From a discussion occurring on a private list, the question of why would plasma/fusion weapons (first described in Book 4 Mercenary) generate significant recoil. The description of the man portable weapons requires the use of (powered) battledress to manage the recoil.
From several ideas floated by people, and in many different game systems I've found three (semi-plausible) versions of the technology behind the plasma/fusion weapons.
1. Flamer: This is the extreme temperature version of a Flame Thrower. Or, if you prefer, the open nozzle of a fusion m-drive configured to spray plasma (and radiation) around. Getting enough plasma out to melt tank armor would generate significant thrust. Or, as the old saying goes, the more efficient the engine the better a weapon it makes.
2. PAW: A (probably charged) particle accelerator weapon. This is version described by the technical literature and be more familiar to the players knowledgeable with modern weapons research, but less so with the history of Traveller. This weapon won't generate significant thrust or not at the level required for Battle dress.
3. Fusion Spike: This is my vision of what a Plasma/fusion weapon would be based upon the description in Mercenary and Striker. A combination of the Flamer weapon, the PAW, and an explosively formed projectile warhead. Since you don't want the plasma to cool before hitting the target, it gets launched at a significant fraction of light speed. Even a small mass at that velocity generates significant recoil.
Did I miss any good ideas here?
From several ideas floated by people, and in many different game systems I've found three (semi-plausible) versions of the technology behind the plasma/fusion weapons.
1. Flamer: This is the extreme temperature version of a Flame Thrower. Or, if you prefer, the open nozzle of a fusion m-drive configured to spray plasma (and radiation) around. Getting enough plasma out to melt tank armor would generate significant thrust. Or, as the old saying goes, the more efficient the engine the better a weapon it makes.
2. PAW: A (probably charged) particle accelerator weapon. This is version described by the technical literature and be more familiar to the players knowledgeable with modern weapons research, but less so with the history of Traveller. This weapon won't generate significant thrust or not at the level required for Battle dress.
3. Fusion Spike: This is my vision of what a Plasma/fusion weapon would be based upon the description in Mercenary and Striker. A combination of the Flamer weapon, the PAW, and an explosively formed projectile warhead. Since you don't want the plasma to cool before hitting the target, it gets launched at a significant fraction of light speed. Even a small mass at that velocity generates significant recoil.
Did I miss any good ideas here?