Post by Squall Leonhart on Nov 19, 2006 1:20:13 GMT -5
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Weapons
The history of weapons is practically as old as history itself. Civilization has always been marked by conflict, and the arts of warfare practiced among all peoples. Ancient times witnessed the dominance of primitive weapons and large armies; medieval times introduced missile weapons, armor, and refined battle tactics; and world powers waged a Great War using firearms, heavy weapons, and aerial bombardment.
Knives
In spite of the prevalence of firearms in close-quarters combat, knives and daggers see widespead use as personal weapons. Small, easily concealable, and not regulated in most areas, a knife can be carried and used just about anywhere. The average knife's main drawback is its short range, naturally, which is arm's length. Specially-balanced throwing daggers and pocket knives can, with training, be thrown accurately to a distance of 30 feet or greater.
Axes
Air Pirates and barbaric warriors seem to share an affinity for sharp, oversized fighting implements. Battle-axes, hatchets, and poleaxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some of these nasty devices feature sawtooth blades; others sport twin cutting edges (also known as "twibills"). Campers and outdoorsmen may carry small hand axes and hatchets as tools.
Bayonets
Bayonets are small blades adapted to fit onto the muzzle end of rifles. They serve as weapons in close combat, and as such, are used mainly by soldiers running low on ammunition or anticipating a charge by the enemy. Modern firepower has long rendered obsolete the tactic of the bayonet rush; a commander will order his company to "Fix bayonets!" usually as a last-ditch show of bravery in the face of dire odds. Guards find that bayonets can help them prod some action out of unresponsive types.
Swords
The sword is by far the most respected and versatile instrument of hand-to-hand combat. Centuries have not diminished the rich historic and symbolic traditions of swordplay, though late history involving Air Pirates has tarnished this weapon's reputation. Today, sword possession is restricted and public display of a sword (apart from ceremonial purposes) is an invitation for arrest in contemporary society. Many varieties of this weapon exist, from the dueling rapier and elegant saber to the heavy-bladed cutlass carried by buccaneer captains such as the infamous Don Karnage.
Ranged Weapons
Weapons that are used over a distance classify as ranged weapons. Until the last few centuries, ranged weapons were simple projectiles such as stones, spears, and arrows. The introduction of gunpowder revolutionized the way battles were fought, while the Great War spurred the development of repeating guns and automatic weapons — technology which has surged ahead with frightening speed in the post-War era.
Law-abiding citizens may purchase a sidearm legally after obtaining the necessary training and registration, but back-alley sales of illegal guns are all too easy for those who have the proper connections. Regardless of creditable efforts by the gun industry to regulate distribution of its products, firearms have spread like a plague amid the unsavory elements of society. Authorities estimate that criminals rank second only to the police and military in gun possession; hunters, security guards, and licensed civilians constitute the leftover small percentage of owners.
The majority of ranged weapons are firearms, though this section also covers a few early types of ranged weapons for good measure. A distinction must be made, however, between ranged weapons for characters and ranged weapons for vehicles and aircraft. Because of fundamental differences in scale and design, aircraft weapons are listed separately from personal weapons.
Pistols
New strides in gun manufacturing have brought handguns to a practical, affordable level (territorial laws and registration fees notwithstanding). Business owners, private collectors, security personnel, and law enforcement officers — these make up the body of legitimate firearms users. Pistols and revolvers of assorted makes and models appear regularly on the black market, and show up thereafter in the hands of criminals, gangsters, and Air Pirates.
Muskets
In the current day and age, the use of antiquated firearms in certain quarters is surprising indeed. Blunderbusses, matchlock rifles, and muskets represent archaic technology carried across the past two to three hundred years, crude and deadly in its simplicity. These weapons are clumsy, difficult to operate, and effective only at short range. Most hold only one shot. However, their low cost and relative abundance in the storehouses of gun peddlers makes them the top pick for Air Pirates and fringe paramilitary groups.
Grappling Guns
Grappling hook guns are somewhat of an oddity in the field of firearms. They are actually light cannons designed to shoot a grapnel and accompanying cable at a distant target. Intended to aid climbing, a grappling rifle holds up to 100 yards of cable on an internal or external spool. The gun carries a single propulsive charge that is fully expended after one shot; reloading takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes. Commonly used by Air Pirates to capture aircraft, grappling hook guns do not cause major damage — unless, of course, the gun goes off at point-blank range.
Vehicle/Aircraft Weapons
Ranged weapons mounted on vehicles and aircraft classify as vehicle and aircraft weapons, respectively; they work on the same principles as personal firearms, but being larger and more potent, vehicle weapons are listed apart from small arms.
