Which is the better weapon...

[Praeothmin]

JMS wrote:

Simple is a must if I'm going to have to learn how to use this weapon while getting shot at.

Well, I didn't figure we'd actually have to learn how to use it at the same time we needed to use it, or else we'd be in for a mighty surprise I imagine.

The blasters have a kick you need to get used to, and imagine your surprise when you fire at an enemy less then 10 feet away and that's when you realize your Phaser's on setting 16...

And as for your other arguments:

The IIIa has more and better features and a bigger power cell, AFAIK. Maybe bigger top settings, too, and if I'm definitely getting shot at, I'm not going to worry about whether or not my gun could be concealed if I stick it back in the holster. If I can assume that I'm trained in the use of the weapon I pick, the IIIa is a shoo-in. It's even light enough to use one-handed in a pinch.

Then if you like the idea of being able to shoot it one-handed, why not pick the Type-II.
The Type-IIIa may be light for a rifle, but it's still heavier then the Type-II.
And it's still more unwieldy, being a rifle and all.
As for heavier settings, do you honestly need anything greater then levle 16? :)

[GStone]

GStone wrote:

You have better accuracy with a slugthrower.
D-44 Heavy blaster-The same as above, only its larger and heavier.

I have to disagree on this one, because Han Solo didn't seem to have to much trouble doing 60-80 feet center shots with his in ROTJ.

The E-11 may lack precision, but the D-44 seems accurate enough.
And it does pack quite a punch too.

But I still prefer the Type-II Phaser... :)

Hand blasters might easier to aim with than rifles. The only time I remember seeing an E-11 or anything similar aimed with what could be sight markers is when the trooper aimed his at Organa outside the Jedi temple and when that one guy stunned Leia. All other times, they weren't holding it to their shoulders. Some even were bent over when they fired. This tells me that there is some inaccuracy. Oh, there was one trooper that fired and hit Leia in the forest, but it was a grazing shot at best.

[GStone]

As for heavier settings, do you honestly need anything greater then levle 16? :)

I need to be able to destroy an entire star system in one swoop with the wide beam setting. :-P

[Praeothmin]

You might need an extra power pack or two for this... :-P

[GStone]

That's why I need more techie settings. I need 56 of them.