Revision as of 18:37, 28 October 2008

Advanced Melee Weapons

With advanced technology, hand-to-hand combat weapons became remarkably efficient, so that even high-grade battlearmour was anything except immune to them:

MonoFilament Blades: Any edged weapon type can be a MonoFilament Blade--typically a knife or sword, although spears might also be so tipped. A monofilament wire stiffened by a forcefield renders the edge capable of sheering through most substances with greater ease than steel. Weapons so fitted are used in the usual way, but have MonoFilament penetration. Cost = CR 750. Powercell = 200 charge minicell at 100gm mass and CR 50. The powercell runs continuously, so it must be replaced every 10 weeks. A hit exhausts 1/2d6 charges. The MonoFilament is a Tech/7 weapon.

VibroBlades: The VobroBlade is a knife or sword with ‘power steering.’ Hypersonic vibrations are set up in the duralloy blade which causes it to cut extremely well. Cost = CR 1250 to fit it to a standard blade. The Powercell has 200 charges, with 1/2d6 charges expended each time the blade sheers through something. The minicell is the standard 100gm unit at CR 50. Tech/8 weapon.

ForeceBlades: The ForceBlade consists of a 200mm hilt containing a 500gm Powercell with 200 charges. The total unit weighs 1000gm. The forcefield generator inside the hilt will propagate a beam of energy that can be varied from 500mm to 1500mm in length which will cut through almost any material substance in time, unless it is forcefield reinforced. (That is why penetration is not automatic). Cost = CR 3000. Each hit exhausts 1 charge. The Powercell costs CR 200 to replace or can be recharged for CR 75. Tech/8 weapon.

Coagulators: The Coagulator is a 1000mm long rod massing 500gm. It contains a 500gm Powercell with 100 charges. The tip of the rod for about 250mm from the end farthest from the hilt has a VMXT forcefield generator which will scramble living tissue whenever the tip touches flesh or the field penetrates armour. The weapon is traditionally used like a Foil. It causes horrible wounds (double healing time, With Quicktime also increased to x3 normal) and has a +4 wound factor. The weapon is totally banned for civilian use throughout the known galaxy, but though there have been attempts to have the weapon outlawed as too horrible for use in war, it remains one of the most effective hand-to-hand weapons against Bugs and Klackons. It is, however, quite useless against silicate life forms and cold planet life forms. Cost = CR 9000 (M, F). Each hit will exhaust 1d6 charges. The Powercell costs CR 200 to replace and can be recharged for CR 75. Tech/7 weapon, built with Forerunner technology.

Neuronic Whip: The Neuronic Whip is developed from a ForeRunner device discovered on AgoI VIII. Technically, it is a non-lethal weapon, but most beings would probably prefare to be hit by a blaster bolt. The Neuronic Whip causes extreme pain by directly stimualting the nervous system and can bring unconsciousness by overloading the nervous system with ravening pain impulses. The effect is exactly as described for PainBlast (4.15 Telepathy). The ‘Whip’ is not effective against Bugs and Klackons, however, and Silicates and Cold Planet species are also immune. This 750mm rod, massing 1000gm, is issued to trusted Azuriach Officers and Officials as a badge of Authority in the State, and it is used at a punishment for insubordinate conduct, etc. It is utterly banned in the Terrain Union and other civilized nations, with possession bringing very heavy punishment. Actual use of such a terrible device may be subject to perpetual banishment or even the death penalty. The device is powered by a 100gm mini-cell with 100 charges, at a cost of CR 50. Each application of the rod exhausts 1d6 charges. Tech/7 weapon, used like a Foil.

Paralysis Rod: The Paralysis Rod is a 1000mm baton massing 1500gm. It contains a 100gm Powercell with 100 charges. The rod will temporarily paralyze the area of the body it touches and is similar in effect to a Stunner. It is general issue to Police as a Riot Control weapon. Each hit exhausts 1d6 charges from the powercell. Cost = CR 500. Tech/7 weapon, used like a Sabre.

LaserSword: The LaserSword consists of a 300mm hilt containing a JL57 continuous laser projector which will produce a focused laser beam of 500mm to 2000mm length. The 500gm KKK PowerCell contains 100 charges, one of which will be expended each time a hit is scored. The KKK can be recharged at a cost of CR 200 at any power main. The total weapon masses 1250gm and has the penetration power of a Laser HMG, and also its wounding factor. The weapon is used like a Katana., but has a speed factor of 10 and an effective length of 9. If it strikes a weapon other than a ForceBlade, LaserBlade, or LightSword, it has a 25% chance of sheering through it. When activated, the Laser’Blade’ is a brilliant blue-white or red in colour. Cost = CR 12 500 (M, R). Tech/8 weapon. When not in use, the laser beam is turned off.