Unlike pistols and rifles, which can be used in sport and hunting, vehicle-mounted weapons have virtually no application other than combat. Therefore, most vehicle weapons are highly restricted or illegal items, intended for military usage only. This fact alone, however, has not prevented these high-grade guns from finding their way onto the gun mounts of Air Pirate planes.
In the face of rampant air piracy, the only safeguard most aircraft owners can take is to arm their planes. Turning cargo fleets into small air forces proves no trouble for major corporations like Khan Industries, but outfitting a civilian plane with even one gun involves a great deal of trouble and expense. Nowadays, fear of piracy is just cause to allow a registered weapon aboard an aircraft — even so, nearly all privately-owned planes and cargo transports fly unarmed, relying upon speed and fighter patrols to keep them safe. The fact is, authorities do not want heavy weapons aboard civilian planes because it is incredibly difficult to keep track of them; there's always the risk that these weapons could be used for the very things they are supposed to prevent.
Machine Guns
Machine guns are the most common weapons found aboard vehicles and aircraft. Light machine guns are mounted on many coast guard boats and army vehicles, atop swiveling mounts that allow them a wide range of fire. Aboard aircraft, most machine guns are set forward so the pilot can aim them. Some planes have machine guns aimed to the rear or the sides, operated by separate gunners. Any legally-armed civilian plane will carry only one light gun to deter pirates; multiple guns are restricted, and heavy machine guns are forbidden.
Cannons
Cannons are similar to machine guns, but they fire heavy shells and cause more damage. Guns designated as cannons are off-limits to cargo aircraft — only combat planes pack this much armament. Fighter planes belonging to defense squadrons or Khan Industries' air force deliver superior firepower using cannons and machine guns together.
The air forces of Usland and Thembria use this grade of weaponry, as do the more dangerous bands of Air Pirates.
Gun Turrets
Gun turrets are cannons or machine guns housed in a rotating mount, placed aboard a land or sea vehicle or embedded in the fuselage of an aircraft. Turrets may take on a wide number of configurations; the most common aircraft turret is a domelike enclosure containing gunnery controls and the weapon itself. Installing a turret in a plane not meant to house one necessitates some alteration of the plane's structure, along with reinforcement of the hull surrounding the gun emplacement. Most aircraft equipped with gun turrets carry them above (dorsally) and sometimes below (ventrally), though a turret can be stuck just about anywhere on a plane: front, back, or sides.
Weapons
The history of weapons is practically as old as history itself. Civilization has always been marked by conflict, and the arts of warfare practiced among all peoples. Ancient times witnessed the dominance of primitive weapons and large armies; medieval times introduced missile weapons, armor, and refined battle tactics; and world powers waged a Great War using firearms, heavy weapons, and aerial bombardment.
Knives
In spite of the prevalence of firearms in close-quarters combat, knives and daggers see widespead use as personal weapons. Small, easily concealable, and not regulated in most areas, a knife can be carried and used just about anywhere. The average knife's main drawback is its short range, naturally, which is arm's length. Specially-balanced throwing daggers and pocket knives can, with training, be thrown accurately to a distance of 30 feet or greater.
Axes
Air Pirates and barbaric warriors seem to share an affinity for sharp, oversized fighting implements. Battle-axes, hatchets, and poleaxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some of these nasty devices feature sawtooth blades; others sport twin cutting edges (also known as "twibills"). Campers and outdoorsmen may carry small hand axes and hatchets as tools.
Bayonets
Bayonets are small blades adapted to fit onto the muzzle end of rifles. They serve as weapons in close combat, and as such, are used mainly by soldiers running low on ammunition or anticipating a charge by the enemy. Modern firepower has long rendered obsolete the tactic of the bayonet rush; a commander will order his company to "Fix bayonets!" usually as a last-ditch show of bravery in the face of dire odds. Guards find that bayonets can help them prod some action out of unresponsive types.
Swords
The sword is by far the most respected and versatile instrument of hand-to-hand combat. Centuries have not diminished the rich historic and symbolic traditions of swordplay, though late history involving Air Pirates has tarnished this weapon's reputation. Today, sword possession is restricted and public display of a sword (apart from ceremonial purposes) is an invitation for arrest in contemporary society. Many varieties of this weapon exist, from the dueling rapier and elegant saber to the heavy-bladed cutlass carried by buccaneer captains such as the infamous Don Karnage.
Ranged Weapons
Weapons that are used over a distance classify as ranged weapons. Until the last few centuries, ranged weapons were simple projectiles such as stones, spears, and arrows. The introduction of gunpowder revolutionized the way battles were fought, while the Great War spurred the development of repeating guns and automatic weapons — technology which has surged ahead with frightening speed in the post-War era.
