Sighting Devices
Self Luminescent
Sights
Basic sights, also called "iron sights", are usually
black. This produces a poor sight picture, especially at night. Nowadays,
most weapons are produced with either white dots and/or a high visibility
front sight for an improved ability to actually see the sights. But it
still doesn't mean much in the dark. If you can't see the sights, you can't
hit much past, say, two or three arm lengths away. For this reason, many
people have small, glowing beads inserted into their iron sights. Sometimes
they are LEDs, or small chips of mildly radioactive material, or even self-contained
microbiomes with luminescent bacteria or plants in them. Regardless of
what they are, "night sights" allow you to get a sight picture in even
the darkest gloom. Unlike light enhancement or thermal imaging, they can't
die at an inconvenient moment, and unlike glowrods and laser pointers,
they don't give away your position. Most professionals have had these installed
on their weapons, including the Stormtrooper legions. Most major manufacturers,
including BlasTech, Merr-Sonn and SoroSuub, can add night sights to your
blaster for a small fee (usually about 75-100cr) before it leaves the factory.
Of course, you can always have them added later, but not only do you have
to buy the sights, you need to have them installed by someone of usually
questionable ability, or worse, yourself. And just because you have scope
or something similar, these are still a nice idea, as they almost never
break, unlike some things.
type: night sights
cost: 100 (tritium inserts) to 200 (self sustaining microbiomes)
availability: 1,F to 3,F
installation difficulty: Easy to Moderate TECH roll (or
appropriate skill), depending on weapon
game effects: +1D to hit in low light conditions (based
of the theory that the first 1D of darkness
penalties is based of the fact that black-on-black sights
suck at night.)
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Laser Sights
A very low powered laser, these project a point of light
onto your target. Were the little dot is where your shot goes. Simple.
They can also be seen on your target, can get "lost" on full light and
illuminate anything in the air between you and the target, including windows,
force fields, smoke and rain. This last is one of the biggest complaints
about laser sights, as the beam points back at your location, which is
often a bad thing. They do lessen he effects of off-hand shooting and unsighted
shooting on the other hand, making them valuable tools in com booth-tight
quarters. Available in many sizes, right down to the nearly microscopic,
and in many point colors, they leech a minute amount of power from your
powercell, and are usually fitted with a squeeze switch, activating them
when they are lifted. They are very popular with the less experienced shooters,
especially popular on hold-out class weapons, and with hotshots who follow
the "two-gun" method. Problem is, the beam gets harder to spot over distance,
meaning that brighter sights must be used for further distances.
type: projected aiming point
cost: 200 to 800 (for the really tiny or bright)
availability: 2 F,R
installation difficulty: Easy to Difficult
game effects: Only a +1 difficulty modifier for unlighted
and off side shooting. Requires a Moderate PERC roll for shooter to find
at Long range (Medium in full light), Difficult PERC roll for target to
spot. Will illuminate everything in the beam's line of travel.
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Weapon Light
This is one of the most basic weapon accessories, and
it consists of a small glow rod that clamps onto the weapon, and activated
by a squeeze switch. The problem with them is that your sight picture goes
to hell unless you are using a red dot sight, laser sight or night sights.
They can also be seen from much further away than they project a useful
illuminating beam, usually out to about 25m. These are commonly found with
Stormtroopers assigned to urban or subterranean areas. Due to their size,
they can only be mounted on pistol sized and larger weapons.
type: Weapons mounted glow rod
cost: 50 (includes mount)
availability: 1 none, F
installation difficulty: Very Easy
game effects: Provides light out to 25m. There is still
a 1D penalty to hit, unless some form of illuminated sights are used.
