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I may never come back, and I just want someone to know. This article contains text from a former Shadow Academy course. It is no longer in use, and is preserved here for historical purposes only and should not be used/referenced.
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Karana Campus: General Weapons
Introduction
Greetings, Dark Jedi of the Brotherhood.
This course is meant to instruct you in the ways of the weapons commonly found in the galaxy; specifically those found within the halls of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. In the first section, you will learn about common weapons found throughout the galaxy, especially those used by the New Republic and Imperial Remnant. There are countless weapons used throughout the galaxy. Ever since the evolution of sentient beings, weapons have been used to wage war or settle disputes. From wooden sticks to lightsabers, weapons have evolved along with everything else.
The ACC
The Antei Combat Center includes a wide variety of weapons that one can use when battling an opponent. These range from blasters to blades to explosives, as well as some special weapons that can only be awarded by the Combat Master. This course contains information primarily over the weapons found in the ACC arsenal, although it is not limited to that. Of course, not all of the weapons could be included, so it is highly recommended that you take a moment after reading the notes to look over the weapons in Parts III and V of the ACC Compendium (ACC Compendium links are are the right hand side of the ACC page).
Weapon Types and Examples
The following sections of the course notes cover some specific examples of weapons. It should be stressed that these are by no means the only weapons out there.
Blasters
There are typically two classes of blasters in the galaxy: single-handed, or pistols, and dual-handed, or rifles. They are ranged weapons that fire a burst of particle beam energy from a replaceable power cell. These are by far the most common weapon in the galaxy, with hundreds of variations in existence. Used since the Rakatan Empire, blasters have never gone out of style, but only improved with technology. A third class of blasters also exists: blaster cannons. These are mounted on the hulls of ships and used as weapons, although we will not be covering these in this course. There are other variations of blasters, but in the end, they will all most likely fall into one of these three classes.
Blaster pistols are more or less smaller and lighter versions of rifles, small enough to be held in one hand, allowing some users to wield two at once. Despite their size, however, some are still powerful enough to kill a humanoid with one hit. Larger, more powerful versions called heavy blaster pistols have been developed, as well as smaller more precise ones known as sporting blasters. Other common pistols are the holdout pistol, small enough to easily conceal, yet quickly take out when needed.
In the ACC, some of the more common blaster pistols are the MerrSonn 434 "Death Hammer", Westar-34, and BlasTech DL-44, the latter being a heavy blaster pistol.
MerrSonn 434
The MerrSonn 434 is known for its solid construction and incredible stopping power. It is plated with durasteel, making it a heavy weapon weight-wise, but it is also well armored and powerful. This weapon is popular among bounty hunters and mercenaries.
Westar-34
The Westar-34 is a silver Dallorian alloy pistol very common among those who prefer surprise attacks against their enemies. It is created for sustained, close-range use, and is capable of absorbing more heat then most pistols, meaning it can fire constantly for longer periods. One famous user of this weapon was the bounty hunter Jango Fett.
DL-44
The DL-44 heavy blaster pistol by BlasTech was one of the company's most popular weapons. Despite its short range, it is a very powerful weapon, and was made famous after its use by the rebel Han Solo during the Galactic Civil War. While it has a slow fire rate compared to other heavy blasters, its accuracy is unmatched, and can easily be modified to fit the user's specific needs.
Blaster rifles, unlike pistols, must generally be handled with both hands (though many are light enough to where they may be used single handedly, though a reduction in accuracy is virtually guaranteed), and are often powerful, long ranged weapons. There are many versions of rifles, as well as variants of the originals, but notable examples include the E-5 rifle, DC-15A, and the E-11.
E-5
The E-5 was a powerful and light weapon, used by the Trade Federation battle droids. However, it was also inaccurate, and today this rifle is rarely seen.
DC-15A
The DC-15A rifle is another rarely seen weapon now, originally used by the clone troopers of the Galactic Republic. A powerful weapon, it was eventually replaced by smaller, lighter rifles for use by stormtroopers.
E-11
The E-11 blaster rifle is possibly the most common blaster rifle, used primarily by Imperial troopers. It is a powerful yet light weapon, and can hold up to five hundred shots. The EE-3 is a smaller carbine variant of the E-11, most notably used by the bounty hunter Boba Fett.
Slugthrowers
Slugthrowers are a small category of weapons that use a chemical reaction to shoot slugs at long range, rather then bolts of energy. Due to the high velocity of these slugs, it was often difficult to aim since the shot would change course while in the air, but this also gave the weapon an advantage against force sensitive opponents, as it was harder to detect where the shot would eventually land. Slugthrowers can be silenced.
One example, the Imperial Heavy "3Z" Repeater, is a projectile weapon common among the Imperial Remnant. It has an extremely rapid-fire rate and moderate spread pattern, as well as an attached concussion grenade launcher. Slugthrowers are considered by most to be primitive, inferior technology, but nonetheless are still used by many poorer and more isolated cultures due to their cheap cost.
