Weapons

Overview

Weapons are broken down into various subtypes based on their primary mode of action. Melee weapons require the character to be in melee range (within a couple meters) to be used whereas ranged weapons can function out to their effect ranges. Ranged weapons are further broken down into sub-types as well and categorizes roughly by technology level and form factor. The first republic saw the pinnacle of the industrial war machine and while the second republic did see further advances they were not on the scale the denizens of the 25th century were accustomed to. Slug guns and swords are still the most common weapons amongst those that can afford them.

Melee Weapons

Melee weapons are simpler and less complicated than their ranged counterparts. Cheap and brutally effective when in range, the majority of the 50th centuries armies are equipped with metal melee weapons and little else.

Key

• Tech Level: The basic level of technology required to produce these weapons en-mass. One lower allows modification and repair without penalty.
• Cost: The average cost to purchase the weapon. YMMV
• Size: Sizes range from eXtra Small (fits in the palm of your hand) to eXtra Large (2 meters or larger). Weight is a factor in size as well. XL weapons cannot be wielded in a single hand. The size of a weapon will determine base encumbrance.
• Damage: Damage is usually split up into two dice pools that can be read as (number of dice) that produce (amount of damage). So '3x3' means roll 3 dice that each produce 3 damage on a success. More information about damage dice can be found in Dramatic Scenes
• Damage TN: The base target number for each damage dice rolled. Almost nothing affects this.
• Speed: For melee weapons speed is broken down into (base speed) + (backswing speed). Various game factors can effect or use either value but in the end the total ticks for an attack with the listed weapon is generally the combined value.
• Special: Any special effects for the given weapon.

Weapon	Tech Level	Cost	Size	Damage	Damage TN	Speed	Special
Knife (tool)	2	1	S	4x1/1x3	5	6 (5 + 1)	Found in the kitchen
Combat Knife	4	5	S	5x1/1x3	6	6 (5 + 1)
Short Sword/Machete	2	8	M	6x1/2x3	6	8 (6 + 2)
Long/Broad Sword/Scimitar	2	15	L	7x1/3x3	6	10 (7 + 3)
Flamberge/Claymore	2	30	XL	8x1/4x3	6	12 (8 + 4)
Hatchet	2	5	S	1x1/5x3	5	8 (6 + 2)
Small Axe	2	8	M	2x1/6x3	5	10 (7 + 3)
Battle Axe	2	15	L	3x1/7x3	5	12 (8 + 4)
War Axe	2	30	XL	4x1/8x3	5	14 (9 + 5)
Blackjack	1	5	S	6x1/2x3	7	6 (5 + 1)	Stun damage
Cudgel	1	8	M	6x1/2x3	7	10 (7 + 3)
Mace	2	15	L	7x1/3x3	7	12 (8 + 4)
War Maul	2	30	XL	8x1/4x3	7	14 (10 + 5)
Jo Staff	1	1	L	8x1	6	8 (6 + 2)
Bo/Quarterstaff	1	2	XL	9x1/1x3	6	10 (7 + 3)	+1 Parry
Spear	2	3	L	6x1/2x3	6	9 (7 + 2)	+1 Stop Charge, -1 Parry
Pike	2	5	XL	9x1/3x3	6	11 (8 + 3)	+1 Reach, +2 Stop Charge, -2 Parry
Halberd/Glaive	2	10	XL	8x1/4x3	6	13 (9 + 4)	+1 Reach

Primitive Ranged/Thrown Weapons

These weapons come from ancient history, which means they are prevalent within Fading Suns. They function exactly like any typical ranged weapon, only they're icky and usually silent. Who'd want that?

Primitive Ranged Weapons Key

• Tech Level: The basic level of technology required to produce these weapons en-mass. One lower allows modification and repair without penalty.
• Cost: The average cost to purchase the weapon. YMMV
• Size: Sizes range from eXtra Small (fits in the palm of your hand) to eXtra Large (2 meters or larger). Weight is a factor in size as well. XL weapons cannot be wielded in a single hand. The size of a weapon will determine base encumbrance.
• Damage: Damage is usually split up into two dice pools that can be read as (number of dice) that produce (amount of damage). So '3x3' means roll 3 dice that each produce 3 damage on a success. More information about damage dice can be found in Dramatic Scenes
• Damage TN: The base target number for each damage dice rolled.
• Speed: For ranged weapons speed is broken down into (action speed) + (recoil). Various game factors can effect or use either value but in the end the total ticks for an attack with the listed weapon is generally the combined value.
• Reload: The total amount of ticks it takes to reload the weapon. For thrown weapons this assumes the weapon is in some kind of easily accessible sheath/holster.
• Range: Range is broken down into four categories, with three listed in the chart : Short/Medium/Long (Extreme is 2x Long)
• Special: Any special effects for the given weapon.

