What is the difference between Phasers?

[Dustin_Marks 0]

I understand the difference between Type I and Type II Phasers, but I am confused as far as the differences between Type VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII etc... Can someone explain the difference between these ship type phasers?

[WxMurray 0]

Type I phasers are the inconspicuous handheld phasers that have only eight settings.

 

Type II phasers are the standard phaser pistol with 16 settings.

 

Type III are the phaser rifles. The most modern ones use compression blasts instead of the beam of energy.

 

Type IV phasers are small phaser banks that can be mounted on shuttlecraft, although they are not standard on the craft.

 

Type VIII phasers are phaser banks on fighter ships, such as those the Maquis used.

 

The rest are not actually canon, but can be inferred. My guess would be that the higher the number, the higher the output. Also, a higher number would also be a newer version of a phaser bank. Anything higher than type III would be ship mounted.

Edited January 19, 2005 by WxMurray

[Sam_SemaJ 0]

I like in First contact when Lily hands the phaser over to Picard. He tells her it's on maximum, and when he powers it down, you actually hear the energy drain. Kinda scary that it has that much power....

 

"its my first ray-gun"

[WxMurray 0]

What I initially said was wrong. The type I has eight power levels (the 1-8 on the type II), not two.

[Vex Xiang 0]

I like in First contact when Lily hands the phaser over to Picard. He tells her it's on maximum, and when he powers it down, you actually hear the energy drain. Kinda scary that it has that much power....

 

She also technically shot him...since the little light in the phaser (that gives the post-editing guys a point of reference for adding the phaser beam) lit up when she handed it over, hehe.

[Dustin_Marks 0]

So basically... No one knows the difference between say a Type VII and a Type X?

[WxMurray 0]

No. My guess would be that type X has more power than the VII.

[Tachyon 0]

Well, MJ's Star Trek Portal has a page devoted to Starship Weapons. I don't know how much is canon and how much is speculation, but at least it is information.

 

http://www.mjs-startrek.com/Weapons.htm

[Seiben 0]

Type 1 personal phaser (circa 2364-present) - The Type 1 phaser is a small hand-held phaser, approximately the size of a pack of cards, that is a discreet weapon. Early on, Starfleet identified this as a 'cricket' phaser that could be concealed easily. They can fire up to eight settings, from light stun to disintegration.

 

Type 2 hand phaser (circa 2371-present) - The Type 2 phaser is a larger hand unit and is the standard sidearm for all personnel and for away missions. The modern Type 2 phaser can fire up to setting 16, and has 10 levels of disruption effects which can cause the destruction of some 3,900 metric tons of rock per 0.28 second discharge.

 

Type 2 hand phaser (circa 2378 - current) - This is a new model of the Type 2 phaser which is slowly being phased into production. It has a similar shape to the original Type 2, but its more ergonomic and sleek in design has garnered a nickname: the 'dolphin' phaser.

 

Type 3a phaser rifle (circa 2373-present) - The Type 3 is a rifle version of the Type 2 phaser. It uses a nearly identical internal system as the Type 2, and is also capable of firing to setting 16. It is of lightweight build and can easily be carried in one hand. The advantages of the Type 3 are a 50% greater energy reserve, a multiple target acquisition system, and a gyrostabilizer system. Recently the standard Type 3 phaser rifle has apparently received the same advanced targeting system as the Heavy phaser rifle.

 

Type 3b phaser rifle (circa 2375-present) - The Type 3b phaser rifle, also known as the Compressed Phaser Rifle, is similar to the Type 3a phaser but is capable of utilizing plasma acceleration to create a concentrated burst of phaser energy (similar to a pulse cannon on a starship). The power release for each setting is the same but the effect is much more destructive in nature; up to 50% more damage is capable.

 

To aid in the compression of the beam, the design team built a small isolinear artificial intelligence unit into the rifle which has complete control of the energy discharge. This approach met with considerable success in a testing program that was surprisingly free of difficulties. The use of a computer control system also allows the frequency of the beam to be modified, making it harder for the opponent to generate effective shields; a measure clearly important when dealing with the Borg. The beam can also be configured to transport Borg nanoprobes

 

The Type 4 rifle also includes a much more effective and elaborate targeting system, a more powerful gyrostabilizer, and a larger energy reserve. The targeting unit is now being retro-fitted into earlier models of phaser rifle.

[Vex Xiang 0]

The bigger the number, the stronger it is...thats the difference.

[Sam_SemaJ 0]

So basically... No one knows the difference between say a Type VII and a Type X?

c'mon people, its so simple...one is a VII....and one is an X....obviously

[Dumbass 0]

Well since X in mathmatics represents an unknown we don't really know what it does other than mark the spot. :D

[Johnny Unitas 0]

I wanta phasner.

[Vex Xiang 0]

And the specifications are pretty much all non-canon anyway.

[Sam_SemaJ 0]

I wanta phasner.

my TV remote kinda looks like on....sad, i know

[Dumbass 0]

my TV remote kinda looks like on....sad, i know

Oh come on, we have all played phaser with our cell phones at least once (unless it is one of those flip-phone things).

[Guest STSF Sketti]

Oh come on, we have all played phaser with our cell phones at least once (unless it is one of those flip-phone things).

Yeah, my cell phone isn't a phaser, it's a TOS-era communicator. :D

[Sam_SemaJ 0]

Don't be embarassed to answer yes to this...

 

Has anyone ever had to make a phone call, or call to someone in the house or something like that....and tapped their "combadge" before they could stop themselves or realize what they were doing? :D

[Dumbass 0]

Uh, actually, you *should* be embarrassed by that.

[Sam_SemaJ 0]

hey hey, now :D I never ever said that I'VE done that....it just seemed like something a trekkie might do.....

[Dustin_Marks 0]

hey hey, now :D I never ever said that I'VE done that....it just seemed like something a trekkie might do.....

uh huh... We believe you... lol

[Johnny Unitas 0]

Well, usually when I'm talking to someone I know who's a trekkie on my cell, I always answer the phone: "Captain, reporting in" or when I'm calling it's "Captain to first officer....". But you know, that's not the same.

[Sam_SemaJ 0]

Actually, the ringer on my phone is the TOS main theme....only Alexander Courage could put Opera and Star Trek together (I guess Worf can too, but thats different) :D

[Ensign_Rompen 0]

Has anyone ever had to make a phone call, or call to someone in the house or something like that....and tapped their "combadge" before they could stop themselves or realize what they were doing? ;)

well...actually yes, but there was a good reason for it...

[Erik Ashton 0]

It is stated in TNG tech manual, Chapter 11 page 123 paragraph 4. "As installed in the Galaxy class, the main ships phasers are rated as Type X, the largest emitters available for starship use. Individual emitter segments are capable of directing 5.1 MW. By comparison, the small personal phasers issed to Starfleet crew membersare type I and II, the latter being limited to 0.01MW. Certain large dedicated planetary defense emitters are designated as Type X+, as there exact energy output remains classified." Therefore it is corrct to assume that they are classified by there Energy output. It is never stated that they are classified by time frame, but everyone know that typically more power comes later in technology timeframe.