Valik
Professor of Alchemy
Image Source: http://noahwebzer.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html
Intent: To create tGOAT blaster based sniper rifle
Development Thread: If Necessary
Manufacturer: Valicore Engineering through Pharmatech(Design), Blas-Tech Industries(Construction, distribution)
Model: Sniper Rifles
Affiliation: Open Market
Modularity: Can change out scope.
Production: Limited
Material: Standard Materials
Classification: Sniper Rifle
Size: Handheld
Length: 1.3m
Weight: 5kg
Ammunition Type: BTI-EOU Powercells
Ammunition Capacity: 5 Powercells
Effective Range: 3000m
Rate of Fire: Single Action
Special Features: Enormous Range, Sniper Rifle
Description:
Using the BTI-EHP "Finisher" as a proof-of-concept weapon for utilizing an entire powerpack into a singular shot PharmaTech submitted a design for a new weapon to add to PharmaTech's already impressive line of sniper rifles. Unlike "The Finisher" however "The Assassin" was not optimized for power, but instead effective range and speed, boasting over three times the range of the BTI standard sniper "The Reclaimer"(which notably gets fifteen shots with the same powercell), while still having a small power increase in comparison. Uncharacteristic of his name the Assassin is not a silent sniper, allowing the general vicinity of the sniper to revealed after the shot. The bolt's speed is sufficient enough however to ensure that there is not enough reaction time between hearing the bolt and getting hit to allow for say, someone to run away or even pick up a lightsaber and deflect the bolt(though it is enough for say, a master specializing in Tutaminis to absorb it as an instinctive reaction. As a Sniper Bolt is particularly powerful it normally takes a master with experience to fully absorb a strike however). A lightsaber wielding target can deflect the bolt if they know it's coming and what direction it's coming from, but this usually requires significant training in battle precognition(or prior knowledge of the sniper).
Due to ejection and firing mechanism of The Assassin from a simple mechanical standpoint can fire, at best, once every four seconds. Reloading the weapon takes somewhere around "far too long for close combat" and "An entire posts worth." and emptying more than a full clip in one sitting puts the weapon at risk of overheating. Typically it takes ten shots in the course of a few minutes for the weapon to become inoperable(though it can be fixed for a price at the nearest Blas-Tech vendor) but some users have reported failure in as little as eight shots. The recoil of the weapon, while less significant than many slugthrower based sniper rifles, is still rather substantial. While a bi-pod or similar resting mount is recommended it can be used without one, though any chance of firing a second shot off with any measurable amount of speed is lost, and accuracy of course is sacrificed. Needless to say in order to fully utilize the weapon the sniper would need to have extreme skill and a powerful scope(sold separately), the average bounty hunter can't make a shot 3000m away and never will. Scopes are thus sold at various levels(typically each 500m) in order to encourage hunters to increase their skill and fully utilize the rifle, though few find they need to go the distance for the scopes.
Overall The Assassin isn't the most silent or powerful sniper weapon on the market, but it boasts a range and accuracy most other rifles, regardless of slugthrower or blaster origin, can't compare to, let alone match.
