Date: Sat, 19 Oct 1996 21:34:59 -0400
From: Dennis Merrill <dmerrill@PLAINFIELD.BYPASS.COM>
Subject: STATS: Fully Automatic Blasters
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        This is an interesting brief, as I've seen a lot of ways of handling this
on the net. I've never found a method that agreed with me, so I came up with
the rules in the "Game Notes" sections.

weapons briefing #4
AUTOMATIC BLASTERS

        We will not be discussing automated sentry guns, but rather those blasters
who can fire more than one shot per each pull of the trigger.  This includes
automatic blasters, repeating blasters, pulse rifles and riot guns.
        First, an explanation of the various terms we will be referring back to.
"Semi-automatic" is a term, like many of those we will be using, to the old
days of slugthrowers, and means that ONE round is discharged each time the
trigger is pulled by the shooter.  "Burst" means that a small number of
shots, usually between two and five, are discharged each time the trigger is
pulled.  "Full Auto", or "fully automatic", means that when you hold down
the trigger, you will fire rounds until you have run out of ammunition
and/or let up on the trigger.  "Selective Fire" capability means that one
may choose between several different modes of fire, usually semi-auto and
burst and/or full auto.  "Cyclic Rate" is the number of rounds per minute
(#r/m) or second (#r/s) that the fully automatic mode discharges when the
trigger is held down.  The majority of weapons, from blasters to grenade
launchers, that are considered to be man portable are semi-automatic, as
they fire one round per trigger pull.
        The concept of the fully automatic weapon dates back to the early days of
warfare, when solid slug projectiles were king.  Their purpose was to
provide supporting fire to regular infantry units, and often were used in
place of, or in conjunction with, short range artillery.  As weapons
technology improved, the weapons and ammunition became smaller, allowing
every infantry platoon to have an automatic weapon in support.  Eventually,
they became small enough that a pistol caliber-chambered shoulder arm
(submachinegun) could be concealed under a long coat, and the typical
infantryman's rifle was actually a light to medium automatic weapon that
could be fired single shot if the need arose.  Eventually, the grunt's rifle
had a burst limiter placed in it to conserve ammunition, while support
weapons got (at the company level any ways) got larger, firing projectiles
equal to a hand grenade in force, or having multiple barrels that fired
anywhere between 600 and 1,200 rounds per SECOND.
        Today, automatic weapons have become something of a rarity.  This is due to
the days when blasters were first introduced.  Charges were expensive, and
the weapons overheated rapidly.  Eventually, people just forgot about
selective fire capabilities for the average trooper.  In fact, only the
ultra-rapid fire repeating blasters are well known today.  Each class of
automatic weapon will be considered individually, along with some of the
best known examples of the class.


REPEATING BLASTERS
        Repeating Blasters are the most common of the full autos today.  Repeaters
are designed with three to five barrels, housed in a cooling jacket that
protects the internal working of the barrel mechanism.  The barrels fire in
turn, pumping out, on the average, 850r/s.  This means that a large number
of shots pound into a relatively small area in very rapid order, with a
certain amount of shot dispersion imparted by the mobile nature of the
firing mechanism.  Due in part to ammunition consumption, and in part to
minimize wear, there is fire limiter in the trigger group.  Once the limiter
trips (usually due to barrel heat), the system will not fire until it is
safe to do so again.  Due to the nature of the systems, and the cyclic rates
involved, this limit is usually reached in a tenth of a second burst, and
takes several seconds to cool.
        Repeating blasters are usually classed by weight and throughput.  Light
repeating blasters are about 50-100% larger than infantry rifles, having a
maximum range similar to rifles and only marginally more powerful, will
still be conservative enough to use standard powerpacks.  Medium repeating
blasters are two to three time the size and weight of rifles, having about
two-thirds more range and one third more power on target.  They are usually
moved by a two man crew, and fired from a bipod and power generator.
Finally, the heavy blaster rifles are the size of light artillery pieces,
having more than twice the range, and almost twice the power, of a rifle.
They are manned and carried by a three to four man crew, and fired from a
tripod or vehicle turret and feed from an external generator.
        Much has been written of repeating blasters, so the discussion of
individual weapon will be limited to a few notable and unusual designs.

