Talk:Plasma torpedo

Warbirds
I have a question about the picture of the Romulan Warbirds. What evidence is there that they are firing plasma torpedoes? Given what we know from them from "Balance of Terros," plasma torpedoes did not have the flexibility or capabilities of photons, with the exception of firepower. The torpedoes fired by the warbirds look and act a lot more like photons (except for the color). They even are fired at a high rate, something the plasma torpedoes did not demonstrate in "Balance of Terror." I would find it more believeable that they are photons, but that romulans still keep a plasma launcher on the warbirds. So yeah, what evidence do we have that these are specifically plasma torpedoes? --OuroborosCobra 17:49, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Image of Warbird firing plasma torpedoes
There is an image here of Warbids firing torpedoes from. The caption says that they are firing plasma torpedoes. There is no evidence of this. It has been established that Warbirds carry both plasma and photon torpedoes. We have never seen green plasma torpedoes. There is nothing in the dialogue or script that says they are firing plasma torpedoes (in fact, the script just says that the fleet fires phaser). I don't think we can say that they are either plasma or photon torpedoes. I am therefore removing the image. --OuroborosCobra 00:42, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Removed

 * The plasma effect was shown in its later appearance as stock footage from "Balance of Terror", combined with footage weapons hitting Enterprise from other TOS Season 1 episodes. Since the Enterprise was hit several times by a weapon that had destroyed entire outposts in only a few firings, it is possible the Romulans had adjusted the yield of the weapon for ship-to-ship combat, rather than asteroid bombardment as they were used in the original appearance. This may be because they were not necessarily trying to obliterate the Enterprise, the secrets they could learn from an intact but crippled ship would be far more valuable than debris. Also asteroids don't move, and starships do...less yield means less of a power drain on the firing ships on-board systems allowing the ship to retain some of its maneuverability and escape capability.

This large bit was removed by an anon today. I've re-added the most relevant bit (about the stock footage). -- sulfur 20:08, February 16, 2010 (UTC)