Electrothermal-Chemical (ETC)

Electrothermal-Chemical (ETC) (TL9-10)

These weapons augment chemical energy with electrical power. A controlled plasma burn provides a smoother and more complete utilization of propellant, increasing the projectile velocity without a significant increase in recoil.

They are introduced in armored vehicle cannon in late TL8. By TL9 they are commonly available, and by mid-to-late TL9 appear in small arms. Conservative forces and civilians continue to use them through TL10.

ETC weapons are not shown on the weapon table. Instead, all conventional slugthrowers are also available in ETC-boosted versions.

ETC guns have 1.5 times the piercing damage and range of a conventional caseless-propellant gun. They are also twice as expensive.

They require electrical power as well as ammunition, although this power requirement is much less than an electromagnetic gun or a beam weapon. The grip or stock of an ETC slugthrower incorporates a removable A cell (for pistols), B cell (for SMGs, PDWs, shotguns, rifles), or C cell (for heavy weapons) to provide electrial power. Each power cell can fire 10 magazines of ammunition.