Poll: Space Combat

[Opus Kan]

I would use those grappler arms from Outlaw Star.

 

[Spiner909]

Lasers. In true combat, they would have no sound, and would be instantaneous. Impossible to dodge. Truly deadly, if energy dependent weapons.

 

[Cpu46]

Lasers are impractical, because we can hardly dissipate the heat of a laser IN atmosphere, how the hell would we vent that kind of heat in space where there isn't any atmosphere to transfer heat away to? You'd cook yourself to death in the first volley.

With my knowledge of lasers and such (not much knowledge by the way) I believe I have found a solution.

If the laser is not attached to the main ship and more like a smaller unmanned ship consisting of the Laser assembly, a power source, and engines for maneuvering and aiming then you remove the cooking of crew. It would be a one time fire weapon (heat would most likely melt/obliterate the entire thing) but the damage would be almost instant and devastating for the other ship. However it would most likely be horrendously expensive so it still would be impractical. (damn, there goes my spaceship idea)

 

[Toaster Hunter]

This pretty much sums it up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AV5aY7HYAk&playnext_from=TL&videos=BLR_nhk_4rc

Rocks still hurt.

 

[RicoADF]

We have laser technology today, we just have issues using it in the atmosphere, space however would be easy .
I go with the laser tech we have, maybe with some missiles to back them up.

 

[psivamp]

Also, I could buy that the number of thrusters on the vipers could handle most advanced maneuvers in space. Particularly the zero point turns. Of course the skill needed to control all of them would be like having a 10-speed manual on your car, you can't physically, or even mentally, handle the complicated coordination to shift yourself properly, which supports my theory of AI fighters more.

You seem to misunderstand me. I liked the Vipers. They used several attitude control nozzles, properly balanced them so that inducing roll used a minimum of two nozzles acting in opposite directions to maintain a net zero change in velocity of the fighter. I don't think the 10-speed manual is an adequate analogy for the complexities of controlling an agile fast-moving ship in zero-g. I think it's vastly more complicated, even with computer assist to make your pitch, yaw and roll controls act proportional to stick motion and then counter the spin as you return to the neutral position it would still be insane. It would be a hell of a ride though.

 

[GloatingSwine]

Relativistic STL second strike retaliation vehicles. Big dumb object with engines pointed at where a potential aggressor's homeworld is going to be in 50 odd years (which is happily predictable). If they attack you, the vehicle launches such that it will strike their homeworld at an appreciable fraction of c, destroying their world with no possibility of intercept.

Ultimate MAD.

 

[Croaker42]

I would love to see Kinetic based weaponry work out over the next several years. If they could greatly reduce the ammount of energy needed, solve the problem of the rails ripping appart and reduce the size/recoil everything would be good.
(I want to see a personal version of the railgun)

I see space combat being fought ship to ship. User a variation of the rail gun to fire a bording pod/pierce the enemy hull. Make the pod produce a sealing foam to keep enough environment in the ship then drop troops.

 

[MortisLegio]

Missiles or Railguns seem to be most effective

lasers could help to fry the enemy sheilds but would need alot of energy

boarding could work if you crippled the enemy ship but you would need alot of forces to take the ship

ramming(for the most part) is impractical and would probably do damage to your own ship

 

[slackbheep]

All depends on the state of technology. Guided missles of a sort seem the most feasible given our current levels of technology, but in the event that we achieve travel at a reasonably comparable to the speed of light kinetic weapons would be THE way to go in my opinion. You only need to accelerate matter to a fraction of the speed of light before it's energy density is greater than that achieved by any nuclear weapon we can really conceive of.

 

[LANCE420]

Also, I could buy that the number of thrusters on the vipers could handle most advanced maneuvers in space. Particularly the zero point turns. Of course the skill needed to control all of them would be like having a 10-speed manual on your car, you can't physically, or even mentally, handle the complicated coordination to shift yourself properly, which supports my theory of AI fighters more.

You seem to misunderstand me. I liked the Vipers. They used several attitude control nozzles, properly balanced them so that inducing roll used a minimum of two nozzles acting in opposite directions to maintain a net zero change in velocity of the fighter. I don't think the 10-speed manual is an adequate analogy for the complexities of controlling an agile fast-moving ship in zero-g. I think it's vastly more complicated, even with computer assist to make your pitch, yaw and roll controls act proportional to stick motion and then counter the spin as you return to the neutral position it would still be insane. It would be a hell of a ride though.

I was using the manual analogy just to illustrate the point that the act is impossible being completely unaided. Since, in fact, both are impossible to do unaided.

 

[Cpt. Red]

Missiles without any payload(basically a guided bullet) and other kinetic weapons. The kinetic weapons would only be used in closer distances when the time for missiles to gain speed would be to long.

Some people were talking about being able to take out missiles with point defence lasers but the only thing they would be able to do against a solid missile would be to take outs its propulsion and guidance systems but the now lump of metal would still be travelling towards you.

You could also make a missile that spreads up, after gaining enough speed, without explosives as you could do it mechanically with springs.

I would also like note that powerful kinetic weapons would probably have really long barrels so that the force on the firing craft would be easier to handle and counteract.

 

[Snownine]

Dang I pressed kinetic by mistake.

 

[Vash108]

Tech II cruise missiles and Tech II Torps all the way.

 

[Valkyrie101]

Kinetic weapons, specifically extremely powerful railguns.

 

[Soxafloppin]

I'd just stick with my fists.

Give them the old "one two".

 

[sabbat]

I can see a mixture of boarding parties and missiles working well.