| Chemical Lasers |
| Field Manual: Homebrew |
| Introduction |
| Chemical Lasers are an inexpensive lowtech variety of laser that in practice is the middle ground between modern lasers and more traditional ammunition fed weapondry. Chemical lasers require ammunition, which as usually the case is quite flammable, but require less power and generate less heat than modern lasers. |
| By: Mike Miller |
| Lore |
| Derided as "the poorman's energy weapon" and "Periphery weapons," chemical lasers [1, 2] actually have several important advantages over their electrically-powered siblings. First, they are inexpensive, though ammunition costs can quickly catch up to a user if some of the more exotic fuels are selected (especially anything involving deuterium). Second, they use much lower simpler technologies than electrically powered lasers, especially the complicated, compact power-delivery systems of 31st Century battlefield lasers. Third, they have negligible power requirements. A power amplifier is not required with a chemical laser. Its power comes from the combustion of a fuel and oxidizer. Some of the more clever designs found in the Periphery actually use waste heat from the laser's exhaust to power (electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically) targeting actuators and fuel pumps. Fourth, the source of heat generation in the laser (the combusting fuel) is easily vented. This results in significantly reduced heat generation. Often the fuel and/or oxidizer is also used to cool the optics and laser cavity before being burned. The weapons DO have some disadvantages. Primarily, they are ammo dependent. Also, the ammo is a flammable fuel and oxidizer, sometimes quite toxic (like hydrogen and fluorine, deuterium and fluorine, hydrogen peroxide and iodine, etc.) It'll blow up real good, just like regular ammo. |
| Rules |
| Chemical Lasers behave like normal small, medium, and large lasers in terms of damage, weight, criticals, and range. |
| Navigation |
| Chemical Lasers produce less heat than standard lasers, though the exact amount is dependant on the type of ammunition used. |
| Chemical Lasers are fuel thirsty and must mount bulky, explosive ammo. The type of ammunition mounted for a Chemical Laser effects the amount of heat the laser will generate when fired. |
| Chemical Lasers cost half as much as standard lasers of the same size. The ammunition for Chemical Lasers costs 5,000 or 10,000 cbills a ton depending on type used. |
| Exact Rules |
| Large Chemical Laser Weight: 5 tons Criticals: 2 Ammo: 5 Shots/ton Heat: 4 (i/hp ammo) or 3 (h/f ammo) Damage: 8 Range: Short: 1-5 Medium: 6-10 Long: 11-15 Cost: 50,000 cbills Battle Value: 124 |
| Chemical Lasers mounted on units don't require power amplifiers if the unit mounts an I.C. Engine. Note that vehicles still must mount enough heat sinks to dissipate all heat from Chemical Lasers. |
| Chemical Lasers have the same Battle Value as normal lasers, except don't forget to treat the ammunition as explosive. |
| Medium Chemical Laser Weight: 1 ton Criticals: 1 Ammo: 8 Shots/ton Heat: 2 (i/hp ammo) or 1 (h/f ammo) Damage: 5 Range: Short: 1-3 Medium: 4-6 Long: 7-9 Cost: 20,000 cbills Battle Value: 46 |
| Small Chemical Laser Weight: 0.5 tons Criticals: 1 Ammo: 13 Shots/ton Heat: 1 (i/hp ammo) or 0 (h/f ammo) Damage: 3 Range: Short: 1 Medium: 2 Long: 3 Cost: 5,625 cbills Battle Value: 9 |
| Ammunition |
| Chemical Lasers can use either the cheaper iodine / hydrogen peroxide or the more expensive hydrogen / fluorine. I/HP ammo costs 5,000 cbills a ton while H/F ammo costs 10,000 cbills a ton. All Chemical Laser ammo explodes for approximately 40 damage a ton (as per normal ammo explosion rules). The more expensive H/F ammo reduces the heat output of the laser (at any size) by 1. |