Over in the Module X2 discussion thread, Alan Trevor suggests that, in the case of Tholian Holdfast X2-ships, there might be the option of developing a unique weapon for them known as the "web lance".

This, in essence, would be the web fist function of the web caster, "spun off" into its own, stand-alone weapon.

In design terms, there is a precedent for this, in that rules exist for a potential future empire to use the plasma carronade as a stand-alone weapon - which would be marked on the SSD as a "PLC". (Although, in light of the Early Years Rovillian plasma cannon in Module Y2, it might need a different designation...)

Personally, I think the stand-alone carronade might be an interesting weapon for the Nebuline to operate out in the M81 Galaxy - where, no doubt, it would find use against Tholian opposition...

In any case, while the question of any potential historical use of the web lance on Holdfast X2-ships should, of course, stay in the Module X2 discussion thread, I found myself wondering about what, if any, non-X2-related use one might find for such a weapon: either in the "standard" timeline, or perhaps in some alternate branch of SFU reality.

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Under the current rules, a non-X web caster can store up to five points of energy at once; an X1-ship web caster can store as many as six points.

Damage charts exist both for non-X and X1-tech web fist firing modes.

Here, the question might be whether or not a stand-alone web lance (or X-web lance) is itself able to store the full five (or six) points of power.

If so, well and good. But, if not, are there lower totals for non-X and/or X-web lances that would be more suitable?

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Another aspect might be how much in BPV terms these stand-alone weapons wold cost: both in "standard" Tholian heavy weapon mounts, and/or in Tholian HDW (or HDWX) option mounts.

Or, in the latter case, whether or not the Tholians would be permitted to use web lances (or X-web lances) in HDW (or HDWX) weapon mounts.

As is the case for other web-based technologies, I would suggest restricting this weapon to Tholian use outside of the simulators. So no Orions using it in the Alpha Octant, and no M81 Pirates using it back in the home galaxy.

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In terms of where, and when, this technology might be made to exist, outside of Module X2:

One option could be to look at the era immediately prior to the Seltorian Revolt, as outline in the Tholians of Draco article printed in Captain's Log #39 and in the Tholian Master Starship Book.

There, it's noted that a number of new, "prototype" ship designs began to appear in the last years leading up to the Revolt, as the Tholians allowed the existence of the Seltorian "loyalty gene" to perhaps lull them into a false sense of security. To date, the only one of these ships noted by name is the survey ship Sojourner, which is worthy of further study in its own right.

Perhaps one of the other "prototypes" of this era had web lances installed in place of its particle cannons? If so, might it have been part of the exodus fleet which made it as far as Draco historically?

While this exodus force was obliged to cannibalize many of its weapon systems during the long flight to Draco, it's yet possible that at least one sample of web lance technology could have been stored away for safe keeping - perhaps in the cargo hold of the Sojourner itself?

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Alternatively, I wonder if there might be an alternate timeline in which the Tholians deployed the web lance in place of the particle cannon.

This could have been done by the Holdfast Tholians perhaps, in a setup where they arrived somewhere other than where thy did historically.

For example: had they crashed through the Galactic Barrier over in Omega instead of in Alpha, they might (or might not) have still lost access to particle cannon technology, yet instead found it possible to develop the web lance as an alternative: either by themselves, or through the later arrival of the 312th Battle Squadron.

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Or, for a more radical inflection point:

What if there is an alternate setup in which the home galaxy Tholians never used particle cannons at all, and instead adopted web lances from the outset?

In which case, one would still see the particle cannon used as a "common" home galaxy weapon: for the Seltorians (and the various pre-Seltorian enforcer species); for the M81 pirates; for certain subjugated species units, as outlined in the TMSSB; and so on and so forth.

Yet the Tholian fleet would retain the use of the web lance for its own purposes, as a part of the web-based suite of systems that, in their view, would help mark their superiority to all forms of organic life.

Thus, by the time the Holdfast sphere arrived in our galaxy, it (and the NDDs and NFFs in its midst) would bring web lance technology with them.

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So, while I would once again direct any comments on would-be X2-ship usage of web lances over to the Module X2 thread, are there any thoughts as to any "non-X2-ship" usage of this weapon, and how it might provide a different tactical dynamic to the heavy weapons (particle cannons, disruptor bolts, or photon torpedoes) deployed by the Tholians historically?