So, to what extent do personal weapons play a role in your lives?

I tend to find that carrying personal weapons in the course of my ministry tends to make my life that much harder. With that said, I've some experience handling a sword (though as we've established, that's not a precisely practical form of self-defense).

In the end, I've got a Caldari friend teaching me to use a KD-120 autoloading pistol. I have to admire her patience, as I've always been a poor shot, especially so in the sorts of tactical exercises she tends to use for training. I am getting better though.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

'Greave' Knee-Boots.

A flattering fashion accessory which also double as an effective improvised weapon.

I have a customised machine pistol in my holster; it's set up for short bursts with a suppressor on the muzzle, ideal for close-quarters use.

In my jacket I carry my brass knuckles, which no Thukker girl should be without.



I wish I had the dexterity to use them like that! I broke the heel on one of my Greaves when it got stuck in the boarding gantry. A lick of nanopaste fixed it up fine, but I expected better durability from a pair of boots that cost more than a small nation's GDP

On a side note, with regards to your machine pistol. If using a 'meat shield' They can also double as a silencer in a pinch... Though if you're in that situation, you probably arent worried about that so much.

I've been told by Caldari dancers of a certain 'exotic' discipline that my personal weapon was the largest they'd ever seen.

I kinda want to make a ***** joke here but I'm like really unsure if that would be appropriate or not?

I don't personally carry a weapon, I guess I don't have any enemies to make it feel relevant, although I've been told that my seafood gumbo qualifies. Well, not that I usually carry that around either.

I'm sure hostile parties appreciate knowing both the self-defence capabilities of their targets as well as whatever weapons they may or may not carry with them.

I'm quite sure that anybody competent who was fixing to kill me would spot that big iron I'm carrying anyway, regardless of whether or not I discuss its existence on Galnet. It's not exactly a subtle piece of hardware.

I originally carried a standard Kaalakiota made Bolt Pistol, which is simply another name for a pistol sized railgun. Times change though, and I found through several attempts on my life that no real threat will come close enough to me for that little pea shooter to do any good. As others have said, if I am to keep myself safe, that job is best left to professionals. In all other cases, I have a soft clone.

That all being said, while I no longer carry a practical sidearm, I do carry a ceremonial sidearm. Gifted to me by a colleague, it is an antique Navy issue bolt pistol from the early years of the Caldari-Gallente war. I carry it with me as a part of my dress uniform within a matching leather holster. While it has been used in war, I have not fired it. I do not intend to. Apparently the former property of my colleague's ancestor, it was given not as a self-defense weapon, but as a reminder of the sacrifices those that came before me have made.

If there is someone who wants to kill a capsuleer, and they have managed to get you into a position where you need to use either a personal weapon, or 'martial arts' skills, you will already be dead. They will be the sort of person who is paid large amounts of money to kill very hard to kill people.

Whoever hired them will also have to have been the sort of person to pay a very large amount of money to make sure your soft clones all have accidents as well, else there is no point in attacking the capsuleer at all.

Do not put yourself into situations where you could be killed by a random person wielding a gun, or you basically deserve the minor inconvenience that comes to you.

Good point, Verin.

As for Pieter's last round, I still can't believe there are eggers without proper safeguards in their implants. Compared to a proper set of decent explosive charges in the CNS, a bullet is notoriously unreliable as a self-termination measure. Also, does not offer such delightful prank abilities like yelling "Hey! Watch this!" and promptly cake the walls in grey and rosy goo in front of your attackers.

If there is someone who wants to kill a capsuleer, and they have managed to get you into a position where you need to use either a personal weapon, or 'martial arts' skills, you will already be dead. They will be the sort of person who is paid large amounts of money to kill very hard to kill people.

Whoever hired them will also have to have been the sort of person to pay a very large amount of money to make sure your soft clones all have accidents as well, else there is no point in attacking the capsuleer at all.

Do not put yourself into situations where you could be killed by a random person wielding a gun, or you basically deserve the minor inconvenience that comes to you.

If I had a bomb that blew me up everytime I felt the urge to die, I doubt I'd get through a reading of the IGS without redecorating my office. This would get expensive.

Indeed, and yet you still frequent it. Although masochistic tendencies are fairly common amongst State enforcers, rivalled only by an almost disturbing lack of empathy. The State is nothing if not efficient at instilling a particular mindset amongst its ..loyalists.

I wonder how common cutting is amongst the ranks, perhaps you could lend some insight into that sometime Colonel.

Is this why the Caldari State must be destroyed?

Destroyed? Please Miss Gesakaarin, we no longer live under the rule of the likes of Duvalier. The Federation has only responded to unwarranted aggression and the breaking of treaties by the State.

I and indeed, the Federation in general, wish only to see a peaceful and lasting resolution to this conflict. Perhaps in time we can even aid you as individuals, in overcoming the psychological abuses that have taken so much from you.

As always, we merely extend the hand of freedom, all are welcome within the Federation. We are not conquerors led by dictators.

You obviously missed the joke here.

You obviously missed the joke here.

Probably due to a lack of empathy.

[


I like you Colonel, but I wouldn't joke about that. After all, at least we operate a sizeable aid department for the victims of war. Empathy is at the core of the Federations ideals, this is well known.

The people of Hueromont still aren't laughing.

Destroyed? Please Miss Gesakaarin, we no longer live under the rule of the likes of Duvalier. The Federation has only responded to unwarranted aggression and the breaking of treaties by the State.

I and indeed, the Federation in general, wish only to see a peaceful and lasting resolution to this conflict. Perhaps in time we can even aid you as individuals, in overcoming the psychological abuses that have taken so much from you.

As always, we merely extend the hand of freedom, all are welcome within the Federation. We are not conquerors led by dictators.

