Difference between pages "Planet Classification" and "Phaser"

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=Classifications=
 
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|[[Image:Yorktown-plaque.png|275px]]
 
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==Class A  - Geothermal==
 
|-
 
|
 
|Class A geoactive planets are generally small, barren worlds rife with volcanic activity. This activity traps carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing a greenhouse effect that keeps the temperature very hot, regardless of the planet's distance from the sun. When the volcanic activity eventually ceases, the planet 'dies' and usually becomes a Class C world - a few rare cases transform into Class Q geothermal planets. Until that happens, the toxic levels of carbon dioxide make this planet unsuitable to any known life form, though silicon-based life may be able to terraform it to their needs.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
'''Age:''' 0 - 2 billion years
 
 
 
'''Diameter:''' 1,000 - 10,000 km
 
 
 
'''Location:''' Ecosphere/Cold Zone
 
 
 
'''Surface:''' Partially molten
 
  
'''Atmosphere:''' Primarily hydrogen compounds
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[[File:GalaxyPhaser.jpg|thumb|upright=1|right|alt=A ''Galaxy''-class starship firing a phaser beam.|A ''Galaxy''-class ship firing main phasers.]]'''Phasers''' are the most common energy weapon in use by a number of powers in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, including the Federation, Cardassians, and Bajorans. Originally an acronym meaning “PHASed Energy Rectification,” phasers operate by the application of the so-called “rapid nadion effect (RNE),” using nadions to amplify the effect of superconducting crystals to create a coherent and highly-controllable beam of energy to create effects ranging from heating targets to causing targets to lose molecular cohesion entirely.
  
'''Evolution:''' Cools to become Class C
+
==Phaser Types and Form Factors==
 +
Phasers are classified both by their type rating (which is their theoretical maximum energy output) and their form factor (which is the type of device or implement they are constructed as). Their actual output is dependent on the power available to them; for instance, the benefit of employing a higher type of array than a vessel could comfortably use at full power is to increase reliability and fleet standardization. The increase in power between various phaser types is not equal across the scale due to the idiosyncratic properties of nadion fields, which makes some types uneconomical to use.
  
'''Life Forms:''' None
+
While there are numerous types and form factors, phasers can be broken down into two larger styles: standard and compression, based on how their focusing crystals are arranged. Standard phasers (such as hand phasers and phaser arrays) use a single crystal to produce their beams, while compression phasers (such as phaser rifles and phaser cannons) have a barrel containing multiple crystals arranged to improve the coherence and range of the beam and to avoid attenuation.
  
'''Example:''' [[ma:Gothos|Gothos]]
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{| class="wikitable"
 +
|+Phaser Types
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Image:D-Class.png|link=Special:FilePath/D-Class.png]]
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!Type !!Maximum Theoretical Output
|
 
==Class B  - Geomorteus==
 
 
|-
 
|-
|
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|Type-I ||0.005MW
|D class planets are most commonly found in the Ecosphere of a system but are not strictly limited to - they are found as well in the Hot and Cold Zones - they range between 5 to 10 thousand kilometres in diameter. They are barren and rocky, often possessing no atmosphere. Animal life is unable to form on D class planets. Depending on their proximity to a star, a D class may be hot and arid or cold and frozen. These planets can be made habitable by terraforming as was the case with Weytahn by the Andorians during the 2050s.
 
 
 
Example: Mercury
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Image:D-Class.png|link=Special:FilePath/D-Class.png]]
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|Type-II ||0.01MW
|
 
==D Class==
 
 
|-
 
|-
|
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|Type-III ||0.02MW
|D class planets are most commonly found in the Ecosphere of a system but are not strictly limited to - they are found as well in the Hot and Cold Zones - they range between 5 to 10 thousand kilometres in diameter. They are barren and rocky, often possessing no atmosphere. Animal life is unable to form on D class planets. Depending on their proximity to a star, a D class may be hot and arid or cold and frozen. These planets can be made habitable by terraforming as was the case with Weytahn by the Andorians during the 2050s.
 
 
 
Example: Mercury
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Image:H-Class.png|link=Special:FilePath/H-Class.png]]
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|Type-IV ||0.1MW
|
 
==H Class 'Desert'==
 
 
|-
 
|-
|
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|Type-V ||0.5MW
|H class worlds are found in the Ecosphere of a system and range between 5 to 15 thousand kilometres in diameter. Their atmospheres may be rich in oxygen, carbon dioxide, or another common gas. The planet holds little to no surface water; the entire world a sea of dunes and sand and is sustained to be very dry, hot, and barren. Little life is known to inhabit these worlds. They are inhabitable by either pressure domes or colonies, depending on the atmospheric content, through supply replenishment; use of aquifiers is necessary.
 
