Support Weapons Database
Support Weapons are heavier weapons, typically crew served that provide direct or indirect fire support where it is needed. These weapons usually use the Heavy Weapons (portable) or Gun Combat skill, though some heavier weapons use the Heavy Weapons (vehicle), or other skills instead. Weapons here will be listed by category, first lighter heavy weapons, than light vehicle scale weapons.
Light Support Weapon Descriptions
Light Vehicle Weapon Descriptions
Light Support Weapons
Basic human portable support weapons, these typically use either the Gun Combat skill or the Heavy Weapons (portable) skill to operate, and can be operated individually, or with a small crew.Light Support Weapon Descriptions
Assault Rocket Launcher: The assault rocket launcher is an enlarged version of gyrojet weaponry that fires a 10mm rocket slug at a target. It doesn’t have recoil allowing the assault rocket launcher (ARL) to fire comfortably in Zero-G conditions. There are three variants, the first and most basic is a single shot weapon. A support version exists that is capable of automatic fire and has a large magazine capacity (though in practice all ARL variants can use a short 20 round or long 40 round magazine). The final variant is the PDW variant that is specifically cut down, becoming more generally unwieldy in order to be better suited to the tight confines of a starship.
Anti-Materiel Rifle: The anti-materiel rifle (AMR) is a super heavy sniper rifle designed to engage battledress wearers and light vehicles. It fires a vehicle grade round at high speeds to give the weapon sufficient stopping power against its primary targets.
Break Action Grenade Launcher: The break action grenade launcher is a primitive, single shot grenade launcher, it provides effective support fire for low to mid tech infantry. The break action grenade launcher can also take the form of a light mortar which operates on similar principles but is typically fired from the knee rather than the shoulder.
Cartridge Portable Plasma Gun: An early application of plasma weapons technology, the cartridge portable plasma gun CPPG, uses a specialized chemical cell to produce the plasma bolt. These weapons are typically used in a similar fashion to AMRs with integrated holographic sights, but the earlier variants lack sufficient range to be safely used as such.
Cryo Breaching Unit: The cryo breaching unit is a specialized application of cryojet technology specifically used to destroy bulkheads and vital ship components in a boarding action. It freezes the target to make it more brittle before following up with miniature explosives which detonate and hopefully destroy it. Though primarily an anti-materiel weapon it can be very useful against armored targets such as battledress equipped marines.
Disintegrator Human Portable: A highly advanced Parditech weapon, using a barely understood application of antimatter, the human portable disintegrator fires a stream of antimatter particles at the target, upon hitting a solid object the magnetic containment of these particles fails, destroying the target at an atomic level. This causes a cascading chain reaction that can cause the target to “dissolve” as its atoms are destroyed one by one. The human portable disintegrator (DGHP) is a rare and highly sought after weapon for elite military and mercenary units which can afford to maintain such powerful weapons.
Disposable Plasma Launcher: The disposable plasma launcher (also known as the Plasmafaust), is a single use rocket launcher with a pre-packaged directed plasma rocket. It is an extremely valued import for mid-tech forces, which can’t maintain more advanced plasma weaponry that frequently fights higher tech foes.
Disposable Rocket Launcher: The disposable rocket launcher is a primitive anti-vehicle weapon that consists of a launching mechanism and a single pre-prepared rocket. It is a single use weapon that is favored for lightly trained military and paramilitary groups as a means of destroying armored vehicles without more expensive anti-tank weapons.
Early Machine Gun: A primitive automatic weapon, the early machine gun takes the form of a heavy gun that fires rifle caliber bullets at high volumes.The early machine gun is primarily used by low to mid tech forces as a means of suppressing enemy infantry and cavalry.
Fusion Gun Human Portable: Representing the premier form of human portable firepower before the discovery of Parditech weapons, the fusion gun, human portable (FGHP) is essentially a container nuclear reactor that fires directed nuclear explosions at a target. The weapon is highly radioactive, and inflicts radiation poisoning at unprotected persons close to the weapon when it is firing, and at targets. The destructive capacity of the weapon is extremely valuable for those unconcerned with the radiation risk.
Gauss Light Machine Gun: An advanced version of the gauss squad automatic weapon, the gauss light machine gun can unleash a hail of deadly pellets at high speed and stopping power at a target. It is however, much more unwieldy as a result of the more powerful energy cell powering the coils.
