Topic: 4512: Equipment Manual errata

[Skaran]

Just found this in the Equipment manual, on page 44 is describes the Support Plasma Cannon as being TL20. The master table on page 53 clearly show this as TL21, if it was TL20 then several items would be missing from the master table.

[Defendi]

You're probably right.  What's the reference on page 44?  I'm sans books at my current location.

[Skaran]

It is an actual description of the weapon
"Support Plasma Cannon
[Tech Level 20]
This is a huge combat plasma weapon, typically a barely man portable version of the assault plasma carbine..." The plasma assault carbine is not available to TL22 one tech level after the Master charts support plasma cannon. In terms of development it looks like the plasma assault carbine would be a later development of the support cannons. This would likely apply to the descriptions of the other energy weapons too.

[Defendi]

Yeah, you're correct that big support cannons are possible before miniaturization allows for carbines.  I think you have this right.

[Marc R]

so are cannons 20 and carbines 22, or are cannons 21 and carbines 22?

[Skaran]

Well based on the equipment charts the following progression occurs
Hunting/Sniping Plasma Carbine (Heavy and Heavy Sniping) TL20
Support Plasma Cannon TL21
Plasma Pistol TL22
Assault Plasma Carbine TL22
Subassault Plasma Carbine TL23

Looking at Lasers
Hunting/Sniping Lasers (Heavy and Heavy Sniping) TL19
Support Laser TL20
Laser Pistol TL21
Assault Laser TL21
Subassault Laser TL22

So it looks like the energy weapons all share the same development path
Hunting/Sniping < Support < Pistol/Assault < Subassault

A further problem can be found with the tech levels for energy weapons in the Vehicle Manual. All ultracompact energy weapons regardless of type can come in at TL18 per the ordnance table on page 110. Strangely then the power template tables on page 107 only allow large and ultra-large laser/blaster/plasma weapons at this tech level and not at all for Disruptors and Ion cannon. If you can build small weapons and large weapons why not the ones in between?

[markc]

A further problem can be found with the tech levels for energy weapons in the Vehicle Manual. All ultracompact energy weapons regardless of type can come in at TL18 per the ordnance table on page 110. Strangely then the power template tables on page 107 only allow large and ultra-large laser/blaster/plasma weapons at this tech level and not at all for Disruptors and Ion cannon. If you can build small weapons and large weapons why not the ones in between?

 Good Question.
MDC

[snrdg051306]

An Alien plot is the reason you can't have mid sized energy weapons