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Hello. Forgive a stupid question but is there a difference betwen lasers and blasters? I ask cos in the X-Wing Books by Aaran Allston Donos' Sniper rifle is always refered to as a "laser rifle".

Crazedwraith wrote:Hello. Forgive a stupid question but is there a difference betwen lasers and blasters? I ask cos in the X-Wing Books by Aaran Allston Donos' Sniper rifle is always refered to as a "laser rifle".

In SW, "laser" seems to be a slang term to describe energy weapons. The terms "laser" and "blaster" seem to be used interchangeably in the films.

*poke da noob*

The technical difference seems mostly scale: A blaster is a handheld or vehicle weapon, where as a laser is on a heavy vehicle or starfighter. Turbolaser is the next one up. So, in general, blasters are just lighter guns than lasers.

SirNitram wrote:The technical difference seems mostly scale: A blaster is a handheld or vehicle weapon, where as a laser is on a heavy vehicle or starfighter. Turbolaser is the next one up. So, in general, blasters are just lighter guns than lasers.

Mostly true. Some seem to use them interchangebly. Like in this X-Wing novel, and in the novelizations of the films, weapons are commonly called "laser rifles" and "laser pistols."

So I guess while it may be correct, the more common term is indeed "blaster."

I always thought of it as a range issue - blasters had a shorter range than lasers, which had a shorter range than turbolasers. It certainly didn't seem to be a firepower issue - the stock B-Wing has autoblasters and the TIE Tank has a mini turbolaser.