Gauss Squad Automatic Weapon: A variant of the gauss rifle intended for use as a support weapon, the gauss squad automatic weapon is a heavier version that is built with greater range and better sustainment of its autofire in mind. Its larger magazine allows the weapon to fire burst fire for an extremely long time without needing to be reloaded.
Grenade Launcher: The Grenade Launcher is a handheld support weapon that launches grenades. It is fed with a cylindrical magazine allowing the weapon to fire multiple times without reloading.
Handmade "Helsing" Anti-Materiel Rifle: Helsings are improvised AMRs cobbled together with scavenged components. Helsings are unreliable and generally only used by those in desperate need of AMR capabilities with limited resources. Light Assault Gun: The light assault gun (LAG) is an advanced form of anti-materiel rifle with an expanded magazine. Though it does not have the ammunition capacity to provide fire support for an extended time, with support it can deliver a heavy punch to targets. Additionally, unlike the AMR, the LAG can fire high explosive rounds, allowing it to serve as a light cannon if the need arises.
Light Gatling Laser: A heavy support weapon built using laser technology, instead of using a beam splitter the light gatling laser incorporates multiple barrels allowing the weapon to put out a high volume of fire. Its stopping power is quite low however, for its weight. It is very effective in boarding actions however, where it can clear a room of defenders in short order.
Machine Gun: The machine gun is a basic form of support weapon that fires rifle caliber bullets at a high rate of fire. It is primarily used to suppress enemy targets to allow the users allies to close with a target and engage them with more precise fire.
Plasma Gun Human Portable: The plasma gun, human portable is a heavy weapon designed primarily for battledress users. Making use of a plasma collector that superheats gases collected from the atmosphere, firing powerful bolts of plasma at targets and delivering a powerful punch. More advanced PGHPs become increasingly easier to handle.
Plasma-Pulse Gun Human Portable: The ultimate development of the plasma gun as a heavy support weapon, the plasma-pulse gun, human portable (PPGHP) is a variant of the PGHP that trades absolute firepower for the ability to rapidly fire bolts to engage multiple targets in a short time, essentially turning into an automatic suppressing weapon.
RAM Grenade Launcher: The RAM (rocket assisted multipurpose) grenade launcher is a variant of the grenade launcher that trades a more traditional firing system, it launches rocket propelled grenades that are effective over a greater range. It tends to replace the grenade launcher as mid-tech forces move towards the liminal space towards high tech.
Rapid Fire Machine Gun: The rapid fire machine gun is a variant of the machine gun that is better optimized for extreme rates of fire in bursts. The rapid fire machine gun can fire two bursts in a single round, but must cool down for two round after firing a double burst. This provides emergency surge capability when the situation calls for it, making it a valuable tool in certain situations.
Handmade "Red Glare" Rocket Launcher: Red glares are improvised rocket launchers that provide the power of such a weapon to people that would otherwise not have access to heavy fire support weaponry. It is unreliable, but in the hands of the desperate, that may not matter much.
Rocket Launcher: The rocket launcher is a basic fire support weapon that fires a chemically powered rocket that accelerates throughout its flight path. It is dangerous to stand behind a rocket launcher and anyone doing so will be burned for 3D damage from the superheated gases of its backblast. More advanced versions of the rocket launcher fire guided projectiles and can be called “missile launchers”, some of which are optimized to engage tanks and aircraft specifically as ATGM launchers and MANPADS.
Squad Automatic Weapon: The squad automatic weapon is a light version of the machine gun that fires a lighter intermediate cartridge and is more handy for mobile infantry forces.
Anti-Materiel Rifle: The anti-materiel rifle (AMR) is a super heavy sniper rifle designed to engage battledress wearers and light vehicles. It fires a vehicle grade round at high speeds to give the weapon sufficient stopping power against its primary targets.
Break Action Grenade Launcher: The break action grenade launcher is a primitive, single shot grenade launcher, it provides effective support fire for low to mid tech infantry. The break action grenade launcher can also take the form of a light mortar which operates on similar principles but is typically fired from the knee rather than the shoulder.
Cartridge Portable Plasma Gun: An early application of plasma weapons technology, the cartridge portable plasma gun CPPG, uses a specialized chemical cell to produce the plasma bolt. These weapons are typically used in a similar fashion to AMRs with integrated holographic sights, but the earlier variants lack sufficient range to be safely used as such.
