Random thought

[Reliant121]

[Nickswitz]

I can see especially in the case of continuing bombardment that they would not use it if it were a huge power drain, as that would mean lack of firepower later on in the battle.

[Sionnach Glic]

I like to imagine that wide-beam is so energy intensive that it drains the phaser's power source when used - hence why it wouldn't often be used in actual combat.

[Lighthawk]

Or it could be stressful on the system, on the beam emitter, on the wiring, on whatever, and over use of it is highly likely to cause something to burn out, perhaps catastrophically given how much more prone trek technology is to fail in an explosion and not just a puff of smoke.

[Captain Seafort]

I like to imagine that wide-beam is so energy intensive that it drains the phaser's power source when used - hence why it wouldn't often be used in actual combat.

Makes sense. Indeed, it's inevitable, given the inverse-square rule.

[kostmayer]

Could they be used on a lower powersetting at wide beam to check for shrouded Jem'Hadar, like they were used in Way of the Warrior to find Odo during that drill?

[Mikey]

Or it could be stressful on the system, on the beam emitter, on the wiring, on whatever, and over use of it is highly likely to cause something to burn out, perhaps catastrophically given how much more prone trek technology is to fail in an explosion and not just a puff of smoke.

Hmm. Kira certainly implied that Starfleet phasers were fragile compared to Cardie models, and less suited for hardcore field duty. In addition, to go along with the idea about greater power drain - the greater instantaneous power usage of the wide-beam setting could conceivably lessen the power of each shot.

[Tyyr]

Starfleet doesn't really plan for fullscale war it seems. Also you can do all kind of weird tricks with Federation phasers that you don't see on other race's side arms. A starfleet phaser could be a relatively fragile but adaptable weapon where as other races might settle for stun or kill (or just kill) and everything else you go find the right damn tool for instead of a side arm swiss army knife.

[Captain Seafort]

A starfleet phaser could be a relatively fragile but adaptable weapon

It is - that's exactly how Kira described Fed phasers in "Return to Grace".

[Sionnach Glic]

I've always seen the Feds' phasers as being the equivelant of a Swiss army knife, with the guns of other races being the equivelant of a simple knife.

This mentality is also reflected in their ship building practices. Federation ships are designed with performing a whole heap of different tasks in mind, while other races build theirs as little more than simple warships.

[Mikey]

A starfleet phaser could be a relatively fragile but adaptable weapon

It is - that's exactly how Kira described Fed phasers in "Return to Grace".

Hmm. Kira certainly implied that Starfleet phasers were fragile compared to Cardie models, and less suited for hardcore field duty.

Am I invisible?

[Deepcrush]

Yes.

[Mikey]

Who said that?

[Deepcrush]

Who said that?

The little red dot warming the back of your head.

[Mark]

A starfleet phaser could be a relatively fragile but adaptable weapon

It is - that's exactly how Kira described Fed phasers in "Return to Grace".

Hmm. Kira certainly implied that Starfleet phasers were fragile compared to Cardie models, and less suited for hardcore field duty.

Am I invisible?

Just shrouded. Don't worry, Deep will use his "wide angle" setting to find you.