the target
Example
John is firing a laser carbine at a fast moving enemy (40m/sec) in an air raft, currently at Very Long range. The atmosphere is standard.
As it's a long shot, he takes a minor action to aim, giving him +1 to hit, the laser therefore granting him an additional +1
His range penalty is -2 (½ of the standard range penalty).
The target movement penalty is -2 (½ of -4).
His total DM is -2 (there may be other factors, such as cover, etc).
If he fires the carbine at full power he'll use 4 charges. At Very Long range in standard atmosphere, his weapon damage will diminish by -4/2 = -2d. Therefore, he'll inflict at most 2d damage to his target, or 2d+3 if he's using a TL11 weapon.
If he was using a laser Rifle, the damage penalty is just -1 (½ of -2), and the rifle can power upto 5 charges into a shot, delivering 4d damage to the target !
I hope these ideas give a bit more flavour to lasers, without making them over-powerful. It might be necessary to tweak the damage penalties, or the maxium delivered damage, in order to prevent them being too powerful compared to conventional weapons.
Here's my take on lasers, which hopes to make them feel a bit different to projectile weapons, and also make them a bit more flexible and appealing to characters.
Ammunition
Lasers can be powered by small, disposable power packs, much the same size as magazines for equivalent projectile firearms. In fact, the backpack and vehicle umbilical power connectors slot into the same receptacle, giving the user flexibility.
The amount of power pumped into the laser can be varied by the user. Laser shots can be reduced in power to cause injury rather than death, and to conserve battery power.
Aiming:
Laser beams travel at the speed of light - that means, if you can get the target in your sights, you can hit them. There is no need to 'lead' a moving target. There is no need to adjust your aim based on range to the target - the laser beam is as straight as - well - a laser.
The following rules changes make it much easier to hit a target with a laser weapon. They do make lasers much more powerful, but I think they are realistic when compared to projectile weapons.
Damage
Contrary to popular belief, laser beams do diverge slowly. This means that the energy delivered per unit surface area on the target diminishes with range. Also, atmospheric absorption reduces the amount of energy delivered to the target
Example
John is firing a laser carbine at a fast moving enemy (40m/sec) in an air raft, currently at Very Long range. The atmosphere is standard.
As it's a long shot, he takes a minor action to aim, giving him +1 to hit, the laser therefore granting him an additional +1
His range penalty is -2 (½ of the standard range penalty).
The target movement penalty is -2 (½ of -4).
His total DM is -2 (there may be other factors, such as cover, etc).
If he fires the carbine at full power he'll use 4 charges. At Very Long range in standard atmosphere, his weapon damage will diminish by -4/2 = -2d. Therefore, he'll inflict at most 2d damage to his target, or 2d+3 if he's using a TL11 weapon.
If he was using a laser Rifle, the damage penalty is just -1 (½ of -2), and the rifle can power upto 5 charges into a shot, delivering 4d damage to the target !
I hope these ideas give a bit more flavour to lasers, without making them over-powerful. It might be necessary to tweak the damage penalties, or the maxium delivered damage, in order to prevent them being too powerful compared to conventional weapons.
