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Hey all, first time on the boards but I have been a rifts fan since it first came out. Now down to business.
What kind of physical properties does a psi-sword have? From reading on the boards here I see most of you say it is a physical weapon, even though it is made out of psionic energy.
1) can you grab it, say to add pressure to a wound or to help with opening a hole in armor.
2) does it cause burning damage or a physical kinetic type of attack like a traditional sword.
3) does it have a problem with parrying physical weapons
4) does it damage what ever it strikes, say when parrying a sword, or does it only do damage to what you are trying to hit.
If there is a similiar topic elsewhere that answers these questions please link, thanks.

grimmhold wrote:Hey all, first time on the boards but I have been a rifts fan since it first came out. Now down to business.
What kind of physical properties does a psi-sword have? From reading on the boards here I see most of you say it is a physical weapon, even though it is made out of psionic energy.
1) can you grab it, say to add pressure to a wound or to help with opening a hole in armor.
2) does it cause burning damage or a physical kinetic type of attack like a traditional sword.
3) does it have a problem with parrying physical weapons
4) does it damage what ever it strikes, say when parrying a sword, or does it only do damage to what you are trying to hit.
If there is a similiar topic elsewhere that answers these questions please link, thanks.

1. Probably not.
2. "Burning" isn't the right word, because it's not heat. The damage is done by generic psychic energy.
3. No.
4. Only damages on a deliberate strike.

I;d say the best way to answer your questions is think...What are teh properties of a Star Wars Lightsabre? The are essentially the exact smae thign for the purposes of your discussion. The only real difference is that the Psi-sword is created by the mind not by technology.

Jamyz, the properties of the Star Wars Lightsaber is a laser sword, so it cauderizes wounds as soon as they are made. The damge it does would be more comparable to a vibro-blade than to a lightsaber.

dragonfett wrote:Jamyz, the properties of the Star Wars Lightsaber is a laser sword, so it cauderizes wounds as soon as they are made. The damge it does would be more comparable to a vibro-blade than to a lightsaber.

A LS has more of the charateristices of a force Field contained plasma sword, then a "laser sword". While, yes the script says laser sword, you can not paarry a laser sword. Dr. Michio Kaku, a thyoretical physisit designed one on his show "Sci-Fi Science: physics of the impossible: designing a lightsaber"

grimmhold wrote:Hey all, first time on the boards but I have been a rifts fan since it first came out. Now down to business.
What kind of physical properties does a psi-sword have? From reading on the boards here I see most of you say it is a physical weapon, even though it is made out of psionic energy.

Spoiler:

1) can you grab it, say to add pressure to a wound or to help with opening a hole in armor.
2) does it cause burning damage or a physical kinetic type of attack like a traditional sword.
3) does it have a problem with parrying physical weapons
4) does it damage what ever it strikes, say when parrying a sword, or does it only do damage to what you are trying to hit.

If there is a similiar topic elsewhere that answers these questions please link, thanks.

1) can you grab it, say to add pressure to a wound or to help with opening a hole in armor.
NO. You will be Burned by the Blade, if your Not the creator of the weapon. The Creator can touch his blade however he wants to. It will not harm him. It is Psychic Energy that is not Strength based. So it acts like ENERGY damages. No physical force to pry with. You can Burn Holes in objects and armors however.

2) does it cause burning damage or a physical kinetic type of attack like a traditional sword.
BOTH in a way. The Energy Blade aspect of the Psi-sword cuts through the objects struck with it. The Physical Force behind the psi-sword does not matter.

3) does it have a problem with parrying physical weapons
A Psi-sword can Parry physical items. Vibro-swords are protected by the Vibration Energy Field. Rune Weapons are Indestructable period, TW weapons are durable but unless made to unbreakable and indestructable would take damage parrying them. Normal MDC Items are always damage if struck.

4) does it damage what ever it strikes, say when parrying a sword, or does it only do damage to what you are trying to hit.
YES, usually expect in a few cases. V-Blades, Runeweapons, Magical weapons created to be indestructable are immune.
As a Measure of Fair-Play ... Palladium has decided that Weapons/Shield etc only take damage if they are Targeted usually. Meaning the Psi-sword weilder wants to strike the shield/weapon in question instead of the its weilder. This allows them to disarm an opponet by taking away their weapon/shield in an agressive manner.
Normal Sword vs Psi-sword. Damaged each strike. Its SDC aka normal. MD Swords would that are not V-blades or magical would also just take damage everytime. Since most MD blades only have 10 MDC that means usually a Psisword is going to cut through it every time and destroy the weapon in question.

For all Intents and Purposes ... Psi-swords are "Lightsabers".
Use your Common sense and sense of Fair-Play as needed.

My point still stands that a lightsaber cauderizes the wounds as soon as they are made. And while the theory says that a lightsaber is more of a plasma sword encased in a force field, the damage that it does in the books is described as having a distinctive microscopic precise cuts, which I honestly feel that a plasma sword would be incapable of making.