Cross-posted from "The more things change, the more they stay the same."
this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2025
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TenForward: Where Every Vulcan Knows Your Name
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“And then they switched from the Dustbuster phaser to the compact phaser, and I kept my Dustbuster because it easier to hold, and I kept the power cells for the Dustbuster…”
lets be honest here, the dustbuster was probably pretty heavy. I mean, the amount of energy they held is ridiculous and nobody actually needed that much power in a hand-held weapon.
(for example, in that episode where they're trying to evacuate an illegal colony before some assholes pyroform it for their own use; data blows up a dam. From miles away. that kind of firepower is just not needed.)
This is why I don't understand the rifles. What's the point if a normal phaser can atomize someone? Do you need to blow a hole in the hull behind them as well?
There doesn't seem to be a limitation to the normal phaser, like you've got two kill shots or 10 stuns then you need to charge. Why a bulky scary gun? Just for looking serious to the borg?
Borg. Klingons. Bulkheads. Entire cities.
They’re really quite adaptable.
Serious answer is that rifles are easier to aim accurately.
Pretty sure phasers have some type of aim bot built into them. The angle they deflect coming off the emitter changes and they never hit hostages.
(Given stun setting…. Being as reliable as it is… I never understood that. Stun everyone and call it good. Details.) (lost opportunity for Garak and Bashir, though. “You shot me!” - “You’re welcome.” - “my good doctor, don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it”)
Oh, you haven’t seen the phaser blooper reel?
Better to have it and not need it...
Eh.
that's just it though. For an EDC type weapon, comfort and easy of carry is actually an important aspect. it being big awkward and heavy is how you get people to be like, 'I don't really need to carry this'. The keyfob phaser made a lot more sense. Though I'd probably have turned it into something more like the form factor of the goa'uld hara'kesh. maybe give it a holographic interface for aiming and power settings and such.
if you need something more powerful, it can get beamed down or grabbed out of a shuttle's armory, for example.
a photo of the hara'kesh from SG:1 for reference
At least the handling is much better than a Ferengi energy whip.
Ah yes a whip that is also a light saber. Surely there is no way this goes poorly in any fashion.
A lightsaber without Viagra.
Yeah, but do phazers have a "pleasure" setting?