Would different "types" of phasers make sense?

[HotRod]

Disc mode has to be an option

I've always thought they should have hand that on Enterprise as a secondary sidearm for the MACO's.

 

[evilchumlee]

You just need one phaser with multiple modes to fit the situation. Like in the show.

Well, the show has three... but I get what you're saying and honestly more so lean in that direction.

I'm trying to expand out the weapon selection a bit, but also not going straight "rule of cool" with it. I do like the idea that although the standard Starfleet-issue phasers can pretty much fire in any more, purpose-built weapons for a specific role may be more effective/efficient and preferred in a straight combat situation.

I can also see having some dedicated weapons for beam or bolt. I'm not against the idea of like, a Phaser Shotgun that rather than a conical beam, it does fire out bolts in a spread. The beam version would be more of a less-lethal version for something like riot control or something, the phaser bolt shotgun would be for when you really need something dead.

I'm envisioning my bolt phaser shotgun as less of a single barrel that would fire a particle bolt that splits off, instead being several barrels that fire at once, each independently charging and firing their bolt. It would... make things dead quickly. The trade off would be it would use immense amounts of power to do so, so it's going only get a shot or two out of out a power pack (somewhat simulating having to reload the gun). I think that is remains fairly true to Trek while having an actual purpose other than "looks cool".

 

[knightgrace]

Disc mode has to be an option

I still have that, and some disks. Got to get more disks
Pennys, work, however. Yes it still fires...don't know for how long.