 
 
Example: Tau Cygna V
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Image:J-Class.png|link=Special:FilePath/J-Class.png]]
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|Type-VI ||1.5MW
|
 
==J Class 'Gas Giant'==
 
 
|-
 
|-
|
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|Type-VII ||2MW
|Typically located in a system's Cold Zone, J classes are uninhabitable. Also known as Gas Giants due to their general lack of a solid surface, their dense atmospheres are most commonly made of gases such as ammonia, ethane, fluorine, helium, hydrogen, and methane. Windspeeds average 2000 kilometres per hour, however the USS Defiant in 2372 recorded windspeeds of 10 thousand kilometres per hour on an unnamed J class when rescuing a Karemma vessel. The diameter of a J class ranges between 50 and 140 thousand kilometres, therefore they possess a very strong gravitational pull which results in dozens to hundreds of planetoid moons in their orbits. Rings made up of spacial debris caused by lunar collisions and the collection of space dust and ice are common.
 
As observed by the USS Enterprise-D in 2369, the collision of two J class planets can ignite the birth of a star. A single J class does not have sufficient resources or energy to cause fission resulting the creation of a star, however when two collide their combined resources is enough to do so.
 
 
 
Examples: Jupiter, Saturn, Betelgeuse III
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Image:6-Class.png|link=Special:FilePath/6-Class.png]]
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|Type-VIII ||2.5MW
|
 
==Class 6 'Ice Giant'==
 
 
|-
 
|-
|
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|Type-IX ||3MW
|Similar to a J class, the Class 6 is distinctly different in that is has a global ocean composed of liquid gases beneath its layered atmosphere. These oceans are known to be made of water-ammonia and hydrogen-methane.
 
 
 
Examples: Uranus, Neptune
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Image:K-Class.png|link=Special:FilePath/K-Class.png]]
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|Type-X ||5.1MW
|
 
==K Class 'Adaptable'==
 
 
|-
 
|-
|
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|Type-XI ||6MW
|K class planets are located within the Ecosphere of a system and range 5 to 15 thousand kilometres in diameter. They have very thin atmospheres usually composed of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and/or argon. Their weak magnetic fields allow large quantities of solar radiation to reach the surface and heat to escape back into space. K class surfaces are barren, often cold, and cannot support animal life as there is commonly no liquid water or too little to sustain vegetation. Colonisation is possible by the use of pressure domes.
 
 
 
Examples: Mars, Mudd
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Image:L-Class.png|link=Special:FilePath/L-Class.png]]
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|Type-XII ||8MW
|
 
==L Class 'Marginal'==
 
 
|-
 
|-
|
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|Type-XIII ||9MW
|L class planets are located within the Ecosphere of a system and range between 10 to 15 thousand kilometres in diameter. The atmosphere is mostly made up of oxygen and argon but also has a very high concentration of carbon dioxide. Unlike the M class, the L class has little water and vegetation, but it could thrive if conditions were set properly. Life tends to be predominantly plant life with few animals. Most L classes are suitable for humanoid colonisation.
 
 
 
Example: Indri III
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Image:M-Class.png|link=Special:FilePath/M-Class.png]]
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|Type-XIV ||10MW
|
 
==M Class 'Terrestrial'==
 
 
|-
 
|-
|
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|Type-XV ||12MW
|M class planets are located within the Habitable Zone of a system and range between 10 to 15 thousand kilometres in diameter; they are the rarest class of planet. Their atmospheres are rich in nitrogen and oxygen. Water and animal lifeforms are very common due to an overabundance of marine and surface vegetation which thrive on the planet's temperate climate. M class planets are home to the vast majority of sentient and technologically advanced species, especially humanoids. At least 75% of the planet is covered in liquid water.  
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|}
 +
 
 +
Note: The maximum output for each phaser type is the theoretical limit at which the nadion field would collapse and the phaser would begin to damage itself, but the maximum output is dependent on a sufficient power supply. That is to say that a Type-X phaser on an [[Intrepid Class|''Intrepid''-class light explorer]] will be substantially less powerful than one on a [[Galaxy Class|''Galaxy''-class explorer]] because of the difference in their power plants.
 +
 
