Fencer Archive
Thread: FAQ: What is so great about the Stun Baton? Does it have a “stun” effect?
FAQ: What is so great about the Stun Baton? Does it have a “stun” effect?
The easiest part of this question to address is the part about having a “stun effect.” The answer is “NO,” the Stun Baton does not have any kind of stun effect. The “stun” description comes from the type of damage the weapon applies. Most Fencer weapons use a Kinetic damage type, whereas the Stun Baton uses a Stun damage type. This serves to determine what resists can be applied to the damage of the weapon.
Before reading any further, I recommend you read the FAQ: How do Armor Piercing (AP) and Armor Rating (AR) work if you have not already done so. An understanding of how the AP vs. AR system works is essential to understanding the rest of the concepts presented in this FAQ.
Ok, assuming you understand the AP vs. AR system we can better illustrate the reasons why the Stun Baton is an essential part of a Fencer’s arsenal. Let’s begin by taking a few example (pre-sliced) Fencer weapons:
Gaderiffi Baton (AP0) Damage = 132-223 Speed = 3.4 DamageType = Kinetic
Vibroblade (AP1) Damage = 45-147 Speed = 2.6 DamageType = Kinetic
Curved Sword (AP0) Damage = 73-168 Speed = 2.3 DamageType = Kinetic
Stun Baton (AP0) Damage = 90-133 Speed = 2.5 DamageType = Stun
I won’t go into the calculations for average hit, speed calculations, DPS, or slicing, since they are covered in their own FAQ. But here are the results for a Master Fencer with max damage slices:
1. Gaderiffi Baton (AP0) DPS = 238
2. Curved Sword (AP0) DPS = 161
3. Stun Baton (AP0) DPS = 151
4. Vibroblade (AP1) DPS = 129
By just looking these numbers, we get a basic idea of how these weapons compare. Yet, until we apply these to a target, it’s hard to get any realistic perspective on these weapons. As you know by now, the higher the AR and resists of the target, the less damage actually gets through.
Something you may not know, it that not every target has resists against every damage type. The single most common resistance is versus Kinetic damage. If a target has any armor at all, you can just about guarantee they have Kinetic resistance. However, resistance to Stun damage is not a very common resistance. In fact, you will often note upon inspecting an opponent’s armor that Stun type damage is listed as a Vulnerability of the armor. When a damage type is listed as a Vulnerability, then the target is treated as wearing no armor at all, which negates any AR reductions.
Let us attack some hypothetical opponents with varying levels of AR and Kinetic resistance, but all Vulnerable to Stun, and see how the damage of these weapons change.
AR1, 30% Kinetic resist, Vulnerable to Stun:
1. Stun Baton (AP0) DPS = (Ignores the AR and resists) = 151
2. Vibroblade (AP1) DPS = (129 * 0.7) = 90
3. Gaderiffi Baton (AP0) DPS = ((238 * 0.5) * 0.7)) = 83
4. Curved Sword (AP0) DPS = ((161 * 0.5) * 0.7)) = 56
As you can see, the Vibroblade still did pretty well since it is AP1 and escaped the damage reduction of the AR1, but it was still reduced by the 30% Kinetic resistance. However, the Gaderiffi Baton and Curved Sword are only AP0, and are cut in half first and then further reduced by the 30% Kinetic resist. The Stun Baton, exploiting the target’s vulnerability, ignores the AR level and suffers no resistance so it retains its full damage. The Stun Baton is already showing its value.
AR2, 60% Kinetic resist, Vulnerable to Stun:
1. Stun Baton (AP0) DPS = (Ignores the AR and resists) = 151
2. Vibroblade (AP1) DPS = ((129 * 0.5) * 0.4) = 26
3. Gaderiffi Baton (AP0) DPS = ((238 * 0.25) * 0.4)) = 24
4. Curved Sword (AP0) DPS = ((161 * 0.25) * 0.4)) = 16
The Vibroblade begins to feel the bite of superior AP. The Gaderiffi baton and Curved Sword continue to suffer. Yet, the Stun Baton is still at full value.
AR3, 90% Kinetic resistance, Vulnerable to Stun:
1. Stun Baton (AP0) DPS = (Ignores the AR and resists) = 151
2. Vibroblade (AP1) DPS = ((129 * 0.25) * 0.1) = 3
3. Gaderiffi Baton (AP0) DPS = ((238 * 0.125) * 0.1)) = 3
4. Curved Sword (AP0) DPS = ((161 * 0.125) * 0.1)) = 2
By this time it is clear that the Stun Baton is the superior weapon against these types of opponents. 151DPS may not be that awesome… but it’s certainly much better than 2-3DPS.