Cryo Breaching Unit: The cryo breaching unit is a specialized application of cryojet technology specifically used to destroy bulkheads and vital ship components in a boarding action. It freezes the target to make it more brittle before following up with miniature explosives which detonate and hopefully destroy it. Though primarily an anti-materiel weapon it can be very useful against armored targets such as battledress equipped marines.
Disintegrator Human Portable: A highly advanced Parditech weapon, using a barely understood application of antimatter, the human portable disintegrator fires a stream of antimatter particles at the target, upon hitting a solid object the magnetic containment of these particles fails, destroying the target at an atomic level. This causes a cascading chain reaction that can cause the target to “dissolve” as its atoms are destroyed one by one. The human portable disintegrator (DGHP) is a rare and highly sought after weapon for elite military and mercenary units which can afford to maintain such powerful weapons.
Disposable Plasma Launcher: The disposable plasma launcher (also known as the Plasmafaust), is a single use rocket launcher with a pre-packaged directed plasma rocket. It is an extremely valued import for mid-tech forces, which can’t maintain more advanced plasma weaponry that frequently fights higher tech foes.
Disposable Rocket Launcher: The disposable rocket launcher is a primitive anti-vehicle weapon that consists of a launching mechanism and a single pre-prepared rocket. It is a single use weapon that is favored for lightly trained military and paramilitary groups as a means of destroying armored vehicles without more expensive anti-tank weapons.
Early Machine Gun: A primitive automatic weapon, the early machine gun takes the form of a heavy gun that fires rifle caliber bullets at high volumes.The early machine gun is primarily used by low to mid tech forces as a means of suppressing enemy infantry and cavalry.
Fusion Gun Human Portable: Representing the premier form of human portable firepower before the discovery of Parditech weapons, the fusion gun, human portable (FGHP) is essentially a container nuclear reactor that fires directed nuclear explosions at a target. The weapon is highly radioactive, and inflicts radiation poisoning at unprotected persons close to the weapon when it is firing, and at targets. The destructive capacity of the weapon is extremely valuable for those unconcerned with the radiation risk.
Gauss Light Machine Gun: An advanced version of the gauss squad automatic weapon, the gauss light machine gun can unleash a hail of deadly pellets at high speed and stopping power at a target. It is however, much more unwieldy as a result of the more powerful energy cell powering the coils.
Gauss Squad Automatic Weapon: A variant of the gauss rifle intended for use as a support weapon, the gauss squad automatic weapon is a heavier version that is built with greater range and better sustainment of its autofire in mind. Its larger magazine allows the weapon to fire burst fire for an extremely long time without needing to be reloaded.
Grenade Launcher: The Grenade Launcher is a handheld support weapon that launches grenades. It is fed with a cylindrical magazine allowing the weapon to fire multiple times without reloading.
Handmade "Helsing" Anti-Materiel Rifle: Helsings are improvised AMRs cobbled together with scavenged components. Helsings are unreliable and generally only used by those in desperate need of AMR capabilities with limited resources. Light Assault Gun: The light assault gun (LAG) is an advanced form of anti-materiel rifle with an expanded magazine. Though it does not have the ammunition capacity to provide fire support for an extended time, with support it can deliver a heavy punch to targets. Additionally, unlike the AMR, the LAG can fire high explosive rounds, allowing it to serve as a light cannon if the need arises.
Light Gatling Laser: A heavy support weapon built using laser technology, instead of using a beam splitter the light gatling laser incorporates multiple barrels allowing the weapon to put out a high volume of fire. Its stopping power is quite low however, for its weight. It is very effective in boarding actions however, where it can clear a room of defenders in short order.
Machine Gun: The machine gun is a basic form of support weapon that fires rifle caliber bullets at a high rate of fire. It is primarily used to suppress enemy targets to allow the users allies to close with a target and engage them with more precise fire.
Plasma Gun Human Portable: The plasma gun, human portable is a heavy weapon designed primarily for battledress users. Making use of a plasma collector that superheats gases collected from the atmosphere, firing powerful bolts of plasma at targets and delivering a powerful punch. More advanced PGHPs become increasingly easier to handle.