 +
==Common Starfleet Phasers==
  
Examples: Earth, Vulcan, Romulus, Cardassia Prime, Bajor, Qo'Nos
+
Theoretically, most output classifications could be built in any form factor (i.e. one could build a Type-XV phaser rifle if one had a strong enough power source, or a Type-I phaser array if one had a use for it), though Starfleet typically uses just a few combinations of forn factor and output types. The most common phasers in use as of 2399 are:
|-
+
 
|[[Image:N-Class.png|link=Special:FilePath/N-Class.png]]
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* Type-VI Phaser Banks: Employed aboard starships in the 2250s such as the Constitution-class. Generally in double ball turret emplacements.
|
+
* Type-VII Phaser Banks: Introduced in the 2270s on the Miranda-class refit. Generally in double ball turret emplacements
==N Class 'Reducing'==
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* Type-VIII: Introduced in the 2290s on the Excelsior-class. Generally in double ball turret emplacements
|-
+
* Type-IX: Introduced in the 2330s on the Ambassador-class. First phaser type to be built as an array.
|
+
 
|N class planets are located within the Ecosphere of a system and range 5 to 15 thousand kilometres in diameter. They have very thick, dense, atmospheres carbon dioxide as well as sulfides that stage an irreversible and constantly worsening greenhouse effect. This causes an extremely high surface temperature that enables water to exist only in the form of vapour. Abundant volcanism is very common. Animal life is unable to exist and colonization is not possible.  
+
=== Small Phasers ===
 +
 
 +
====Standard Personal Phasers====
 +
Personal phasers are most commonly-issued weapons given to Starfleet personnel, and they are used for a wide range of purposes in defensive and exploratory applications. They are easy to use, sophisticated, and reliable.
 +
 
 +
=====Type-I &Type-II Hand Phasers=====
 +
Hand phasers are the most common types of phasers issued to Starfleet personnel, aboard ships and starbases, and for planetside duty. They are versatile, easy to operate, and highly portable, with most humanoids being able to operate them with just one hand. Starfleet hand phasers come in type-I and type-II versions, with the type-II version being the standard side-arm for nearly every situation; the type-I is generally only used when discretion about being armed is desired. Modern hand phasers can emit either bolts or coherent beams of energy, depending on the needs of the mission. Their settings range from Level 1 (Light Stun) to Level 10 (Kill) to Level 16 (Vaporize).
 +
 
 +
Early hand phasers closely resembled earlier types of weapons such as projectile-firing pistols, but by the 2350s, phasers were generally shaped less-obviously like a weapon and consisted of a long handle that curved down to the emitter point. The firing trigger is on the top of the device. By 2385, pistol-style hand phasers have been reintroduced to Starfleet, and both types continue to be produced.
 +
 
 +
These are the three most common models of hand phaser in service with Starfleet as of 2399, the Type-I and Type-II models introduced in the late 2370s that continue to be common across the fleet, and the newer 2385-era Type-II phaser pistol:
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:FirstContactType1.gif| The Type-I hand phaser
 +
File:PhaserNemesis.jpg
 +
File:PicardType2.jpg
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
'''In-Play'''
 +
*To a member of Starfleet, a hand phaser is more than just a weapon: it's a tool of near-infinite utility. As mentioned above, the ability to set its energy output makes it useful for all manner of tasks, and on many exploratory, scientific, and engineering missions, it's just as likely to be used for constructive purposes as it is for defense.
 +
*While the Type-I phaser was common in TOS and in early episodes of TNG, it hasn't been seen in recent iterations of Star Trek. That doesn't mean your character wouldn't have a use for one of these smaller devices; they might be carried concealed by security officers during diplomatic missions, or be stashed in a medical kit by a doctor who expects trouble on an away mission.
 +
 
 +
=====Type-III Phaser Rifle=====
 +
Phaser rifles are larger than hand phasers and are generally the heaviest personal weapons stocked aboard most Federation starships. While they have the same sixteen settings as their smaller counterparts, their power cells allow them to fire more quickly, for longer periods of time, and at longer range, which makes them well-suited to extended firefights. Generally speaking,  A phaser rifle can fire twice as many shots twice as far as a hand phaser, in either bursts or coherent beams. They are only commonly used when combat is anticipated, and are not standard away team equipment.
 +
 
