|
Cannons:
|
|
In
game terms cannons are defined as any weapon that propels a
projectile through chemical (explosive) means. Various types of
cannons exist, all branches of the same family, each with its own
unique characteristics and abilities. Within the overall class of
cannon there exist many variants, including the pistol,
machinegun, Assault Cannon, rifle and others. Pistols are defined
as any hand-held single-shot weapon; each pull of the trigger
fires one round. Machineguns are classed as light weapons and are
usually carried by infantry, mounted on a pintle or hard point and
do not offer the stopping power of higher caliber weapons.
Furthermore cannons can take on multiple forms, ranging from
single barrels to rotating multi-barrel “Gatling Guns”. |
|
Missiles: |
|
Missiles are defined as any weapon with an internal
propulsion system that is used to ‘lob’ explosives and other weapons
payloads over great distances. Within this class there are two typical
variants, explosive and incendiary. Explosive types include High Explosives
and Fragmentation type warheads. Incendiary include both Napalm and Liquid
Plasma type warheads. Regardless of the payload the rocket and missile systems
have become a powerful tool on the battlefield. Some missile systems should
actually be classed as rocket systems. All missile systems include at least
the most basic guidance technology, whereas rocket systems are unguided, line
of sight projectiles.
|
|
Lightening
Fists: |
|
Lightening Fists were one of the first generation
weapons designed for the Exo. When research began and the final form of the
Exo was decided rocket technology was still in its infancy. The Lightening
Fists was developed to provide the first generation Exo with a powerful
projectile weapon. As rocket and missile pods were developed the Lightening
Fist looked like it would loose its popularity, but that did not happen. The
Lightening Fist remains a powerful tool of the Exo pilot, especially for the
lighter scout-recon Exo, whose armament lacked any real heavy weapons.
|
|
Bazookas: |
|
Just like Infantry units armored with long-ranged
rocket weapons, so too is the Exo. The Bazooka fills the role of providing a
heavy, disposable punch. The typical Bazooka cannon is cheap to manufacture,
and once exhausted, can be dropped to increase speed and mobility. The
disposable nature of the Bazooka has earned it a popular place in the hearts
of rapid response units and scout-recon teams. Fast and agile Exo’s such as
the Puma and the Asp are able to exhaust their supply of Bazooka rounds at a
greater distance and drop the excess weight of the launcher. Then close in for
close range combat where their increased speed and agility outperform the
larger heavy Exo’s.
|
|
Incinerators: |
|
Incinerator type weapons have long been considered a
devastating demolitions weapon, not only able to bring down large structures,
but to demoralize the enemy. Incinerators come in a variety of types and sizes
including hand held units, incendiary rockets, missiles and bombs. The lessons
learned from even the simplest incendiaries like the “Molotov Cocktail”
has been taken to heart. The two basic incendiary formulas are napalm and
liquid plasma. Napalm is a thick fluid that can be fired like a stream of
water from a fire hose, whereas liquid plasma is lobbed like small packets of
fire, somewhat reminiscent of magic fireballs from popular fantasy movies.
Liquid plasma is the latest evolution of incinerator technology, a binary
chemical is stored in separate tanks, when mixed the resulting compound
becomes highly unstable. A compressed slug of the resulting mixture is
launched with a burst of compressed air, at the moment of launch the compound
is ignited by a small plasma torch tip, causing the slug of fuel to ignite in
the temperature range normally associated with plasma. Although the liquid
plasma typically has a shorter range then napalm, it burns at nearly 5 times
the temperature, and is able to melt hardened concrete and steel. Tests
against atmospheric tiles like those on spacecraft have shown that the heat
generated by the liquid plasma is roughly equivalent to the temperatures
caused by re-entry into earth atmosphere.
|
|
Melee
Weapons: |
|
Melee
weapons encompass any weapon that is used in direct hand to hand combat with
another Exo or object. These weapons have little to no moving parts and are
limited to a hand held combat range unless thrown. Melee weapons can range
anywhere from armored body spikes (called chassis reinforcements) to
high-frequency vibration blades (vibro-blades) to simple hammers made of
industrial solids (maces). Regardless of their nature, the melee weapon is
made to literally beat the ‘brains’ out of an enemy. That being said there
is one exception to this general definition of melee weapons, and that is hand
grenades. Hand grenades fall under the heading of Melee Weapons only because
they are hand held devices that are thrown, they have no motor or other means
of propulsion beside the act of throwing by the Exo. |
|
Miscellaneous: |
|
Miscellaneous
weapons are those specialty weapons and systems that don’t fall under any of
the other categories. These weapons can have components of the other classes
of weapons, but there highly specialized nature places them in a separate
category from the others like it. This class includes the Tank Hunter cannon,
Fragmentation Cannon and the Net Gun. While all three are projectile weapons
they do not fall under the umbrella category of Cannons. The Tank Hunter is a
specialty weapon with intense stopping power, more powerful then almost any
other projectile weapon available. The Fragmentation Cannon is the closest
thing to a shotgun the Exo class weapons get, it is designed for stopping
power, but also area effect. Then
there is the Drop Gun, which is used as a back-up weapon in case ammunition
for the Exo’s primary weapon (s) is depleted. Some of the lighter Exo’s
like the Puma and Asp use the Drop Gun as its main armament because of its
lightweight, but its true purpose is as a back up weapon. Lastly there is the
Net Gun; used originally as a non-lethal police weapon it became popular
because of its ability to entangle a target without actually damaging it. The
net Gun is a favorite in espionage where capturing the target is the primary
goal of the mission. |
|
