Considering the fundamental differences between the actual Starhammer and a Terror Star, I don't think there will be much of a problem legally. The Starhammer was a MASSIVE subterranean complex controlled by an AI that handled the complex computations used to aim the weapon at target star systems. The weapon was powered by matter to energy conversion of large, mile-plus cube sections of the planet.

So as you can see there really isn't much in common with the novel as it stands. But I suppose that it might feel better to go with something like "Star Maul" which would distance it even further. Anything is better than Death Beam, in any case.

gravity nullifier.



this gun induces a super nova by nullifing the glue(gravity) that holds the star together.

That dosen't make sense. Something that amplifies gravity wold makes more sense.
Or something that temporarily stops fusion reactions in the sun:

-null interaction beam
-gravity modulator

it is the fusion reaction that is keeping the star from going black hole. thus if you stop the reaction you have a black hole.

and although a black hole is more dangerous than a super nova. that is not what the weapon description states.

How about Doom Drops?

IMO Death Beam is good name.
But if you insist changing the name then...
Deaf Beam!

I had to look up the real name of the Yor dude. I renamed mine TRS-80. I'm such a nerd.

Solar Incinerator?

Ok I got it.

The Continuam(sp?) Transfunctioner. It's power is only exceeded by it's mystery and it's mystery is only exceeded by it's power

...and not a "Laser I" mounted on a 4 cylinder ship.

That's a good question. Most things that would allow the TS to escape the blast, like phasing temporarily into another dimension, or super-strong shields, could also be used as a defense against the fighter attack. Cranking into armchair sci-fi theory mode here... I can think of two possibilities:

1) Whatever protects the TS during the blast is powered by the same energy source that powers the main weapon, and it can only work when the main weapon is fired. So it's not a good point defense. Especially if the weapon requires being somehow hooked into the gravity well of a star, to be used at all.

Or if that doesn't work for 'ya....

2) Assuming the weapon induces a supernova (type II), the TS could move into the system above the plane of the ecliptic, and park some distance away, aligned with the star's axis of rotation. Then it manipulates the magnetic field of the star as it collapses, so the resulting "bounce" explosion off the degenerate core would be focused into a ring-shaped blast. This would blow through all the planets and asteroids on the ecliptic plane, and leave the space perpendicular to the ecliptic relatively safe.

That last idea doesn't explain why no other ships are safe (they'd be safe above or below the ring-shaped blast). However, most commercial and military traffic in a star system would probably be fairly close to the ecliptic plane for efficient travel between planets, gravity well slingshots, refueling, etc. So maybe it still works.

Anyway, I love some of these name suggestions (Alan Parsons Project is still my favorite), but I'd be surprised if Stardock ditches "Terror Star." It's been used too prominently in the PR material, the game review sites, etc.

How about a name that suggests wiping the system off the map?

Like,
Map Cleaner,
Map Wiper,
Stellar Windex,
The Eraser,
or change extraneous to Erasing