Maser/Laser Ruling question

[Bespoke]

My group just got some Maser weapons and the AP 10 looks scrumptious however we can't seem to find an answer on whether or not Masers are stopped by reflec or ablat armor. Also just as an aside Lasers are treated as normal damage with stuff like cloth right? Or are they supposed to AP anything that doesn't say Laser protection +X

 

[Galadrion]

Well, it's a little hard to come up with an answer when you've left out some critical information in your question... such as which game/system you're asking about.

 

[Bespoke]

I'm sorry I forgot about that, mongoose traveller 2e

 

[Limpin Legin]

They are both energy weapons, so any armour that affords protection against energy weapons is said to provide AP.

Concerning reflec and ablat. These are said to protect against lasers in IR spectrum, and that is all. Both maser and laser use same operating principle but maser is higher frequency which means it could penetrate some materials that stops laser.

Magnets can absorb microwaves which I reckon means they should be able to stop masers , although this is not mentioned in Traveller rules. Could be important if magnetic technology is being used nearby when any maser shot is fired.

 

[Terry Mixon]

Reflec only mentions protection from lasers. I know masers are similar, but I'd guess reflect doesn't deter them.

 

[Condottiere]

Transmitted energy.

I would think that kinetic impact/transfer of energy would be the difference.

 

[Sigtrygg]

Concerning reflec and ablat. These are said to protect against lasers in IR spectrum, and that is all. Both maser and laser use same operating principle but maser is higher frequency which means it could penetrate some materials that stops laser.

Microwaves have a lower frequency and longer wavelength than IR waves.

As you go from gamma to radio the frequency decreases and the wavelength increases.

 

[Arkathan]

Masers are radio frequency, generally below radar. Anything that scatters radio and radar should scatter masers. Anything that absorbs those frequencies is going to have to deal with an extreme hot spot.

 

[Sigtrygg]

Masers use microwave frequency, the only debate is if you classify microwaves as part of the radio wave bit of the specturm, but it is usually its own distinct band.

"Modern masers can be designed to generate electromagnetic waves at microwave frequencies, radio frequencies and infrared frequencies"

Maser - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[PandaDad]

So, what is the consensus? Do lasers ignore all but reflec and ablat armor, up to and including battle dress? And then lasers ignore even that? Or have AP against anti-energy armor? It certainly makes lasers more dangerous and more worth the backpacks, but can be unbalanced.

 

[boggo2300]

if you're going to have lasers ignore armour why don't they ignore battledress? why exclude that? however the rules say nothing about lasers ignoring armour so it's your house rule, however you want to play it.

 

[Condottiere]

I don't think that is the intent.

Otherwise, everyone would be wearing reflective jumpers, and playing laser tag.

 

[Geir]

Lasers don't ignore other armour. It's just that Reflec and Ablat are only good at stopping lasers.

 

[PandaDad]

Lasers don't ignore other armour. It's just that Reflec and Ablat are only good at stopping lasers.

Okay, that's how I understood it. I've heard the other way several times now, and was worried I missed something. Why use lasers other than in zero-g then? They're just worse than the alternatives, full stop.

 

[Condottiere]

Recoil.

Range.

 

[boggo2300]

Damage, a TL9 laser CARBINE does 1D more damage than a TL10 Advanced Combat Rifle

 

[CordwainerFish]

Why use lasers other than in zero-g then?

Because lasers are a traditional staple of pulp SF friggin' cool.

 

[WHULorigan]

Masers use microwave frequency, the only debate is if you classify microwaves as part of the radio wave bit of the specturm, but it is usually its own distinct band.

Unless you are talking Terahertz radiation, where nobody can seem to come to a consensus of definition (i.e. make up their minds) as to whether it is low-frequency infrared or high-frequency microwave . . .

"Modern masers can be designed to generate electromagnetic waves at microwave frequencies, radio frequencies and infrared frequencies"

Maser - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Actually with a free-electron laser system, your beam should be selectably tunable to any frequency you want up to perhaps a maximum power (and therefore frequency) limit. It is odd that Lasers and Masers are still being considered as separate systems to begin with beyond a certain TL, other than as specialized components outputting at particular designated frequencies.

 

[CordwainerFish]

Unless you are talking Terahertz radiation, where nobody can seem to come to a consensus of definition (i.e. make up their minds) as to whether it is low-frequency infrared or high-frequency microwave . . .

Well, until fairly recently there were no really practical ways to produce or detect terahertz EMR, so naming it was sort of an angels-on-the-head-of-a-pin thing anyway.

 

[Condottiere]

Are we still on the ecks ray band, or all over the spectrum?