Hand Phasers

[Mikey]

Yet, it's a canon statement that they can easily take down structural walls.

By a bloke who'd just transported himself from the E-D to said building by shooting himself. Plus it's William "lost the E-D to a decades-old garbage scow" Riker claiming it. Not the most reliable source in Trek methinks.

No, I don't trust him as far as I could throw him - and as the seasons went on, that distance kept shrinking...

I thought it was mentioned somewhere in TOS that a hand phaser could take down a building, but that's just reminiscence - I don't have a quote or an ep.

[Thorin]

Where did we see them melt silicone? How much? With what?

Glowing silicon (rock) shows that it's near [and should be beyond] its melting point.

[Blackstar the Chakat]

No, I don't trust him as far as I could throw him - and as the seasons went on, that distance kept shrinking...

Awesome burn

[Sionnach Glic]

Glowing silicon (rock) shows that it's near [and should be beyond] its melting point.

Oh, right.

[Mark]

Did anybody else ever wonder why The Great Bird of the Galaxy wanted to carry phasers away from the "gun" look? I mean, that's one of their primary functions. At a convention I once bought a replica season 4 type 2 phaser (with lights and sounds) for about $200 dollars with a laser pointer like beam when fired. I noticed that it's a little awkward to aim unless your point blank or short range (which explains why Worf can't hit the broadside of a barn, even in a small area like the bridge). I would imagine the pistol form was a bit more accurate. Just about every alien species weapon looks kind of like a weapon, while starfleet fielded something that looked more like a handy-vac. Wouldn't that indicate a bit of dis-honesty?

[Graham Kennedy]

Gang boss : "Let's see how this thing works."
Kirk : "Don't do that. You could knock out the side of the building."
Gang Boss : "That good, huh?"

"A Piece of the Action"

[Captain Seafort]

Did anybody else ever wonder why The Great Bird of the Galaxy wanted to carry phasers away from the "gun" look?

Mainly because Roddenberry considered the original pistol-phasers to be too "militaristic" for his 24th century utopia. The TNG-era phaser-IIs were intended as general purpose tools, rather than weapons.

I would imagine the pistol form was a bit more accurate.

A lot more - it isn't just user comfort to consider, but aiming. A pistol can be aimed even without iron sights (albeit not very accurately) by sighting down the barrel. A phaser-II can't, due to the lack of parallax. That's why the later models became increasingly curved - with the early versions the actors had no idea where the thing was pointing, resulting in various comedic VFX backflips to allow the beams to hit what they were meant to hit.

[Blackstar the Chakat]

Did anybody else ever wonder why The Great Bird of the Galaxy wanted to carry phasers away from the "gun" look?

Mainly because Roddenberry considered the original pistol-phasers to be too "militaristic" for his 24th century utopia. The TNG-era phaser-IIs were intended as general purpose tools, rather than weapons.

Well, that explains a lot.

A lot more - it isn't just user comfort to consider, but aiming. A pistol can be aimed even without iron sights (albeit not very accurately) by sighting down the barrel. A phaser-II can't, due to the lack of parallax. That's why the later models became increasingly curved - with the early versions the actors had no idea where the thing was pointing, resulting in various comedic VFX backflips to allow the beams to hit what they were meant to hit.

Maybe they should've had a laser pointer, so that they could have some idea.

[Deepcrush]

Maybe they should've had a laser pointer, so that they could have some idea.

But this would have made sense and Trek doesn't like to do that.

[Mark]

I'm the new guy, so I get to do it this time!!!

MORONS!!!

IDIOTS!!!

Wow, that is kind of fun, huh?

[Deepcrush]

Making fun of stupid people always is.

Thats why we have chakat, an easy target but fills the role nicely.

I myself, am the war crazed psycho who takes joy from other peoples suffering.

I'm sure everyone will introduce themselves in time.

[Blackstar the Chakat]

I myself, am the war crazed psycho who takes joy from other peoples suffering.

You forgot overcompensating and fangirl.

[Deepcrush]

Nope, seeing as neither of those work. But nice try.

*pets chakats head*
Aww, you're such a good little boy aren't you, yes you are, oh yes you are!

[Blackstar the Chakat]

Nope, seeing as neither of those work. But nice try.

*pets chakats head*
Aww, you're such a good little boy aren't you, yes you are, oh yes you are!

If you were anyone else, I'd eat you. But I don't eat junk food

[Deepcrush]

Back on topic,

Would anyone oppose bring in M4s to replace phasers?
Rapid fire, won't fail to hit a planet even if aimed. You know, the useful things in war.