 +
These are the two most common phaser rifles in Starfleet service: a model introduced in the late 2370s and a ruggedized version developed in the late 2380s:
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:PhaserRifleNemesis.jpg
 +
File:PicardType3.jpg
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
'''In-Play'''
 +
*Many Starfleet officers would only have used phaser rifles in training scenarios and would find them a little unwieldy in the field, especially science officers and engineers. They're not commonly used during most Starfleet missions. Indeed, Gene Roddenberry only allowed the phaser rifle to be used once in TOS because he found it to be too militaristic.
 +
*Phaser rifles can mount scopes, sensors, and lights, which can help their users find their way in the dark or in low-light conditions.
 +
*Phaser rifles wouldn't be stocked at all on civilian ships or medical ships.
 +
 
 +
====Specialized Portable Phasers====
 +
There are other types of phasers that Starfleet personnel use in the field which are too large to be used while carried and which have specific defensive or utility purposes.
 +
 
 +
=====Type-III Phaser Drill=====
 +
Type-III phaser drills are tools with the same overall output potential as a phaser rifle, but with a ruggedized emitter, larger power source, and the ability to fire for sustained periods of time—up to several dozen hours at a time—before they need to be swapped out. This makes them capable of creating large passageways through solid rock, cutting through dense metal, and other such tasks. They can be aimed, fired, and then left to work without needing an operator constantly present, and they are substantially more ergonomic for drilling operations than hand phasers. They also have finer control over their beams to provide precisely the frequency and power level to cut through a particular material without causing unwanted damage or disruption effects. These are commonly stocked aboard almost every Federation starship that's expected to conduct planetary exploration missions and don't require specialized training to operate in their most basic settings.
 +
 
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:PhaserDrill.jpg|A pair of phaser drills.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
In-Play
 +
*Phaser drills do exactly what their name suggests: they're used for excavating large amounts of material quickly. They can be used for all sorts of missions including mining prospecting, archaeological digs, spelunking, salvage operations, and other non-combat tasks.
 +
*A phaser drill is still a phaser, so if it was your last resort, you could use it in a defensive way—it would not be fun to be on the receiving end of a blast from a tool meant to cut through solid rock or duranium. These boxy tools would be very hard to aim like a weapon, though.
 +
 
 +
=====Type-IV Phaser Cannon=====
 +
Type-IV phaser cannons are too large to be carried and fired by hand and must be mounted on a tripod or to a vehicle, such as an Argo-type wheeled ground vehicle. These weapons are aimed and fired by a crew member who must turn them manually. Assisted targeting obviates the need for a complex scope and keeps their operation simple. These weapons are more common in colonial defense and dedicated tactical contexts than on most standard Starfleet vessels or starbases, but their size inherently makes them a defensive weapon, as they are too large to be brought along by most away teams.
 +
 
 +
<gallery>
 +
Type4Phaser.jpg|A Type-IV phaser cannon on the back of an Argo-type ground vehicle.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
'''In-Play'''
 +
*This is the big gun that gave Worf such a good time in ''Star Trek: Nemesis'' mounted to the back of the Argo vehicle. It's a more powerful version of the phaser rifle, but it's much less versatile and portable. Other than being mounted on similar vehicles, most Starfleet personnel wouldn't encounter them very often.
 +
*This weapon could also be mounted on a tripod or at a fixed position on a building, or installed into a fully-automated turret, but Starfleet doesn't tend to fortify its installations the same way that other powers do: a colony is much more likely to have a very powerful shield than a set of Type-IV phaser cannon installations, but far from home colonists might have to improvise.
 +
*Ships wouldn't normally carry these, but they could be fabricated as-needed for specific missions.
 +
 
 +
=== Large Phasers ===
 +
 
 +
====Phaser Banks====
 +
Phaser banks uncommon in the late 24th century, but were the standard design used in Starfleet from the early 2200s until the 2330s. Now, they are most common on minor space stations and small craft like fighters.
 +
 
 +
===== Type-IV & Type-V Phaser Banks =====
 +
 
 +
=====Type-VIII Phaser Bank=====
 +
 
 +
====Phaser Arrays====
 +
 
 +
===== Type-VI Phaser Array =====
 +
 
 +
=====Type-IX Phaser Array=====
 +
=====Type-X Phaser Array=====
 +
 
 +
=====Type-XII Phaser Array=====
  
Examples: Venus
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==== Phaser Cannons ====
|-
 
|[[Image:P-Class.png|link=Special:FilePath/P-Class.png]]
 
|
 
==P Class 'Glaciated'==
 
|-
 
|
 
|P class planets are found in the Ecosphere of a system and range between 10 to 15 thousand kilometres in diameter. A planet falls under this classification when its surface is 80%+ water ice and its atmosphere mainly consists of nitrogen and oxygen. Animal and humanoid life forms are usually common and so is rugged tundra-like vegetation.
 