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Optical
Scope
The most primitive and common form of enhancing scope
is a simple, optical magnifying scopes. Using a simple tube with lenses
at either end, it requires no power, as few, if any, moving parts, and
is inexpensive. Having existed in most cultures since before space flight,
they are still popular. To indicate were the shot will fall, scopes have
some kind of aiming point inside the scope, usually crossed hairs, a small
dot, or a ring. Most of the ones manufactured today have a luminescent
aiming point, meaning that they can be used more efficiently at night,
much like comparing night sights to plain iron sights. For example, the
E11s that are issued to Imperial forces are fitted with a small, low-powered
scope with a ring reticle that measures 1.8m at 200m and is fitted with
fine, electronic tubes that glow when activated. To further the utility,
the tubes feed off the powercell, providing the trooper with a silent way
of telling when his powerful is expended, even if he can't feel the pulser
in the grip. Less complex models of optical scope are popular with hunters,
gun fighters and target shooters. They can be mounted on nearly any weapon
larger than a hold-out, and provide a good addition to almost any weapon.
type: optical scope
cost: 50 to 150 (depending on complexity), +50 to 100
for luminescent reticles, extra for more
powerful magnification
availability: 1 to 3 F (depending on complexity)
difficulty to mount: Easy to Moderate
game effects: +1D to hit if used for one round of aiming
(typical) lighted reticle: functions the same as night iron sights if used
for one round of aiming.
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Aiming Point
Sights
Externally similar to an optical scope, except that it
has no magnification. Instead, it has a small glowing bead in it, similar
to a night sight. While some question the utility of such a thing, those
who have worked with "red dot" sights know that they are faster to find
than iron sights, and they are meant to be used with both eyes open, meaning
that there is no loss of peripheral vision. It also means that the effects
of shooting a long arm with your weak hand and eye (or analogous organs)
is lessened. Many elite forces, including the Sector Rangers and Storm
Commandos make use of these sights on their blaster carbines. This is because
they bridge the accuracy of the iron and optical sight, but they are fast
as, and usually faster than, irons, especially in close quarters. They
can be mounted on anything from a sporting blaster on up, with models that
incorporate magnification also being available.
type: red dot sight
cost: 100, more for magnification (treat game effects
like optical scopes)
availability: 2 F
difficulty to install: same as optical scopes
game effects: Lessen the multiple action penalty on any
shots made with a handgun equipped with a red dot sight by 2 pips, a shoulder
arm by 1D. (ie: firing three shots with an E11, your multiple action penalty
will only be -2D. Three shots from a DL-44 would give you a 2D+1 penalty.)
Their low light bonuses are the same as for night sights. Only a +2 difficulty
to hit when used with the off hand (normally +1D difficulty.)
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Thermal Imaging
Sight
Working by "seeing" heat radiation, these can work in
total darkness, as long as there is thermal variation in the environment.
It also takes a certain amount of training to interpret the images provided
by these sights, as they only show heat. A blob of red in your sight's
display might be a squad of troopers, a pair of banthas or a landspeeder.
Fairly bulky, they are about the size of a macroscope, and can really only
be mounted on rifles and large carbines at the low end of the scale. Due
to the difficulty is positively identifying your target, they are not in
common use anywhere.
type: thermal scope
skill: PERC: Thermal Interpretation (see below) [used
only to identify the target or see through heavy
cover, not to hit it. This is a free action)
cost: 600
availability: 2 R,X
notes: Works in all vision obscuring conditions where
there is thermal variance, providing no darkness or similar penalties.
May look through cover (Cover's STR+1D vs. user's PERC: Thermal Interpretation).
(skill: PERCEPTION: Thermal Interpretation (no specializations).
Improves normally. Used by those species that do not naturally see IR to
figure out what the thermal display they are looking at means. Not very
common.)
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Light Enhancing
Sight
Using time proven passive, ambient light enhancing technology,
"night scopes" are popular with many. Not much larger than an optical scope,
the techniques that go into their manufacture are almost as old as space
travel itself. Providing a green or blue tinted view of the world, they
can only function were there is at least a little light. These capabilities
are often built into macroscopes, and are standard Imperial issue to E-Web
teams.
type: night scope
cost: 300
availability: 1 F,R
installation difficulty: Easy to Moderate
notes: Counteracts up to 2D of Darkness penalties. Can
not work in total darkness.