Weapon	Tech Level	Cost	Size	Damage	Damage TN	Speed	Reload	Range	Special
Throwing Knife/Star/Spike	2	1 wing	XS	4x1/1x3	6	5 (5 + 0)	2	4 / 6 / 7
Throwing Axe	2	1 wing	S	1x1/4x3	5	7 (6 + 1)	4	4 / 7 / 13
Primitive Bow	2	1 crest	L	6x1/3x3	6	10 (8 + 2)	8	30 / 60 / 90
Long Bow	3	10	XL	7x1/3x3	6	11 (8 + 3)	8	50 / 100 / 150
Tactical/Hunting Bow	4	15	L	6x1/3x3	6	10 (8 + 2)	7	40 / 80 / 120
Hand Crossbow	3	7	S	5x1/1x3	6	9 (7 + 2)	9	15 / 30 / 45
Hunting Crossbow	3	10	M	6x1/2x3	6	10 (7 + 3)	14	40 / 80 / 120
Heavy Crossbow	3	15	L	7x1/3x3	6	11 (7 + 4)	20	60 / 120 / 180	Ignores 1 point of Deflection
Arbalest	3	18	XL	8x1/4x3	6	12 (7 + 5)	40	90 / 180 / 270	Ignores 2 point of Deflection

Handguns

Handguns refer to any weapon that can reasonably be wielded in a single hand by the majority of one or two handed human beings.

Modern Ranged Weapons Key

• Tech Level: The basic level of technology required to produce these weapons en-mass. One lower allows modification and repair without penalty.
• Cost: The average cost to purchase the weapon. YMMV
• Size: Sizes range from eXtra Small (fits in the palm of your hand) to eXtra Large (2 meters or larger). Weight is a factor in size as well. XL weapons cannot be wielded in a single hand. The size of a weapon will determine base encumbrance.
• Damage: Damage is usually split up into two dice pools that can be read as (number of dice) that produce (amount of damage). So '3x3' means roll 3 dice that each produce 3 damage on a success. More information about damage dice can be found in Dramatic Scenes
• Damage TN: The base target number for each damage dice rolled.
• Speed: For ranged weapons speed is broken down into (action speed) + (recoil). Various game factors can effect or use either value but in the end the total ticks for an attack with the listed weapon is generally the combined value.
• Reload: The total amount of ticks it takes to reload the weapon. For thrown weapons this assumes the weapon is in some kind of easily accessible sheath/holster.
• Range: Range is broken down into four categories, with three listed in the chart : Short/Medium/Long (Extreme is 2x Long)
• Magazine: This lists the capacity and type of the magazine. The types are as follows: r = Revolver, b = Breech load, i = Internal magazine, m = Swappable external magazine, x = Swappable external box, f = Belt feed, p = Back pack.
• Ammo: This is the type of ammunition required by the weapon. Weapons with the same listed ammo can swap ammo (though magazines are NOT swappable)
• Special: Any special effects for the given weapon.

Weapon	Tech Level	Cost	Size	Damage	Damage TN	Speed	Reload	Range	Magazine	Ammo	Special
Palm Pistol	3	50	XS	8x1	7	9 (8 + 1)	3 + 2/shot	7 / 14 / 28	4r	.22 Caliber
Light Revolver	3	100	S	6x1/2x3	7	10 (8 + 2)	3 + 2/shot	10 / 20 / 30	6r	.32 Caliber
Revolver	3	200	S	5x1/3x3	7	11 (8 + 3)	3 + 2/shot	12 / 24 / 36	6r	.40 Caliber
Heavy Revolver	3	250	M	4x1/4x3	7	12 (8 + 4)	3 + 2/shot	13 / 26 / 39	6r	.47 Caliber	Dirty fucking Harry
Assassin's Pistol	4	75	XS	8x1	6	8 (7 + 1)	7	6 / 12 / 18	15m	.22 Caliber
Light Autofeed Pistol	4	150	S	6x1/2x3	6	9 (7 + 2)	7	9 / 18 / 27	15m	.32 Caliber
Autofeed Pistol	4	250	S	5x1/3x3	7	10 (7 + 3)	7	11 / 22 / 33	10m	.40 Caliber
Heavy Autofeed	4	300	M	4x1/4x3	7	11 (7 + 4)	7	12 / 24 / 36	8m	.47 Caliber	... And the fact that I've got "Desert Eagle point-five-O"...

