Wot's the dif?

[Lowkei]

ust ot of curiosty whats the differnce between Physical damage and energy damage, for example some lights sabre crystals cause physical dameage and sime cause energy damage. As far as ican tel they both cut down an opponants health and thats it. So wot's the dif between the two. cheers guys.

[Aegis]

Physical damage is the generic damage, while energy damage is a special type of damage.

In the case of damage resistance (say, 5/-), 5 points of regular damage will be ignored before the damage hits. Energy damage, though, will ignore that reduction, and hit right through. Now, say it was 5/energy, that would make it so all damage, save energy is reduced.

Now, I might be slightly off on this, as damage reduction and I aren't the best of friends, but it's the basic gist, and I'm sure if I missed something, or mistook something, someone will catch it, and correct me.

[fable]

Doesn't energy also do full damage on robots, while physical damage has much less effect on them?

[Macleod1701]

I think that may just be ion damage, and if they have shields then physical damage will get through it but energy will be absorbed. Damn this is very confusing now, no one seems to know exactly.

[Mirk]

phisical damage = damage from melee weapons, some "blaster" weapons (the disruptor pistols/rifles), and a couple of lightsaber crystals. this damage is absorbed by Mandalorian Melee Shields and Brejik's band/belt, and goes through Energy Shields and Energy Resistance

energy damage = blasters & lightsabers. this is absorbed by energy shields, but goes through melee shields.

ion damage = from ion blasters. does DOUBLE damage to energy shields (not sure about melee shields), and does regular damage to droids - it's just that most weapons that have a special "vs. droids" bonus damage, utilise the ion damage variety for this bonus.

here's an example to clarify:

say you are in a fight with a droid, that puts up an Energy shield that absorbs 40/- energy damage. say you shoot at him with a Jurgan Kalta's Assault Rifle (2-12 energy damage, +1-10 ion, +1-4 piercing, +1-6 ion vs. droids). say you do maximum damage from all the damage components (lucky you!)
the droid's shield would recieve (12 energy + 10*2=20 ion + 6*2=12 ion -> 44 damage), so this shot would deplete the shield completely, and "let through" 4 points of damage. this will be added to the 4 piercing damage, that the shield ignores anyway.

[Macleod1701]

Ah ha now I understand, cheers Mirk!