Weapons of the Algoryn Prosperate Part II – X- and Plasma Weapons

Jon Harrington continues his overview of Algoryn weapons

From ‘Mag guns & Plasma’ magazine – The Best Reviews this side of the Determinate!

Note from the Editor

A few months after the ‘Mag Cannon’ incident (related in Part I of this two-part series), MG&P ‘zine was offered the chance to review the Algoryn range of X and Plasma weapons but with one condition: if we sent our top reviewer, Mat Faston, then he would only be allowed to fire the weapons if he went through an intensive, gruelling, week long preparatory course.  We said that he would be delighted, which were not his exact words when he found out.  However he did attend the course and was allowed to file the following review.

Thanks again to our sponsor, Algor Heavy Industries – “When the going gets tough the tough get HEAVY”.

X- Weapons

Having spent a week of intensive training alongside the latest Algoryn recruits I was once again allowed back onto Cdr Speers’ firing range to review a range of mag rail-launched, or X- Weapons [the Mag Mortar and X-Howitzer were touched on in the previous article].  As I entered I couldn’t help but glance at the newly built back wall.  Cdr Speers caught me looking and mentioned, almost in passing, that he liked looking at his new, unmarked wall and wouldn’t it be nice if he could still see it at the end of the day?

The X-Sling

With that warning I stepped up to the firing line and was handed an X-sling to strap onto my arm. I’d been using an X-Sling the previous week and originally thought they were somewhat underpowered but at close range, with an implosion grenade, the blast can cause chaos on a lightly armoured target.

The next size up in X- technology is the Micro X Launcher usually found as part of the loadout in AI grenadiers. Many squads have two grenadiers, simply because of the flexibility it gives them. It is bulky, having multiple modes and loads, and range is almost as long as the mag gun in overhead mode. Luckily, it can be quickly switched into a direct fire mode using the same or different ammunition. An Algoryn speciality is overload ammunition, something particularly useful against Ghar troopers, though the short range for the weighty projectile can be a problem.

I admit I struggled with the weight of the micro-x and managed to fire my first shots into the ground just beyond the firing line. Spotting my problems the range office, Master Chief Marsdon, offered to show me how it should be used.  In quick succession he fired 3 direct shots into a wall then dropped an overhead shot neatly behind it.  He commented that it is a great weapon for flushing out an enemy from behind cover. 

Weapon	Effv	Long	Extr	Shots	Att	Special
Micro X (Overhead)	(10)20	30	50	1×SV0	–	OH, Blast D4, No Cover, Special munitions
Micro X (Direct)	20	30	–	1×SV1	–	–
Micro-X (Overload)	20	30	–	1×SV3	–	Inaccurate
X Sling (Direct)	10	20	–	Spec	Spec	Inaccurate, Spec: As grenade (Implosion Grenade SV2)
X-Sling (Overhead)	(5)10	20	–	Spec	–	Spec: As grenade
X-Launcher	(10)30	60	120	1×SV1	–	OH; EITHER Blast D5, No Cover OR Special Munitions: Suspensor Net, Scrambler, Scoot

X Launcher

Stepping across to the next bay, my arms still aching, I was pleased to see a base mounted weapon, in this case the ubiquitous X Launcher that can be found in service with most armies. The Algoryn version has been designed to be functional rather than aesthetically pleasing but it does exactly what it is supposed to do.

The three-person crew greeted me and offered me the firing controls. Selecting a Ghar Scutter target peeking out from behind a building I fired the launcher and was pleased to see that I got a direct hit, leaving just the smoking remains of the target.  The crew leader then opened up a large ammo crate by the launcher.  It was covered in a range of warning symbols and she explained that this was a selection of the special munitions available. Suspensor Net is a beefed up version of Slingnet, creating a suspensor net to crush a target to the ground, and along with Scoot and Scrambler makes the X Launcher a very versatile weapon capable of ruining your enemy’s day. I could summarise these special munitions:

• Scoot does something to a lifeform’s nervous system causing a flight or hide reaction (Units Run or go Down),
• Scrambler drops aggressive nanites that affect intelligent armour (no Res bonus) and buddy drones (cease working).

Distort Spinner

The D Spinner is a weapon unique to the Algoryn Assault and Hazard squads and has two distinct modes of operation as well as enabling multiple H2H attacks.