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Macroscope
Using the same technology as marco-binoculars, macro-scopes
are an excellent addition to shoulder fired arms. They are auto focusing,
and include ranging information in their rectile. Being simple and tough,
they have become popular with mercenaries and the Rebellion. However, they
are bulky, meaning that they can only be placed on weapons no smaller than
rifles and large carbines. To increase their versatility, they are often
fitted with passive light enhancement filters for night operations.
type: weapon mounted macrosight
cost: 200
availability: 2 F,R
installation difficulty: Easy to Moderate
game effects: +3D to hit past 100m if used for one round
of aiming.
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Macroscope
w/ light enhancing
Using the same technology as marco-binoculars, macro-scopes
are an excellent addition to shoulder fired arms. They are auto focusing,
and include ranging information in their rectile. Being simple and tough,
they have become popular with mercenaries and the Rebellion. However, they
are bulky, meaning that they can only be placed on weapons no smaller than
rifles and large carbines. To increase their versatility, they are often
fitted with passive light enhancement filters for night operations.
type: weapon mounted macro-sight
cost: 500
availability: 2 F,R
installation difficulty: Easy to Moderate
game effects: +3D to hit past 100m if used for one round
of aiming.
Counteracts up to 2D of Darkness penalties. Can not work in total darkness. |
Miniature
Macroscope
Designed for pistols and carbines, these smaller macroscopes
have become popular additions to larger weapons as well. These are usually
small enough to be holstered, and are common among smugglers and mercenaries.
As a general rule, they are built along the same lines as red dot sights,
and usually feature an "intensifier cutout" that deactivate the enhancement
part of the scope, causing the scope to function as a standard red dot
sight. These are especially popular with people on both sides of the law,
including the (in)famous Rebel, Han Solo, and the Corellian Security Force
Special Operations teams.
type: handgun mounted macrosight
cost: 225, +75 for the imaging cutout
availability: 2 R
installation difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (on handguns,
Easy to Moderate on larger weapons)
effects: +2D to hit past 50m if used for one round of
aiming.
--or-- functions as a red dot sight, but only if it has
an intensifier cutout.
-----Can not function as both in the same round.
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Visor Sight
Consisting of a small imaging system, a miniaturized
comlink and visor, these are a useful gizmo for urban warfare. The imager
is mounted on the weapon, and shows you what the weapon "sees". This is
in turn scomp linked to a very weak (1m range) comlink. The visor contains
a miniature receiver that converts the data from t he imager into a aiming
point on the visor. If the weapon should be looking at something that is
outside of your field of vision (ie: behind you, around a corner, etc),
the visor open a small "window", allowing you to see what the imager does.
The only problem with this is that it is quite disconcerting to look at
and process the data from two different sources. Those who are not used
to the visor have been know to reach for something that is actual behind
them, because they forget that the window is not what is in front of them.
Due to the size of the equipment, it may not be mounted on a weapon smaller
than a blaster pistol.
type: remote sight with visor display
cost: 1000
availability: 3 R
installation difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
game notes: No penalties for unaimed fire. When activated,
visor shows what the weapon "sees". If the
weapon's POV and your's are not the same, must make Moderate
PERC roll, or suffer -1D from all
rolled actions, due to disorientation.
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Miscellanous
Accessories
Backpack
Power Generator
A small, packboard mounted fusion generator, these are
about the same size as those used in survival packs and carried by handybeings
the Galaxy over. What is noteworthy about these is they are reinforced
for the wear-and-tear of field ops, and they are fitted with power cables.
These cables terminate with interchangeable plugs that fit nearly any blaster
on the market, as well as a number of sensors, high-powered communications
rigs and personal shields. They are also used by miners, construction workers
and Holonet news teams. Models capable of accepting multiple cables are
available. Most commonly found attached to a repeating blaster, riot gun
or selective fire blaster, these are popular among commando teams and bounty
hunters. During press demonstrations, members of His Majesty's Royal Guardsmen
and Storm Commandos have been seen using these in conjunction with light
repeating blasters.
type: near infinite powercell
cost: 1000, +50 for a second power cable, +100 for ever
power
cable after that (5 max).
availability: 2 R,X (F with nonweapons conections)
body: 3D (character)
installation difficulty: Very Easy to Easy
notes: Provides unlimited power to up to five weapons
or similar devices. If it is damaged to the point
of "incapacitated", it will not function. If it is "destroyed",
it explodes as per a thermal detonator.