What’s that you say? Not everything is vulnerable to Stun damage? You are correct. But even so, the Stun resistance is likely to be lower than the Kinetic resistance. As such the Stun Baton might still potentially come out the winner.
What this demonstrates is not that the Stun baton is the best weapon, because it’s not. It is a situational weapon. If your opponent is not armored, or is armored and has significant Stun resistance then you are probably better off using another weapon like the Vibroblade or Gaderiffi Baton. If your opponent is armored (especially if heavily armored), yet vulnerable to Stun damage then the Stun Baton is undoubtedly the superior choice.
It is for this reason that a good Stun Baton should be a part of every Fencer’s arsenal.
Other details regarding the Stun Baton:
You need to note that a Stun Baton will NOT damage lairs and bases. This is intentional. It might seem odd that you can take a “blunt” weapon and “bash” a structure but not do any damage. That is because a Stun baton doesn’t work like that.
A Stun Baton is not an electrified Night Stick. It is not swung at an opponent to create bludgeoning damage (regardless of what the animation SWG indicates). When used properly, the Stun Baton is far more like a pointed Fencing sword than a club, as you “poke” with the tip rather than striking with the side.
Stun Batons do actually exist in real world. They are generally 16-20” insulated batons, powered internally by two 9-volt batteries. Through internal circuitry the amperage of these batteries is reduced down to a negligible amount, but the voltage is amplified up to 300,000 – 500,000 volts.
High voltage (until it gets really high) does not generally damage inert materials such as stone, mortar, and wood which is what lairs and such are made of. It’s high current (amperage) that can damage structures… but the Stun Baton only has trace amounts of current.
The Stun Baton has two relatively tiny (less than a 1cm) metal prongs protruding from the very tip of the baton. These two prongs are pressed up against the target and either the wielder presses a little trigger button on the handle, or the pressure against the tip of the baton accomplishes the same thing. The button trigger is the most common actuator, so timing and coordination are necessary.
Once fired the prongs discharge this very high voltage (very low current) into the target’s muscles at a high pulse frequency, which simulates commands from the nervous system. The muscles respond by expanding and contracting very quickly, but not efficiently (spasms). This rapid work cycle depletes blood sugar by converting it to lactic acid in just seconds. The resulting energy loss makes it difficult to move and function. At the same time, the tiny neurological impulses that travel throughout the body to direct muscle movement are interrupted. This causes disorientation and loss of balance and leaves the attacker in a passive and confused condition for several minutes. Still, there is no significant effect on the heart and other organs.
As a general rule, a one-half second contact will repel and startle the attacker, giving some pain and muscle contraction. One to two seconds will cause muscle spasms and a dazed mental state. Over three seconds will cause loss of balance and muscle control, mental confusion and disorientation.
The electrical shock that emits from the unit will not pass from the person being stunned to the person doing the stunning. The effect is localized only in the affected area and does not pass through the body. Even if you and the target are wet or standing in water, you will not get shocked. It does however pass right through clothing and even most types of body armor, as long as the distance from the tips of the prongs and the surface of the skin does not exceed an inch or so. Only protective gear with electrical insulation properties can prevent the effect.
Some versions of the modern Stun Baton also have two metallic strips running from about an inch from the tip down to about 5-6” down from the tip, one on each side. Since these two strips are on opposite sides, striking with the baton on its side does not make the necessary electric connection and not shock is delivered. In fact, since the baton is hollow a significantly sharp blow against a hard solid object is likely to crack open the encasement and damage the baton’s internal circuitry. The functional purpose of these two strips is to prevent the target from grabbing the baton and attempting to disarm it. If your opponent were to wrap their hand around the baton, the wielder can press the trigger and apply the same shock as the tip does.
In SWG, compare the effect a Stun Baton has the same effect as your target performing specials a few dozen times per second, rather than real damage. They are exhausting themselves, and depleting their own HAM due to the rapid muscle contractions involved.
I thought you might find this extra tidbit of info interesting or entertaining. 
Message Edited by Raphayl on 12-16-2003 04:48 PM
as always amazingly detailed, 3 cheers for rapahyl. The stun batton is the wepons of choice forpvp, assuming armor. although i suggest using the vibro knife to use status attacks first then switching to stun, since it has such a high mind cost.
Tyle Kyreon
Blademaster - Master Brawler - TAL Starsider
Hi,
That's "electrifying." 