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From: philj@tekig5.UUCP (Phil Jansen)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Using a light spell as a laser
Message-ID: <344@tekig5.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 27-Nov-85 11:32:34 EST
Article-I.D.: tekig5.344
Posted: Wed Nov 27 11:32:34 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 30-Nov-85 01:11:59 EST
References: <6700005@uiucdcsp> <938@udenva.UUCP> <> <880@nmtvax.UUCP> <1658@hammer.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 44

> In article <880@nmtvax.UUCP> wildstar@nmtvax.UUCP (Andrew Fine) writes:
> >
> >   This is a device I thought about for a possible campaign. Take some rough
> >crystal ( ruby, sapphire, . . .), and cut it into a cylindrical rod.
> >Polish one end perperdicularly . . .
> >Result: LASER CRYSTAL!
> >
> >     To use, cast a light spell . . .
> >The crystal will concentrate the light into a cutting beam, . . .
> >
> >Could anyone give me some suggestions for play restrictions on the use of
> >this device?
> 
> Several problems. . .
> 
> Hutch

In addition to the problems Hutch mentions (technical difficulties when
making this laser), there is another important one.

  WHY would your character decide to build a laser?  Is she going to wake up
  one morning and say to herself "Gee, I wonder what would happen if I took a
  big ruby from my jewelry collection and turned it on a lathe and polished
  and silvered one end and cut the other at a funny angle and flashed some
  light on it?"

Of course it's possible, but I find it hard to believe somebody would think of
doing all that, even if everything worked perfectly.

I know of people who tried to invent gunpowder the same way.  "Well, I'll take
some brimstone and some saltpeter and charcoal in *these* proportions . . ."
They had no reason to decide to do that.

As a GM, I won't let my players get away with that unless they have a good
reason.  MAYBE they could do something if they found a time-warped copy of "The
Anarchist Cookbook" somewhere, and then translated it correctly.


Besides, ruby lasers are horribly inefficient.  You should build a Carbon
Dioxide laser ;-)

Phil Jansen
-- 
Phil Jansen