A few words about marksmanship
Most commonly, Dark Jedi prefer the use of brute force, but in some cases, your target may be heavily guarded, or simply to powerful to engage in combat. Thus, marksmanship, using either a blaster or a slugthrower, provides another option. If a target is at a far enough distance, his power will not matter, nor will his protection, because, if done properly, the target, nor those around him, will ever see the attack.
There are three basic firing positions. A standing position should only be used by the most experienced marksman, for it is the least stable. A kneeling position provides a quick way of gaining accuracy, and shrinking yourself as a target. The prone position provides the highest level of accuracy and cover a marksman can have, and as such is the most stable.
Position is not the only factor when firing a shot, however. Another important factor is known as master eye. Everyone has one eye which is stronger than the other - this eye is called the master eye. Whenever aiming, one should be using their master eye. Breathing also affects a shot enormously, especially at a distance, and can be the difference between a hit and a miss. Two important breathing tips to remember are to hold your breath for a maximum of seven seconds, and within these seven seconds fire your shot.
Finally, the Force itself can also have an impact of marksmanship. Those properly trained in the Force have some advantages over normal gunmen. Farseeing can be used to enhance the image of your target even farther then what is shown in your scope, thus it will increase your shots accuracy exponentially. Telekinesis can also be used to stabilize ones rifle and oneself. Some Dark Jedi use force to completely stabilize their rifle, only using their arms as a force of habit.
Blades
Blades are single or double-handed weapons that, instead of firing bolts of energy at the enemy, are short-ranged weapons used to hack, slice, or stab the opponent. They can be only a few inches long like in knives or multiple meters long. Blades are much like lightsabers, except instead of a beam of energy, they use metal as the weapon. It should also be noted that, due to technology, a blade may not be metal at all, but rather some form of energy.
Knives and Daggers are small single handed bladed weapons used for close range combat. Against an unarmed opponent, knives and daggers can give you an advantage.
Echani Knives=
Echani knives are small, single-handed, light blades used by those who practice the hand-to-hand art of Echani. Due to their light weight, the user is able to quickly strike the opponent. Despite their light weight, though, they are still very strong and are able to cut through most surfaces. While not meant for throwing, practiced users can accurately throw them if necessary.
Locust knives
Locust knives are small blades that are easily hidden in robes, and are meant for the sole purpose of throwing, being too small to be useful against another blade. Thrown hard enough they can successfully pierce skin and other surfaces. Rodian throwing daggers are also like this, although much more accurate. Shurikens and ball bearings are also throwing weapons, the latter of which can be very successful against inorganic opponents when aided by the Force.
Punch Daggers
Punch daggers have extended thick sharp blades made for causing severe internal damage. The handle allows for easy holding of the weapon and precise accuracy when stabbing the opponent.
There is a large variety of two handed bladed weapons found throughout history and the modern galaxy. These include swords and axes, perhaps the most common examples of such weapons. These weapons are generally two handed because of their length, weight, or some combination thereof.
Arg'garok
The Arg'garok is an axe commonly used by Gamorreans. Solid and strong, it was built mainly for the tough pig-like creatures, and can prove troublesome for taller, more slender species. Asides from the sharp blade, the weight of the weapon, plus the strength of the user, can make this a extremely deadly weapon.
Katana
The Katana is a two handed sword. Believed to have originally been built by the first Jedi, there is no set way of making a katana, although they all generally look along the same lines. A single hilt and long, slightly curved, blade makes it look much like a lightsaber before the use of crystals was discovered.
LaserHone duelist
Another sword is the LaserHone duelist. While not common with more experienced fighters, is commonly used by apprentices who are learning the proper art of dueling. It is commonly used by apprentices before they move onto a training lightsaber. It may be used with one hand.
Finally there are staffs (also spelled staves) or spears. There are long, unbladed poles, in the case of staffs, or long poles with a short blade on one end, in the case of spears. Staffs can also have blades on the end, but typically do not.
Electrostaffs
Electrostaffs, commonly used by General Grievous' MagnaGuards, are an example of a staff. They were long and sturdy, but light in weight, allowing these weapons to be very useful. When made with phrik, as in the MagnaGuards' case, they could successfully be wielded against lightsabers. As their name suggests, electrostaffs have energy fields at either end, rather than a blade or blunt striking end.
Zhaboka
Zhaboka, otherwise known as the Iridonian double-bladed fighting pike, are also staff weapons, but have a sharp steel pike at each end. However, the weapon is very dangerous and hard to wield, so it is not the most common weapon in the ACC.
Void Spear
A void spear is a long, two-handed weapon usually with one sharp spike at the end. While it is capable is being used in close range combat, it is more commonly used as a thrown weapon.
