History Main / WeWillUseLasersInTheFuture

** The ImperialGuard is primarily armed with lasguns. The reasoning being that they are very low maintenance seeing as they have no moving parts and the power packs can be recharged practically anywhere. It should be noted that the Imperial Guard's lasguns are pretty much the weakest weapon in the setting (hence their fanon slogan of "Defending the galaxy with T-shirts and flashlights"). Las''cannons'' on the other hand, are extremely effective anti-vehicle weapons.
*** Note that lasguns' weakness is more of a demonstration of how powerful the standard military forces out there are by comparison to rank-and-file guardsmen. In a sub-setting like {{Necromunda}}, concerning itself with urban combat between gangs in a WretchedHive, the armor and lasgun of the Imperial Guard is extremely powerful compared to the common "stubbers" (conventional firearms). Just the bad luck of the {{Badass Normal}}s in the Guard to be born into a universe where BioAugmentation and PoweredArmor are ''de rigeur'' and where the basic weapon of at least three other armies (Space Marines, Chaos, and Orks) is a [[HandCannon full-auto miniature rocket launcher]].

* Played straight and subverted in Literature/EndersGame. The zero-gravity training fights in Battle School require the students to use guns that shoot a beam at other students that freezes their armor in place when hit with said gun. The warships do use conventional lasers, and a weapon that at first seems to be a ray gun turns out to actually be a weapon that creates a reaction that decomposes a body of matter into a raw form. This weapon allows Ender to [[spoiler: destroy the formic homeworld, by creating such a reaction.]]

*** Note that this is more of a demonstration of how powerful the standard military forces out there are by comparison to rank-and-file guardsmen. In a sub-setting like {{Necromunda}}, concerning itself with urban combat between gangs in a WretchedHive, the armor and lasgun of the Imperial Guard is extremely powerful compared to the common "stubbers" (conventional firearms).
** The Tau Empire also arms its basic infantry with energy weapons, but unlike the Imperial Guard they have arguably the deadliest infantry weapons in the setting. The weakest tau guns fire droplets of superheated plasma that are very accurate at long range and capable of taking out light armored vehicles.

** The ImperialGuard is primarily armed with lasguns. The reasoning being that they are very low maintenance seeing as they have no moving parts and the power packs can be recharged practically anywhere. It should be noted that the Imperial Guard's lasguns are pretty much the weakest weapon in the setting (hence their fanon slogan of "Defending the galaxy with T-shirts and flashlights"). Las''cannons'' on the other hand, are extremely effective anti-vehicle weapons.

* Energy beams technically may pack very high energies. Improving a laser is mostly a matter of finding an [[Phlebotinum adequately powerful -and- compact energy source]], the lack of which is the primary obstacle to developing laser weapons in RealLife, while kinetic weapons are far harder to scale up. If such a source is found, laser weapons may simply outclass the impact of a kinetic one.

* In universes set on the softer scale of the MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness, there is a HandWave that explains [[SpaceX energy based EVERYTHING]] is superior to everything older by default.
* Any discussion of MinovskyPhysics tends to explain energy weapons handily simply by introducing a [[{{Phlebotinum}} powerful -and- compact energy source]] the lack of which is the primary obstacle to developing laser weapons in RealLife.
* From a practical standpoint, energy weapons have BottomlessMagazines, or, at least, may be recharged expediently in the field between firefights.

* Energy beams technically may pack very high energies, depending purely on the source. As such, laser weapons may simply dramatically outclass the impact of a kinetic one.

Much of classic, [[UndeadHorseTrope and occasionally modern]], sci-fi is obsessed with the concept that in the future, the predominant weapon will be some form of RayGun. Even if the work set mere TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, laser weapons will be invented or introduced by aliens, scientists, spies or supervillains.

* Any discussion of MinovskyPhysics tends to explain energy weapons handily simply by introducing a [[Phlebotinum powerful -and- compact energy source]] the lack of which is the primary obstacle to developing laser weapons in RealLife.

* Energy beams technically may pack very high energies, depending purely on the source, thus enabling laser weapons dramatically outclassing the impact of a kinetic one.
* DeflectorShields may exist in the setting render the target immune to conventional firearms but be vulnerable to energy weapons (The opposite may occur just as often, however, depending on the setting).

* Focused light travels [[CaptainObvious at the speed of light]], and even more exotic particle bursts are significantly faster than an actual projectile, eliminating the need for leading the target, wind correction, any form of ballistics and recoil compensation. (It's still likely to shoot PainfullySlowProjectiles when portrayed on screen, though)

Much of classic, [[UndeadHorseTrope and occasionally modern]], sci-fi is obsessed with the concept that in the future, the predominant weapon will be some form of RayGun. Even if the work is not set in the far future, laser weapons will be invented or introduced by aliens, scientists, spies or supervillains.

