Technologists could in theory produce a wide range of far more unpleasant higher level laser weapons, e.g. multiple parallel pulse, rapid-fire, continuous-beam high power, etc, but these would be far too easy for non-Techs to use, and Techs who insist on developing them tend to be very firmly dealt with.
Most lasers have an unusual damage system where further dice are rolled if a minimum number is rolled on earlier dice, the 'multiplies on' system (with a maximum possible number of dice). This is designed to simulate a neat hole straight through a non-critical location which does little damage, and the same hole through somewhere far more vital. Laser wounds typically do not bleed.
Hand Laser L=2 Heavy Laser L=3 Laser Cannon L=4 Message Laser L=4 Photonic Lance L=5 Targetting Laser L=5 IR Laser Cannon L=6
Explanation of Laser Devices
Hand Laser: projects a pulse of light of colour dependant on L, an eighth of an inch wide. The beam has range as a short bow with normal DEX modifiers and the target is treated as AC9 unless mirror surfaced or the colour of the beam (shields have a 1/3 chance of interposing), when as AC2. The beam does either a little or several dice of damage (if high score on 1st dice).
Level Beam Colour Damage Multiplies on Max Dice 2nd Red D4 4 2 3rd Green D6 5,6 3 4th Violet D8 6,7,8 4
A Tech may only grind laser crystals with a DEX of at least 12, a Jeweller may attempt to do so with a 65% chance of success (improved with practice). Cost: 5000gp (+500gp/extra L). Uses: 5ep (+5ep/extra L). Weight: 30gp. Non Micro Miniturisable.
Level: 2nd.
Heavy Laser: similar to a Hand Laser but has a quarter inch wide pulse and hits as a composite bow. The damage multiples (another dice is thrown) if the numbers shown are thrown on a dice, e.g. roll 2D6, get 3 and 6 therefore roll 1D6, if result is again 6 then roll a fourth (and final) D6.
Level Beam Colour Damage Multiplies on Max Dice 3rd Green 2D6 6 4 4th Violet 2D8 7,8 6 5th Ultra-violet 2D10 8,9,10 8
Note that a UV pulse is normally invisible. Cost: 10,000gp (+500gp/extra L). Uses: 15ep/pulse (+10ep/extra L). Weight: 1000gp. Non Micro Miniturisable.
Level: 3rd.
Laser Cannon: has a half inch wide pulse, indefinite range, hand aimed as a double range (48") heavy crossbow.
Level Beam Colour Damage Multiplies on Max Dice 4th Violet 3D8 7,8 9 5th Ultra-violet 3D10 8,9,10 12 6th X-ray 3D12 9,10,11,12 15
The damage the beam does multiplies by throwing another dice for each dice which gives the numbers shown, up to the limit, e.g. roll 3D8 and get 5, 7, 8, therefore roll 2D8 and get 2,6 so stop rolling. Note that a UV pulse is normally invisible, and an X-Ray pulse causes impressive sparking all along the beam path. Cost: 25,000gp (+500gp/extra L). Uses: 35ep/pulse (+15ep/extra L). Weight: 5000gp.
Level: 4th.
Message Laser: see "Sensor Devices".
Level: 4th.
Photonic Lance: a laser weapon with several modes of operation, as a laser of the same beam colour:
Hand Heavy Cannon
Type L Dam (Max Multi ep) (Max Multi ep) (Max Multi ep)
Green 5th D6 3 5,6 10 4 6 15 6 6 20
Violet 6th D8 4 6-8 15 6 7,8 25 9 7,8 35
U.V. 7th D10 5 7-10 20 8 8-10 35 12 8-10 50
the values of Max (maximum number of dice), Multi (multiplies on) and ep (ep/pulse) are shown for each mode; one, two, or three dice are rolled respectively, e.g. Photonic Lance II has a violet coloured pulse, and a basic 1D8, 2D8 or 3D8 is rolled depending on the mode it is in, if the number in Multi is rolled more dice are rolled as per the equivalent device. The pulse is created and controlled by a force field and is an eighth/a quarter/a half of an inch wide with range 21"/24"/48" striking as a short/composite/heavy cross-bow. Uses: 10/15/20ep per pulse (+5/10/15ep per extra L). Weight: 500gp. Non Micro Miniturisable.
Level: 5th.
Targetting Laser: see "Sensor Devices".
Level: 5th.
IR Laser Cannon: a version of the Laser Cannon which uses Infra Red light, i.e. a lower frequency rather than a higher one. Note that this is effectively very concentrated heat energy, and any fire resistance should have no more than half effect, and DMs may judge only a quarter if the style does not suit radiation protection; anyhow as is the case with all lasers there is no save for half damage. The effects are as a Laser Cannon, with the general power about the same as U.V., but the damage is 5D6, and for every 6 thrown another D6 is rolled, with a maximum number of dice of 20. The pulse is created and controlled by a force field, rather than a Laser Cannon Crystal. Note that with the addition of an IR sensor array could act as a higher-powered Targetting Laser. This device only has one mark. Uses: 50ep/pulse. Weight: 2500gp.
Level: 6th.