  
Examples: Andor, Exo III
+
===== Type-VIII and Type-IX Phaser Cannons =====
|-
 
|[[Image:T-Class.png|link=Special:FilePath/T-Class.png]]
 
|
 
==T Class 'Super/Ultra Giant'==
 
|-
 
|
 
|The T class Super or Ultra Giant is a Gas Giant on the verge of becoming a star. It may also be the immediate result of two colliding J class planets if star birth does not immediately occur thereafter. These planets are hot enough to appear to be molten or burning and produce their own dim light. Moons orbiting this planet may become globules of liquid if once frozen or may singe their atmospheres. These extreme heats, however, only occur in the final stages of a Super Giant's. Before becoming a star it is also known as a Brown Dwarf. The Super Giant is the largest of all known planetary classes, homing in with a diameter anywhere between 350 to 700 thousand kilometres.
 
  
In 2375, the USS Voyager encountered a Super Giant in the Delta Quadrant that had radiogenic rings.
+
===== Type-XII Pulse Phaser Cannon =====
|-
 
|[[Image:Y-Class.png|link=Special:FilePath/Y-Class.png]]
 
|
 
==Y Class 'Demon'==
 
|-
 
|
 
|Y class planets can be found anywhere within a system and they range between 10 to 15 thousand kilometres in diameter. A planet is classified as a Demon when their atmospheres are toxic, temperatures are above 500 Kelvin, and they give off bursts of thermionic radiation. Entering orbit of a Y class planet can be harmful to crew and ship alike.
 
  
In 2374, the USS Voyager was forced to land on a Y class planet on its return voyage from the Delta Quadrant to retrieve desperately needed deuterium. It was discovered that the deuterium was inside a bio mimetic lifeform called 'Silver Blood' which created a duplicate of Voyager and its crew. The duplicate was ultimately destroyed a year later in 2375.
+
===== Type-XV Phaser Cannon =====
|-
+
The Type-XV phaser canon is a unique weapon designed exclusively for the twelve so-called [[Galaxy Refit Class|''Dreadnought''-class]] starships based on the ''Galaxy'' spaceframe. Intended as a "Borg Buster," this weapon can deliver an extremely high amount of energy in a fixed direction, meant to overwhelm a Borg vessel's defenses before it can adapt. This is the most powerful weapon ever mounted on a Starfleet vessel, and in practice, it can cause significant damage to most known threat vessels.
|
 
|
 
==Z Class 'Tachyon'==
 
|-
 
|
 
|The class Z planet is a rare, and until recently, completely unknown phenomena. Z class planet's are unique for their tachyon core's which cause them to rotate indifferently than the rest of the planet's in the galaxy. This causes a huge differential in fabric of space time which causes time on the planet to pass immensely more quickly, or in one case, much slower than the rest of the universe.
 
  
This type of planet was first encountered by the Federation in 2374 dangerously close to the galactic core. The ''USS Voyager'' also encountered a similar planet in the Delta Quadrant in 2376 during it's return journey home. Two other planet's are known to exist. All distribute very similar properties, with only the one encountered by ''Voyager'' being inhabited, and one of the planet's displacing time much slower than the rest of the universe.
+
<Gallery>
 +
File:TypeXVPhaserCannon.jpg
 +
</Gallery>
  
The largely unknown, unique, and somewhat unpredictable properties of these type of planets make them nearly impossible to properly explore and investigate without causing the loss of a starship. With the exception of ''Voyager'', all research on these type of planets have been done from afar which causes the data to be incomplete. On large, the known planets of this type are avoided by all who are aware of it's properties.
+
In-Play
|}
+
*No member-available starship has a Type-XV phaser cannon; they're exclusively found on the Galaxy-class Refit, aka the ''Dreadnought''-class. You might encounter one as an NPC ship or a ship in a campaign or other type of event.
 +
*These cannons are very powerful but take an extremely long amount of time to recharge, meaning that they must be fired very strategically, as the ship must rely on its conventional phasers while the cannon recharges if it doesn't take the enemy out in the first shot.
  
