Sfdebris.net

For me, myself, and this might seem weird, but please hear me out... it is that to the best of my knowledge, we have never seen any wide-scale, mainstream implementation of heavy-repeating energy blasts. Like the machine-gun version of DEWs rather than projectiles. There has been a few sparse and limited uses over the decades, and... you know, I get the idea a lot of the time. Energy blasts function more like shotguns or handguns because they want to tell you the exotic particles excite the flesh tissue so that it either leaves you bleeding to death, or stops your heart, or something like that. But a lot of SF does not go with that interpretation, so in many instances you'd think it'd be more cost-effective just to use a machine gun. I mean, ST sometimes does and then sometimes it does not. And I can't help but feel this is something that is untapped in the visual SF genre. That's just me, though.

I wanna hear what YOU guys think. What's your biggest SF pet peeve? Is it something related to what I just said? Or is it something else altogether? Am I wrong, and was there an SF series out there which did that?

I'm sorry if this is posting too much. I want to live by a simple rule. I will not post a thread until I get at least one reply. So, read at your earliest convenience, smash the reply out, and I'll leave you to it.

Captain Crimson wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 5:18 pm For me, myself, and this might seem weird, but please hear me out... it is that to the best of my knowledge, we have never seen any wide-scale, mainstream implementation of heavy-repeating energy blasts. Like the machine-gun version of DEWs rather than projectiles. There has been a few sparse and limited uses over the decades, and... you know, I get the idea a lot of the time. Energy blasts function more like shotguns or handguns because they want to tell you the exotic particles excite the flesh tissue so that it either leaves you bleeding to death, or stops your heart, or something like that. But a lot of SF does not go with that interpretation, so in many instances you'd think it'd be more cost-effective just to use a machine gun. I mean, ST sometimes does and then sometimes it does not. And I can't help but feel this is something that is untapped in the visual SF genre. That's just me, though.

I wanna hear what YOU guys think. What's your biggest SF pet peeve? Is it something related to what I just said? Or is it something else altogether? Am I wrong, and was there an SF series out there which did that?

I'm sorry if this is posting too much. I want to live by a simple rule. I will not post a thread until I get at least one reply. So, read at your earliest convenience, smash the reply out, and I'll leave you to it.

The reason why universes such as Trek and Wars do not use projectiles is that (realistically) shield and armour tech should be so advanced by this point that most bullets would be useless. The truly heavy stuff like depleted uranium or .50 anti-material rounds would work, but you can count out small arms. The problem is that writers too often forget that.

clearspira wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 5:27 pm

Captain Crimson wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 5:18 pm For me, myself, and this might seem weird, but please hear me out... it is that to the best of my knowledge, we have never seen any wide-scale, mainstream implementation of heavy-repeating energy blasts. Like the machine-gun version of DEWs rather than projectiles. There has been a few sparse and limited uses over the decades, and... you know, I get the idea a lot of the time. Energy blasts function more like shotguns or handguns because they want to tell you the exotic particles excite the flesh tissue so that it either leaves you bleeding to death, or stops your heart, or something like that. But a lot of SF does not go with that interpretation, so in many instances you'd think it'd be more cost-effective just to use a machine gun. I mean, ST sometimes does and then sometimes it does not. And I can't help but feel this is something that is untapped in the visual SF genre. That's just me, though.

I wanna hear what YOU guys think. What's your biggest SF pet peeve? Is it something related to what I just said? Or is it something else altogether? Am I wrong, and was there an SF series out there which did that?

I'm sorry if this is posting too much. I want to live by a simple rule. I will not post a thread until I get at least one reply. So, read at your earliest convenience, smash the reply out, and I'll leave you to it.

The reason why universes such as Trek and Wars do not use projectiles is that (realistically) shield and armour tech should be so advanced by this point that most bullets would be useless. The truly heavy stuff like depleted uranium or .50 anti-material rounds would work, but you can count out small arms. The problem is that writers too often forget that.

Actually, within the context of the old EU, sir, they do use projectile weapons! Slugthrowers. It makes sense, I suppose, since we also see flamethrowers in TCW, so I'd argue there is a proper time and place for them. DS9 touched up on this too.

Having absolutely no idea whatsoever of the scale of, well, everything.

Riedquat wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:54 pm Having absolutely no idea whatsoever of the scale of, well, everything.

I think I have to go with that too. Between single biome planets, to speed of plot engines, to the Jon's Law conundrum, it all comes down to scaling problems.

I hate it when there's a bunch of stuff that isn't really invented. Like, not just the things, but the technology for it.

I know the point of these shows are for speculation, but come on you don't have to break our suspension of disbelief.

