Weapon Stygian Reaches Despot Pattern Slug Carbine

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DESPOT PATTERN SLUG CARBINE

AFFILIATION
Open market.

MANUFACTURER
Various.

SIZE
Length - 1 meter.

WEIGHT
10 kilograms.

COMPOSITION
Steel and synthwood.

WEAPON TYPE
Slugthrower.

DAMAGE TYPE(S)
Medium.

AMMUNITION CAPACITY
20 shots per magazine.

FIRE SELECTOR
Semi-automatic.

MAX RANGE
60 meters.

DESCRIPTION​

The Despot Pattern slug carbine is a model of semi-automatic slugthrower which is relatively common in the Stygian Reaches, and especially in areas controlled by the Satrapy. Based on archaic Tionese designs, the Despot is roughly a copy of a battle rifle used by the regular infantry of Xim the Depot's armies, albeit adapted somewhat to local conditions.

The Despot fires thick-walled brass cartridges, which contain an ultra-stable solid propellant charge behind a roughly 10mm stainless steel projectile; the propellant is ignited by a piezoelectric primer in the base of the cartridge, which sparks when struck by the weapon's firing pin. The rounds are contained in 20-shot detachable box magazines, which are fairly bulky and low capacity compared to conventional blaster power packs, but which can be changed out fairly quickly. Damage from the weapon is entirely kinetic, leaving messy, traumatic wounds, unlike the self-cauterizing injuries caused by most energy weapons. Although the weapon has a hard time penetrating body armor, a good shot can get very good performance out of it.

Despot carbines, though once a front-line military weapon, have been largely supplanted by beam tubes and later beamer weapons in this role. They are still widely used by civilians, however, who may not be able to afford a self-contained beamer, and want something less awkward to use than a tethered beam tube.

LEGALITY​

Legal. Ownership of slug weapons is not technically restricted in most of the Stygian Reaches, however openly carrying such a weapon in public might be on more "civilized" worlds. On less civilized worlds, it still might draw unwanted scrutiny.

INTENT​

To create a standard slug rifle found in the Stygian Reaches.

RESTRICTIONS​

Despot Pattern slug carbines are only manufactured on worlds in the Stygian Reaches, and are not to be found in the old Galaxy unless specially imported at great expense.