# Sci-Fi weapons with BAD design flaws **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2017, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573 "2017-01-30T07:18:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [January 30, 2017, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/1 "2017-01-30T07:18:32Z")
Death Star…no not THAT flaw…can only fire its mega weapon at approximentally 40%(?) of its viewable area at any one time. It really needs escorts. That it was unaccompanied by escorts should have been a dead giveaway that it WAS A TRAP!! Doomsday Machine. Ok granted you can’t penetrate its neutronium hull, but that doesn’t mean you have to do strafing runs. Just sit over its axis. And btw…that thing being so ancient?? It would have its own eco-system by the time Enterprise encountered it. Imperial walkers. Of ffs, stop flying in front of them. Ok yes theyre shielded. Still. Others? ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/2 "2017-01-30T07:57:24Z")
Tie Fighters: The “wings” are either heat sinks or solar panels depending on who you believe. Either way they’re a terrible design since they cut off a fair chunk of visibility for the pilot and don’t seem to serve any purpose as armour. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/3 "2017-01-30T08:51:11Z")
Pulse rifles firing 10mm explosive tip caseless standard light armor piercing rounds are good for rupturing primary heat exchangers inside what are basically giant fusion reactors. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/4 "2017-01-30T09:35:17Z")
Of course, the whole point of a Doomsday Machine is lost if you _keep it a secret_! Why didn’t you tell the world, eh? Spaceball 1/Mega Maid had a self-destruct button which was too easily pressed, and irreversible (like a rain coat). ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/5 "2017-01-30T09:39:17Z")
Light sabres need crossguards. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/6 "2017-01-30T10:55:12Z")
From one of the Vorkosigan novels I recall this quote on the subject of buying weapons: “Stay away from the sale on neutron hand grenades. For those with a strong throwing arm.” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/7 "2017-01-30T12:41:00Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > From one of the Vorkosigan novels I recall this quote on the subject of buying weapons: > > “Stay away from the sale on neutron hand grenades. For those with a strong throwing arm.” Actually, the real-life version was almost as bad. The Davy Crockett was the smallest nuke the US ever designed and built. It had extremely poor shielding (so even hauling the thing around was dangerous) and no abort function. If it was fired, it _would_ go off. And if it didn’t go far enough, you were screwed. > **[Davy Crockett (nuclear device)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett_%28nuclear_device%29)** > > The M-28 or M-29 Davy Crockett Weapon System was a tactical nuclear recoilless smoothbore gun for firing the M388 nuclear projectile, armed with the W54 nuclear warhead, that was deployed by the United States during the Cold War. It was the first project assigned to the United States Army Weapon Command in Rock Island, Illinois. It remains one of the smallest nuclear weapon systems ever built, with a yield of 20 tonnes of TNT (84 GJ). > It is named after American folk hero, soldier, and congres... ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/8 "2017-01-30T12:57:56Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Death Star…no not THAT flaw…can only fire its mega weapon at approximentally 40%(?) of its viewable area at any one time. It really needs escorts. That it was unaccompanied by escorts should have been a dead giveaway that it WAS A TRAP!! This is not so. The Death Star was bristling with turbo laser and blaster batteries. We even see them in the movies. The Death Star definitely did not need escort ships. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/9 "2017-01-30T13:03:41Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Actually, the real-life version was almost as bad. > > The Davy Crockett was the smallest nuke the US ever designed and built. It had extremely poor shielding (so even hauling the thing around was dangerous) and no abort function. If it was fired, it _would_ go off. And if it didn’t go far enough, you were screwed. > > [Davy Crockett (nuclear device) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett_%28nuclear_device%29) The Fat Man from Fallout is objectively a terrible idea. A man-portable (not crew-served) nuclear weapon launched via catapult on the battlefield. The only thing that makes it work is the game mechanics. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/10 "2017-01-30T13:49:05Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > The Fat Man from Fallout is objectively a terrible idea. A man-portable (not crew-served) nuclear weapon launched via catapult on the battlefield. The only thing that makes it work is the game mechanics. The Wikipedia article notes the similarity between the Davy Crockett and the Fat Man. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/11 "2017-01-30T14:01:02Z")
A phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range is ideal for home defense, but can be very difficult to find. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/12 "2017-01-30T14:25:07Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > A phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range is ideal for home defense, but can be very difficult to find. Hey, just whatcha see, pal. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/13 "2017-01-30T14:30:01Z")
Next Gen “dustbuster” phasers. There appears to be no aiming mechanism at all, not even a rudimentary bump on top to aim by. I’m not convinced the beam even comes out in the same direction each time. It seems to be controlled more by the special effects folks than the actual internal mechanism. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/14 "2017-01-30T14:45:12Z")
My favorite is the lampshade hanging on the Goa’uld staff weapon: [QUOTE=Jack O’Neill] This _(holds up staff weapon)_ is a weapon of _terror_. It’s made to _intimidate_ the enemy. This _(holds up P90 SMG)_ is a weapon of _war_. It’s made to _kill_ the enemy. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/15 "2017-01-30T14:47:17Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Next Gen “dustbuster” phasers. There appears to be no aiming mechanism at all, not even a rudimentary bump on top to aim by. I’m not convinced the beam even comes out in the same direction each time. It seems to be controlled more by the special effects folks than the actual internal mechanism. 🙂 It good design. It’s just piss poor tactics. Trying to am a phaser is like trying to aim a machine gun: why bother? The way to use the phasers is to wave them back and forth in the general direction of the enemy. The beams are traveling at the speed of light; no one is going to dodge that. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/16 "2017-01-30T14:54:15Z")
The Death Star has a more inexplicable flaw - while it can travel interstellar distances in a matter of days, it takes _hours_ to get to the other side of a planet. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/17 "2017-01-30T15:05:01Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > The Death Star has a more inexplicable flaw - while it can travel interstellar distances in a matter of days, it takes _hours_ to get to the other side of a planet. “I say we’re in range now.” - What Tarkin _should_ have said. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/18 "2017-01-30T15:42:53Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > It good design. It’s just piss poor tactics. Trying to am a phaser is like trying to aim a machine gun: why bother? > > The way to use the phasers is to wave them back and forth in the general direction of the enemy. The beams are traveling at the speed of light; no one is going to dodge that. Unless you’re a [Scalosian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wink_of_an_Eye) all hopped up on whatever radiation-induced weirdness makes them move faster than the Flash on meth. Then you can sidestep a phaser II beam just fine. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/19 "2017-01-30T15:47:30Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > “I say we’re in range now.” - What Tarkin _should_ have said. While it’s true that a Grand Moff doesn’t have to be reasonable or patient, it doesn’t make the attack on Yavin IV practical until it’s actually practical. The Death Star had to get around Yavin, the gas giant primary, to get a shot at the inhabited moon. I suppose he should have had the on-duty navigator spaced\* for not bringing the Death Star out of hyperspace with a clear line of fire. Seems like orbital insertion planning is a serious training shortfall in the Imperial Fleet. \*He even could have used Darth Vader’s line: “You have failed me for the last time.” ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573/20 "2017-01-30T15:50:44Z")
Maybe they _had_ to come out of hyperspace on the other side of Yavin. Flying through hyperspace ain’t like dusting crops, you know. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-weapons-with-bad-design-flaws/778573.md?page=2)