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How would a Psionic Shockwave deliver damage?

Forum Index > BW General
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gabsingin
Profile Joined October 2014
Hong Kong6 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-04-09 18:27:43
April 09 2020 18:26 GMT
#1
I was just sitting with coffee during the quarantine and started thinking....how would an Archon actually deal damage?....come join me!

"Damage" can be loosely defined as a destructive change of form, resulting in loss of original function. It may be dealt physically (through kinetic energy with force of claws, penetration of projectiles), chemically (acid, radiation altering chemical composition), or through heat (state changes, rapid expansion of volume etc.) and or other ways.

So the big decision is either we 1) describe Psionic energies as some sort of scientific phenomenon that we understand (disclaimer: I'm not a scientist) e.g. manipulation of some sort fundamental force or field, or 2) create new rules. Which I don't know how to, I look forward to your additions!

A few distinct features of the Archon's attack:
- It has a bit of range
- It has AoE, whose strength decreases from center of target

Therefore my few hypotheses are:
1) laser beam of high energy EM waves

- A stream of ionizing radiation like gamma rays that has enough energy to instantly vaporize zerglings. But then would it would be a death laser that goes through the target as well?

2) contained beam of hot plasma, alpha particles, ions etc.

- if the Dragoon can contain antimatter with Psionic powers, the Archon could contain the plasma. Being heavier, the ultrahot matter will most likely cause an explosion at the surface upon contact.

3) localized telepathic control of kinetic energy / of atoms

- a concentrated, localized Psionic storm that goes right into the fabric of energy fields and rips molecules apart. Don't know how that would work ththough.

I'd be really interested to see what people with actual particle physics knowledge will come up with though. Maybe we can even go through all units of the game at some point!
razorsuKe
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Canada2000 Posts
April 09 2020 19:29 GMT
#2
I would imagine that it's similar to how electricity does damage? Like a lightening bolt. High volts/amps.

Now if you're talking about psionic storm, that's different
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/psionic
Going by the definition of psionic, it makes sense that psi storm only affects units and not buildings.
EntusGalleries.com - CJ Uniform Sale
TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10688 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-04-09 19:43:18
April 09 2020 19:40 GMT
#3
The real answer is in the High Templars Psionic storm, the truth of the matter is that when two High Templar's merge, their Psionic storm powers are forfeited, but in return their two powers to make a super AoE Hadouken style attack that we see with the Archon, The High Templar are seasoned, veteran warriors of the Protoss armies that have walked far down the path of Khala. Those who choose to take on the mantle of the High Templar set aside the frenzied rage of the Zealot, and avoid direct combat if possible. Instead, they use their mighty psionic abilites to bolster our other troops. The sight of enemy forces being torn apart by a High Templar's Psionic Storm or wasting their fire on projected Hallucinations is proof enough of Protoss superiority. It is no wonder that other species fear to attack us.High templar are the most honored and respected members of the protoss race.They are veteran Templar who forgo the rage and traditional forms of combat common to zealots in order to better develop their psionic powers into potent tools and weapons.

The high templar are the most experienced and respected members of the protoss race. Having honed their psionic abilities to an awe-inspiring degree, their minds are their greatest weapons. The training high templar undergo amplifies their psionic powers to such a degree that they are capable of disrupting the physical world around them. Those treading the path of the Khala are taught to close their minds to the outside world. For powerful psychics like the protoss this may produce psychic ripples that are harmful to other life forms.

The training high templar undergo amplifies their psionic powers to such a degree that they are capable of disrupting the physical world around them. Those treading the path of the Khala are taught to close their minds to the outside world. For powerful psychics like the protoss this may produce psychic ripples that are harmful to other life forms. High templar are trained to focus these ripples into terrible storms of psychic energy that can rip the minds, bodies, and machines of their enemies to shreds. High templar have also demonstrated the ability to use their psionic powers in the form of a standard ranged attack, such as psionic bolts, and a short-range lightning-like attack.

n the aftermath of the End War, many Shelak Tribe high templar wore ancient armor to venerate the role of Khas in uniting the Templar, signaling a cultural shift to artistically move toward the protoss' past. By moving toward their past, they hoped to quiet their fears about the protoss's troubled future.

A simple to understand Mathematical equation explaining how Psionic Shockwave works.

[image loading]

AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
JoinTheRain
Profile Blog Joined September 2018
Bulgaria409 Posts
April 09 2020 20:06 GMT
#4
[image loading]
The subject-matter of the art of living is each person's own life.
LUCKY_NOOB
Profile Blog Joined June 2013
Bulgaria1513 Posts
April 10 2020 09:07 GMT
#5
KILL the Archon!!! We will sort the rest later...

FOR THE SWARM! FOR THE HIVE! \o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/
ko-fi.com/luckynoob
Freakling
Profile Joined October 2012
Germany1529 Posts
April 10 2020 13:53 GMT
#6
It's just magic, man. Look as the Archon when they do it – all but sleight of hand. They simply rip apart the very fabric of existence while you are distracted looking elsewhere. And if you ask yourself: How could this possibly deal any damage? – Just do the self-experiment, rip apart the fabric of your own existence for a moment and see what happens. But don't you blame the Archon afterwards. They cannot help it, they're just overwhelmed by power and on autopilot to annihilate, eradicate and destroy.
gabsingin
Profile Joined October 2014
Hong Kong6 Posts
April 11 2020 12:20 GMT
#7
On April 10 2020 05:06 JoinTheRain wrote:
[image loading]


Those truly worthy will only fall for the master bait.
Dangermousecatdog
Profile Joined December 2010
United Kingdom7084 Posts
April 11 2020 18:24 GMT
#8
Archon
Role: Heavy Assault Warrior
Armament: Psionic Shockwave

These swirling, burning effigies of the Protoss spirit radiate incalculable power, and their devastating psionic storms can be unleashed against cowering enemy forces both in the air and on the ground. Although the Protoss are loathe to sacrifice valuable Templar, those that do achieve this final level of commitment are honored in the annals of the Templar Archives.

Psionic Storm
One of the first lessons of the Khala is how to close one’s mind to the outside world. The Protoss are such powerful psychics that they can inadvertently send out psychic “ripples” that are disruptive to other life forms. With careful training, High Templar learn to focus these ripples into a storm of raw psychic energy that is capable of literally tearing apart the minds of lesser species.

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