Miscellaneous Conversions

Energy Weapon Dissipation

(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 04/13/2002)

Dissipation Description

One of the benefits of using energy weapons is their long range, usually higher payload compared to conventional weapons, and their increased damage capacity. But these extra benefits come at a price. While energy weapons usually have longer range, the amount of damage they will inflict decreases as the energy dissipates. This energy dissipation is caused by a wide variety of factors, such as the energy bean hitting particles on its way to its target, energy wasted heating the air as the beam passes through, or even loosing intensity and focus, which is very important with laser weapons.

Energy dissipation occurs differently for different kinds of weapons. For example, lasers have a long range, but a fairly high rate of dissipation because the energy beam becomes more unfocused as it moves away from its source. There are four categories of energy weapons discussed below: lasers weapon, particle beam weapons, plasma weapons, and other energy weapons, which includes as Ion weapons. It is important to note that magical and psionic attacks, as well as attacks from special powers, are not affected by energy dissipation. Damage inflicted by these attacks remains constant throughout their entire range.

Distance is broken up into five categories: point blank range, short range, medium range, long range, and extreme range. Point blank range is any distance up to 10% of the weapons maximum listed range. Short range is any distance up to 25% of the weapons maximum listed range. Medium range is any distance up to 50% of the weapons maximum listed range. Long range is any distance up to 75% of the weapons maximum listed range. While extreme range is any distance up to 100% of the weapons maximum listed range. For example, a weapon with a range of 2000’ (610 m) has a point blank range up to 200’ (61 m), short range up to 500’ (152.4 m), medium range up to 1000’ (305 m), long range up to 1500’ (457.2 m), and an extreme range up to 2000’ (610 m). Even with damage being reduced through energy dissipation, no weapon can inflict less then 1 point of damage and all fractions are rounded up.

Laser weapons initially dissipate slowly, but this changes the further away the target is. Laser weapons cause 100% damage at point blank range, 100% damage at short range, 75% at medium range, 25% at long range, and 10% damage at extreme range. All fractions are rounded up. For example, a weapon with a listed damage of 4D6 M.D. will cause 4D6 M.D. at point blank range, 4D6 M.D. at short range, 3D6 M.D. at medium range, 1D6 M.D. at long range, and 4D6 / 10 M.D. (or 1D3 M.D.) at extreme range.

Particle bean weapons dissipate slowly overall and are more effective at most range categories because of the nature of their energy beam. Particle weapons cause 100% damage at point blank range, 100% damage at short range, 100% at medium range, 75% at long range, and 50% damage at extreme range. All fractions are rounded up. For example, a weapon with a listed damage of 4D6 M.D. will cause 4D6 M.D. at point blank range, 4D6 M.D. at short range, 4D6 M.D. at medium range, 3D6 M.D. at long range, and 2D6 M.D. at extreme range.

Plasma weapons dissipate quickly as the super-heated plasma quickly cools outside of the weapon. Plasma weapons cause 100% damage at point blank range, 50% damage at short range, 25% at medium range, 10% at long range, and 5% damage at extreme range. All fractions are rounded up. For example, a weapon with a listed damage of 6D6 M.D. will cause 6D6 M.D. at point blank range, 3D6 M.D. at short range, 6D6 / 4 M.D. (or 2D4+1 M.D.) at medium range, 6D6 / 10 M.D. (or 1D4 M.D.) at long range, and 6D6 / 20 M.D. (or 1D2 M.D.) at extreme range.

Other energy weapons, which includes ion weapons, dissipate at a relatively constant rate. These energy weapons cause 100% damage at point blank range, 100% damage at short range, 75% at medium range, 50% at long range, and 25% damage at extreme range. All fractions are rounded up. For example, a weapon with a listed damage of 4D6 M.D. will cause 4D6 M.D. at point blank range, 4D6 M.D. at short range, 3D6 M.D. at medium range, 2D6 M.D. at long range, and 1D6 M.D. at extreme range.

Energy Dissipation Table

Weapon Type	Point Blank Range	Short Range	Medium Range	Long Range	Extreme Range
Laser Weapons	100%	100%	75%	25%	10%
Particle Beam Weapons	100%	100%	100%	75%	50%
Plasma Weapons	100%	50%	25%	10%	5%
Other Energy Weapons	100%	100%	75%	50%	25%