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Ranged Weapons

Page 1 of 6

Las-Weapons

Las-weapons are the most common firearms available within the Imperium. Despite being slightly more expensive than equivalent projectile weapons, they are still far cheaper to maintain, chiefly because most use common power packs (used to fuel everything from a torch to a cogitation engine) as ammunition. They are also easy to cater for logistically – power packs can supply up to twice as many shots as a magazine of conventional projectile ammunition, but take up far less space, so las-armed armies can remain combat ready for far longer than a more primitively equipped force. Needless to say, the Imperial Guard prefers lasguns as its primary weapon for these very reasons.

The laspistol is as widespread a ‘home defence’ weapon as it is a military sidearm. Like most las-weapons, what it lacks in hitting power, it makes up for in magazine capacity. Light and reliable, the laspistol is a favourite weapon amongst high-ranking military officers, although most front line officers prefer something with more punch to it.

Issued only to elite military units (most notably the Imperial Guard’s Storm Troopers), the hellpistol follows a similar outward design to the bulkier models of laspistol. It is inside where the difference lies – more expensive, finely manufactured capacitors and crystalline focusing devices channel more power into each shot. Although ammunition capacity is down, the hitting power is vastly increased.

The Mars pattern is the standard template used by virtually every Forgeworld across the Imperium. It produces a lasgun with good accuracy, comfortable weight, a satisfactory range, reasonable hitting power and an excellent ammunition capacity. Despite its main shortcoming of a low rate of fire, the MP lasgun is standard issue to approximately 80% of all Imperial Guard units and 50% of Planetary Defence Forces.

Mass-produced from hard-wearing metals and plastics, the Necromunda pattern of lasgun is recognisable by its inelegant rectangular edges and folding stock. It is popular amongst the Planetary Defence Forces of hive worlds (of which Necromunda is an archetypical example), since its short range is not so much of a limitation in the cramped confines of an urban warzone, while its semi-automatic capabilities become much more important at such close quarters.

Away from worlds where the NP lasgun is standard military issue, it is rare to find examples of them in civilian usage, and indeed many worlds restrict them because of the high rate of fire that makes them so prized by the combat units that use them.

Originally designed on the Forgeworld of Triplex Phall, the Triplex pattern lasgun is regularly issued to Imperial units expected to come into contact with renegade or Chaotic Space Marines, orks, tyranids or other opponents with either thick armour or durability to injury. Most of the time, the TP lasgun is used in the same manner as an ordinary Mars pattern lasgun (although its shorter range reduces its effectiveness on open terrain), but when a particularly tough enemy is encountered, a simple dial on the side of the weapon allows the trooper to increase the power drain on the pack by up to 300%, enabling the weapon to deliver a far more powerful punch. Of course, these high power settings greatly reduce the weapon’s power pack charge, so prolonged use is not recommended unless ammunition supplies are plentiful.

Multiple Settings: A character using a Triplex pattern lasgun may spend an action adjusting the weapon’s energy setting. When at the Proprius (Typical) setting, the weapon causes 2D6 damage if it hits. On the Efferre (Boosted) setting, this is increased to 2D6+3 damage, but two shots worth of ammunition is counted off the power pack in the weapon. On the Obruere (Overloaded) setting, damage is increased to 2D6+5, but four shots worth of ammunition is counted off, and a matched failure results in the power pack burning out, rendering it useless (effectively, the weapon has run out of ammunition and needs reloading).

The default setting for a Triplex pattern lasgun is Proprius, and the weapon automatically switches back to this when a power pack is unable to supply enough power for the shot. Thus characters using TP lasguns must remember to adjust the setting again after reloading.

An expensive weapon, the hellgun is generally only issued to elite units, such as the Storm Troopers. It is heavier and bulkier than other models of lasgun, thanks to the integral coolant systems that the powerful energy capacitors and focussing crystals require to work.

