Personal Defense Weapons for Starfinder 1e (Patreon)

Personal defense weapons (PDWs) in the real world are generally submachine-sized weapons that fire small-caliber rifle cartridges (and yes, all the real-world noes here are gross simplifications and generalizations). Originally designed as reasonably-effective military weapons that took less space and weight than service rifles, they were intended for use in support troops (such as artillery crews, combat engineers, spotters, and so on) who weren't intended to get into direct combat with enemy troops but, as a result of operating near the front lines, might occasionally see such engagements anyway. Essentially, they are a mid-step between submachine guns and carbines.

The concept of an easier-to-use, lighter weapon than a full rifle appeals to numerous groups in the real world. Though they have seen limited adoption by standard support troops of the world's militaries, numerous special forces units, policing bodies, and bodyguards. It seems reasonable to suppose in a fantasy-scifi setting such as Starfinder, PDWs might well find a similar niche.

There is, of course, a danger in over-complicating the possible equipment in a roleplaying game. Not only is decision paralysis among players a potential real threat, every new category of gear carries with it an additional cognitive load for players and GMs. A game designer needs to consider the benefits of such additions against these drawbacks, and Starfinder in particular already has a LOT of weapons.

On the other hand, the need to justify such additions is significantly lower in an unofficial blog article, where new ideas can be presented and adopted by those game groups that like them, or ignored by those that don't. Besides, as one of the designers of the 1st edition of the Starfinder Roleplaying Game, I enjoy exploring ways its rules can be expanded without becoming significantly more complex.

To avoid having to write up a PDW version of every conceivable longarm, I am instead creating a Weapon Template. That is, a simple set of rules to allow GMs adding PDWs to their Starfinder 1e games to adapt nearly any typical longarm into a PDW. And, it's a rule I plan to add to Shadowfinder, to represent real-world PDW designs.

(Art by seribaib)

PDW Template

To turn a longarm into a Personal Defense Weapon, make the following adjustments. A PDW is still treated as a typical longarm except as noted below.

*Increase the cost by 10%. (Lighter materials, re-engineered ergonomics and stability systems, and reduced sales leading to less economy of scale causes PDWs to be more expensive than their longarm equivalents).

*Reduce Bulk by 1. Longarms of 1 Bulk become PDWs of light Bulk. Longarms of light Bulk remain light.

*A PDW can be fired using 1 fewer arms than the Longarm version, to a minimum of 1 arm. Using the PDW in this way results in a -1 penalty to attack rolls when making a Full Attack.

*A character who ha proficiency in Small Arms, but not Longarms, is proficient with the PDW weapon version of a Longarm, but takes a -1 penalty to attacks made with it. If the character has Weapon Specialization for Small Arms or Longarms, they have Weapon Specialization for a PDW.

Support

So, I'm still struggling with the bills accrued from my cancer, and come January my deductible and out-of-pocket totals reset. That means the hundreds of dollars per month of prescriptions I'm on, and my surgery to have my chemo injection port (which I was never allowed to use for chemo) are going to hit me at full cost.

If you want to help and are in a position to, you can donate to my GoFundMe - https://tinyurl.com/owenfunds