Editing Direct Fire Weapons (section)

== Particle Beams ==
Particle Beams are mid‑range direct‑fire energy weapons that fire a concentrated stream of high‑energy particles. Unlike lasers and plasma carronades, particle beams suffer **no damage drop‑off across their entire range band**, making them extremely effective at medium ranges. Their drawbacks are higher power requirements and shorter maximum range compared to lasers. Particle beam performance is determined by two primary technologies: **beam strength** (damage) and **maximum range**.

=== Particle Beam Strength ===
Particle Beam Strength determines the damage inflicted by a particle beam. Higher strengths increase component size, power requirement, and research cost. Particle beams use a **gradient‑2** damage profile, meaning they penetrate armor less effectively than mesons or lances but still deliver consistent internal damage once armor is breached.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! Particle Beam Strength !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 6 !! 9 !! 12 !! 16 !! 20 !! 25 !! 36 !! 50
|-
! Size (HS)
| 6 || 6 || 6 || 6 || 6 || 6 || 6 || 6 || 6 || 6 || 6
|-
! Power Requirement
| 5 || 7 || 10 || 15 || 22 || 30 || 40 || 48 || 64 || 90 || 125
|-
! RP Cost
| 2,000 || 4,000 || 8,000 || 15,000 || 30,000 || 60,000 || 125,000 || 250,000 || 500,000 || 1,000,000 || 2,000,000
|}

=== Particle Beam Maximum Range ===
Maximum Particle Beam Range determines the farthest distance at which particle beams can fire. Particle beams do **full damage at any range**, but their maximum range is significantly shorter than lasers. Increasing range allows particle‑armed ships to engage earlier and avoid closing to dangerous distances.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! Max Range (km) !! 60,000 !! 100,000 !! 150,000 !! 200,000 !! 240,000 !! 320,000 !! 400,000 !! 500,000 !! 640,000 !! 800,000 !! 1,000,000 !! 1,200,000
|-
! Range Tier
| 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 10 || 11 || 12
|-
! RP Cost
| 1,000 || 2,000 || 4,000 || 8,000 || 15,000 || 30,000 || 60,000 || 120,000 || 240,000 || 500,000 || 1,000,000 || 2,000,000
|}

=== Particle Lance Modification ===
Particle Lances are a modification to particle beams that convert them into **extreme armor‑penetration weapons**. Lances deal **straight‑line penetration**, ignoring gradient damage and punching through a number of armor layers equal to their strength. They are devastating against unshielded or lightly shielded targets but have long recharge times and are ineffective against strong shields.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! Technology !! RP Cost !! Description
|-
| Particle Lance || 30,000 || Enables the Particle Lance modification, allowing particle beams to penetrate armor in a straight line equal to their strength.
|-
| Lance Modifiers || — || ×2 Size, ×2 HTK, ×2 Crew, ×2.5 Power Requirement, ×3 Cost, ×2 Development Cost of the like Particle Beam
|}