Other Modern Weapons

Melee Weapons

Melee weaponry in the modern era is much less common than it was in the past. Really, the only melee weapon a person is likely to see is a knife (use dagger stats), a truncheon (use the club‚s stats), or possibly a bayonet (which can be mounted on firearms the same as on crossbows). There are a few new modern weapons, however.

Combat Gloves: Combat gloves are, for all intents and purposes, the new gauntlets. They are made with Kevlar, and have weighted knuckles to protect your hands. Combat gloves only add +2 defence to your hands, but weigh much less than gauntlets do.

Pistol Whip and Rifle Butt: These are not exactly weapons by themselves, but refer to using a firearm as an improvised weapon. A pistol whip is an attack with a firearm that weighs less than 3kg, and a rifle butt is with a more powerful weapon.

Chainsaw: A chainsaw is not really a weapon,  but the situation may arise when one is pressed into service as one, often by people who watch too many movies. This grizzly weapon is extremely cumbersome, and requires both Improvised Weapon Proficiency and Specialized Weapon Proficiency: Chainsaw to use without penalty.

Melee Weapon Modifications

Electroplating: Using modern chemistry, it is possible to permanently bind a thin layer of metal to another metal object. This process numerous industrial and decorative uses, but it is also has uses when making weapons to fight certain supernatural creatures. Materials unsuitable for making weapons can be used to electroplate more conventional weapons. The main use of this is to use silver to thinly coat swords, knives, or bullets.

Special Material:

Miscellaneous Weapons

This category is for weapons that don‚t fit neatly into the above categories.

Flamethrower: Flamethrowers consist of a large, heavy tank filled with an incendiary and pressurized propellant, as well as a small gun-like nozzle. Flammable gasses are shot out of the nozzle and ignited by a small pilot light, projecting fire to the enemy. Flamethrowers are no longer used in modern war due to the horrible deaths and injuries they can inflict. Flamethrowers have adjustable nozzles, which in game terms means they have two different settings. In the first, the flamethrower fires with a range increment of 5m, and attacks an area equal to a scale 2 line (8m x 2m). In the second, the flamethrower opens the nozzle to the maximum setting, firing in a large cone (scale 3) directly from the nozzle (no range increment). The cone deals 1d6 + 4 heat damage, while the line deals 1d6 + 6. Anyone hit by a flamethrower must also make  a reflex check (DC 6) or be lit on fire. A replacement tank of fuel costs $50.

RPG: This is the only part of the game in which “RPG” stands for “Rocket-Propelled Grenade” instead of “Role-Playing Game.” Don‚t get them confused, as a weapon that fires rulebooks (even hardcover ones) would be less than impressive. RPG launchers fire unguided self-propelled explosives, which explode catastrophically. They are used around the world against low-flying aircraft and medium-armoured vehicles. The price listed includes one rocket, each additional rocket costs another $600. Reloading an RPG takes 6 seconds.

Water and Squirt Guns: After the terrifying weaponry of flamethrowers and RPGs, a water gun might seem like an unusual weapon. However, they can be used creatively with, say, holy water. The larger water gun refers to the pressure-powered sort, which requires two hands to use (one to pump the air, the other to pull the trigger) regardless of the effort necessary. It can fire on …auto,‚ which means you simply hold down the trigger and shoot out a constant spray of water. This is treated the same way as auto rates of fire for firearms, in that it attacks a scale 1 (2x2) area or against a single target with +1 to attack, and uses five units of ammo. Water guns have a range increment of 5m, but still can‚t shoot more than 20m. Squirt guns are the cheap pistol-shaped guns that can be found in dollar stores, and can‚t fire at targets more than 5m away. However, they can be fired one-handed.