(Game Note:  I consider light repeaters to have an area of effect of 1/2m,
medium
repeaters 1m, and heavy repeaters to have a 2 meter area of effect.  There
is no added difficulty or bonus to the shot, due to the high rate of fire.)

Czerka 912 Compact Repeating Blaster
        The Czerka 912 Compact is a unique design, designed for troops who have
limited transportation and storage space.  It has no shoulder stock or
bipod, nor doe it have provisions fro the fitting of such items.  It is
quite short, only little over a meter in length when in the firing mode, and
only about the length of an E11 with the stock folded when packed up for
transport.  This is due to the radical, telescoping barrel design.  The
focusing lenses, the forward half of the galven circuitry and the cooling
system are mounted in a large canister that retracts and extends via a
hydraulic piston.  It has a slightly shorter than average range, but is also
slightly more powerful than your typical light repeater.  It was originally
meant for the bounty hunter market, but fell flat due to the high cost and
maintenance difficulties.
        type: telescoping, light repeating blasters
        skill: Blaster: repeating
        availability: 3 X
        cost: 4500 (25)
        range: 3-30/50/250 (+5 difficulty to hit at long range)
        fire rate: 1
        ammunition: 25, or power generator for unlimited ammo.
        damage: 6D+1
        notes:  Requires one round to lock barrels into firing position.  +10
difficulty on all repair and modification rolls.

SoroSuub RB-407
        The SoroSuub RB-407 is the standard issue medium repeating blaster to the
Imperial Army (Expansion and Inner Rim regions).  Like other medium
repeaters, it has been over shadowed by light and heavy models.  Designed to
fill both the role of mounted or positional gun, and platoon or company
level support weapon, it is considered to be a compromise, but a good one.
In the fixed gun role, it can fired from the integral bipod, or mounted to a
wide variety of pintal and tripod mounts, meaning that it can be used as a
commander's gun on armoured vehicles, or as a door gun on airial transports.
In the infantry role, it's fixed stock and bipod are essential.  Meant to be
fired from the bipod due to weight, the RB-407 is capable of being fired
like a big rifle by a strong enough individual.  Despite this versatility,
it has earned the unenviable nickname of "pig", due to it's reputation for
being temperamental (all of these problems are corrected by using proper
ammunition and maintenance procedures) and it's considerable weight.
        type: medium repeating blaster
        skill: Blaster: repeating
        availability: 2  X
        cost:  3020  (25)
        range:  3-75/150/400
        fire rate: 1
        ammo: 15, or power generator for unlimited ammo.
        damage: 7D
        notes:  Must make a Moderate Lifting skill roll when firing without support
(either bipod or mount), or suffer a +1D difficulty penalty due the weight.


AUTOMATIC BLASTERS
        Fully automatic energy weapons are something of a rarity, even now.  They
exist, it is just that most people don't like them, as they are considered
to be wasteful of ammunition.  In fact, only the CSA makes a full auto
weapon a standard issue weapon.  The trigger group of a full auto blaster
has multiple impulse slots, which can be chosen via a mechanical level that
transmits the impulses from the trigger.  Depending on which slot you've
selected, you can fire in semi automatic, burst or full auto modes of fire.
Despite the name, full auto is not actually fully automatic, but rather a
very long burst, that lasts about three to three and a half seconds.  This
still allows a single trooper to destroy an enemy platoon, or
(theoretically) chew a hole into the heaviest repulsortanks.  Full autos are
often found among merc and bounty hunters as a support or close quarters
weapon, although a few constabulary forces keep them for riot control duty.