Law-abiding citizens may purchase a sidearm legally after obtaining the necessary training and registration, but back-alley sales of illegal guns are all too easy for those who have the proper connections. Regardless of creditable efforts by the gun industry to regulate distribution of its products, firearms have spread like a plague amid the unsavory elements of society. Authorities estimate that criminals rank second only to the police and military in gun possession; hunters, security guards, and licensed civilians constitute the leftover small percentage of owners.
The majority of ranged weapons are firearms, though this section also covers a few early types of ranged weapons for good measure. A distinction must be made, however, between ranged weapons for characters and ranged weapons for vehicles and aircraft. Because of fundamental differences in scale and design, aircraft weapons are listed separately from personal weapons.
Pistols
New strides in gun manufacturing have brought handguns to a practical, affordable level (territorial laws and registration fees notwithstanding). Business owners, private collectors, security personnel, and law enforcement officers — these make up the body of legitimate firearms users. Pistols and revolvers of assorted makes and models appear regularly on the black market, and show up thereafter in the hands of criminals, gangsters, and Air Pirates.
Muskets
In the current day and age, the use of antiquated firearms in certain quarters is surprising indeed. Blunderbusses, matchlock rifles, and muskets represent archaic technology carried across the past two to three hundred years, crude and deadly in its simplicity. These weapons are clumsy, difficult to operate, and effective only at short range. Most hold only one shot. However, their low cost and relative abundance in the storehouses of gun peddlers makes them the top pick for Air Pirates and fringe paramilitary groups.
Grappling Guns
Grappling hook guns are somewhat of an oddity in the field of firearms. They are actually light cannons designed to shoot a grapnel and accompanying cable at a distant target. Intended to aid climbing, a grappling rifle holds up to 100 yards of cable on an internal or external spool. The gun carries a single propulsive charge that is fully expended after one shot; reloading takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes. Commonly used by Air Pirates to capture aircraft, grappling hook guns do not cause major damage — unless, of course, the gun goes off at point-blank range.
Vehicle/Aircraft Weapons
Ranged weapons mounted on vehicles and aircraft classify as vehicle and aircraft weapons, respectively; they work on the same principles as personal firearms, but being larger and more potent, vehicle weapons are listed apart from small arms.
Unlike pistols and rifles, which can be used in sport and hunting, vehicle-mounted weapons have virtually no application other than combat. Therefore, most vehicle weapons are highly restricted or illegal items, intended for military usage only. This fact alone, however, has not prevented these high-grade guns from finding their way onto the gun mounts of Air Pirate planes.
In the face of rampant air piracy, the only safeguard most aircraft owners can take is to arm their planes. Turning cargo fleets into small air forces proves no trouble for major corporations like Khan Industries, but outfitting a civilian plane with even one gun involves a great deal of trouble and expense. Nowadays, fear of piracy is just cause to allow a registered weapon aboard an aircraft — even so, nearly all privately-owned planes and cargo transports fly unarmed, relying upon speed and fighter patrols to keep them safe. The fact is, authorities do not want heavy weapons aboard civilian planes because it is incredibly difficult to keep track of them; there's always the risk that these weapons could be used for the very things they are supposed to prevent.
Machine Guns
Machine guns are the most common weapons found aboard vehicles and aircraft. Light machine guns are mounted on many coast guard boats and army vehicles, atop swiveling mounts that allow them a wide range of fire. Aboard aircraft, most machine guns are set forward so the pilot can aim them. Some planes have machine guns aimed to the rear or the sides, operated by separate gunners. Any legally-armed civilian plane will carry only one light gun to deter pirates; multiple guns are restricted, and heavy machine guns are forbidden.
Cannons
Cannons are similar to machine guns, but they fire heavy shells and cause more damage. Guns designated as cannons are off-limits to cargo aircraft — only combat planes pack this much armament. Fighter planes belonging to defense squadrons or Khan Industries' air force deliver superior firepower using cannons and machine guns together.
The air forces of Usland and Thembria use this grade of weaponry, as do the more dangerous bands of Air Pirates.
Gun Turrets
Gun turrets are cannons or machine guns housed in a rotating mount, placed aboard a land or sea vehicle or embedded in the fuselage of an aircraft. Turrets may take on a wide number of configurations; the most common aircraft turret is a domelike enclosure containing gunnery controls and the weapon itself. Installing a turret in a plane not meant to house one necessitates some alteration of the plane's structure, along with reinforcement of the hull surrounding the gun emplacement. Most aircraft equipped with gun turrets carry them above (dorsally) and sometimes below (ventrally), though a turret can be stuck just about anywhere on a plane: front, back, or sides.
