Probe Encounters: SG Goa'uld probe & Imperial probe!

[ILikeDeathNote]

I think it was inferior, and it has an horrible aim.

Nothing in that episode indicated that it was less powerful than a regular staff weapon at least as far as I could see. As for the aim is concerned both the Imp and the Goa'uld probe sucked monkey balls in that department probably because they were never meant to be used in direct combat but just for reconnaissance.

I believe he was referring to the Imperial probe.


Examining the pictures from SW-vs-ST.net, it appears that the Imperial Probe's weapon is mounted in a small box-like structure; this whole structure appears to be significantly smaller than a "BlasTech E-11," more commonly known as the Stormtrooper Blaster. Naturally, it would stand to reason that the firepower would likewise scale down; this would mean that the firepower might be analogous to a small-caliber rifle (perhaps similar to the 5.56mm NATO standard), a high-powered pistol, or perhaps a low-yield phaser blast that would not be fatal or cause serious/maiming injury unless hit on a key area (you know, the type of phaser blast main or plot-relevant characters tend to receive :) ). This structure does not appear to be a turret, which would be superfluous anyway given the probe's ability to rotate that section of the body, but nor does it appear that the weapon has the ability to elevate or depress independently of the probe.

It's very curious as to why the Imperial Probe is configured this way. It would probably be cheaper, even if just marginally so, to simply slap on a BlasTech E-11 in the same manner that the Goa'uld probe has a staff weapon slapped on, and would simultaneously upgrade the firepower to something that isn't just flat-out so weak it ends up being more of a waste to have the probe armed in the first place.

[PunkMaister]

I believe he was referring to the Imperial probe.


Examining the pictures from SW-vs-ST.net, it appears that the Imperial Probe's weapon is mounted in a small box-like structure; this whole structure appears to be significantly smaller than a "BlasTech E-11," more commonly known as the Stormtrooper Blaster. Naturally, it would stand to reason that the firepower would likewise scale down; this would mean that the firepower might be analogous to a small-caliber rifle (perhaps similar to the 5.56mm NATO standard), a high-powered pistol, or perhaps a low-yield phaser blast that would not be fatal or cause serious/maiming injury unless hit on a key area (you know, the type of phaser blast main or plot-relevant characters tend to receive :) ). This structure does not appear to be a turret, which would be superfluous anyway given the probe's ability to rotate that section of the body, but nor does it appear that the weapon has the ability to elevate or depress independently of the probe.

It's very curious as to why the Imperial Probe is configured this way. It would probably be cheaper, even if just marginally so, to simply slap on a BlasTech E-11 in the same manner that the Goa'uld probe has a staff weapon slapped on, and would simultaneously upgrade the firepower to something that isn't just flat-out so weak it ends up being more of a waste to have the probe armed in the first place.

Indeed...

[Mike DiCenso]

The shield of that probe could repel any gunfire from those weapons:

I noticed that the soldiers had grenade launchers mounted on their M-16s. Did any of them fire those at the probe? If not, then all we know is that the Goa'uld probe can withstand kilojoule range kinetic impacts, but can it withstand megajoule range explosives or beam weapons?
-Mike

The Goa'uld shield is designed to deflect a lot of high energy/high speed impacts but is useless against slow moving projectiles which is why the probe in question was ultimately downed by a hand thrown hand grenade that got thru the shields thus scoring a direct hit. Obviously the Goa'uld did not made it well armored as they simply thought the shield would more tnan make up for any lack of armor and under most circumstances it would except against a hand thrown powerful explosive.

Oh that's right. I forgot that about SG shields; like SW, they go with the homage to Dune of using "the slow blade penetrates the shield" weakness.
-Mike

[PunkMaister]

I noticed that the soldiers had grenade launchers mounted on their M-16s. Did any of them fire those at the probe? If not, then all we know is that the Goa'uld probe can withstand kilojoule range kinetic impacts, but can it withstand megajoule range explosives or beam weapons?
-Mike

The Goa'uld shield is designed to deflect a lot of high energy/high speed impacts but is useless against slow moving projectiles which is why the probe in question was ultimately downed by a hand thrown hand grenade that got thru the shields thus scoring a direct hit. Obviously the Goa'uld did not made it well armored as they simply thought the shield would more tnan make up for any lack of armor and under most circumstances it would except against a hand thrown powerful explosive.

Oh that's right. I forgot that about SG shields; like SW, they go with the homage to Dune of using "the slow blade penetrates the shield" weakness.
-Mike

Not all of the SG shields have this weakness but the personal shield the Goa'uld use which is what was obviously installed in the probe definitely does...

[Mr. Oragahn]

The shield of that probe could repel any gunfire from those weapons:

I noticed that the soldiers had grenade launchers mounted on their M-16s. Did any of them fire those at the probe? If not, then all we know is that the Goa'uld probe can withstand kilojoule range kinetic impacts, but can it withstand megajoule range explosives or beam weapons?
-Mike

The Goa'uld shield is designed to deflect a lot of high energy/high speed impacts but is useless against slow moving projectiles which is why the probe in question was ultimately downed by a hand thrown hand grenade that got thru the shields thus scoring a direct hit. Obviously the Goa'uld did not made it well armored as they simply thought the shield would more tnan make up for any lack of armor and under most circumstances it would except against a hand thrown powerful explosive.