Much of modern sci-fi is obsessed with the concept that in the future, the predominant weapon will be some form of RayGun (that somehow travels much slower than the speed of light). If kinetic weapons or some other weapon exists, the laser weapon is generally considered superior. Even if the work is not set in the far future, laser weapons will be invented or introduced by aliens, scientists, or some other {{Phlebotinum}} in many kids shows because they are FamilyFriendlyFirearms, even though in universe they are more generally deadly than kinetic weapons. The most common variety is FrickinLaserBeams.

Works containing this trope have a tendency to fall on the softer end of the MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness, though it is not required.

* Played straight and subverted in Literature/EndersGame. The zero-gravity training fights in Battle School require the students to use guns that shoot a beam at the target that freezes armor in place, disabling the limb hit by the gun. The warships do use conventional lasers, and a weapon that at first seems to be a ray gun turns out to actually be a weapon that creates a reaction that decomposes a body of matter. This weapon allows Ender to [[spoiler: destroy the formic homeworld, by creating such a reaction.]]

* Played straight and subverted in Ender's game. The zero-gravity training fights in Battle School require the students to use guns that shoot a beam at the target that freezes armor in place, disabling the limb hit by the gun. The warships do use conventionallasers, and a weapon that at first seems to be a ray gun turns out to actually be a weapon that creates a reaction that decomposes a body of matter. This weapon allows Ender to [[spoiler: destroy the formic homeworld, by creating such a reaction.]]

Works where this is true have a tendency to fall on the softer end of the MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness, though it's not required.

The majority of modern sci-fi is obsessed with the concept that in the future, the predominant weapon will be some form of RayGun (that somehow travels much slower than the speed of light). If kinetic weapons or some other weapon exists, the laser weapon is generally considered superior. Even if the work is not set in the far future, laser weapons will be invented or introduced by aliens, scientists, or some other {{Phlebotinum}} in many kids shows because they are FamilyFriendlyFirearms, even though in universe they are more generally deadly than kinetic weapons. The most common variety is FrickinLaserBeams.

* '''Ubiquitous Lasers:''' {{RayGun}}s are everywhere. They may not be the only type of weapon, and kinetic weapons might even still exist, but they are hardly used.

* '''Ubiquitous {{Ray Gun}}s:''' {{RayGun}}s are everywhere. They may not be the only type of weapon, and kinetic weapons might even still exist, but they are hardly used.
* '''Overpowered {{Ray Gun}}s:''' {{Ray Gun}}s may not be ubiquitous, but they trump every other kind of weapon. Perhaps only the rich can afford them, or only the government has the technology. Whatever the case, all other weapon types are considered inferior.

* '''Ubiquitous {{Ray Guns}}:''' {{RayGuns}} are everywhere. They may not be the only type of weapon, and kinetic weapons might even still exist, but they are hardly used.
* '''Overpowered {{Ray Guns}}:''' {{Ray Guns}}} may not be ubiquitous, but they trump every other kind of weapon. Perhaps only the rich can afford them, or only the government has the technology. Whatever the case, all other weapon types are considered inferior.

This trope has two variants:
* '''Ubiquitous {{RayGuns}}:''' RayGuns are everywhere. They may not be the only type of weapon, and kinetic weapons might even still exist, but they are hardly used. In the other variant, ray guns may not be ubiquitous, but they trump every other kind of weapon. Perhaps only the rich can afford them, or only the government has the technology. Whatever the case, all other weapon types are considered inferior.

* [b]Ubiquitous RayGuns: [/b]One is that ray guns are everywhere. They may not be the only type of weapon, and kinetic weapons might even still exist, but they are hardly used. In the other variant, ray guns may not be ubiquitous, but they trump every other kind of weapon. Perhaps only the rich can afford them, or only the government has the technology. Whatever the case, all other weapon types are considered inferior.

This has a couple of common variants. One is that ray guns are everywhere. They may not be the only type of weapon, and kinetic weapons might even still exist, but they are hardly used. In the other variant, ray guns may not be ubiquitous, but they trump every other kind of weapon. Perhaps only the rich can afford them, or only the government has the technology. Whatever the case, all other weapon types are considered inferior.

The majority of modern sci-fi is obsessed with the concept that in the future, the predominant weapon will be some form a of a RayGun (that somehow travels much slower than the speed of light). If kinetic weapons or some other weapon exists, the laser weapon is generally considered superior. Even if the work is not set in the far future, laser weapons will be invented or introduced by aliens, scientists, or some other {{Phlebotinum}} in many kids shows because they are FamilyFriendlyFirearms, even though in universe they are more generally deadly than kinetic weapons. The most common variety is FrickinLaserBeams.

