View source for Laser Pulse Module


The first '''Laser Pulse Module''' was introduced by the [[Republic Institute of Strategic Combat]] in [[3137]].<ref name=iop45>''Interstellar Operations'', p. 45</ref>

= Description =
Developed by the Republic Institute of Strategic Combat just shortly prior to the infamous Black Out, the '''Laser Pulse Module''' is designed to be fitted on any Standard or ER Laser, giving it an alternate fire mode which increases the heat output but increases the accuracy along the same lines as a [[Pulse Laser]]. Though promising, it never reached production status and thus only prototypes ever made it into the field. These only offered a small improvement to standard lasers at the cost of increased heat and possible catastrophic failure of the module and the laser it was attached to.<ref name=iop93>''Interstellar Operations'', p. 93</ref>
 
= Construction and Game Rules =
A Laser Pulse Module can be attached to an ER or standard laser of any size, as long as it has an [[Inner Sphere]] technology base. It can be used by any combat unit other than battle armor and conventional infantry. A Laser Pulse Module can only modify one single laser, and a laser can only have one LPM attached to it. The LPM must be placed in the same location as the laser it modifies; this can affect turret weight of vehicles and it does affect the size of [[Targeting Computer]]s. It weighs one ton and occupies a single critical hit slot.<ref name=iop93/>

In combat, the LPM-modified laser can operate in its standard mode or operate as a pulse laser. Standard mode uses the laser's standard range, damage, and attack modifiers. When the LPM is activated to use pulse mode, the standard range and damage values apply, but the laser gets a -2 to hit modifier and +2 heat, regardless of laser size. If a modified laser rolls an unmodified 2 on the to-hit roll or the LPM is damaged by a critical hit, the LPM will catastrophically fail. This inflicts a 2 point ammunition explosion on the location mounting the LPM. Instead of rolling for critical hits normally, the unit suffers a single automatic critical hit to the first undamaged slot of the laser that uses the LPM.<ref name=iop93/>

If the laser attached to the LPM is damaged via critical hit before the LPM is damaged, the LPM is rendered inert as well. An inert LPM does not explode on a critical hit.

Lasers with LPMs can use [[Targeting Computer]]s, but when firing in pulse mode they cannot use the Targeting Computer for an aimed shot.<ref name=iop93/>

The battle value of a laser with a Laser Pulse Module is 1.15 times the laser's base cost. For example a [[Large Laser]] with an LPM would have a battle value of 141.<ref>''Interstellar Operations'', p. 196</ref>

The Laser Pulse Module costs 200,000 C-bills.<ref>''Interstellar Operations'', p. 221</ref>

= References =
<references/>

=Bibliography=
* ''[[Interstellar Operations]]''


[[Category: Energy Weapons]]