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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: "Jesper J\xrgensen" <jejo93ad@***.econ.cbs.dk>
Subject: Laser
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 12:02:45 +0200 (METDST)
Hi!!
Can anyone tell me the price on powerpacks for the laser.

Ive been told it only got 20 shots in the powerpack, but cant find the
price for buying a new one.

Also, is it possible to recharge the powerpack, and if so How??
Message no. 2
From: "Gurth" <gurth@******.nl>
Subject: Re: Laser
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 10:28:37 +0100
Jesper J\xrgensen said on 12:02/11 Jun 96...

> Can anyone tell me the price on powerpacks for the laser.
>
> Ive been told it only got 20 shots in the powerpack, but cant find the
> price for buying a new one.

That isn't indicated anywhere to my knowledge. I guess it's assumed
players never get their hands on one. You're right about the 20 shots,
BTW.

> Also, is it possible to recharge the powerpack, and if so How??

I imagine it is, probably with a built-in recharger that just plugs into
the mains. If you want players to sweat a bit more, make the recharger a
separate item that isn't supplied with whatever laser they get their hands
on :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Readin' too much and losin' my head
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Character Mortuary: http://huizen.dds.nl/~mortuary/mortuary.html <-

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Message no. 3
From: "Sambo" <polan881@******.edu>
Subject: Re: Laser
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 02:20:51 +0000
> Jesper J\xrgensen said on 12:02/11 Jun 96...
>
> > Can anyone tell me the price on powerpacks for the laser.
> >
> > Ive been told it only got 20 shots in the powerpack, but cant find the
> > price for buying a new one.
>
> That isn't indicated anywhere to my knowledge. I guess it's assumed
> players never get their hands on one. You're right about the 20 shots,
> BTW.
>
> > Also, is it possible to recharge the powerpack, and if so How??
>
> I imagine it is, probably with a built-in recharger that just plugs into
> the mains. If you want players to sweat a bit more, make the recharger a
> separate item that isn't supplied with whatever laser they get their hands
> on :)

The Ares Laser on pg 49, Fields of Fire - the description does say
that the battery packs "can be recharged for future use". The only
clue as to whether or not the recharger comes with the system is that
it is described as a "self contained....system", so common sense says
yes. However the GM should always use his/her discretion.

***Sparhawk***
Message no. 4
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowrn@********.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Laser
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 17:25:56 +0100
In message <199606120826.KAA05086@**********.xs4all.nl>, Gurth
<gurth@******.nl> writes
>Jesper J\xrgensen said on 12:02/11 Jun 96...
>
>> Can anyone tell me the price on powerpacks for the laser.
>> Ive been told it only got 20 shots in the powerpack, but cant find the
>> price for buying a new one.
>
>That isn't indicated anywhere to my knowledge. I guess it's assumed
>players never get their hands on one. You're right about the 20 shots,
>BTW.

If it's a rechargeable unit, about 25%-50% of the price of the weapon at
a very rough guess. If they're disposable items, no more than about 20KY
per pack and probably less than 10K.
>
>> Also, is it possible to recharge the powerpack, and if so How??
>
>I imagine it is, probably with a built-in recharger that just plugs into
>the mains. If you want players to sweat a bit more, make the recharger a
>separate item that isn't supplied with whatever laser they get their hands
>on :)

Most military gear using rechargeable batteries don't have the charger
attached, because it's easier to build a few big chargers and just
exchange batteries. If it's built-in, the laser's tied up for the hours
it takes to recharge the battery: with quick-change batteries, you just
buy two batteries per weapon and you have much higher availability.
Well, it's not *quite* that simple, but... :)

How would you get to a charger? ...I'd guess it would be very, very
difficult. Laser power packs - optimised for very high discharge rates -
would be unlike most civilian systems, and the charging systems would be
even harder to get hold of, or access to, than the weapon. (A stolen
laser means twenty shots, but if the recharger is taken then that laser
has effectively unlimited ammo...)

You could probably build your own, and this would be more likely than
stealing one: some good Physical Sciences successes (to design the
circuits) and a pretty tough Electronics B/R test (to build it) should
do it.

--
"There are four kinds of homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable and
praiseworthy."
Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"
Paul J. Adam paul@********.demon.co.uk
Message no. 5
From: "Gurth" <gurth@******.nl>
Subject: Re: Laser
Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 09:51:57 +0100
Paul J. Adam said on 17:25/12 Jun 96...

[recharger for laser batteries]
> You could probably build your own, and this would be more likely than
> stealing one: some good Physical Sciences successes (to design the
> circuits) and a pretty tough Electronics B/R test (to build it) should
> do it.

I don't even think it'll be that hard. Radio-controlled cars etc. often
use batteries, and rechargers for those are readily available, many with
an adjustable output so you can charge different kinds of batteries with
them. Just measure the laser's batteries and find a charger that's
compatible.

It may be slightly more complex than I'm making it sound now, but I don't
think you're going to have to build a system yourself, just buy the right
off-the-shelf parts.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
You can blow out a candle, but you can't blow out a fire
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Character Mortuary: http://huizen.dds.nl/~mortuary/mortuary.html <-

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GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
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