(Game Notes:  Full autos will have a stats entry entitled "modes".  This
will tell you what fire modes are available on a certain model, and how many
shots are fired in each burst.
        When firing on "full auto", or long burst, the weapon may be fired that
twice that round (unless specified otherwise).  There is an additional -1D
penalty to all actions that round, and no other attacks or piloting rolls
may be made, and only one (1) reactive skill (Dodge, etc).  Short bursts are
treated just like any other shot.
        It is a simple action to switch between firing modes.
        When fired in burst or full auto, there is +2 difficulty to hit if the
basic Blaster skill (or a specialty other than those that follow) is used.
These specializations are not used to fire in semi-auto.  The appropriate
specialization will be given in the discussion:
        Blaster: auto rifle
-Used to fire selective fire blaster rifles.  In single shot mode, use the
Blaster: rifle specialization.
        Blaster: auto carbine
-Used to fire selective fire blaster carbines.  In single shot mode, use the
Blaster: carbine specialization.
        Blaster: auto pistol
-Used to fire selective fire blaster pistols.  In single shot mode, use the
Blaster: heavy pistol specialization (due to increased bulk).

        Once a shot from a burst hits, each additional shot on the same target, or
an adjacent one (<1m away) is one level of difficulty lower.  The combined
damage for a number of shots from a burst on the same target is determined
as per the rules for Combined Actions in your rule book (I prefer those in
2.0).  The only difference is that Blaster replaces Command as the skill of
choice.
        The legal problems with automatic blasters is usually the same as those for
repeating blasters, or worse.)

SoroSuub FastShot
        A compact piece of ordinance, the FastShot is designed to be used by those
you need a LOT of firepower in a small package.  Although it's bolt is a
little underpowered by most standards, a burst from this puppy will drop
nearly anything at point blank range.  As such, it has become popular with
some body guard organizations and counter-terrorist/hostage rescue teams.
Following the basic lines of the traditional blaster pistol, the FastShot
differs from he traditional control placement, with he safety being located
above the trigger itself, and has ambidextrous levers.
        type: selective fire blaster pistol
        skill: Blaster: auto pistol
        availability: 3  X
        cost:  850  (25)
        range:  3-10/50/150
        modes:  semi-auto and burst (5 shots/burst)
        ammunition:  100
        damage: 3D+2

BlasTech ES-23 "ESPO Riot Gun"
        This is one of the standard issue weapons of the CSA's vaunted ESPO forces,
and one of the most common and popular automatic rifles in action today.
Despite it's popular nickname, it is not a true riot gun.  Sharing the
durability and reliability of the rest of the BlasTech line, the ES-23's
control layout and maintenance drill are quickly learned if one has mastered
the E11 rifle or E14 carbine.  The biggest difference lies in placement of
the special, oversized powercell on the underside of the weapon.  They are
well designed, fitted with a vertical foregrip to compensate for the lack of
shoulder stock.  This means that it can provide an incredible amount of fire
in a relatively small package.  Contrary to most descriptions, it is
actually no more inaccurate than an E11, and not much heavier.
(These notes expand on those given in the Han Solo and the Corporate Sector
Sourcebook, and adapt those stats to these rules and terminology.)
        type: selective fire blaster rifle
        skill: Blaster: auto rifle
        availability: 2 X
        cost:  1700   (50)
        range: 3-30/100/300
        modes: semi-auto, burst (5 shots/burst) and full auto (30 shots/long burst)
        ammunition: 300
        damage: 5D+1

Th'Ta Manufacturing TA-16 and TA-16H Blaster Rifle
        The Th'Ta TA-16 is a good, though relatively unknown, blaster rifle.  The
TA-16 is calibrated to be fired in single shot and burst fire modes, while
the TA-16H squad automatic weapon is designed to be fired in long bursts
only.  They both use standard power cells, and have the typical layout of
most rifles, although hey are a little larger than average.  The TA-16 and
-16H may be readily differentiated by the thicker barrel and ventilated hand
guard on the TA-16H.  Other, less noticeable differences include the higher
cyclic rate, lack of a bayonet lug and larger, less accurate sight on the
TA-16H. (note: the stats for the TA-16H appear in the brackets]
        type:  selective fire blaster rifle   [squad automatic weapon]
        skill: Blaster: auto rifle
        availability: 3 X
        cost:  1500 (25)  [1650 (25)]
        range:  3-30/100/200  [3-25/90/200]
        modes:  semi auto and burst (4 shots/burst)  [burst (10 shots/burst) or
full auto (50 shot/burst)]
        ammo:  100
        damage:  4D+2

RIOT GUNS AND PULSE RIFLES
        Riot guns and pulse rifle differ in design theory, but they both have the
same effect:  hit a large area with a single shot, without the complication
of a repeating blaster or the higher maintance of a selective fire weapon.
They are used by police,  pirates and bounty hunters around the galaxy, but
aren't really popular due tot their expense.  Still, how many times can you
take out a full bar with a single shot.  Due to their rarity, pulse rifles
and riot guns will not be discussed in depth in this briefing, due to lack
of specimen availability.  We will show you some of the most common and
popular models, except the Corondex VES-700, which is documented in Col.
Stuart's excellent treatise on bounty hunting.

