[NeonShivan]

From a general point of view. If you so to say, had the ability to choose what is best for your future military whether it be army or space navy would you rather have.

A: Kinetic Weapons such as Rail Guns, Gauss Cannons etc



or B: Energy Weapons such as Photon or Plasma based weaponry



hail amarr

[Alex Heartnet]

Why not combine both?  Plasma-state Uranium, energized railgun slugs...

[NeonShivan]

Why not combine both?  Plasma-state Uranium, energized railgun slugs...

Technically you can combine both but I'm talking from a general point of view, would u focus mainly on the manipulation of energy to be used as a weapon or depend on giant ass slugs launched at 3 km/s

[Alex Heartnet]

I would depend on missiles that mount shield-shattering energy weapons, like the Cataclysm missile from Nexus.  Sure, they will be expensive to make, but the end result of being able to destroy a battleship with a single shot is worth it.

[NeonShivan]

I would depend on missiles that mount shield-shattering energy weapons, like the Cataclysm missile from Nexus.  Sure, they will be expensive to make, but the end result of being able to destroy a battleship with a single shot is worth it.

Never played Nexus but that sounds terrifying

[Scotty]

It depends far more on your technology base.  If you can't actually build substantial, effective, and relatively efficient energy weapons, you would be a fool to choose them over kinetic projectiles.

[NeonShivan]

It depends far more on your technology base.  If you can't actually build substantial, effective, and relatively efficient energy weapons, you would be a fool to choose them over kinetic projectiles.

Say your on a technological base par with the GTVA.

[Alex Heartnet]

I would depend on missiles that mount shield-shattering energy weapons, like the Cataclysm missile from Nexus.  Sure, they will be expensive to make, but the end result of being able to destroy a battleship with a single shot is worth it.

Never played Nexus but that sounds terrifying

Yeah, it's the type of weapon that should only ever be given to the bad guys and not the good guys.

It depends far more on your technology base.  If you can't actually build substantial, effective, and relatively efficient energy weapons, you would be a fool to choose them over kinetic projectiles.

If we are looking at hard science fiction, then kinetic weapons will be more energy-efficient then energy weapons.

However, I can easily picture a fleet that is transitioning from kinetic weapons to energy weapons.  Their warships mount energy weapons as their main weapon systems, but all the secondary weapon systems are kinetic or missile-type weapons.

[Spoon]

Someone once told me that plasma weapons are kinetic in nature...

[Scourge of Ages]

Someone once told me that plasma weapons are kinetic in nature...

From a certain standpoint, projectile weapons are energy weapons. You have propellant (chemical or electrical energy), a warhead (chemical or atomic energy), and the projectile itself which is just a means of transferring kinetic energy to the target.

I'd put a vote for kinetic weapons myself, especially in space where there's no air resistance. It's also easier to justify being able to see the projectiles and need to lead a target with them.

I'd go with coil/rail guns and particle cannons, and rockets and bombs.

[NeonShivan]

Someone once told me that plasma weapons are kinetic in nature...

Plasma is a physical state beyond gas that usually is a perfect electrical current. Plasma can be used as a kinetic weapon (as what Alex said before) but generally in science fiction games, shows, and movies, plasma is usually used as a weapon itself for instance, plasma beams or plasma torps.

[NGTM-1R]

Realistically it will usually be cheaper to accelerate a slug than it will be to create beam. Energy weapons have certain advantages, most notably speed, though.

[Alex Heartnet]

Realistically it will usually be cheaper to accelerate a slug than it will be to create beam. Energy weapons have certain advantages, most notably speed, though.

How about precision?  A warship could use lasers to blow out the weapon systems on enemy warships, while using kinetic weapons to outright destroy the ship.

[Dragon]

Lasers at long range, railguns at medium and nuclear missiles at short. Lasers have a speed and precision advantage, not to mention they can't be shot down, but they can be reflected using right armor and have high energy requirements. Railgun slugs fly so fast that they'd be impossible to neutralize at medium range, and they'd deal greater damage that's harder to armor against. Nukes are good at ranges where a missile has little chance of missing (due to ECM) or being shot down, but they can do devastating damage, especially if we're talking fusion-based shaped charges.

Plasma weapons have a few disadvantages, most notably:
Plasma cools. This limits it's range to short-medium.
It's easily deflected by magnetic fields.
It requires a lot of power compared to other weapons.

Plasma could be used at extremely short range (essentially a glorified plasma cutter), but space battles have little chance of going into it. Alternatively, a plasma shield could be used for ramming, but that'd be absolutely a last ditch tactic.

[deathfun]

Realistically it will usually be cheaper to accelerate a slug than it will be to create beam. Energy weapons have certain advantages, most notably speed, though.

