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| Hand Weapons |
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Personal
Protection |
Troubled times call for hefty personal protection.
From personal shield generators to layered armour to powered
exoskeletons, here are some methods to keep from getting
killed. |
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Beam Weapons |
Beam weapons produce a constant stream of energy as
long as they are activated, until they are deactivated, run out of
power, or overheat. The beam travels in a direct line at or near
the speed of light. Beam weapons have the advantage that they can
be fired first and aimed later, or purposely swept to obtain an area
effect. They tend to rely on drawing and transferring power directly
from a power source, which often limits their ability to deal damage
or keep shooting through a prolonged firefight. The supply of power
or overheating often become a constraint. Beam weapons, in general,
are relatively quiet but often less damaging than bolt or projectile
weapons. |
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Bolt Throwers |
Bolt throwers produce a high-energy projectile of a
given size that travels directly towards a target and is propelled
by the thrower itself. More often than not, bolt weapons
initiate a physical reaction which is trapped in a containment field
and hurled at a target. Bolt throwers are often capable of high
rates of fire and generally run cool as the reaction generally never
touches the weapon through the containment field. Bolt throwers
often require fuel sources, which limit the number of shots that can
be fired. If the fuel source is cumbersome, it is often impossible
to carry a recharge into combat situations. Bolt throwers can be
quite powerful as the damage they do is the result of a reaction in
their fuel source, rather than a draw of directly stored power. |
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Handguns |
Guns fire unpowered, physical
projectiles directly at the intended target. Electrically fired and
with few mechanical parts, they are often reliable and have high
rates of fire and often use small projectiles which can be carried
in large quantities. The physical nature of their projectiles makes
them more subject to variables like wind and gravity than their
energy-based counterparts. |
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Launchers |
Launchers generally fire physical projectiles but
distinguish themselves from handguns in a number of ways. Their
projectiles may be powered, capable of indirect fire, or carry a
payload for a specific purpose. Guns are generally handheld while
launchers may be used from the shoulder or even placed on the
ground and controlled remotely. Launchers are often more
destructive and considered heavy weapons. |
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Special Weapons |
Generally either secretive and controlled by their
manufacturers or of a highly specific and unusual nature, the
special weapons are generally very high tech and hard to come by. |
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