Some firearms experts prefer the Triplex pattern lasgun to the more widely manufactured hellgun, citing the Triplex’s option of low power shots to conserve ammunition. Most, however, point out that the hellgun has virtually no record of burning out power packs, is far more economical with its ammunition than an overloaded Triplex, and is capable of semi-automatic fire.

Supporters of the latter argument include most hellgun users, who often add their observation that the hellgun’s dazzling white las-bolts, accompanied by its distinctive, high-pitched report, gives shock troops a valuable psychological edge over opponents.

Also known as the long las, this is the sniper variant of the Mars pattern lasgun. Each rifle is hand-crafted by an Adeptus Mechanicus tech-priest and often have dedications and prayers to the Machine God engraved in their stock, barrel or sights.

The weapon’s only real flaw as a sniper rifle is the variable potency of its las-bolts. An efficient remedy to this has yet to be developed, and many snipers use hotshot power packs with the weapon, despite the protestations of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

The multi-laser is not the most popular of weapons, due to its high ammunition consumption. It is most effective when mounted on a vehicle, where it is possible to link the weapon up to a larger power source and thus ammunition is not expended so rapidly.

Specialist Weapon: Multi-lasers require the Specialist Weapon – Heavy ability.

One of the most feared infantry-portable heavy weapons ever produced, the lascannon projects an immensely powerful las-bolt capable of blasting its way through almost any vehicle armour. Its chief weakness is its extraordinary weight, meaning that it is often fielded on a mobile carriage.

Specialist Weapon: Lascannons require the Specialist Weapon – Heavy ability.

Power Packs: The lascannon is capable of being loaded with two large power packs, and its Shots characteristic assumes that this is the case. If only one power pack is loaded, its Shots characteristic is reduced to 10.

Quite simply the standard battery used in virtually every electrical system in human space, power packs are easy to come by at any hardware store. They are also rechargeable (to a certain degree), meaning that troops armed with las-weaponry almost never run out of ammunition. Most power pack types have an integral power gauge or dial that informs the user as to how much energy is left within.

Recharge: A power pack that is removed from a weapon and left in direct sunlight will regain 10% of its total capacity every hour. This amount is reduced in bad weather, and increased in particularly hot environments, at the GM’s discretion. Alternatively, the pack can be plugged into a recharger, which will recharge 20% of its total capacity every hour.

Lifespan: Each time a power pack is recharged, there is a 20% chance that it has reached the end of its lifespan and cannot be recharged again. After it next runs out, it must be discarded.

Emergency Recharge: It is possible to recharge a power pack by throwing it into an open fire, although this will significantly reduce the lifespan to virtually nil. The pack will be fully recharged after just D6x10 seconds (i.e. D6 rounds), but can never be recharged again.

Heavy weapons use proportionately larger power packs, similar to those used in vehicle engines or large machines like cogitation engines or printing presses. Although they are far more powerful than the standard power pack, they take far longer to recharge.

Recharge: A large power pack that is removed from a weapon and left in direct sunlight will regain 5% of its total capacity every hour. This amount is reduced in bad weather, and increased in hot environments, at the GM’s discretion. Alternatively, the pack can be plugged into a recharger, which will recharge 10% of its total capacity every hour.

Lifespan: Each time a large power pack is recharged, there is a 20% chance that it has reached the end of its lifespan and cannot be recharged again. After it next runs out, it must be discarded.

These overcharged standard-sized power packs are not produced by the Adeptus Mechanicus, because of the risk of damage to the weapon that they are used in. Instead, the market for hotshots falls onto secular manufacturers outside of the Machine Cult. This causes a degree of friction between the Adeptus Mechanicus and Imperial military units who allow (or at least turn a blind eye to) the use of hotshots by their troops.

Compatibility: Laspistols, Mars pattern lasguns, Necromunda pattern lasguns and las long rifles may use hotshot power packs. If the pack is loaded into any other weapon or piece of equipment, it will immediately disable the weapon as described below.

Hotshot: A weapon loaded with a hotshot power pack adds +D6 to its damage. However, a matched failure on the roll to hit results in circuits within the weapon melting and rendering it useless until repaired.

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