=Planetary Zone Classification Map=
+
==Starbase & Planetary Defense Phasers==
[[Image:PlanetaryZoneClassificationMap.png|Planetary Zone Classifications Map|link=Special:FilePath/PlanetaryZoneClassificationMap.png]]
 
  
=Credits=
+
==Phasers In Play==
 +
*Phasers have been a feature of ''Star Trek'' (other than the original pilot) since the beginning of the franchise. The hallmark of this iconic energy weapon is the ability for the user to select the power being used: it can do everything from heat rocks for warmth to stun an enemy to vaporizing large amounts of matter.
 +
*Compared to disruptors and polaron-based weaponry, phasers are less powerful, but they are much more controllable and reliable.
 +
*There's a reason the majority of the time we've seen Starfleet officers fighting that they haven't been toting huge weapons: Starfleet is not a military force. In rare instances where more serious weapons are required, characters would be very surprised to see them in the field.
 +
*Hand phasers and phaser rifles vary from assignment to assignment; starships sticking close to home and minor bases are unlikely to have the best and newest equipment, and some ships will have bespoke designs based on the needs of their mission and the physiology of their crew, but all Starfleet phaser types share basic design features such as a very simple firing mechanism, adjustable power levels, and assisted targetting.
 +
*Starship-based phasers have similar qualities to their smaller cousins; the reason Starfleet favors this weapon is for its versatility, not its brute force. They can also be used for scientific and engineering purposes, just like smaller models.
  
Descriptions, Icons, and Map created by and used with permission from '''Schmidt'''. Information originally created/gathered for the USS Fitzgerald, Star Trek Roleplaying Game. Information concerning granting of permission can be obtained via your CO or TFCO. Should specific topic be archived, please contact the Administrator.
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[[Category:Technology]]

Revision as of 00:29, 17 February 2021

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A Galaxy-class starship firing a phaser beam.
A Galaxy-class ship firing main phasers.

Phasers are the most common energy weapon in use by a number of powers in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, including the Federation, Cardassians, and Bajorans. Originally an acronym meaning “PHASed Energy Rectification,” phasers operate by the application of the so-called “rapid nadion effect (RNE),” using nadions to amplify the effect of superconducting crystals to create a coherent and highly-controllable beam of energy to create effects ranging from heating targets to causing targets to lose molecular cohesion entirely.

Phaser Types and Form Factors

Phasers are classified both by their type rating (which is their theoretical maximum energy output) and their form factor (which is the type of device or implement they are constructed as). Their actual output is dependent on the power available to them; for instance, the benefit of employing a higher type of array than a vessel could comfortably use at full power is to increase reliability and fleet standardization. The increase in power between various phaser types is not equal across the scale due to the idiosyncratic properties of nadion fields, which makes some types uneconomical to use.

While there are numerous types and form factors, phasers can be broken down into two larger styles: standard and compression, based on how their focusing crystals are arranged. Standard phasers (such as hand phasers and phaser arrays) use a single crystal to produce their beams, while compression phasers (such as phaser rifles and phaser cannons) have a barrel containing multiple crystals arranged to improve the coherence and range of the beam and to avoid attenuation.

Phaser Types
Type Maximum Theoretical Output
Type-I 0.005MW
Type-II 0.01MW
Type-III 0.02MW
Type-IV 0.1MW
Type-V 0.5MW
Type-VI 1.5MW
Type-VII 2MW
Type-VIII 2.5MW
Type-IX 3MW
Type-X 5.1MW
Type-XI 6MW
Type-XII 8MW
Type-XIII 9MW
Type-XIV 10MW
Type-XV 12MW

Note: The maximum output for each phaser type is the theoretical limit at which the nadion field would collapse and the phaser would begin to damage itself, but the maximum output is dependent on a sufficient power supply. That is to say that a Type-X phaser on an Intrepid-class light explorer will be substantially less powerful than one on a Galaxy-class explorer because of the difference in their power plants.