Plasma-Pulse Gun Human Portable: The ultimate development of the plasma gun as a heavy support weapon, the plasma-pulse gun, human portable (PPGHP) is a variant of the PGHP that trades absolute firepower for the ability to rapidly fire bolts to engage multiple targets in a short time, essentially turning into an automatic suppressing weapon.
RAM Grenade Launcher: The RAM (rocket assisted multipurpose) grenade launcher is a variant of the grenade launcher that trades a more traditional firing system, it launches rocket propelled grenades that are effective over a greater range. It tends to replace the grenade launcher as mid-tech forces move towards the liminal space towards high tech.
Rapid Fire Machine Gun: The rapid fire machine gun is a variant of the machine gun that is better optimized for extreme rates of fire in bursts. The rapid fire machine gun can fire two bursts in a single round, but must cool down for two round after firing a double burst. This provides emergency surge capability when the situation calls for it, making it a valuable tool in certain situations.
Handmade "Red Glare" Rocket Launcher: Red glares are improvised rocket launchers that provide the power of such a weapon to people that would otherwise not have access to heavy fire support weaponry. It is unreliable, but in the hands of the desperate, that may not matter much.
Rocket Launcher: The rocket launcher is a basic fire support weapon that fires a chemically powered rocket that accelerates throughout its flight path. It is dangerous to stand behind a rocket launcher and anyone doing so will be burned for 3D damage from the superheated gases of its backblast. More advanced versions of the rocket launcher fire guided projectiles and can be called “missile launchers”, some of which are optimized to engage tanks and aircraft specifically as ATGM launchers and MANPADS.
Squad Automatic Weapon: The squad automatic weapon is a light version of the machine gun that fires a lighter intermediate cartridge and is more handy for mobile infantry forces.
Light Vehicle Weapons
These weapons are weapons that are officially of the vehicle scale, but light enough that they can, in theory be used by a crew on a tripod mount, or by a single operator wearing battledress. They typically use the Heavy Weapons (vehicle) skill, some use the Heavy Weapons (portable), or Heavy weapons (artillery) skill instead.Light Vehicle Weapon Descriptions
Early Heavy Machine Gun: A very early heavy gun, early and prototype versions of this weapon can often take the form of carriage mounted mitrailleuse or rotary gun type weapon. The early heavy machine gun is typically used in static emplacements and used to engage large formations of enemy soldiers attempting to attack the position the early heavy machine gun is defending.
Heavy Machine Gun: A basic support weapon that is essentially an automatic weapon firing special heavy caliber rounds at a high rate of fire, the heavy machine gun is generally used to suppress enemy positions or defend against infantry attack. Though the heavy machine gun is usually used on vehicles, it can be mounted on a heavy tripod and used as a static emplacement.
Infantry Mortar: The infantry mortar is a light indirect fire weapon intended to be carried by light infantry formations as a means of providing organic fire support. The infantry mortar fires shots in a high trajectory needing correction from a forward observer. It can however, prove extremely effective against light enemy troops.
Light Autocannon: A light cannon capable of automatic fire, the light autocannon bridges the gap between a machine gun, and a cannon, allowing the light autocannon to serve both roles effectively depending on what ammunition is loaded into it. In some forces, the light autocannon replaces the heavy machine gun, as the heavy direct fire weapon for light infantry, though the much larger crews required to haul the weapon around make this impractical without some means of improving the carrying capacity of individual soldiers.
Lancer Lance: The lancer lance is a superheavy melee weapon that consists of a long piercing weapon shaped similar to the knightly lances of old. The tip of the weapon is superheated through a heating coil powered by the power source of whatever it is mounted to, allowing the weapon to punch through armor very easily. Though typically mounted to special combat walkers called Lancers, these weapons can be mounted to Battledress to provide an extremely powerful melee punch. Lancer lances can only be used on vehicles or mounted on a vehicular weapon mount of Artillery or Assault battledress suits. A suit of Battledress equipped in such a fashion is typically called a Jinete.
Rocket Pod: The rocket pod is a specialized form of rocket launcher that trades many capabilities of a missile launcher in exchange for the ability to volley fire rockets to devastating effect. Though usually mounted on vehicles, many enterprising infantry troopers find a reason to mount rocket pods on tripods and use them as devastating volley weapons against fortified enemy positions.
Support Mortar: The support mortar is a heavier version of the infantry mortar that trades weight for a greater range and a larger round with a greater payload. The support mortar is a powerful tool that can prove highly effective against most infantry formations.