Actually, the explosive made the wall collapse at the moment the probe passed in front of it. The blocks crushed the probe. It was quite weak, all was put on shields, really.

[PunkMaister]

Actually, the explosive made the wall collapse at the moment the probe passed in front of it. The blocks crushed the probe. It was quite weak, all was put on shields, really.

Funny I do not recall the probe being flattened I do recall that it was disabled and yet it managed to send a subspace signal back to it's Goa'uld masters...

[Mr. Oragahn]

Actually, the explosive made the wall collapse at the moment the probe passed in front of it. The blocks crushed the probe. It was quite weak, all was put on shields, really.

Funny I do not recall the probe being flattened I do recall that it was disabled and yet it managed to send a subspace signal back to it's Goa'uld masters...

It probably sent the signal from the moment it spotted the ruins and the presence of armed forces.

[Mike DiCenso]

I noticed that the soldiers had grenade launchers mounted on their M-16s. Did any of them fire those at the probe? If not, then all we know is that the Goa'uld probe can withstand kilojoule range kinetic impacts, but can it withstand megajoule range explosives or beam weapons?
-Mike

The Goa'uld shield is designed to deflect a lot of high energy/high speed impacts but is useless against slow moving projectiles which is why the probe in question was ultimately downed by a hand thrown hand grenade that got thru the shields thus scoring a direct hit. Obviously the Goa'uld did not made it well armored as they simply thought the shield would more tnan make up for any lack of armor and under most circumstances it would except against a hand thrown powerful explosive.

Actually, the explosive made the wall collapse at the moment the probe passed in front of it. The blocks crushed the probe. It was quite weak, all was put on shields, really.

Is there video of this available on YouTube or somewhere? It seems there are conflicting accounts of what exactly happened with the Goa'uld probe's demise.
-Mike

[PunkMaister]

The Goa'uld shield is designed to deflect a lot of high energy/high speed impacts but is useless against slow moving projectiles which is why the probe in question was ultimately downed by a hand thrown hand grenade that got thru the shields thus scoring a direct hit. Obviously the Goa'uld did not made it well armored as they simply thought the shield would more tnan make up for any lack of armor and under most circumstances it would except against a hand thrown powerful explosive.

Actually, the explosive made the wall collapse at the moment the probe passed in front of it. The blocks crushed the probe. It was quite weak, all was put on shields, really.

Is there video of this available on YouTube or somewhere? It seems there are conflicting accounts of what exactly happened with the Goa'uld probe's demise.
-Mike

There is a possibility you may be able to watch it here:

http://www.piggymoo.com/stargate/?episode=07x17

[Mike DiCenso]

So the grenade hits in front of the wall, but interestingly enough, the probe's shields do not flare at the nearby explosion, and nor does it flare at the individual stone blocks and other debris falling on top of the probe. This suggests that the weight of the wall and or the explosion itself was suffcient to penetrate the shield. Need to look at this more, though and preferably with a better copy.
-Mike

[Jedi Master Spock]

Don't the Goa'uld just recycle the technology of others? Hypothesis: The Goa'uld probe is an old Imperial probe, reprogrammed!

[PunkMaister]

Don't the Goa'uld just recycle the technology of others? Hypothesis: The Goa'uld probe is an old Imperial probe, reprogrammed!

Well even though most of their tech is based on what the Ancients built a lot of their tech does look suspiciiously like that of SW especially their small hand thrown explosinves that look a lot like Thermal detonators and have just about the same power too as seen in StarGate continuum when Teal'c blows one up as he is dying to steal the last laugh from Ketesh and avenge his former master in that alternate timeline Baal.

[Who is like God arbour]

You have to differentiate between an analogue and homologue development.

Sometimes, different people are having mutually independently the same thought simply because it's right.

That applies also to the design of commodities. The design usually develops for an easy and comfortable handling as far as efficiency allows it. That can lead to mutually independently developed commodities, who are looking and working the same way.

[PunkMaister]

You have to differentiate between an analogue and homologue development.

Sometimes, different people are having mutually independently the same thought simply because it's right.

That applies also to the design of commodities. The design usually develops for an easy and comfortable handling as far as efficiency allows it. That can lead to mutually independently developed commodities, who are looking and working the same way.

True enough but the similarities are startling especially in both probes design...

[Mr. Oragahn]

You have to differentiate between an analogue and homologue development.

Sometimes, different people are having mutually independently the same thought simply because it's right.

That applies also to the design of commodities. The design usually develops for an easy and comfortable handling as far as efficiency allows it. That can lead to mutually independently developed commodities, who are looking and working the same way.

True enough but the similarities are startling especially in both probes design...

Some call it ripping it off some other verse. TPTB prefer to call that a nod, or tribute.