Common Starfleet Phasers

Theoretically, most output classifications could be built in any form factor (i.e. one could build a Type-XV phaser rifle if one had a strong enough power source, or a Type-I phaser array if one had a use for it), though Starfleet typically uses just a few combinations of forn factor and output types. The most common phasers in use as of 2399 are:

  • Type-VI Phaser Banks: Employed aboard starships in the 2250s such as the Constitution-class. Generally in double ball turret emplacements.
  • Type-VII Phaser Banks: Introduced in the 2270s on the Miranda-class refit. Generally in double ball turret emplacements
  • Type-VIII: Introduced in the 2290s on the Excelsior-class. Generally in double ball turret emplacements
  • Type-IX: Introduced in the 2330s on the Ambassador-class. First phaser type to be built as an array.

Small Phasers

Standard Personal Phasers

Personal phasers are most commonly-issued weapons given to Starfleet personnel, and they are used for a wide range of purposes in defensive and exploratory applications. They are easy to use, sophisticated, and reliable.

Type-I &Type-II Hand Phasers

Hand phasers are the most common types of phasers issued to Starfleet personnel, aboard ships and starbases, and for planetside duty. They are versatile, easy to operate, and highly portable, with most humanoids being able to operate them with just one hand. Starfleet hand phasers come in type-I and type-II versions, with the type-II version being the standard side-arm for nearly every situation; the type-I is generally only used when discretion about being armed is desired. Modern hand phasers can emit either bolts or coherent beams of energy, depending on the needs of the mission. Their settings range from Level 1 (Light Stun) to Level 10 (Kill) to Level 16 (Vaporize).

Early hand phasers closely resembled earlier types of weapons such as projectile-firing pistols, but by the 2350s, phasers were generally shaped less-obviously like a weapon and consisted of a long handle that curved down to the emitter point. The firing trigger is on the top of the device. By 2385, pistol-style hand phasers have been reintroduced to Starfleet, and both types continue to be produced.

These are the three most common models of hand phaser in service with Starfleet as of 2399, the Type-I and Type-II models introduced in the late 2370s that continue to be common across the fleet, and the newer 2385-era Type-II phaser pistol:

In-Play

  • To a member of Starfleet, a hand phaser is more than just a weapon: it's a tool of near-infinite utility. As mentioned above, the ability to set its energy output makes it useful for all manner of tasks, and on many exploratory, scientific, and engineering missions, it's just as likely to be used for constructive purposes as it is for defense.
  • While the Type-I phaser was common in TOS and in early episodes of TNG, it hasn't been seen in recent iterations of Star Trek. That doesn't mean your character wouldn't have a use for one of these smaller devices; they might be carried concealed by security officers during diplomatic missions, or be stashed in a medical kit by a doctor who expects trouble on an away mission.
Type-III Phaser Rifle

Phaser rifles are larger than hand phasers and are generally the heaviest personal weapons stocked aboard most Federation starships. While they have the same sixteen settings as their smaller counterparts, their power cells allow them to fire more quickly, for longer periods of time, and at longer range, which makes them well-suited to extended firefights. Generally speaking, A phaser rifle can fire twice as many shots twice as far as a hand phaser, in either bursts or coherent beams. They are only commonly used when combat is anticipated, and are not standard away team equipment.

These are the two most common phaser rifles in Starfleet service: a model introduced in the late 2370s and a ruggedized version developed in the late 2380s:

In-Play

  • Many Starfleet officers would only have used phaser rifles in training scenarios and would find them a little unwieldy in the field, especially science officers and engineers. They're not commonly used during most Starfleet missions. Indeed, Gene Roddenberry only allowed the phaser rifle to be used once in TOS because he found it to be too militaristic.
  • Phaser rifles can mount scopes, sensors, and lights, which can help their users find their way in the dark or in low-light conditions.
  • Phaser rifles wouldn't be stocked at all on civilian ships or medical ships.

Specialized Portable Phasers

There are other types of phasers that Starfleet personnel use in the field which are too large to be used while carried and which have specific defensive or utility purposes.

Type-III Phaser Drill

Type-III phaser drills are tools with the same overall output potential as a phaser rifle, but with a ruggedized emitter, larger power source, and the ability to fire for sustained periods of time—up to several dozen hours at a time—before they need to be swapped out. This makes them capable of creating large passageways through solid rock, cutting through dense metal, and other such tasks. They can be aimed, fired, and then left to work without needing an operator constantly present, and they are substantially more ergonomic for drilling operations than hand phasers. They also have finer control over their beams to provide precisely the frequency and power level to cut through a particular material without causing unwanted damage or disruption effects. These are commonly stocked aboard almost every Federation starship that's expected to conduct planetary exploration missions and don't require specialized training to operate in their most basic settings.