Shotguns

Shotguns easily win the damage/firebird race but come with the downside that they have relatively poor range, high recoil, and low magazine capacity. But in situations where one shot needs to get it done, shotguns cannot be beat.

• All shotguns have the following unique attribute: Extreme Range = Medium + Long range (instead of 2x Long)

The values listed below are for buckshot, the most common ammo type used in combat in FS (since it's useful hunting ammo). Other shotgun ammo type is available in the Equipment section. Buckshot has the following unique properties (regardless of gauge)

• Buckshot promotes/demotes damage along 1/5/9/13 lines instead of 1/3/5/7. 1s promote to 5s, 5s demote to 1s.
• Buckshot gives a +1 to attack dice/ -1 damage demotion per range category beyond short.
• Buckshot gives -10% medium range, -20% long range (reflected in the table in parentheses).

Weapon	Tech Level	Cost	Size	Damage	Damage TN	Speed	Reload	Range	Magazine	Ammo	Special
Sawed Off Shotgun	3	50	M	7x1/1x5	6	10 (7 + 3)	2 + 1/shot	6 / 12 (11) / 18 (14)	2b	20 Gauge	Can fire both barrels as a single action: Promote 4 dice, add +3 Recoil.
Double Barrel Shotgun	3	75	L	7x1/1x5	6	10 (7 + 3)	2 + 1/shot	10 / 20 (18) / 30 (24)	2b	20 Gauge	Can fire both barrels as a single action: Promote 4 dice, add +3 Recoil.
Light Hunting Shotgun	4	100	L	7x1/1x5	6	11 (8 + 3)	3 + 2/shot	10 / 20 (18) / 30 (24)	7i	20 Gauge
Hunting Shotgun	4	150	L	7x1/2x5	6	12 (8 + 4)	3 + 2/shot	15 / 30 (27) / 45 (36)	6i	12 Gauge
Tactical Shotgun	4	250	L	7x1/2x5	6	11 (7 + 4)	7	14 / 28 (25) / 42 (33)	6m	12 Gauge
Heavy Shotgun	4	300	XL	7x1/3x5	6	13 (7 + 6)	2 + 1/shot	18 / 36 (32) / 54 (47)	2b	10 Gauge	Elephant gun. Cannot fire both at same time because operator would die.

Rifles

Rifles are the bread and butter of armed conflict.

Weapon	Tech Level	Cost	Size	Damage	Damage TN	Speed	Reload	Range	Magazine	Ammo	Special
Lever-Action Rifle	3	150	L	6x1/2x3	7	9 (8 + 1)	3 + 2/shot	40 / 80 / 120	8i	.32 Caliber	Extreme range = Medium + Long
Heavy Lever-Action Rifle	3	250	L	4x1/4x3	7	11 (8 + 3)	3 + 2/shot	30 / 60 / 90	8i	.47 Caliber	Extreme range = Medium + Long
Light Hunting Rifle	3	125	L	8x1/1x3	7	9 (8 + 1)	3 + 2/shot	50 / 100 / 200	6i	5.56mm
Hunting Rifle	3	175	XL	6x1/3x3	7	10 (8 + 2)	3 + 2/shot	100 / 200 / 400	5i	7.62mm
Heavy Hunting Rifle	4	250	XL	5x1/5x3	7	12 (8 + 4)	3 + 2/shot	125 / 250 / 500	4i	8.3mm
Tactical Carbine	4	175	L	8x1/1x3	7	8 (7 + 1)	7	40 / 80 / 160	20m	5.56mm
Imperial Carbine	4	250	XL	6x1/3x3	7	9 (7 + 2)	7	80 / 160 / 320	10m	7.62mm	There are many like it, but this one is mine ...
Sniper Rifle	4	450	XL	5x1/5x3	7	11 (7 + 4)	7	150 / 300 / 600	8m	8.3mm	10x Day/Night scope w/ Rangefinder
Anti-Materiel Rifle	4	600	XL	3x1/7x3	7	14 (8 + 6)	7	200 / 400 / 800	5m	13mm	Ignores 2 points of deflection, 15x Day/Night scope w/ Rangefinder

Automatics

Automatic weapons are all considered to have full select fire capabilities. Switching the fire selection requires 1 tick.

