[Luis Dias]

The point       --------->

Your head           O

[Scourge of Ages]

Well we did get one good electro-laser post, and one about electric cars, so I'm good.

And if these batteries hold their charge long enough, and can be manufactured cheaply enough, then they would be pretty awesome for man-portable laser guns (can't believe I finally got to type that after all these years), even with the voltage drop with each cycle. Just picture dropping out microbattery packs like magazines, and recharging them when you get back to base after you're done alien hunting.

[Nuke]

i have a feeling that as soon as a lethal infantry issue portable laser rifle becomes available, it will immediately be banned by every treaty organization in the world. the reason for this is likely the large number of civilians that get blinded by being in near proximity to laser fights because they didnt get the standard issue laser goggles that the soldiers all have.

people have built laser guns that can punch through thin bits of metal. and they all require eye protection. now imagine what a system a few orders more powerful will do to ones eyesight (even just secondary reflected exposure).

[Dragon]

Short pulses lasguns in IR spectrum should be much safer than industrial UV cutting lasers, even without googles. Using visible light for a laser is a rather stupid approach unless you want the beam to be seen (assuming you won't see a lighting bolt race through ionized air on every shot, that is).

[Phantom Hoover]

I still have no idea how lasers are meant to be viable infantry weapons; it seems like wishful thinking informed by years of sci-fi percolating into the common consciousness.

[Trivial Psychic]

The electrolaser is just a wireless taiser.  It uses an ultraviolet laser to ionize the air between the emitter and the target.  Then it sends an electricity charge down the electrically-conductive air column shocking the target.  A low-intensity pulse is enough to stun them like the existing taiser, but you can dial-up the power and deliver enough of a shock to kill someone.

There was also the ability to trigger lightning from storms by firing an electrolaser through the storm, and allowing the cloud to generate the charge.  In theory, you could use it to direct a lightning strike on critical facilities of unfriendly nations, from a stealth aircraft and leave behind no evidence.  In fact, if you're a real jackass about it, you could even use it for strikes on allied nations, if you're trying to manipulate them to your wishes.

[BloodEagle]

I still have no idea how lasers are meant to be viable infantry weapons; it seems like wishful thinking informed by years of sci-fi percolating into the common consciousness.

Sniper Rifles.

Also, any situation where bullets would fail due to inaccuracies or traditional armor.

--

Using visible light for a laser is a rather stupid approach unless you want the beam to be seen (assuming you won't see a lighting bolt race through ionized air on every shot, that is).

Of course we want them to be seen! How else are people going to know to run the Hell away from our mighty (green) Empire?

[Sandwich]

Just picture dropping out microbattery packs like magazines, and recharging them when you get back to base after you're done alien hunting.

As depicted in Mass Effect 2 & 3.