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Thread: Phaser Settings Table (and What's Wrong With It)

  1. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
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    870
    Federation technology did include several personal Force Field type devices, the Arm Shield (109 Players Guide) and the Portable Force Field Generator (page 105 The Price of Freedom) for example, so the technology isn't unprecedented. I agree that you will inevitably begin a "escalation of force" and as TTK describes there are enterprising ways around Force Fields other then just over loading them with phaser fire. Also once phasers became less then optimal in any game I played in, players invariably switched to melee weapons (as Worf showed when fighting the Borg and using his Mek'Leth, or my favorite character, an Andorian Trachka dual wielding his Chaka using Chaka Hramdal style being a monster on the battle field). Phasers are also susceptible to Dampening fields, negating their use. Hence the TR-116 rifle being developed...
    http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/TR-116_rifle

    The ultimate progression would be a Borg style regenerative/adaptive shield design or some sort of personal Powered/Mechanized Battle Armour (that is shield equipped), but that is way out side of the bounds of what Star Trek usually portrays. TTK is also right in questioning the validity of regular Star Trek characters possessing or being issued with such devices like this. I would personally only allow Federation Marine, MACO or Hazard teams, Federation/Andorian Trachka [page 9 StarFleet Security Handbook], Federation Ranger units [page 3 StarFleet Security Handbook] or Federation Rapid Response Teams [page 3 StarFleet Security Handbook] to be issued with such devices.

    I would also suggest you look into a suit called the Hazard suit (and Hazard teams), it is non cannon but still well with in the bounds of Federation Technology to develop and something I think would be a natural progression. Cannon is OK but IMHO it is when one steps outside of cannon that one truly starts to encounter the extraordinary.

    http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Hazard_suit

    A Hazard suit equipped with a regenerative/adaptive force field would be a kick ass suit, suitable for any type of front line Federation MACO soldier.

  2. #17
    One of the problems with ICON is indeed the lethality of combat. Partly this is due to the inherited phaser table a nd trying to fit rules around it, but also a focus  on a Starfleet setting where most of the time the  crew are likely to be under orders to use Stun Se tting. Although this doesn't address the issue that the opponants of this setting are not.

    But the lethality of combat is (I suppose) used as  a mechanic to force players to seek peaceful rsol ution first.

    I am sure that we all know that this doesn't reall y happen all the time.

    Your revised table is good. but perhaps TDK's more streamlined version with a  narrators eye on the descriptions of the setting m ay be better, this really needs to be smoth and ci nematic. And as such reality should take a back seat.
    DanG/Darth Gurden
    The Voice of Reason and Sith Lord

    “Putting the FUNK! back into Dysfunctional!”

    Coming soon. The USS Ganymede NCC-80107
    "Ad astrae per scientia" (To the stars through knowledge)

  3. #18
    Join Date
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    The real solution to the problem is to just adhere to Trek's basic philosophy, and avoid violence when possible. The lethality of phasers is a part of Star Trek. When you start a phaser fight, someone is going to be disintegrated, unless people have the sense to keep their weapons on Stun.

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