-------(c) 1984 POLYHEDRON Newszine and the RPGA Network-------

POLYHEDRON #19

RPGA Network Item Design contest results

by Frank Mentzer

[....]The First Runner-Up, receiving a 10-year membership extension, is
Pierre Savoie of Kingston, Ontario.  His item is "The Taser Rifle" for the
STAR FRONTIERS game.

[....]

First Runner-Up:  The Taser Rifle (for the STAR FRONTIERS game)
Rating:  Usefulness #2; Originality #2; Rules Adherence #2.

SKILL BONUS USED:  Projectile
DAMAGE:  Stun (needle damage is negligible)
AVOIDANCE ROLL:  Current STA or less (no effect)
AMMO:  20 SEU clip (or powerpack connection)
SEU USE:  2 per hit
RATE:  1 shot per turn
DEFENSE:  Anti-Shock implant (suits and screens are ineffective)
RANGES:  PB (0-2); Short (3-5); Medium (6-10); Long (11-20); no Extreme (20
m natural limit)
MASS:  5 kg
COST:  900 Cr (new disk-and-wire assemblies 50 Cr each)

   This rifle has four disks mounted near the front, each connected to a 20
m coil of insulated wire.  Each disk is 10 cm in diameter, with a short
barbed needle in the center, a steel plate around it (3 cm diameter) and
velcro (fasteners) on the remainder of the surface.
   The user may fire one disk per turn.  On a successful hit, the disk
attaches to the target and a surge of electricity is delivered through the
wire.  The victim is stunned for the first turn (during the power surge) and
remains helpless for d100 turns.  A successful Stamina check means that the
victim has resisted the stun.
   After the initial turn of the power surge, the disk can be removed and
reeled back to the rifle in one turn.  As there are four disks, immediate
recovery may not be needed.  In addition, each reel may be set to recover
automatically while the user continues to use others.  Note that the wire may
snag on obstructions in some terrain or may not easily be removed from
certain creatures.  The wire has high tensile strength but is easily cut
[using a set of built-in gun mechanisms], enabling the user to flee if
necessary without losing the gun itself.


-------(c) 1984 POLYHEDRON Newszine and the RPGA Network--------