- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Another thing you might consider, if the plasma in halo is only superheated gas, couldn't all the heat be contained in a magnetic field generated by the plasmasword? I don't know much about the physics behind it all, but it seems that it would be possible to keep all the energized particles from colliding with outside particles (the collision would cause an increase in the outside particles kinetic energy and therefore an increase of heat) with a very strong magnetic force shaped into blade-form. If the particles were held within the plasmasword at all times, the air surrounding it would be the normal temperature. Of course, that would all change as soon as the plasma sword touched anything.
As for the main question, I don't think plasma swords should penetrate the hunters large shield on a single quick swing, but a hunter should definitely be toast (no pun intended) if you strike him anywhere besides the large sheild.
Plasma in general should do more damage, in my opinion. At least it should in single player. Super-hot substance that burns through practically anything shouldn't take so long to kill something. Really, you're burning a hole THROUGH an enemy when you're using a plasma rifle, so why should it take so many shots to kill somebody with it?
[Edited on 6/8/2004 8:59:24 AM]