Consider Unbanning Lightsaber/Blaster Hybrids

[Malok]

The case for Lightsaber Rifles:

So, I noticed that Lightsaber/Blaster Hybrids are banned in the factory, and this confused me.

From what I've seen on the board, items are banned because they are prone to abuse, are horrendously unbalanced, or can break the play-by-post environment. And by all accounts I agree with the majority of the Banned Item list. But when it comes to Lightsaber Rifles I'm left scratching my head because the Factory regularly approves something much more deadly: Disruptors.

A Disruptor is, canonically, a one-hit KO. Chaos Disruptors that I've seen can still be one-hit KOs, but have disclaimers and are combed over for balance. They have been a thing for years here on the board - so why can't Lightsaber Rifles be treated the same? When compared stat for stat, Disruptors are far superior in every way. They aren't affected by lightsaber resistant materials (which everyone can access freely in the no-dev world) and can eat through armor and character in one shot.

Lightsaber Rifles wouldn't even be able to shoot through a blast door effectively.

So, I'm making the case today that we should unban them. They're really no better than what's already been approved. Let people be extra with their pew pews!

 

[Cynthia Solus]

I Kinda agree on this. It Is kinda pointless banning something like this if we can build something that is more deadly.

 

[Kyrel Ren]

I would like to agree as well. The only Lightsaber Rifle we have seen is in Canon and if tweaked just right it could be balanced. For example when Jocasta Nu battled Darth Vader within the Jedi Temple. She used such a weapon, but the weapon was only guaranteed with 5 shots at a minimum. Heavily relying on the Kyber Crystal inside a lightsaber, such a weapon would after five shots have a drawback of both destroying both the weapon and completely melting the Lightsaber. If working with such a concept I think such a weapon could be balanced. Just saying.

 

[Matt the Radar Tech]

Ban both?

I think Disruptors are far too prevalent in the galaxy, especially for a supposedly illegal weapon (whether this stands legally in Chaos, who knows?). There's many other weapons capable of overcoming specific weapons, like lightsabers, without resorting to molecular disintegration. At any rate, I think some kind of reaction IC to all these disruptor weapons on open markets should be a thing - pretty scary when Average Joe can buy one, and leave it in his bedside table...

But yeah, I say both could be banned.

 

[Malok]

[member="Thorne"]

I'm a fan of removing limitations.

So long as the game isn't being broken, I say let the player base be as extra as they like. In the case of Disruptors, since 2013 there has not been any epidemic of attempted one-shot PvP using this weapon type. They've always been well judged and correctly used.

So no, don't ban both. Let the players be extra!

 

[Errreembuhr]

[member="Darth Metus"] just a little confused, are you referring to this kind of lightsaber rifle, or an actual lightsaber/blaster hybrid weapon?

 

[Matt the Radar Tech]

Aside from swag potential or being extra, I don't see how a lightsaber rifle can be regulated and well-judged purely on the basis of the weapon itself.

It's incredibly strong.

Disruptors, which I feel are questionable in large quantities enough, are limited to impact zones - which are then broken down on a molecular level. That's pretty strong, especially for a 'common weapon'. It doesn't affect what is connected to the impact area, such as a door hit and walls crumble; so there's a limitation there, yes, but it's still very strong.

The lightsaber rifle on the other hand, has been displayed as slicing through numerous walls, being intercepted by a lightsaber wielded by Darth Vader, and Vader consequently being thrown across the Jedi Library from the force of impact - let alone a hit.

How can that be accurately passed with limitations? Our characters are all strong in their own unique ways, sure, but most of us are not Vader levels strong. No matter how people write them. And Vader - a literal chosen one of the Force - had his ass smacked away by a single shot.

That's unmitigated damage to a player. You can't ignore a lightsaber blocking but still being sent flailing helplessly for several dozen meters through impact alone. Anyone who says they can block is likely reaching power gaming levels - because Vader couldn't.

 

[Not Ordo]

I'll take wasted time reading this for 500, Alex.

 

[Jsc]

Sure

Energy shields stop lightsaber rounds. Ion disrupters penetrate. Enough said. There is no problem balancing plasma bolts of any kind. Easy easy easy. Any judge could do it.

 

[Vora Kaar]

[member="Thorne"], Lets put it this way.

The linked Lightsaber Rifle was powerful. Yes. However, it melted a lightsaber to perform five powerful shots. Lets make a list of the weapons strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths:

• Powerful Kinetic impact.
• Powerful Energy blast.

Weaknesses:

• High ammo consumption. Uses literal Lightsabers to fire.
• High chance of melting the weapon itself or at worst, blowing up in the persons hands(Possible as the weapon requires one from the listed example, when over charged, it blew up the exterior wall of a Jedi Temple. Those are not thin)
• Melt the barrel through prolonged use, and as such, will need to be closely monortored after quite literally, every shot with so much energy being thrown down the barrel.
• Massive recoil. Like any gun IRL, you are attempting to control an explosion that pushes something lighter than yourself, down range. Newton's laws apply, and thus will break bones/injure people if not properly used, or trained with such weapon.
• Limited production of weapons. (Lightsabers cannot be made any higher than Semi-unique in the factory, this weapon can also follow the same rule as it uses lightsaber technology)
• Large size, can't be used for small people, or those who cannot feasibly hold it. No little girl is going to be able to walk up and use this weapon.
• Very low ammo count. Need to reload that bad boy a lot when on a battlefield.
• Lightsaber resistant metals can resist the energy, and some kinetic.
• Activating lightsaber while in the weapon can destroy it. Just because a lightsaber is sitting there, doesn't mean someone can't reach over and pop the switch on.

With these weaknesses here, you can see it can be balanced in some form. And I am 100% sure that people will find more weaknesses than what I can create just in the couple minutes I am typing out this post. Added to this, The weapon is rather large. Its like holding a canon. If someone were to say, make a pistol version, where considering it's size, it does damage operable to a rifle, while only being a pistol, you can still have a majority of the weaknesses I listed here. OR refine it to have much weaker blasts and impacts, but have instead of 5 shots, have 10-15 shots.

It all depends on who is making it, why they are making it, and how balanced they really want it.

Banning everything left and right just limits what can be done on this site in the name of fun. We are here to have fun, but still be reasonable.

I personally have no problem with a weapon like this on the board. Just as long as it is balanced.

 

[Ra Vizsla]

I think it’s all pretty dumb and not worth debating but I don’t care what happens as long as rifles that shoot lightsabers get/stay banned