Approved Ranged Weapon LPD-77 Firestar Heavy Variable Charge Blaster Rifle

[Gir Quee]

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent:To provide a heavier version of the LPD-14 Firebolt Variable Charge Blaster Rifle
• Image Source: Baragwin Assault Gun by Sergey Kolesnik - edited by yours truly
• Canon Link: N/A
• Permissions: N/A
• Primary Source: LPD-14 Firebolt Variable Charge Blaster Rifle

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

• Manufacturer: Lucerne Personal Defense
• Affiliation: Directorate, Lucerne Personal Defense Customers
• Market Status: Closed-Market
• Model: LPD-77 Firestar Heavy Variable Charge Blaster Rifle
• Modularity: Yes
• Production: Mass-Produced.
• Material: durasteel frame with hadrium barrel and internals, permex furniture, Magnatomic Grip Panel, typical blaster rifle components

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Classification: Heavy Blaster Rifle
• Size: Large
• Weight: Heavy
• Ammunition Type: blaster gas / power pack

	Repeater (standard) Mode	Blaster Cannon Mode	Sniper Rifle mode
Ammunition Capacity:	Average	Average	Average
Effective Range:	Average	Average	Battlefield
Rate of Fire:	Very High	Average	Average
Damage Output:	Average	Very High	Average
Recoil:	Average	Average	Average

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Variable Charge: Like the LPD-14 before it, the LPD-77 can use a variety of power and gas consumption settings, allowing it to fulfill multiple weapon roles. It can handle abnormally high amounts of power, allowing to provide high damage output like a handheld blaster cannon, spew out a large volume of bolts like a repeating blaster, or fire an exceptionally cohesive bolt like a sniper rifle. Unlike the previous LPD-14, new power recycling systems which absorbs thermal waste through heat sinks and more precise programming allows ammunition capacity to remain the same for all firing modes.
• Stun Setting: Like most blasters, the Firestar does have a stun setting which works on all of its fire modes.
• Picatinny Rails: The Firestar has a half-length Picatinny rail on its top receiver, which is typically fitted with a Zolta-series Targeting Scope or a TruSight-series Multi-Optic Sight. Optional picatinny rails can be screwed on to the sides and underneath the barrel, which allow it to accept aftermarket attachments such as underbarrel weapons, grappling hook guns, and tactical lights.
• Adjustable Stock: The Firestar's stock is adjustable for length of pull, allowing the weapon to be better adjusted to fit the user or if the user decides to wear additional clothing or armor which would otherwise affect his or her typical length of pull.

STRENGTHS

• Versatile: The Firestar's variable charge settings make it a very flexible weapon, allowing it to fulfill multiple weapon roles with the flick of the selector switch.

WEAKNESSES

• Bulky Weapon: The Firestar is a large and heavy weapon, making it unwieldly in close quarters and tiring to carry over long periods of time.

DESCRIPTION
Lucerne Personal Defense followed several pioneers in variable charge weaponry when it first made the LPD-14 Firebolt, a compact bullpup blaster rifle. While reasonably successful and a mainstay product of the company, it was not a revolutionary or particularly refined design. Seeking to gain an edge over their competition, Lucerne Personal Defense refined their variable charge technology, incorporating new heat sink and power recycling technology combined with more refined programming to conserve ammunition between its different fire modes. Not wanting to supplant their LPD-14 in its compact rifle market, the LPD-77 instead is in the heavy blaster rifle market niche, where size and heft are typically traded for increased power and/or range. The Firestar is reasonably competitive in this regard, bringing performance on part with other blaster weapons of its size. In its repeater mode, the Firestar is roughly comparable to a T-21 light repeating blaster. In its blaster cannon mode, it is comparable to the old LT Autocannon while in its sniper rifle mode, it is comparable to a Precision X Marksman Rifle. None of these performances are particularly outstanding for those specialized roles, but they are all perfectly adequate, especially in a weapon that can very easily switch to a different role via the simple nudge of the Firestar's selector switch. As an example of this advantage, this can allow a soldier to switch from laying down a barrage of suppressive fire using a repeater mode to turn it into a sniper rifle to eliminate an enemy officer in the rear or in blaster cannon mode, make short work of a well-armored battle droid. But with these advantages come certain tradeoffs. The advanced technology within the Firestar does make it cost a little bit more than the typical heavy blaster weapon, but perhaps more importantly for the individual user, makes them more maintenance intensive. Lucerne Personal Defense expects these to sell particularly well in the Outer Rim and more wilderness areas, where typically limited numbers of personnel can use every advantage they can against large wildlife or enemy marauders, and where the weapon's bulky size will be less of an issue than it is on more populated worlds. It remains to be seen if the Firestar will be as successful as its predecessor.

 

[MANIAC]

Gir Quee

As usual, very cool sub.

Approved.