Technical Progression of Weapons Systems in Babylon 5

[pasuuli]

Using ACTA as a rough guide (for whatever that's worth), I went through the weapons lists for Earthforce, Narn, Centauri, Minbari, Shadow, and Vorlon ships and tried to cobble together a technological progression.

The result of this exercise is to determine that, indeed, Earthforce does appear to be on the lowest rung of the tech ladder, but the Narn are within reach. The Narn-Centauri tech separation is more noticeable.

I also imposed a bit of my own view of things to relate some weapons systems with each other.

Earth Alliance

These three items might represent the lowest tech:

• Missile launcher
• Railgun
• Particle gun (an early form of Particle Cannon)

Earth-Narn Boundary

Next come weapons in common with the Narn:

• Pulse (laser) cannon
• (Beam) Laser cannon
• Plasma cannon

Narn Weapons

Narn-only weapons include:

• Particle cannon
• Mag (magnetic rail?) gun
• Burst beam
• Pulsar mine
• Energy mine

Narn-Centauri Boundary

There are two weapons shared by both Narn and Centauri: Torpedos, and the Ion Cannon. The Ion Cannon is also used by the Minbari, and I wonder if it's related to something.

Centauri Weapons

• Mass driver
• Matter cannon
• Neutron (pulse laser) cannon

Minbari Weapons

• Neutron (beam) laser (cannon)
• Fusion cannon (advanced cousin of the plasma cannon)
• (pulse) Molecular disruptor
• Antimatter converter

Shadows Weapons

• Polarity cannon
• Phased pulse cannon
• (beam) Molecular disruptor
• Jump disruptor

Vorlon Weapons

Unfortunately, I don't know where to slot Vorlon weapons.

• Discharge gun
• Lightning gun

 

[Da Boss]

from a ACTA perspective

Centauri also use the Battle Laser - which is a more flexible weapon which exchanges range for pin point accuracy (precise) - they have an advanced version which is IIRC ISA eraand likely to be either through obtained tech or Drakh assistance.

The Minbari don't use Ion Cannons IIRC ?

The Narn have only managed to replicate the lighter version of the Ion Cannon.

Vorlon weapons should be on a par at least with Shadow weaponry.

Earth catches up with and begins to surpass the Narn in the Third Age / Crusade era - with more powerful ship mounted beam weapons. Its missile technology is more developed than the Narn who rely heavily on their energy mines. They also have actually bothered to develop defense technology.

if that helps

 

[pasuuli]

That does help - thank you.

And you're correct of course - the Minbari do NOT use the Ion Cannon. My typo.

Regarding Shadow vs Vorlon, perhaps there are some subtle relationships between their weapons.