Federation Commander

[vyrago]

same goes for Disruptors. I did a search but most topics were about photons/torpedoes. Is it ever explained?

[Magnum357]

I thought only Torpedo Weapons and Drones could ever be fired during warp. Partical weapons can only be used at sublight speeds. But then again thats only what Star Trek Says.

[mjwest]

In Federation Commander, everything happens at warp (i.e. faster than light) speed. So phasers, photons, disruptors, drones, plasma, and the rest are all fired/launched at warp speed. (Yes, there are very rare things that happen at less than warp speed, but it is very rare. Do NOT think about how bases work.)
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Federation Commander Answer Guy

[djdood]

Franchise trek went their own way (and changed what way they were going).

The SFU is based on classic ToS and some sources derived from it, all of which used those weapons while at warp.

The sci-fi tech involved varies with the flavor, but usually invokes some type of having the energy discharge be in a subspace (warp) field, making it a trans-light weapon.
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[cnuzzi]

One possible explanation I've come up with is the following:

Laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. If you fired a laser at warp speed you would run into your own beam (Doh!). Phaser, however, stands for photon amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. A photon is a particle (light is an unusual form of energy in that it has a dual wave-particle nature). Particles, being physical, obey Newtonian laws of motion. One of these is that velocity v = v0 + at, where v0 is the initial velocity, a is acceleration, and t is time. In other words, if you are standing on a flatbed that is going 50 mph (v0 = 50), and throw a ball (accelerate it) at 40 mph in the direction of your vector of motion (straight ahead), the ball will travel at 90 mph. Therefore, if phasers are utilizing light in the form of photons, one could theoretically fire a beam at superluminal speed because the velocity of the ship would be the v0 of the particles that make up the beam.

Technobabble, I know - but so much of science fiction is!

[djdood]

Phaser is defined in both the SFB and the FedCom rules as being a "phased energy beam".

What type of energy discharge isn't defined, but has usually been discussed as being a simple energy discharge (not plasma, but close to it). There is mention that they are powered by the ships electrical grid.

The discharge is defined as being 'phased', but not what/where it is phased into or how.

My own "head canon" is that the beam is fired through powerful subspace field coils (similar to warp coils, but smaller, more-powerful, and not designed for constant use) with the discharge being phased into subspace (and is thus hyperlight). Pushing the beam into subspace also increases its apparent energy, greatly enhancing its damage potential.
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[Sgt_G]

Phaser tech might be related to sub-space radio tech, as both are FTL energy beams.
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Garth L. Getgen

Master Sgt, US Air Force, Retired -- 1981-2007 -- 1W091A

[Steve Cole]

Madness this way lies.

They work, the details don't matter and creating a background comes under the heading of "painting yourself into a corner when you do not have to do so."
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The Guy Who Designed Fed Commander