Q-BRANCH (of the GURPS forum)

[Donny Brook]

Originally Posted by Icelander

Oookay, just be aware that this will create an odd cinematic reality, where the optimal weapon choices will often be rechambered, gunsmithed varieties of old-fashioned firearms mass-produced cheaply several generations ago.

Basically, the firearm equivalent of a world where modified Willys Jeeps, Ladas and VW Beetles out-perform modern purpose-built racing cars.

My dear fellow, this is not about creating a reality or a world. It's about what handy or amusing sorts of gadgetry can be designed using various GURPS equipment mod rules.

Here's one you may enjoy:

The CQB Stormer is designed to pack serious punch, throwing heavy lead in high volumes. This weapon is based on the Springfield M14, then converted to bullpup configuration to improve bulk, accurized one step, incorporating two accessory rails, and rebuilt to fire duplex rounds based on the Marlin .444 cartridge (which was chosen to provide large calibre stopping power with muzzle energy not too much more than 7.62 NATO thereby retaining similar controllability during autofire). The larger action lowers the RoF, slightly, but this is more than compensated by the use of duplex ammo.

TL . . Weapon . . . . . . Damage . . . . Acc . . . . Range . . . . Wt . . . . . . . . . . . RoF . . Shots . . . . . ST . . . Bulk . . . Rcl . . . Cost
8 . . CQB STORMER . .. . 6D-1 pi+ . . . 6 . . . . . 225/1450 . . 10.049 /1.144 . .. 10x2 . . 20+1 (3) . . . 11 . . . -4 . . . . 3 . . . 1550 /79.04

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

My dear fellow, this is not about creating a reality or a world. It's about what handy or amusing sorts of gadgetry can be designed using various GURPS equipment mod rules.

Maybe you are unfamiliar with the James Bond films?

Not at all.

My point is that James Bond gadgets usually have the aesthetics that are cool, in or even futuristic at the time of release. Q-Branch rarely gives Bond modified weapons or vehicles from WWII in movies set in the present day.

Similar stats to what you want from the PDW-sized carbine can be achieved and GURPS stats exist for such in both books and Pyramid articles. They are just generally more expensive, use special ammunition and the ad-speak around them focuses on merchandise that is currently commercially available, not almost 70-years-old technology that can only be obtained used.

A modified M1/M2 carbine does make sense for Bond movies set in the early 60s, but it would have been chambered in 5.7 Johnson/.22 Spitfire and it wouldn't use a modern high-density magazine (or such modern fashions as P-Rails or camo paint).

In the modern day, it would be something like an FN-SCAR PDW, KAC PDW, HK416c, SIG MCX Rattler PDW, AAC Honey Badger, Magpul PDR, IWI Tavor X95 or similar weapons.

[Kax]

Yeah, something bullpuppy and accurised in 6.5mm Grendel would do the job of being small, accurate, and hitting hard.

[Culture20]

I presume this is exclusively for equipment and not abilities with gadget limitations?

[Donny Brook]

Originally Posted by Culture20

I presume this is exclusively for equipment and not abilities with gadget limitations?

Yes, that is my intention.

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

Here's one you may enjoy:

The CQB Stormer is designed to pack serious punch, throwing heavy lead in high volumes. This weapon is based on the Springfield M14, then converted to bullpup configuration to improve bulk, accurized one step, incorporating two accessory rails, and rebuilt to fire duplex rounds based on the Marlin .444 cartridge (which was chosen to provide large calibre stopping power with muzzle energy not too much more than 7.62 NATO thereby retaining similar controllability during autofire). The larger action lowers the RoF, slightly, but this is more than compensated by the use of duplex ammo.

TL . . Weapon . . . . . . Damage . . . . Acc . . . . Range . . . . Wt . . . . . . . . . . . RoF . . Shots . . . . . ST . . . Bulk . . . Rcl . . . Cost
8 . . CQB STORMER . .. . 6D-1 pi+ . . . 6 . . . . . 225/1450 . . 10.049 /1.144 . .. 10x2 . . 20+1 (3) . . . 11 . . . -4 . . . . 3 . . . 1550 /79.04

Chambering a .308 rifle for a rimless version of the .444 Marlin is not a bad idea and has even been done in real life. Of course, there is no compelling reason to actually base this weapon on the M14, but that's a matter of flavour more than actual mechanics. It would probably be more suitable for flavour to use an AR-10/AR308/DPMS as the basis for the build, or possibly steal the name of some cool and futuristic-looking bullpup like the Desert Tech MDR and just note that it's a variant chambered for the fictional .444 cartridge you're using.

Personally, I'd use Douglas Cole's spreadsheet to calculate the actual Wound Channel Modifier of the smaller duplex rounds rather than just use the nominal caliber, as it's probably unrealistic for ca 120 grain duplex projectiles to have a higher wounding modifier than 300 grain .338 Lapua Magnum rounds, but I'm aware that not reducing the damage type is technically RAW.

[Donny Brook]

Q-Branch Re-imagines the Boarding Pistol for the modern age!

Based on the Glock 18 machine pistol, it is up-calibered to use .40 S&W*, given basic accurization upgrading, equipped with special high capacity magazines, and lightened with superior materials. Each weapon is custom fitted for the intended operator. This process yields the following stats:

TL . . Weapon . . . . . . Damage . . . . Acc . . . . Range . . . . . Wt . . . . . . . . . . . RoF . . Shots . . . . . ST . . . Bulk . . . Rcl . . . Cost
8 . . GLOCK MP40 . .. . 2D+2 pi+ . . . 3 . . . . . 160/1800 . . 3.02 /0.81 . . . . . . 21 . . . 21+1 (3) . . . 9 . . . -2 . . . . . . 2 . . .. 2250 /43.35

In addition, the weapons are further modified by adding:

-a top accessory rail,
-side-mounted melee-enhancing flanges/spikes (+1 crush melee dmg**),
-a fully enclosed hand guard (DR 4, add -1 Bulk, +1 crush melee dmg**), and
-an integrated, undermounted titanium tactical folder knife** with the following stats:
-Dmg: sw-2*** cut Reach: C, 1, or
-Dmg: thr-1 imp Reach: C

With these additions, the final cost and weight of the weapon comes to $3030 and 4.345 lb. Used to pistol-whip, it does Thr+4 Crush. Wielded with the Pistol Fist perk, it parries at (Guns: Pistol skill/2)+3.


*Versions using .357 Sig and 10x25mm were also explored but deemed impractically powerful for autofire.

**Due to location and orientation, only one of these three damage profiles come into play on any given melee attack.

***Although the blade is small, the size of the gun gives swing damage closer to a larger blade.

[Gumby Bush]

Here's one suitable to a low tech game:

Assassin's Stick:
Combination Weapon (1 at a time)
6' Snorkel
Spyglass
Blowpipe
Quarterstaff
Expensive & Disguised
$922.5 4.6lbs

There are two questions I had about whether this is totally RAW:
Combining a blowpipe and a quarterstaff is not explicitly supported, and you cannot ordinarily combine weapons with that rule. Applying Expensive to weapons is likewise not supposed to be allowed. I designed it for a fantasy game and assume it is made of essential wood.