[Gregster2k]

Yes, I know it completely defies the laws of physics (and FS2 canon I might add), but I suppose this might work for some kind of advanced ubertechnology never seen before. What I propose are beams that can curve, like some sort of space lasso, lashing out into space like a whip and snaring targets in its destructive force.

Thoughts?

[FUBAR-BDHR]

Actually it doesn't defy the laws of physics.  If there was something with a gravitational field strong enough beams should bend.  Of course I don't see too much combat going on near a black hole.  Of couse if you had some kind of point singularity weapon go off near a beam....  Or how about jump points in the Wing Commander sense?

[Shade]

Not to be rude but, no. I honestly can't see any way it could possibly look good, only ridiculous. Also, suspension of disbelief is very important to games like FreeSpace, and something like that would utterly ruin that - You might as well put a big fat neon sign inthere saying "Hey, look, you're really just an overweight nerd in front of monitor and not Alpha 1: Savior of the Galaxy, so snap out of it!".

[asyikarea51]

Curved beams remind me of an anime character with a whip as one of her weapons.

But I think it's odd to see a funky-bad-film-effect-style beam whiplashing the side of an Orion... O_o

Interesting idea though.

[karajorma]

Would look good in JAD 3 or DEM 2 though

[Dark Hunter]

That curved enough for you? 

[Shadow0000]

I have seen series where gravity is used as an strategy point in the curvature of beams, though is not exactly, barely the gravity affect slighty the trajectory of a non guided weapon, like beam, laser and other light weapons, but remember that even less than single degree can make a shoot miss their target considerably.

[Bobboau]

you can make a beam of charged particles curve, all you have to do is run it through a magnetif field.

[phreak]

Would look good in JAD 3 or DEM 2 though

I can see it now

Captain: Starboard beams, open fire!
First Mate: But that cruiser is to our port
Captain: Doesn't matter
<beams fire from starboard side, loop around and hit the cruiser>

[butter_pat_head]

I can see it now

Captain: Starboard beams, open fire!
First Mate: But that cruiser is to our port
Captain: Doesn't matter
<beams fire from starboard side, loop around and hit the cruiser>

Like this?


^_^

[spartan_0214]

sorta, except those beams are more like energy tentacles or projectile weapons with really long light trails...

[Wanderer]

Though using neutral particles would be smarter in space.

[Flaser]

Apparently I am the only one who remembers either Macross or its American version Robotech.
Those beams curved, bent, and still looked kick-ass and realistic.

(Though they were fired *across* astrometic distances)

[butter_pat_head]

sorta, except those beams are more like energy tentacles or projectile weapons with really long light trails...

Well in the show that pic was taken from (DieBuster Ep 2 if your'e wondering) those beams are suppost to be lasers and thusly operate under the standard Anime physics model (light slower than sound, robots the size the Earth, etc) for example, the target those ships are fireing at moves faster than the beams do!. ^_^

[Quest_techie]

if you were manipulating gravity on the level where his were doable wouldn't gravity suddenly become the much more viable weapon?

[Flaser]

Both of you seem to forget that lasers aren't visible in space....and their progress wouldn't be 'seen' anyway....so they are more likely streams of plasma moving fast (that would be both visible and would have a visible moving progress).

Though plasma weapons are stupid...

....never the less in videogames and anime they are called lasers and they act as they do.

(and I just killed a bunch of catgirls)

[Turey]

Both of you seem to forget that lasers aren't visible in space....and their progress wouldn't be 'seen' anyway....

That's true only for a perfectly controlled beam. If your beam has enough spill-over (Light that isn't perfectly aligned with the direction of the beam), they'd be easily visible.

[Flaser]

Both of you seem to forget that lasers aren't visible in space....and their progress wouldn't be 'seen' anyway....

That's true only for a perfectly controlled beam. If your beam has enough spill-over (Light that isn't perfectly aligned with the direction of the beam), they'd be easily visible.

You have answered your own proposal: spill over. There is no such thing in space. There is no gas, no nothing, nada, zip out there that would scatter the light and make it bounce into your eye.....hence laser beams are invisible.

Actually there IS a scattering thanks to interference between the photons that make up the beam, but that would only slowly defocus it, not scatter it all over the universe and make the beam a radiant phenomenon.

[Turey]

You have answered your own proposal: spill over. There is no such thing in space. There is no gas, no nothing, nada, zip out there that would scatter the light and make it bounce into your eye.....hence laser beams are invisible.

Actually there IS a scattering thanks to interference between the photons that make up the beam, but that would only slowly defocus it, not scatter it all over the universe and make the beam a radiant phenomenon.

Spill-over could easily be caused by imperfect focusing mechanisms in the beam cannon itself. If the cannons don't get the beam tight enough, it could spill over enough to loke like those in game.

[Flaser]

You have answered your own proposal: spill over. There is no such thing in space. There is no gas, no nothing, nada, zip out there that would scatter the light and make it bounce into your eye.....hence laser beams are invisible.

Actually there IS a scattering thanks to interference between the photons that make up the beam, but that would only slowly defocus it, not scatter it all over the universe and make the beam a radiant phenomenon.

Spill-over could easily be caused by imperfect focusing mechanisms in the beam cannon itself. If the cannons don't get the beam tight enough, it could spill over enough to loke like those in game.

Please go over your optic lessons again - and check the wikipedia.....or Winchel Chung's site.....or ask a physics teacher/professor. They will all support what I said.
BTW If the weapon so heavily scattered light it would be a spotlamp not a coherent beam weapon.