Qowat Milat

[Tim Thomason]

They haven't shown it in Star Trek really, but they should have some sort of dampening field or something that disables phasers and lasers and disruptors from firing. So bladed weapons (or, the dreaded projectile weapon) would be the next step in Star Trek weaponry to circumvent these fields. Kinda like how the Borg in First Contact shrugged off phaser blasts but had trouble dealing with Picard's tommy gun and Worf's mek'leth.

 

[Arpy]

Actually, I agree that phasers are more elegant. They can disable a person without killing them, they can kill without mutilating the body, and they can disintegrate without leaving a mess. Plus they can be used as tools to cut, warm, light, beacon, etc. They can be set to knock out an individual or an entire room, their reach is far longer, can be targeted to be more precise... They’re kind of great, except they maybe make killing and disposing too easy. Maybe they’re inelegant in that regard — they can easily be used by whatever yahoo wields them to greater and easier lethal effect against even the most refined warrior.

Disruptors may be another matter. Aren’t (at least Klingon disruptors) incapable of disintegration?

And there was that one disruptor from “The Most Toys” specifically designed to be torturous and lengthy in its killing.

 

[Gyakuto]

Bladed weapons remain effective in the modern world, despite all our technology.A person wielding a knife is very likely to kill and is a genuine threat to police officers who wear body armour as the statistics show. Likewise in military combat a blade can still be deadly at close quarters.
Why not carry something reliable and effective merely because it's old?

You’re probably absolutely right about knives, Spot261. Swords are liable to bending, chipping and breaking, especially when striking other objects which of course they’re designed for. But I suppose a 24th century Romulan sword won’t be made of steel but from some other super tough alloy.

 

[Gyakuto]

Actually, I agree that phasers are more elegant.

I have to agree. The Star Trek universe has had some lovely looking phasers, with the possible exception of TNG ‘dust buster’ Phaser. I have a Franklin Mint pewter TOS phaser sitting pride of place in my house....truly lovely.

 

[Hythlodeus]

You’re probably absolutely right about knives, Spot261. Swords are liable to bending, chipping and breaking, especially when striking other objects which of course they’re designed for. But I suppose a 24th century Romulan sword won’t be made of steel but from some other super tough alloy.

Valyrian steel or Mithril probably

 

[Spot261]

Valyrian steel or Mithril probably

Vibranium, or Adamantium.

But not Neutronium, it's too heavy.

 

[Spot261]

You’re probably absolutely right about knives, Spot261. Swords are liable to bending, chipping and breaking, especially when striking other objects which of course they’re designed for. But I suppose a 24th century Romulan sword won’t be made of steel but from some other super tough alloy.

Not sure that's any comfort to whoever's on the receiving end...

 

[Gyakuto]

Not sure that's any comfort to whoever's on the receiving end...

Well, if I was being cleaved in half by a sword and the swordsperson chipped/bent their blade, I’d be thinking “loser” as my top half slid to the ground....deservedly so.

 

[Hythlodeus]

Well, if I was being cleaved in half by a sword and the swordsperson chipped/bent their blade, I’d be thinking “loser” as my top half slid to the ground....deservedly so.

yeah, that will show him!

 

[zenophite]

Why do they use swords as weapons in the 24th Century? Such a primitive, limited weapon, even now and yet it seems fairly ubiquitous in SciFi in some guise or another. Is it to attract GoT and LotR fans? It’s so incongruous.

(I should make full disclosure and say I am and obsessive 4th Dan in Japanese swordsmanship and teacher of Iaido)

I have mixed feelings about this sort of thing typically as I have also had martial training of various sorts. The 'cool swordsman' thing has become something of an overused trope (especially the 'katana chick' type stuff) but in this case I think it sort of works....as long as they don't keep Elnor drawing his sword at everything

 

[Gryffindorian]

As a character, he’s little ‘on the nose’ though. I’d’ve preferred a short, chubby, bespectacled sword-wielding warrior with thinning hair, poor cardiovascular ability and fallen arches....no reason in particular.

A Jabba the Hutt lookalike would have been just as sexy.

 

[Hythlodeus]

A Jabba the Hutt lookalike would have been just as sexy.

Hey, cast me!

 

[Nerys Myk]

Did we see any of the Sisters in the Quiznos Menu carrying swords?

 

[WarpFactorZ]

Why do they use swords as weapons in the 24th Century? Such a primitive, limited weapon, even now and yet it seems fairly ubiquitous in SciFi in some guise or another. Is it to attract GoT and LotR fans? It’s so incongruous.

Maybe disruptors are banned on the planet.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

I think their Folger's crystals last forever.

Vibranium, or Adamantium.

But not Neutronium, it's too heavy.

As much as I like Neutronium, it's too rare, difficult to synthesize, definitely can't be "Replicated", and probably to valuable to be used in a blade unless it's a specially manufacturered request.

I can see Neutronium Alloy being used for the inner linings of a Warp Core such that should a Warp Core have a run-away reaction, it doesn't blow up the ship should the Warp Core Ejection Unit fail, but just vaporize the Dilithium Crystals inside that are controlling the reaction.

 

[Hythlodeus]

Even if the swords of the Quorum Mint are made from unobtainium, they're still useless in ranged combat

 

[Nerys Myk]

Even if the swords of the Quorum Mint are made from unobtainium, they're still useless in ranged combat

Unless it's whistle controlled like a Yaka Arrow.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Even if the swords of the Quorum Mint are made from unobtainium, they're still useless in ranged combat

That's why we have hand held energy weapons =D.

Best of both worlds, a tool for each purpose.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Unless it's whistle controlled like a Yaka Arrow.

So you want a hand held small personal attack drone in the shape of an arrow?

 

[Spot261]

That's why we have hand held energy weapons =D.

Best of both worlds, a tool for each purpose.

Do we?

Why did no one tell me?