dude, your not thinking hot enough...plasma...is HOT...geting hit by a ball of plasma is nearly fatal every time...it would liberate all its energy on the first thing it hits...enough energy to blow off a limb or three...torso hits are instant kills...as it will cook the parts of you it doesn't char to a crisp...it wont bleed but the shock will kill you just as fast...but with plasma weapons a near hit or flesh wound would be a crippling hit... no real cover from it unless you can get out of sight... the bolt shouldn't droop so if you can see it you will hit it...if you shoot it everyone and their uncle will know exactly where you are...and the barrels will get hella hot...bullets you have a better chance of surviving...plasma will cook you five ways to sunday