In-Play

  • Phaser drills do exactly what their name suggests: they're used for excavating large amounts of material quickly. They can be used for all sorts of missions including mining prospecting, archaeological digs, spelunking, salvage operations, and other non-combat tasks.
  • A phaser drill is still a phaser, so if it was your last resort, you could use it in a defensive way—it would not be fun to be on the receiving end of a blast from a tool meant to cut through solid rock or duranium. These boxy tools would be very hard to aim like a weapon, though.
Type-IV Phaser Cannon

Type-IV phaser cannons are too large to be carried and fired by hand and must be mounted on a tripod or to a vehicle, such as an Argo-type wheeled ground vehicle. These weapons are aimed and fired by a crew member who must turn them manually. Assisted targeting obviates the need for a complex scope and keeps their operation simple. These weapons are more common in colonial defense and dedicated tactical contexts than on most standard Starfleet vessels or starbases, but their size inherently makes them a defensive weapon, as they are too large to be brought along by most away teams.

In-Play

  • This is the big gun that gave Worf such a good time in Star Trek: Nemesis mounted to the back of the Argo vehicle. It's a more powerful version of the phaser rifle, but it's much less versatile and portable. Other than being mounted on similar vehicles, most Starfleet personnel wouldn't encounter them very often.
  • This weapon could also be mounted on a tripod or at a fixed position on a building, or installed into a fully-automated turret, but Starfleet doesn't tend to fortify its installations the same way that other powers do: a colony is much more likely to have a very powerful shield than a set of Type-IV phaser cannon installations, but far from home colonists might have to improvise.
  • Ships wouldn't normally carry these, but they could be fabricated as-needed for specific missions.

Large Phasers

Phaser Banks

Phaser banks uncommon in the late 24th century, but were the standard design used in Starfleet from the early 2200s until the 2330s. Now, they are most common on minor space stations and small craft like fighters.

Type-IV & Type-V Phaser Banks
Type-VIII Phaser Bank

Phaser Arrays

Type-VI Phaser Array
Type-IX Phaser Array
Type-X Phaser Array
Type-XII Phaser Array

Phaser Cannons

Type-VIII and Type-IX Phaser Cannons
Type-XII Pulse Phaser Cannon
Type-XV Phaser Cannon

The Type-XV phaser canon is a unique weapon designed exclusively for the twelve so-called Dreadnought-class starships based on the Galaxy spaceframe. Intended as a "Borg Buster," this weapon can deliver an extremely high amount of energy in a fixed direction, meant to overwhelm a Borg vessel's defenses before it can adapt. This is the most powerful weapon ever mounted on a Starfleet vessel, and in practice, it can cause significant damage to most known threat vessels.

In-Play

  • No member-available starship has a Type-XV phaser cannon; they're exclusively found on the Galaxy-class Refit, aka the Dreadnought-class. You might encounter one as an NPC ship or a ship in a campaign or other type of event.
  • These cannons are very powerful but take an extremely long amount of time to recharge, meaning that they must be fired very strategically, as the ship must rely on its conventional phasers while the cannon recharges if it doesn't take the enemy out in the first shot.

Starbase & Planetary Defense Phasers

Phasers In Play

  • Phasers have been a feature of Star Trek (other than the original pilot) since the beginning of the franchise. The hallmark of this iconic energy weapon is the ability for the user to select the power being used: it can do everything from heat rocks for warmth to stun an enemy to vaporizing large amounts of matter.
  • Compared to disruptors and polaron-based weaponry, phasers are less powerful, but they are much more controllable and reliable.
  • There's a reason the majority of the time we've seen Starfleet officers fighting that they haven't been toting huge weapons: Starfleet is not a military force. In rare instances where more serious weapons are required, characters would be very surprised to see them in the field.
  • Hand phasers and phaser rifles vary from assignment to assignment; starships sticking close to home and minor bases are unlikely to have the best and newest equipment, and some ships will have bespoke designs based on the needs of their mission and the physiology of their crew, but all Starfleet phaser types share basic design features such as a very simple firing mechanism, adjustable power levels, and assisted targetting.
  • Starship-based phasers have similar qualities to their smaller cousins; the reason Starfleet favors this weapon is for its versatility, not its brute force. They can also be used for scientific and engineering purposes, just like smaller models.