How about precision?  A warship could use lasers to blow out the weapon systems on enemy warships, while using kinetic weapons to outright destroy the ship.

Another few questions to ask here
What are we fighting exactly? Are they more advanced in technology, or fellow comrades basically? Are there shields? How do the shields react to energy or projectile weaponry? (Some cases, projectiles being more effective, other cases energy being more effective)

Off the bat, I'd say Kinetic due to the simple fact it's cost effective and most likely easier to create. This shortens the build time and increases your possible fleet size and replacement rate. It'd also make ships easier to repair.

However, the research into energy weapons would also open up possibilities for more efficient engines, shields and power supply. It'd open up more avenues to explore rather than a singular purpose that kinetic weapons would give you. It may even increase the effectiveness of your kinetic weapons

Kinetic to start while researching energy based. As your understanding continues, you'll be able to outfit your fleet with upgraded kinetic weaponry and possibly shields while building completely new ships solely based on an energy weapon system

[NeonShivan]

Realistically it will usually be cheaper to accelerate a slug than it will be to create beam. Energy weapons have certain advantages, most notably speed, though.

How about precision?  A warship could use lasers to blow out the weapon systems on enemy warships, while using kinetic weapons to outright destroy the ship.

Another few questions to ask here
What are we fighting exactly? Are they more advanced in technology, or fellow comrades basically? Are there shields? How do the shields react to energy or projectile weaponry? (Some cases, projectiles being more effective, other cases energy being more effective)

Off the bat, I'd say Kinetic due to the simple fact it's cost effective and most likely easier to create. This shortens the build time and increases your possible fleet size and replacement rate. It'd also make ships easier to repair.

However, the research into energy weapons would also open up possibilities for more efficient engines, shields and power supply. It'd open up more avenues to explore rather than a singular purpose that kinetic weapons would give you. It may even increase the effectiveness of your kinetic weapons

Kinetic to start while researching energy based. As your understanding continues, you'll be able to outfit your fleet with upgraded kinetic weaponry and possibly shields while building completely new ships solely based on an energy weapon system

You have no specific enemies but if you wish to make up an enemy then go ahead.

This forum post is to see what is your personal favorite type of weapon, kinetic or energy. So its basically like saying which do u like more a Mass Driver or a BGreen.

[Alex Heartnet]

My weapon of choice?  That would probably be power brokering and loan sharking, done on a galactic scale.  That way, if a war starts, both sides will have to come to me if they want cash for weapons and ships. 

If some star nation or other refuses to be in debt to me, then I pull a few strings to get that nation attacked by a different nation.  Then the defeated nation has to loan money from me in order to rebuild!

Best part is that I will be enjoying my private terraformed vacation planet the whole time.  War is a racket. 

[NeonShivan]

My weapon of choice?  That would probably be power brokering and loan sharking, done on a galactic scale.  That way, if a war starts, both sides will have to come to me if they want cash for weapons and ships. 

If some star nation or other refuses to be in debt to me, then I pull a few strings to get that nation attacked by a different nation.  Then the defeated nation has to loan money from me in order to rebuild!

Best part is that I will be enjoying my private terraformed vacation planet the whole time.  War is a racket. 

Question is, how will u beable to start a business with that kind of magnitude.

[Alex Heartnet]

My weapon of choice?  That would probably be power brokering and loan sharking, done on a galactic scale.  That way, if a war starts, both sides will have to come to me if they want cash for weapons and ships. 

If some star nation or other refuses to be in debt to me, then I pull a few strings to get that nation attacked by a different nation.  Then the defeated nation has to loan money from me in order to rebuild!

Best part is that I will be enjoying my private terraformed vacation planet the whole time.  War is a racket. 

Question is, how will u beable to start a business with that kind of magnitude.

Well, I'd probably have to form a cabal with other wealthy social elite types.  Beyond that, I can pay off politicians to have regulations passed that benefit me and keep anyone who is not already part of my cabal from competing with me.

[NeonShivan]

My weapon of choice?  That would probably be power brokering and loan sharking, done on a galactic scale.  That way, if a war starts, both sides will have to come to me if they want cash for weapons and ships. 

If some star nation or other refuses to be in debt to me, then I pull a few strings to get that nation attacked by a different nation.  Then the defeated nation has to loan money from me in order to rebuild!

Best part is that I will be enjoying my private terraformed vacation planet the whole time.  War is a racket. 

Question is, how will u beable to start a business with that kind of magnitude.

Well, I'd probably have to form a cabal with other wealthy social elite types.  Beyond that, I can pay off politicians to have regulations passed that benefit me and keep anyone who is not already part of my cabal from competing with me.

Good luck with that because owning a monopoly organization is illegal in the US

...nevermind I wish you luck!