Build:Ballistic Weapons

9.2 Ballistic Weapons

To construct a ballistic weapon, a ship must have three things: the type of weapon itself (and the quantity installed), which determines its projectile and launching mechanism; the ship's targeting system; and its arc of fire. Ammunition storage must be purchased separately.

Each ballistic weapon type has its own range, specified in its weapon entry. Ballistic projectiles follow a direct unguided trajectory after firing unless the weapon’s description states otherwise. For every 100 kilometers beyond the weapon’s Long range, increase the Difficulty to hit the target by +10%. A ship may purchase improved ballistic fire control to negate this penalty at a cost of 3 SUs per +10% penalty negated, to a maximum of +30% negated for 9 SUs. This improvement extends effective targeting range; it does not increase the projectile’s maximum physical range.

9.2.1 Railguns

Cost: Varies (see table)
Power Requirement: Varies (see table)

Buy each barrel as a separate emplacement. Its listed SU includes the accelerator, feed mechanism, and local fire-control hardware; it does not include ammunition or a shipwide targeting system.

Power is only used when firing, not for every round in which the weapon sits ready. A light gun firing twice pays 4 Power and expends two rounds. A heavy gun cannot fire in consecutive rounds, even if extra Power is available.

• Magazine: 1 SU holds 20 light rounds, 10 medium rounds, or 5 heavy rounds. Specify the ammunition type when purchasing the magazine; mixed magazines split capacity proportionally.

• Reloading: A magazine feeds only its designated emplacement unless you buy a shared feed system for +2 SU per additional gun served.

• Mounting: A wider-arc turret costs +50% launcher SU, rounded up, and doubles the listed arc to a maximum of 120°. This does not improve range or accuracy.

• Targeting: Use the ship’s TA/T/T bonus.

Table 9.2.2: Railguns table

Mount	Launcher SU	Power per shot	Damage per hit	Shots per round	Nominal firing arc
Light rail gun	4	2	4	2	60°
Medium rail gun	8	4	8	1	45°
Heavy rail gun	14	8	12	1 every 2 rounds	30°

9.2.1.1 Firing and impact

Apply the following Crew Skill Test difficulty for each attack by a railgun. Each railgun shot is a separate attack, including each shot from a light gun when fired twice per round. The more massive shells have lower muzzle velocities; a longer flight time makes an unguided shot more vulnerable to unexpected target motion.

Table 9.2.2: Railgun Range Bands table

Mount	Short	Medium	Long	Beyond Long
Light	Simple	Routine	Challenging	Difficult
Medium	Routine	Routine	Difficult	Extreme
Heavy	Routine	Challenging	Difficult	Extreme

On a hit, apply the listed damage using Spacedock’s normal damage procedure, with these ballistic-specific modifiers:

• Unshielded target: Full damage. If the hit penetrates the hull under your normal damage rules, apply the usual internal-damage/critical procedure; do not award a free critical merely because the weapon is ballistic.

• Shielded target: Quarter damage, rounded up, against the shield. No damage passes through an intact shield unless another rule explicitly allows it.

• Armor: Apply armor normally after determining whether the shot reaches the hull. Do not grant rail guns inherent armor penetration.

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