User blog comment:Ratiu Grigore/Star wars vs.mass effect/@comment-4048340-20110621012034/@comment-1871343-20111208140324

"Common blaster weapons use high-energy gas as ammunition, activated by a power cell and converted into plasma. The plasma is released from a magnetic bottle effect to fire through collimating components as a coherent energy bolt. Inherent instabilities limit the ability to precisely aim a blaster bolt, but knowing one's weapon well can strengthen marksmanship. Plasma energy is dissipated as the bolt travels, limiting range as the energy becomes incoherent. Longer range is developed by longer collimating tubes, which align the plasma energy carrier waves more closely through additional galvan circuitry." and about the reaper weapons the Chiss "carrics" uses a similar technology and they are said to be a bit weaker than turbolasers.