Weapon	Tech Level	Cost	Size	Damage	Damage TN	Speed	Reload	Range	Magazine	Ammo	Special
Machine Pistol	4	250	S	8x1	1	8 (7 + 1)	7	12 / 24 / 36	20m	.22 Caliber
Submachinegun	4	350	M	6x1/2x3	1	9 (7 + 2)	7	24 / 36 / 48	25m	.32 Caliber
Assault Carbine	4	450	L	8x1/1x3	1	8 (7 + 1)	7	40 / 80 / 160	30m	5.56mm
Battle Rifle	4	550	XL	6x1/3x3	1	11	9 (7 + 2)	80 / 160 / 320	20m	7.62mm
Squad Assault Weapon	4	750	XL	8x1/1x3	1	8 (7 + 1)	11	80 / 160 / 320	100x	5.56mm
Light Machinegun	4	750	XL	6x1/3x3	1	9 (7 + 2)	15	100 / 200 / 400	100f	7.62mm
Heavy Machinegun	4	1250	XL	3x1/7x3	2	13 (7 + 6)	15	150 / 300 / 600	100f	13mm	Cannot be hip-fired. Ignores 2 points of Deflection.

Advanced Convential Weapons

For when conventional isn't quite good enough.

Weapon	Tech Level	Cost	Size	Damage	Damage TN	Speed	Reload	Range	Magazine	Ammo	Special
Automatic Shotgun	5	750	XL	7x1/1x5	6	10 (7 + 3)	11	8 / 16 (14) / 24 (19)	20x	20 Gauge	Has all automatic fire modes, but double recoil penalty. Has buckshot rules.
Ares Supermach	5	1100	M	8x1	7	8 (7 + 1)	7	12 / 24 / 36	60m	.22 Caliber	Half recoil penalties (round down) for automatic fire modes.	M41b Pulse Rifle	5	1450	L	5x1/5x3	7	8 (7 + 1)	7	30 / 60 / 120	95m	10mm	Exploding tip, caseless
Gauss Rifle	5	2000	XL	8x1	8	15	11 (7 + 4)	200 / 400 / 800	5m	3.5mm	Ignores 3 points of deflection. Promotes/demotes like buckshot (1/5/9/13)

Energy Weapons

Energy weapons turn out to be pretty scary overall as most armors have terrible energy defense. Energy weapons do not have recoil.

Weapon	Tech Level	Cost	Size	Damage	Damage TN	Speed	Reload	Range	Magazine	Ammo	Special
Palm Laser	5	250	XS	10x1	7	7	11	5 / 10 / 15	7m	Micro Fusion Cell
Laser Pistol	5	350	S	8x1/2x3	7	7	11	10 / 20 / 30	15m	2x Micro Fusion Cell
Laser Rifle	5	600	L	6x1/4x3	7	8	11	15 / 30 / 60	20m	Fusion Cell
Automatic Laser Rifle	6	1000	L	6x1/4x3	7	7	11	15 / 30 / 60	25m	Fusion Cell	Automatic fire
Assault Laser	5	900	XL	4x1/6x3	7	7	20+	20 / 40 / 80	45p	Fusion Pack
Squad Assault Laser	6	1500	XL	4x1/6x3	7	7	20+	20 / 40 / 80	55p	Fusion Pack	Automatic Fire.
Blaster Pistol	6	600	M	8x1/4x3	7	7	11	10 / 15 / 20	7m	2x Micro Fusion Cell
Blaster Rifle	7	1200	L	6x1/6x3	7	7	11	20 / 30 / 40	13m	Fusion Cell
Blaster Shotgun	7	1750	L	8x1/4x5	6	7	11	12 / 21 / 28	5m	Fusion Cell	Promotes like buckshot (1/5/9)

'Cuz Fire

Weapon	Tech Level	Cost	Size	Damage	Damage TN	Speed	Reload	Range	Magazine	Ammo	Special
Light Incinerator	5	200	L	6x1/2x3	7	8	11	5 / 9 / 12	15m	Methane Fuel Cell	+1 Attack, 2x1(TN = attack success) DoT every 4 ticks, reducing TN by 1 every application of damage. Armor absorb halved.
Heavy Incinerator	5	300	XL	8x1/2x3	7	8	11	8 / 12 / 15	100p	Methane Fuel Pack	+1 Attack, 2x1(TN = attack success) DoT every 4 ticks, reducing TN by 1 every application of damage. Armor absorb halved.
Light Flamethrower	5	250	L	6x1/1x3	6	8	11	10 / 20 / 30	10m	Jellied Petrol Cell	+2 Attack, 2x3(TN = attack success) DoT every 4 ticks, reducing TN by 1 every application of damage. Armor absorb halved.
Heavy Flamethrower	4	400	XL	8x1/1x3	6	8	11	15 / 30 / 45	100p	Jellied Petrol Pack	+2 Attack, 2x3(TN = attack success) DoT every 4 ticks, reducing TN by 1 every application of damage. Armor absorb halved.