# Canon/Fanon reason why weapons miss in Star Trek **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 16, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809 "2014-03-16T01:40:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/1 "2014-03-16T01:40:47Z")
I’m watching some TNG reruns and aside from noticing how badly it has aged (and how terrible the special effects look) I began to wonder why the guns miss. They have ray guns in the 24th century and miss? How? How can there are no aiming aids? In Insurrection they have this bazooka thingy with sigths and yet miss and they can’t reliably hit the relatively slow-moving drones. Don’t get me started into why they never use sweeping motion. Even ships miss in close encounter. Is there a canon/fanon explanation for this? ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/2 "2014-03-16T01:49:10Z")
**Canon** : The intended target takes “evasive maneuvers.” **Realistic fanon** : Most of the various crews would be dead if their opponent’s weapons **did not** miss. Point a flashlight at someone and see how hard it is to “miss” them with the beam of light it shines. Then reconcile that to the numerous scenes though out the series when weapons with no recoil are aimed at opponents, even in ambush situations, and they miss. Roddenbery states that: **Weapons will only hit protagonists (or antagonists) when it advances the plot.** Can I get an “Amen” from the church? ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/3 "2014-03-16T01:49:10Z")
You’re exactly right about the sweeping stuff. It’s like missing with a flashlight. Not to mention we’ve seen that phasers can be set for kill on wide beam. Not to mention maximum can take out the side of a building. The only fan excuse I can use is for one of the shows. I suppose we could argue that anything less than a concentrated ‘shot’ is going to be ineffective in taking out a Jem’Hadar. That _doesn’t_ excuse firefights where one shot should have blown away any cover people had. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/4 "2014-03-16T02:09:16Z")
I even seem to recall people hiding behing tables in phaser fights…come on!!! I’ll also WON’T mention that phasers seem to cause no damage to structures unless they specifically want it. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/5 "2014-03-16T02:16:38Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > I even seem to recall people hiding behing tables in phaser fights…come on!!! > > I’ll also WON’T mention that phasers seem to cause no damage to structures unless they specifically want it. Phasers on stun cause no damage to structures. Phasers on “kill” or “dematerialize” cause damage - e.g - The Enemy Within from TOS, when Spock pinches the evil Kirk. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/6 "2014-03-16T02:23:09Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Phasers on stun cause no damage to structures. Phasers on “kill” or “dematerialize” cause damage - e.g - The Enemy Within from TOS, when Spock pinches the evil Kirk. I don’t think that in more than 99% of the fights phasers caused caused any damage to anything, no even singeing it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/7 "2014-03-16T02:24:09Z")
Still, they never address the “sweep” issue. We’ve seen crewmen use a phaser to cut through a door, so the things are capable of cranking out quite a bit of energy for a sustained period. So why did no-one ever just chop up their target ala lightsaber? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/8 "2014-03-16T02:30:13Z")
Vernor Vinge, in The Peace War, posited the ability to create force field bubbles (called “bobbles”) that were essentially impenetrable, and time stopped inside them. A “cute” way to get rid of someone was to encase him in one, and let a few centuries go by. I asked him once why not simply use one to cut someone in half. He said, “That isn’t the kind of story I want to tell.” ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/9 "2014-03-16T02:34:29Z")
I can’t imagine anyone firing a phaser full power inside a space ship. Not unless they’re prepared to breath vacuum. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/10 "2014-03-16T02:42:57Z")
I’ve often wondered why any of the various Enterprises weren’t armed with guns from the battleship Missouri. They could have shot the Klingon bastards from 25 miles away instead of within sight of each other — the other side of the screen. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/11 "2014-03-16T02:47:00Z")
even when they’re close enough to see the klingon ships on the screen they’re still thousands of kilometers away ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/12 "2014-03-16T02:48:20Z")
Ship to ship weapons probably miss due to ECM being emitted from the targeted ship. (I seem to remember playing a computer game where you could dedicate resources to ECM and counter-ECM) ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/13 "2014-03-16T02:49:01Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I can’t imagine anyone firing a phaser full power inside a space ship. Not unless they’re prepared to breath vacuum. I’d be mightily surprised that there aren’t several ocassions where that has happened. Even if in a lower setting, there isn’t even a smudge on the wall. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/14 "2014-03-16T02:49:52Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > I’ve often wondered why any of the various Enterprises weren’t armed with guns from the battleship Missouri. > > They could have shot the Klingon bastards from 25 miles away instead of within sight of each other — the other side of the screen. The deflector shields are intended to block dust particles impacting at warp speeds. A battleship shell has no chance. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/15 "2014-03-16T02:52:01Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The deflector shields are intended to block dust particles impacting at warp speeds. A battleship shell has no chance. Actually, those are their “navigation shields.” Commander Riker mentioned one time that an opponent’s LASERS couldn’t get through them. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/16 "2014-03-16T02:58:52Z")
Why couldn’t they lob nukes at each other? Didn’t an original series episode have Enterprise trying to flee an approaching alien nuke? ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/17 "2014-03-16T03:01:19Z")
in Balance of Terror the Romulans have nukes that normally are only used for self-destruct but I think they shot one at the Enterprise as a last-ditch effort of course the Federation is too advanced to use such weapons anymore ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/18 "2014-03-16T03:02:46Z")
Of course. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/19 "2014-03-16T03:49:05Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Still, they never address the “sweep” issue. We’ve seen crewmen use a phaser to cut through a door, so the things are capable of cranking out quite a bit of energy for a sustained period. So why did no-one ever just chop up their target ala lightsaber? Only once in an early TNG ep did I see that. Baddie swept his phaser rifle and vaporized three people standing next to each other. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809/20 "2014-03-16T04:29:27Z")
I can help but compare Star Trek to other settings. In Mass Effect, a capital ship’s point defense weapons _don’t_ miss. Well, they don’t miss the first wave of attackers (missiles, drones, or manned bombers); the second wave can get a few hits in while the point defense weapons recharge and/or cool down. > [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > I don’t think that in more than 99% of the fights phasers caused caused any damage to anything, no even singeing it. Phasers really do seem to be vastly inferior to bullet-based firearms. In Firefly (and numerous other settings) they had bullet-based guns in large part because they’re scarier; a phaser blast will knock you over, but a bullet will _kill_. > [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I can’t imagine anyone firing a phaser full power inside a space ship. Not unless they’re prepared to breath vacuum. On Babylon 5, the PPK pistols that were used were employed specifically because they couldn’t cause a hull breach, but could still kill/injure a person. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canon-fanon-reason-why-weapons-miss-in-star-trek/683809.md?page=2)