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--- genres:scifi:tech:space_weapons [2016/10/02 17:47] – sam
+++ genres:scifi:tech:space_weapons [2018/08/18 15:05] – sam
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 ===== TL 8 =====
+TL 7 weapons are still common at TL 8, but new technologies are beginning to become available. At this stage they are still experimental, though could probably evolve faster if there was greater need than there has been in 'the real world'.
 **Railguns**: Similar to chainguns, but using electromagnetic propulsion to fire a small number of rounds at very high velocity. More accurate, longer ranged, but still limited relative to higher tech alternatives.
+**Massdrivers**: The same technology as //Railguns//, but designed to fire a single high mass kinetic round rather than multiple small ones. Has a higher destructive ability, but very inaccurate against small targets.
 **Lasers**: At TL 8 lasers are possible, but not that effective. They tend to do limited damage but have the advantage of high accuracy at longer ranges than railguns.
@@ Line 21: / Line 25: @@
 ===== TL 9 =====
-**Sandcasters**: Used for defensive purposes. They deploy fine dust particles which absorb and reflect light, used as a defence against lasers, and to some extent, particle beams.
+Lasers become the primary weapon of choice at this TL, though they are still expensive so railguns and massdrivers are still in heavy use.
-**Massdrivers**: These are large, spinal mounted railguns. They cause massive damage at long range, and have greater accuracy than railguns due to their high speed, but a ship needs to be built around them.
+**Nuclear Cannon**: Directed energy weapon, detonate a small nuke and direct it at the target. Incredible amounts of damage, but very limited range.
+**Sandcasters**: Used for defensive purposes. They deploy fine dust particles which absorb and reflect light, used as a defence against lasers, and to some extent, particle beams (which haven't been invented yet).
+**Massdrivers**: These are large, spinal mounted railguns. They cause massive damage at long range, and have greater accuracy than railguns due to their high speed, but a ship needs to be built around them. The difference between a //railgun// and a //massdriver// is really one of implementation rather than technology.
 **Plasma Drives**: Reaction drives can of course be used as weapons, but they are diffuse and difficult to focus. As such they have short ranges and aren't considered practical.
 ===== TL 10 =====
-**Particle beams**: Particle beams are more damaging that lasers, though aren't quite as long ranged.
+**Particle beams**: Particle beams are more damaging than lasers, though aren't quite as long ranged.
-**Nuclear pumped x-ray lasers**: Nuclear missiles which power a highly destructive x-ray laser at the target. Greater effective range than a standard nuclear missile.
+**Nuclear pumped x-ray lasers**: Nuclear missiles which power a highly destructive x-ray laser at the target. Greater effective range than a standard nuclear missile, and harder to target.
 ===== TL 11 =====
-**Xasers**: X-ray lasers. Better range characteristics than standard lasers, and these ones don't need to have a nuclear bomb behind them.
+**Plasma cannons**: Fire bolts of super heated plasma. Shorter range than lasers or particle beams, but more damage. Due to their explosive effects, tend to be good against larger targets.
 ===== TL 12 =====
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 **Meson guns**: Make use of weird stuff to avoid armour. Tend to be only used as spinal mount weapons until much later tech levels.
-**Plasma cannons**: Fire bolts of super heated plasma. Shorter range than lasers or particle beams, but more damage. Due to their explosive effects, tend to be good against larger targets.
+**Xasers**: X-ray lasers. Better range characteristics than standard lasers, and these ones don't need to have a nuclear bomb behind them.
 **Nuclear dampers**: The ability to prevent nuclear explosions in close proximity.
 ===== TL 13 =====