Weapon	Effv	Long	Extr	Shots	Att	Special
D-Spinner (Distort)	H2H	–	–	–	2×SV0	+2 Res
D-Spinner (Plasma Shell)	H2H	–	–	–	2×SV2	Grenade

With Master chief Marsdon’s help I shouldered the distort spinner backpack and selected the plasma shells.  These are like small powerful grenades that only work at close range (SV 2). The Master Chief mentioned that to test the distort mode you really require an opponent in hand to hand combat and I then realised why he was grinning as I saw his backpack, identical to mine.  We squared off in the H2H area and I’d like to say I had a chance but every time I went in for the attack it was like he wasn’t there. I would try to hit him and find myself stumbling past or only catching him a glancing blow (+2 Res).

Plasma Carbine

After catching my breath and a quick check over by the Med techs I returned to the range for an afternoon of plasma fun.  Whilst not a traditional Algoryn technology, plasma weapons have been enthusiastically adopted by the optimates and some command squads to give a wider choice of effects to the field commander, despite their higher maintenance needs compared with mag weapons.  First up was a standard Plasma Carbine.

Weapon	Effv	Long	Extr	Shots	Att	Special
Plasma Carbine (Focussed)	20	30	50	1×SV2	–	–
Plasma Carbine (Scatter)	20	30	–	2×SV0	–	RF

In single shot mode these weapons are great and I enjoyed taking big chunks out of an armoured target.  For closer work, when you have a range of unarmoured opposition, the scatter mode comes into play. This rapid fire mode is not hugely accurate or powerful but twice the number of shots means double the chance to hit.  As I was enthusiastically taking out a squad of Ghar Outcast targets I heard a noise from the next firing bay.  I’m a trained reviewer and to me it sounded like a bit like a plasma carbine.  Peeking round the corner I saw a squad of Hazard armour troops.  Their carbines were plugged into the suits, but Master Chief Mahsdon was quick to pull me back indicating that this was Special Division equipment, undergoing testing. 

Plasma Light Support

After the twin MLS, the PLS is my second favourite support weapon, nicely balanced and with a rate of fire similar to the MLS but with a bit more punch (SV3). It tends to be only used by Special Division on its own version of the Liberator, or in a few, specialist weapon teams.

The PLS packs a mighty punch and is really a great, flexible weapon in the field: mount a couple of these on your flanks and nobody is going to get past.

Plasma Cannon

My final weapon for the day was the epic Plasma Cannon, only used by specialist support teams in the SD due to its lack of reliability compared with the incredibly robust, Algoryn mag weaponry.

Built like a supersized carbine this weapon is only single shot but what a single shot (SV 7).  It’s ideal against heavily armoured vehicles but doesn’t have the range of a mag cannon – though that extra power can make a difference in a tight spot!  As I took control of the aiming system I noticed a small crowd had gathered behind me. They all looked innocent, as if they had just happened to be in the area, but I suspected they were making sure a repeat of the ‘Mag Cannon incident’ wasn’t on the cards. Taking extra care I aimed at the distant Ghar Command Crawler.  With a crack the plasma cannon belched fire and the target blew apart spectacularly. I turned, acknowledged the crowd, stepped off the launcher and tripped over an ammo crate.  When Master Chief Marsdon stopped laughing he helped me to my feet and suggested that better my dignity was damaged than the wall.

[Ed: The SD’s experimental compression cannon was not demonstrated. Nonetheless, we’ve made a stab at is properties based on what we know about the SD’s capabilities and that of the Concord’s equivalent and it’s bigger brother, the compression bombard. That’s their effectiveness tails off rapidly with range may be a reason it is so rarely used.]

Weapon	Effv	Long	Extr	Shots	Att	Special
Plasma Light Support	30	40	80	3×SV3	–	RF, PBS, Power Drain
Algoryn Pattern Plasma Cannon	30	40	80	1×SV7	–	Fade
Compression Cannon	20	40	80	1×SV8/5/3	–	Fade, No Cover
Compression Bombard	30	80	150	1×SV10/7/5	–	Fade, Large, No Cover

Final Results

The weapons tested here neatly fill in the capability gaps of the mag weapons reviewed previously.  They enable an Algoryn Commander to field a balanced force that is effective at any range.

Until next time this is MF signing out.  Stay safe, stay armed and don’t forget our sponsor – Algor Heavy Industries.