LightSword: Of all the weapons developed for hand-to-hand combat, the LightSword is the most powerful. Only a Katana/10 Adept can use it to good effect. When so armed the Adept is the equivalent of 3 expertise levels higher than his opponent. The LightSword consist of a 300mm hilt massing 1250gm. It contains a PPK500 continuous TMTX forcefield (akin to a Blaster bolt) which has the penetration power of a Blast HMG, and also its wounding factor, The unit is developed from an artifact found on Formalhaut V by the Terran archaeologist Dr. T. M. Steiger in A.D. 2245, and it appears to have been one of the most prized melee weapons of the ForeRunners. The LightSword has a speed factor of 11 and an effective length of 9, for it can reach from 500mm to 2000mm. The powersource is a KTAM Klysestron 7c anti-matter powercell which will effectively activate the unit for its normal span of use. If it strikes a weapon other than a ForceBlade, LaserSword, or LightSword, it has a 50% chance of sheering through it. When activated, the LightSword is a deep violet •mauve colour. Cost = CR 35 000 (M, F). Tech/9 weapon. When not in use, the TMTX field is turned off.

Ranged Weapons

Given the vast diversity of cultures and technologies that span the galaxies of the Space Opera universe, the weapons that have been developed reflect this amazing breadth of military needs.

Recoiless (Gauss) Firearms

The ‘Recoiless’ rocket-firing weapons are Tech/7 descendants of such experimental guns as the Gyrojet rifles and pistols developed on Terra during the middle of the 20th century. The ammo consists of small, spin-stabilized rocket rounds which gather speed as they accelerate away from the muzzle of the weapon.

Recoiless weapons have the advantages of ‘no kick’ or recoil, while the slugs themselves will attain very high .velocities and deliver excellent hitting power against the target once the shells have reached full velocity. A Recoiless weapon can be fired under water (50% range divisions). Recoiless small arms have enjoyed popularity as rocket shells are unaffected by smoke and aerosols, which attenuate Laserfire. They do not drop off in velocity, unlike slugs fired by cartridge weapons, because the rockets fire throughout their flight. They continue in use in some regular forces, numerous militias, and training units. Civilian use is widespread in some areas. Long guns are sometimes referred to as ‘Cone Rifles’ because of the generally conical shape of the rocket rounds.

@Tripod weapon.
@@Vehicle mounted in cupola or turret.
Cost and mass of ammo is:

• Actual number of rounds is higher; Infinite Repeaters fire an

effective 500 rounds per minute.

All recoiless weapons will have a reduced penetration capability at point-blank and short range because the rocket rounds have not attained maximum velocity and are still accelerating. The 20mm InfR and 40mm InfR rocket shells contain explosive charges, as these weapons are actually automatic cannons which were expressly designed for anti-tank and anti-aircraft fire. Infinite Repeaters actually put out a high volume of fire and only ‘area’ autofire is possible against infantry, while autofire is used to score hits on any vehicle Because of their good underwater performance, they are often mounted in submarines and submersibles as close range offensive armament.

Gauss Rifles

One of the lines of weapon development led to the application of the linear magnetic accelerator to accelerate non-metallic slugs encased in discarding steel sabots to hypervelocity's, often in excess of 5000m per second. The main thrust was toward the development of heavy anti-tank cannon, but the bipod heavy gauss anti-tank rifle was developed for use by infantry. The gauss ‘rifle’ is clip-loaded with 20 hypervelocity rounds. Each round contains a mini-cell which powers the accelerator field, so it is unnecessary to provide a powercell with the weapon itself.

Gauss weapons are exceedingly expensive and have a somewhat slow rate of fire. However, they are devastating against even well-armored infantry, and even a light tank is not immune to its fire. The 20mm rounds can be obtained in ‘solid-shot’ and ‘APDSV explosive’ form. (APDSV = armourpiercing- discarding-sabot, hypervelocity round): A Tech/10 pistol version has been developed for the Terran Space-Forces, but it is not available to civilians.

• firearm rifle range category

Breakdown No. = 3/3 rolled every 10th firing. Cost and mass of ammo are:

Gauss ‘warhead’ rounds explode upon penetration of vehicle and tank armour, and damage inflicted on a vehicle is that of an equivalent ‘HE’ warhead which has effected penetration. The actual penetration, however, is based upon the capabilities of the gauss weapon itself.

Stat Rifle

The Stat rifle is a logical development of the Recoiless rocket guns. The Stat ‘Penetrator’ is designed for maximum projectile penetration of armor using a low velocity rocket shell with a shaped Viradex V explosive charge. The +2500°C gasses produced by the Viradex V detonation can effect a ‘burn through’ of the armour. The Stat Rifle is, in effect, a re-chambered heavy Cone Rifle using 15mm rocket rounds. The cost and general specifications of the Stat Rifle are the same as for the heavy Cone rifle (see 6.11). Ammo masses 3500gm per 100 rounds and costs CR 450. Note: Stat weapons are strictly military arms and rarely find their way into civilian hands. They are available in Tech/8 cultures.