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Shoulder
Stocks
Many people have found that fitting a blaster pistol
with a shoulder stock makes it more accurate. However, most of them think
that the bonus is greater than it actually is. The best of the detachable
shoulder stocks double as holsters. The problem with those is that they
are bulky and inconvenient. Other models are skeletonised and fold into
a small package that can be carried in a belt case or on the off side of
a shoulder holster. This combination is sold to many a TIE pilot as a personally
purchased item, and is one of the few their commanders approve of. It can
only be used on sporting pistols and larger weapons.
type: detachable shoulder stock
skill: Blaster: carbine
cost: 50 (basic stock)
75 (collapsible, with pouch)
125 (holster)
availability: 2 F
installation difficulty: Easy to Moderate to modify pistol
game notes: Adds 3 meters to the short range, 10m to
the medium range. It does not extend the long range.
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Blaster
Converter
This allows a heavy blaster to have the same range of
a blaster pistol. It consists of a power converter, a focusing lens adapter,
new galven circuitry and modified gas flow regulator. Very expensive, very
hard to find and usually quite illegal. It should be noted that even though
it is possible to fire a heavy blaster fitted with a converter at the longer
range without a loss of throughput, there is a real and serious danger
of the weapon overloading, usually with explosive consequences.
type: blaster converter
skill: Blaster: heavy pistol
cost: 800
availability: 3 X
installation difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
game effects: Takes one action to active. When activated,
reduce damage by 1D, add 3m to medium
range, double long range. May be fired at longer range
without damage loss, but if the Wild Die equals
"1", the weapon explodes, doing 6D damage to the shooter.
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Shot Expander
A shot expander consists of several focus gems in a adjustable
housing that replaces the original focusing lens on a blaster. It causes
the blaster bolt to disperse, with a reduction in damage. They can be mounted
on any weapon ranging in size from a sporting blaster to a blaster rifle.
type: blaster bolt expander
cost: 500
availability: 3 F
installation difficulty: Easy to Moderate
game effects: For every +1D to hit bonus, the bolt does
-1D damage. You must have at least a +1D
Bonus, but the bolt must still do at least 1D worth of
damage. It is adjustable in one pip increments
between those two points.
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"Kill Shot"
This is a highly illegal device that converts a simple
stunner into a lethal blaster. They are very, very expensive and very difficult
to install. They are common on heavily industrialized planets that regulate
the sale on possession of lethal weapons, especially in the Core Worlds
and the CSA. It is only used by those who wish to legally, and without
hassle, purchase a weapon, but can not, or will not, buy an intentionally
lethal weapon. When they are purchased, these items often look like a collection
of spare parts to a portable computer, a small droid or cybernetic limb,
and do not register as parts to a weapon under most customs investigations.
Weapons so modified still appear on scanners to be stunners.
type: stunner converter
cost: 150% of the base cost to the weapon it is to be
fitted to
availability: 2 X (possession is often punishable by
death)
instillation difficulty: Very Difficult to Heroic
game notes: Converts a stun only weapon into a lethal
blaster, but with a -1D penalty to the damage and
a +3 difficulty to hit at all ranges. If the Wild Die
rolls a 1, roll 2D. If that roll equals 12, the weapon
explodes, doing 6D damage to the user.
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Dead-eye
Scope
This scope was specifically designed for use with the
Merr-Sonn Whisper Sniper Rifle for Ryak, a Rebel Special Op. The scope
with its boosted
magnification has proven useful to Ryak on many an occasion.
Model: Merr-Sonn Dead-eye Scope
Type: Rifle Scope
Scale: Character
Skill: Firearms: rifle
Cost: Not available for sale
Availability: Unique
Effects: +2D to Firearms skill, Decreases difficulty
level by 2 ranges
Game notes: The scope displays an infra-red read out
with range-finder and wind indicator. Scope can
also be used as a spotter with a varied PER (or search)
roll, counts as action and equivalent to Macrobinoculars.
Kelly Laughlin (kelly@cannon.net)
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