(Game Noes:  Pulse rifles and riot guns effect a large area, but they do
have holes in their pattern.  Each target in he field of fire must make
success Dodge roll, or be hit.)

Th'Ta Manufacturing TA-11LB Tight Bore and TA-11Wide Bore SB Riot Guns
        Again, the folks at Th'Ta have made a wonderful weapon, and due to their
small scale and remote location, most of us can't experance it.  Typical of
riot guns, the TA-11 series has multiple, fixed barrels, that are splayed
apart in what often called a "bird's foot" or "fan" pattern.  Each of these
barrels has an individual exciter, prismatic crystal housing and actuating
blaster module, alloying them to build up a bolt on their own, yet not
interfere with it's neigbors.  The TA-11LB has longer, tightly bundled
barrels for longer range and a tighter group, while the -11SB has short
barrels that spread radically, giving a very wide, short range spread.  The
-11LB's barrels create a cone of fire that spreads to 7.5 degrees from the
line of sight, with the -SB's spread being twice that.  Anything there is in
for some major pain.  (note: the stats fro the TA-11SB are shown in the
brackets)
        type:  multi-barrel riot guns
        skill: Blaster: pulse rifle
        availability:  4 X
        cost:  2000  (25)  [2750  (25)]
        range:  3-10/30/60  [2-5/20/40]
        fire rate: 1
        ammo: 6
        damage: 4D+1  [4D]
        notes:  The TA-11LB does damage in a 15 degree arc (7.5 degrees from line
of sight).  [The TA-SB does damage in a 30 degree arc (15 degrees from line
of sight)]

BlasTech AEW-2X Pulse Rifle
        The AEW-2X is a prototype blaster rifle that is developing an improved
version of the microfilaments used in the Corondex VES-700 pulse rifle, for
longer barrel life.  These newer filaments use a 50 degree spread, unlike
the 60 degrees of the VES-700, but have almost four times the service life.
Most users agree that the tradeoff is well worth, if for no other reason
than economics.  This spread is caused by a series of micro-bursts of highly
ionized gas to be introduced into the exciter, causing the bolt to be split
along the filaments and to exit the weapon on a short series of waves,
giving it a good spread.  At this time, the weapon is and it's parts are
rather expensive, but BlasTech expects that to go down as the first mass
production run goes to shop.
        type:  pulse rifle
        skill:  Blaster: pulse rifle
        availability:  4  X
        cost:  8000  (250,  500 fro the barrel)
                (in about a year: 6500  (200, 350 for the barrel))
        range:  1-10/20/30
        fire rate: 2
        ammunition:  15, may be attached to a power generator for unlimited ammo.
Super conducting filament cluster in barrel must be replaced every 75 shots.
        damage: 6D, target area 1m.  5D to 10 degrees from target, 4D to 25 degrees
from target.


EMPLOYMENT
        The employment of repeating blasters is fairly well understood.  You use
selective fire blasters either the same way as repeaters, or like
sharpshhoter's rifles (in an infantry/cavalry sense) or like grenade
launchers.  They are very versatile, but ammunition consumption must be
watched closely.  And I gaurentee, that you will run out of ammunition only
when you turn the corner and bump into the company of Storm Commandos
walking the garrison commander's pet rancor.
        Using pulse rifles and riot guns is something of a mystery.  This, and
their ammunition supply, is why no major military power has ever used them
in any quantity.  How you use them is up to you; I haven't a clue.


(Note to Jae, concerning placement in the resource pool-
        I recommend the Equipment section, under the designation  autoguns.txt".)