Captain Crimson wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 5:18 pm For me, myself, and this might seem weird, but please hear me out... it is that to the best of my knowledge, we have never seen any wide-scale, mainstream implementation of heavy-repeating energy blasts. Like the machine-gun version of DEWs rather than projectiles. There has been a few sparse and limited uses over the decades, and... you know, I get the idea a lot of the time. Energy blasts function more like shotguns or handguns because they want to tell you the exotic particles excite the flesh tissue so that it either leaves you bleeding to death, or stops your heart, or something like that. But a lot of SF does not go with that interpretation, so in many instances you'd think it'd be more cost-effective just to use a machine gun. I mean, ST sometimes does and then sometimes it does not. And I can't help but feel this is something that is untapped in the visual SF genre. That's just me, though.

I wanna hear what YOU guys think. What's your biggest SF pet peeve? Is it something related to what I just said? Or is it something else altogether? Am I wrong, and was there an SF series out there which did that?

I'm sorry if this is posting too much. I want to live by a simple rule. I will not post a thread until I get at least one reply. So, read at your earliest convenience, smash the reply out, and I'll leave you to it.

I think the last time I saw a rapid fire energy weapon honestly was the machine gun on the bottom of the Millennium Falcon in Empire Strikes Back.

Lot's of issues rub me the wrong way. Like sense of scale. Though I hear the writer of Game of Thrones saw the model of a wall he wrote about and commented it was a big wall. When told it was to scale for what he wrote. He replied then he wrote it too damn big. That actually makes me smile.

I think the issue I hate most is not thinking an idea through. No research just throw it in. Troi was both useless and a terrible counselor because she could solve too many plots by herself. She was a living lie detector. And good at her job? Again too many issues would be resolved. This comes up again with Geordi's visor. Why does this thing see better than a tricorder? And if it is this good and so useful. Why don't teams have these like research glasses? Because the idea was this will look cool! And then to add to the fact. Okay everyone seems to know what a visor is and does. Why is Geordi the only one with one?
And wow am I picking on Star Trek here. But having a handwave of why the energy bolts are not vaporizing various materials is to say they are phaser proof. . . Yeah and that gives the same disconnect Chuck handed us about the body armor.

Yay a dig on Star Wars. Put soldiers in full body armor so they all look the same and you can reuse extras. Smart. What does the armor do? I mean these guys are beaten by teddy bears with rocks. "Finest legion"?

So not thinking things through hits it for me.

Nealithi wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:04 pmI think the last time I saw a rapid fire energy weapon honestly was the machine gun on the bottom of the Millennium Falcon in Empire Strikes Back.

That was what I was thinking, but it was also mentioned in Darth Bane. Heavy-repeating blaster rifles. Why can't you put those on personal arms? It was for vehicles in the book, but you'd think they would eventually scale it down.

Nealithi wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:04 pmThis comes up again with Geordi's visor. Why does this thing see better than a tricorder? And if it is this good and so useful. Why don't teams have these like research glasses? Because the idea was this will look cool! And then to add to the fact. Okay everyone seems to know what a visor is and does. Why is Geordi the only one with one?

I think they even mentioned that at one point. I'd have to go back and watch Mr. Chuck's reviews, but I'm too lazy ATM.

Nealithi wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:04 pmYay a dig on Star Wars. Put soldiers in full body armor so they all look the same and you can reuse extras. Smart. What does the armor do? I mean these guys are beaten by teddy bears with rocks. "Finest legion"?

TBF, the same issue also applied elsewhere. Like on B5 when the boarding party is coming in. So the armor is absolutely useless then. So I guess it proves your point about not thinking.

Regarding energy weapons...

The "Kull warriors" in SG-1's later seasons had a full-auto plasma gun, though it didn't seem any more effective per round than a rifle.

Star Trek: TOS had one scene I can think of where a few Starfleet officers stunned a small crowd at the same time by using a wide beam, and one episode of Voyager where a mind-controlled Tuvok threatened to do that on a kill setting, but other than that most energy weapons seem less effective than a revolver.

My pet peeve is scale. Someone beams down to a planet and, lo and behold, the mysterious whatsit of the planet is within walking distance. And if something a mad scientist within a hyperspace jump is doing could destroy the universe, someone else in the universe is probably going to do it anyway and you might as well call it a day anyhow.

Human looking aliens.

I let it slide sometimes if it's a good reason (Like Superman) or because of practical reasons (like 60's Trek) but I am really annoyed with how a lot of alien races look like humans. Or are humans with a tiny difference like weird noses or purple eyes. I really would prefer aliens who ARE aliens, and maybe less humanoids and more strange beings. I let it slide in some obvious stuff but animation, comics, and literature should try to fix that problem. Unless you have a GOOD reason they are human looking, I don't want to see human aliens.