Tac Launcher: Perhaps the ultimate expression of support weaponry available to light infantry formations, the tac launcher is a box of small missiles with advanced computer guidance and launching systems. Each box can be configured to one of three roles. The first type, anti-aircraft missiles trade payload for extreme range allowing the launcher to serve as a highly effective short range air defense system. The second, anti-personnel maximizes explosive payload in order to suppress large infantry formations. The third anti-tank uses a directed charge to punch through most forms of armor up to and including tanks. Tac launchers are relatively modular allowing the missile boxes to be swapped out.
VRF Gauss Gun: The VRF (very rapid fire) gauss gun is a heavy version of the gauss LMG that is optimized for extremely high rates of fire at long distance. In this role, it is the ultimate expression of a machine gun style weapon.
VRF Heavy Machine Gun: The VRF (very rapid fire) consists of six barrels strapped together, though it fires intermediate cartridges, it spits them out at extreme rates of fire making it capable of laying down a suppressive barrage that forces enemies to keep their heads down lest they be shredded with extreme prejudice. This weapon is often called the minigun.
Heavy Machine Gun: A basic support weapon that is essentially an automatic weapon firing special heavy caliber rounds at a high rate of fire, the heavy machine gun is generally used to suppress enemy positions or defend against infantry attack. Though the heavy machine gun is usually used on vehicles, it can be mounted on a heavy tripod and used as a static emplacement.
Infantry Mortar: The infantry mortar is a light indirect fire weapon intended to be carried by light infantry formations as a means of providing organic fire support. The infantry mortar fires shots in a high trajectory needing correction from a forward observer. It can however, prove extremely effective against light enemy troops.
Light Autocannon: A light cannon capable of automatic fire, the light autocannon bridges the gap between a machine gun, and a cannon, allowing the light autocannon to serve both roles effectively depending on what ammunition is loaded into it. In some forces, the light autocannon replaces the heavy machine gun, as the heavy direct fire weapon for light infantry, though the much larger crews required to haul the weapon around make this impractical without some means of improving the carrying capacity of individual soldiers.
Lancer Lance: The lancer lance is a superheavy melee weapon that consists of a long piercing weapon shaped similar to the knightly lances of old. The tip of the weapon is superheated through a heating coil powered by the power source of whatever it is mounted to, allowing the weapon to punch through armor very easily. Though typically mounted to special combat walkers called Lancers, these weapons can be mounted to Battledress to provide an extremely powerful melee punch. Lancer lances can only be used on vehicles or mounted on a vehicular weapon mount of Artillery or Assault battledress suits. A suit of Battledress equipped in such a fashion is typically called a Jinete.
Rocket Pod: The rocket pod is a specialized form of rocket launcher that trades many capabilities of a missile launcher in exchange for the ability to volley fire rockets to devastating effect. Though usually mounted on vehicles, many enterprising infantry troopers find a reason to mount rocket pods on tripods and use them as devastating volley weapons against fortified enemy positions.
Support Mortar: The support mortar is a heavier version of the infantry mortar that trades weight for a greater range and a larger round with a greater payload. The support mortar is a powerful tool that can prove highly effective against most infantry formations.
Tac Launcher: Perhaps the ultimate expression of support weaponry available to light infantry formations, the tac launcher is a box of small missiles with advanced computer guidance and launching systems. Each box can be configured to one of three roles. The first type, anti-aircraft missiles trade payload for extreme range allowing the launcher to serve as a highly effective short range air defense system. The second, anti-personnel maximizes explosive payload in order to suppress large infantry formations. The third anti-tank uses a directed charge to punch through most forms of armor up to and including tanks. Tac launchers are relatively modular allowing the missile boxes to be swapped out.
VRF Gauss Gun: The VRF (very rapid fire) gauss gun is a heavy version of the gauss LMG that is optimized for extremely high rates of fire at long distance. In this role, it is the ultimate expression of a machine gun style weapon.
VRF Heavy Machine Gun: The VRF (very rapid fire) consists of six barrels strapped together, though it fires intermediate cartridges, it spits them out at extreme rates of fire making it capable of laying down a suppressive barrage that forces enemies to keep their heads down lest they be shredded with extreme prejudice. This weapon is often called the minigun.
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