Vibroweapons
These are blade-type weapons with a generator installed in the hilt that gives off high-speed sonic waves to cause a regular weapon to vibrate rapidly, increasing the amount of damage dealt. When the blade comes in contact with an object, the vibrations ripple across it, causing it to rip apart, or at least increase the amount of damage. Today, these weapons are outlawed in most systems just like cortosis, but the Dark Brotherhood has managed to get its hands on a few, as well as create some of its own.
Almost anything with a blade can be turned into a vibroweapon, but more common ones include vibroswords, vibrodaggers, and vibroaxes. Some reports of vibrowhips have also been spotted, but many debate rather this is just a lightwhip. Some vibrotorches exist as well, which just give off a higher intensity of light, but these are very rare.
Explosives
Explosives are very common weapons throughout the galaxy. They are used not only by bounty hunters and by other hit man, but also by armies and even Dark Jedi. Typically small, the majority of them are thrown weapons, although some can also be placed at a location and remotely detonated.
Thermal detonators
Thermal detonators are probably the most well known explosive. A round bomb that is initiated and then thrown towards the target, it is extremely damaging to whatever is within the blast radius, while everything outside is virtually untouched. Thermal detonators essentially atomize all matter within the blast radius, making the very different from other hand tossed explosives.
Grenades are typically activated and then thrown towards the target where it detonates automatically. Various forms of grenades have been created, each with their own purpose. Some include sonic grenades, which causes a very loud explosion that can be very damaging to the senses, shock grenades that send out shock waves to cause damage, cryoban grenades that freeze all the moisture within range, sending out shards of ice in the explosion; the resulting temperature change is sufficient enough to slow the target down, assuming they are alive. Poison, plasma, and stun grenades also exist, though their names speak for themselves.
Firecracker mines and burrowing detonators, on the other hand, are placed at a location beforehand and then remotely detonated when the target is within range. Other explosives such as trip mines produce a laser that, when broken, detonates the charge.
Lightsabers
To a Dark Jedi, a lightsaber is probably the most important weapon, and the only one that matters in a time of need, besides the Force. As already stated, often a young Dark Jedi's first weapon is a duelist blade, followed by a training saber and then finally the real lightsaber once they reach the rank of Dark Jedi Knight.
The standard lightsaber consists of a very light-weight hilt that contains all the parts of the lightsaber, including the crystal. The rest of the weapon, the actual blade, is a slender beam of particle energy. Other variants include the double-bladed lightsaber, with blades at each end, dual lightsabers, where the user wields one is each hand, as well as the less common lightwhip, which is banned in the Dark Brotherhood.
The color of the lightsaber blade varies depending on the type of crystal used, but the most common colors are red, blue, and green. Other colors include purple, yellow, orange, white, and pink, along with combinations of two or more colors.
NOTE: For more information on lightsabers, see the Lightsaber Basics course.
Across the Galaxy
Many of the weapons used in the galaxy are found in the Antei Combat Centre. However, some better known weapons are not found in the Antei Combat Center.
In this list includes some of the more exotic weapons. One such weapon is the bowcaster, made famous from its use by the Wookiees of Kashyyyk. Though all bowcasters resemble a crossbow, they can vary in what they shoot. Most shoot "quarrels," which are energized crossbow bolts, though some Wookies modified Imperial blaster rifles into bowcasters. Some versions even shoot off bolts that can bounce around the room, although this often proved dangerous if the shooter was in the same room.
Another common weapon is the DH-17 blaster pistol, developed by BlasTech Industries. Originally used by the Imperial Navy, it was later used by the Rebellion, and now is a common weapon among the New Republic soldiers. While it is typically a short-ranged weapon, its shots are often able to pierce armor, making it an invaluable tool. It could also easily be modified into an automatic version (constantly fires for longer periods while holding down the trigger) or even a carbine variant (cheaper, lighter, faster firing rate), as used during the Galactic Civil War.
The “CDEF” series consisted of a pistol, carbine, and rifle. They are cheap and very low quality weapons with low damage and inaccuracy, leading to their name “Creatures Don't Even Flinch.” Still, they were common during the Galactic Civil War due to their low cost.
A remote is a small spherical droid equipped with light blasters at various points around its body. They are used for exploration, reconnaissance, and even lightsaber training for young Jedi and Dark Jedi, especially in training with Shii-Cho. These could also be modified with heavier weapons for deployment into the battlefield, as well as tracking sensors, as seen in Imperial seeker droids.
Conclusion
This course has gone over common ground weapons in the galaxy, and more specifically the ACC. Of course, these are not the only weapons out there. Thousands of different types of weapons exist on various worlds throughout the galaxy, as well as many more personal modified versions of weapons. Also, new weapons are continually being produced as science and technology levels increase. Still, this course has provided you with a general look at the current states of ground weapons. The exam that follows has questions from the course notes, but it is always recommended that you read over the ACC Compendium section over standard weapons.