Electrolasers

Electrolasers use a pair of low-power far-ultraviolet laser beams to create an ionized path through the air, then transmit an electrical discharge that follows this to the target. In effect, they're an electric stun gun that uses a laser beam instead of a wire. They're also called "zap guns" or "stat guns."

Low-Power Electrolasers (TL9)

These are non-lethal weapons. They deliver both an electrical shock and a minor laser burn.

The laser beam inflicts 1d-3 burn damage. It needn't penetrate to carry the charge. Smoke, fog, rain, or clouds give extra DR equal to the visibility penalty. For example, if rain gives a penalty of -1 per 100 yards, a target 200 yards away gets an extra DR 2.

An electrolaser's shock is a HT-based affliction attack with a (2) armor divisor (each 2 DR on the location struck provides +1 to HT). Add +3 past 1/2D range. If the victim fails to resist, the shock stuns him. He may roll against HT every turn at the same penalty (but without the DR bonus) to recover. Electrolasers also affect machines that are Electrical. Electrolaser weapons produce a "zap" sound, no louder than a silenced pistol, and the beam is visible. They are most effective in dry climates. In humid conditions they are less accurate; the electrical bolt jumps off the laser path to paths of lower resistance. This gives a -2 to hit in moist, humid environments, and a -6 to hit in rain, drizzle, or heavy fog. In a vacuum or trace atmosphere, there is no air to ionize; the electrolaser only inflicts 1d-3 burn damage from the laser, with no additional linked effect.

Police and civilians often use electrolasers; they're also popular for prisoner control, kidnappings and covert operations, and even subduing animals. Electrolasers are available in holdout, pistol, carbine, and rifle configurations at TL9.

Lethal Electrolasers (TL9)

Any electrolaser may have an optional "kill" setting that uses up two shots instead of one. It takes a Ready maneuver to change settings.

On "kill" the weapon transmits a higher-amperage current. Any HT roll that fails by 5 or more triggers the Heart Attack mortal condition. For electrical machines, a "heart attack" results in the target's electrical systems burning out until repaired.

These are popular assassination weapons. Lethal electrolasers are all LC2.

Electrolaser Table

BEAM WEAPONS (PISTOL) (DX-4, other Beam Weapons-4, or Guns (Pistol)-4)

TL	Weapon	Damage	Acc	Range	Weight	RoF	Shots	ST	Bulk	Rcl	Cost	LC
9	Electrolaser Pistol	HT-4 (2) aff	4	40/80	2.2/C	3	36(3)	4	-2	1	$1,800	4
	linked	1d-3 burn
9	Holdout Electrolaser	HT-2 (2) aff	2	10/20	0.3/B	1	22(3)	3	-1	1	$250	4
	linked	1d-3 burn

BEAM WEAPONS (RIFLE) (DX-4, other Beam Weapons-4, or Guns (Rifle)-4)

TL	Weapon	Damage	Acc	Range	Weight	RoF	Shots	ST	Bulk	Rcl	Cost	LC
9	Electrolaser Carbine	HT-4 (2) aff	8	160/470	3.7/2C	3	72(3)	4†	-4	1	$3,900	3
	linked	1d-3 burn
9	Heavy Electrolaser	HT-6 (2) aff	8	400/1,100	20/Dp	1	83(3)	10†	-5	1	$20,000	3
	linked	1d-2 burn
9	Underbarrel Electrolaser	HT-3 (2) aff	4	90/270	1.8/C	1	66(3)	4	–	1	$1,300	4
	linked	1d-3 burn

GUNNER (BEAMS) (DX-4, or other Gunner-4)

TL	Weapon	Damage	Acc	Range	Weight	RoF	Shots	ST	Bulk	Rcl	Cost	LC
9	Semi-Portable Electrolaser	HT-8 (2) aff	12	600/1,900	70/Dp	10	100(5)	18M	-8	1	$70,000	1
	linked	1d-1 burn