This has a couple of common variants. One is that ray guns are everywhere. They may not be the only type of weapon, and kinetic weapons might even still exist, but they are hardly used. In the other variant, ray guns may not be ubiquitous, but they trump every other kind of weapon. Perhaps only the rich can afford them, or only the government has the technology. Whatever the case, all other weapon types are considered inferior.

* Type A: Ray guns are everywhere. They may not be the only type of weapon, and kinetic weapons might even still exist, but they are hardly used.
* Type B: Ray guns may not be ubiquitous, but they trump every other kind of weapon. Perhaps only the rich can afford them, or only the government has the technology. Whatever the case, all other weapon types are considered inferior.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

* When the [[ArnoldSchwarzenegger T-800]] does some weapon shopping in the first ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' film, he has to settle for a Uzi nine millimeter instead of the "phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range" he would have wanted. [[RobotWar In the future]] [[{{Cyborg}} where he]] [[TimeTravel comes from]] even all the humans seem to use only energy weapons.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* In ''{{Dune}}'', the predominant ranged weapons are lasguns. But due to personal deflector shields that generate fusion reaction when hit with lasers most soldiers use swords.

[[AC:{{Live-Action TV}}]]

* Averted in ''{{Firefly}}'' with characters using traditional firearms, and ship-to-ship combat often involving grappling and boarding. A few laser weapons exist (see AwesomeButImpractical) but are a pain to maintain.
* Played with in the ''Franchise/StargateVerse''. Most advanced offworld cultures use energy weapons of some form or another, in contrast to the firearms preferred by the SGC. While the latter are usually superior as weapons of war, the Tau'ri did develop a fondness for the versatility of the Goa'uld zat'nik'tel, a weapon that reliably stuns on the first shot and kills on the second. By later episodes it largely replaced the Beretta M9 as their sidearm of choice.

[[AC:TabletopGames]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* Averted until relatively recently in ''{{Franchise/Halo}}''. 26th century humanity [[KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter still use bullet weapons]], while [[ScaryDogmaticAliens the Covenant]] has ship-mounted pulse lasers and arm their ground forces with various plasma weapons. [[{{Precursors}} Forerunner Sentinels]] used smaller lasers. It wasn't until ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'' that a human-built handheld laser weapon was introduced: [[{{BFG}} the Spartan Laser]], which is AwesomeButImpractical since it only has five shots, is difficult to aim, and is tremendously expensive to build.

The majority of modern sci-fi is obsessed with the concept that in the future, the predominant weapon will be some form a of a RayGun (that somehow travels much slower than the speed of light). If kinetic weapons, or some other weapon exists, the laser weapon is generally considered superior. Even if not set in the far future, laser weapons will be invented or introduced by aliens, scientists, or some other {{Phlebotinum}} in many kids shows because they are {{Family-Friendly Firearms}}, even though in universe they are more generally deadly than kinetic weapons. The most common variety is FrickinLaserBeams.

Type A: {{Ray Gun}}s are everywhere. They may not be the only type of weapon, and kinetic weapons might even still exist, but they are hardly used.

Type B: {{Ray Gun}}s may not be ubiquitous, but they trump every other kind of weapon. Perhaps only the rich can afford them, or only the government has the technology. Whatever the case, all other weapon types are considered inferior.

[[AC: {{Film}}]]

[[AC: {{Literature}}]]
* In ''{{Dune}}'' the predominant ranged weapons are lasguns. But due to personal deflector shields that generate fusion reaction when hit with lasers most soldiers use swords.

[[AC: {{Live-Action TV}}]]

* In ''Franchise/StarTrek'', both handheld weapons that shoot a beam, and large phasers that fire from the ships are used.

[[AC: TabletopGames]]

** The Tau Empire also arms their basic infantry with energy weapons, but unlike the Imperial Guard they have arguably the deadliest infantry weapons in the setting. The weakest tau guns fire droplets of superheated plasma that are very accurate at long range and capable of taking out light armored vehicles.

* Averted until relatively recently in ''{{Franchise/Halo}}''. 26th century humanity [[KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter still use bullet weapons]], while [[ScaryDogmaticAliens the Covenant]] has ship-mounted pulse lasers and arm their ground forces with various plasma weapons. [[{{Precursors}} Forerunner Sentinels]] used smaller lasers. It wasn't until ''{{VideoGame/Halo 3}}'' that a human-built handheld laser weapon was introduced: [[{{BFG}} the Spartan Laser]], which is AwesomeButImpractical since it only has five shots, is difficult to aim, and is tremendously expensive to build.

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