So I make an off-the-cuff remark about you coming off like a walking caricature-stereotype and you proceed to confirm the sentiment.

Good, then.

A remark? Miss Gesakaarin, it was a statement of my intent. One that I was forced to correct you on.

I'm sorry if you find my acceptance of Federal policy and vision as "stereotypical", but I'm sure you're familiar with the saying "If it's not broke.."

Criticism is encouraged within the Federation, but it is not demanded. That you are unable to tell the difference between one who willingly embraces a particular way of life and the values and ideas commonly attached, and an ideologue, is more reflective of you than me Miss Gesakaarin.

A remark? Miss Gesakaarin, it was a statement of my intent. One that I was forced to correct you on.

I'm sorry if you find my acceptance of Federal policy and vision as "stereotypical", but I'm sure you're familiar with the saying "If it's not broke.."

Criticism is encouraged within the Federation, but it is not demanded. That you are unable to tell the difference between one who willingly embraces a particular way of life and the values and ideas commonly attached, and an ideologue, is more reflective of you than me Miss Gesakaarin.

How bout not turning another thread into a Fed/state pissing match which has jack **** to do with the topic? ******* hell...

Alright, let me explain it for you. It is common here on the IGS to present ignorant opinions, veiled assertions, aspersion, and emotional projection as tools to portray one side or another as evil or to claim some form of moral high-ground to justify why that other side needs to be destroyed in attempts at propaganda.

Now there's nothing wrong with a bit of propaganda

but there's always that rule with propagandists and never believing your own.

My flippancy with you at present is because you apparently actually believe what you're saying which is a source of amusement for me, and if you believe that to be a lack of empathy on my part then it probably is because I find it difficult to empathize with an idiot.

So you'd rather compound the problem and stoop to the level of other narrow minded jingoistic pilots.
In which case I have taken your response and wish to reply in the following way:
**** you.

I obviously don't share your sense of humour Miss Gesakaarin.

It's not so much loss of time as it is loss of ones' life, Jinari-haani. Your softclone is not "you" in any appreciable sense of the word. It carries on with the utility function which you had at time of softcloning, but we are more than our utility functions. I for one can't imagine a circumstance in which I would want to commit suicide. Better to endure capture and work for freedom than to give up.

At least, I think that's what Lady Vitalia means.

Of course it's me. I am what's in my head, no more nor less. When my infomorph travels from the pod to a new clone, or between jumpclones it is me. If it's restored from "backups" as it were, it is no less me. Just a less current me. Vastly superior alternative to permadeath, or whatever fate a potential captor would bestow.

Unless of course you claim to have found a way to weigh a soul or some such notion, which in case that was lost the moment I first left my original body for my egger one.

Hahahaah, yeah. I understand what you mean, but "now" me and "then" me are both me. If "now" me cease to exist, "then" me takes over. Of course it'll never reach the same state as the dead one, but given that the dead variant made decisions leading to her death that can be considered a good thing.

You're not you either, once you've read this particular post. You'll have become a new you with new memories and knowledge. Should you then immediately immerse yourself in a sensory deprivation tank to preserve yourself against the ravages of future you? Of course not. Nor do I fear my past self, should she have to take over after I sod something up.

Every single instant may create a whole new me or you, but as long as just one of my clones are active at any given moment, the differences are entirely academic to whichever me is active at the time.

And what is your evidence of this lack of empathy Miss Priano? That I oppose the turning of people from individuals into State puppets? That I oppose the wanton destruction of innocents as a "military distraction" in order to achieve objectives for a mad dictator who broke treaties that had endured a century of peace? That I actively encourage aid and charity organisations to cooperate with the Federation, which operates the largest aid efforts of any Empire in the cluster?

There is room for both empathy and sympathy in this world Miss Priano, they are both useful. One allows us to relate and act on that innate understanding of the others plight, the other allows us to act with care even if we don't fully appreciate the circumstance of the other party.

You don't need to have been a slave in order to sympathise with one and help them, I hardly consider that useless Miss Priano.

How bout not turning another thread into a Fed/state pissing match which has jack **** to do with the topic? ******* hell...

Which is why the Federation must be destroyed, I'm told.

Continuity of consciousness is everything.

Otherwise we are no different than baseliners and their short lives.

And when T + 1 disappears and T wakes up, T is still Jinari Otsito. Just not Jinari Otsito + 1. No one's saying you wake up as the person that died. All that's being said is that you just lose some time, no worse than someone experiencing a bit of amnesia, coma or other similar issues. All vastly preferable to permadeath.

Hell, it's a savegame vs continuing at the point where you lose.
It's actually surprising how much our lives relate to videogames.

And when T + 1 disappears and T wakes up, T is still Jinari Otsito. Just not Jinari Otsito + 1. No one's saying you wake up as the person that died. All that's being said is that you just lose some time, no worse than someone experiencing a bit of amnesia, coma or other similar issues. All vastly preferable to permadeath.

Hell, it's a savegame vs continuing at the point where you lose.
It's actually surprising how much our lives relate to videogames.

I don't personally carry a weapon, I guess I don't have any enemies to make it feel relevant, although I've been told that my seafood gumbo qualifies. Well, not that I usually carry that around either.

I carry no weapons. That's what bodyguards are for.

what makes a soft clone not you while a pod clone is? Either way the last you is dead. There's only a very small number of capsuleers in existence that still inhabit their original bodies.

I prefer handguns. Different ones.
I like rail handguns for range and accuracy. Pulse handguns for dealing enough punch to melt through protective gear.
Handguns are fast and maneuverable. You can fight with handguns, using them as knuckles. Solid casing protects your hand, if you need to deflect cold weapon, and they add mass to your fist for harder hits.
And, if you are trained enough, preparing a handgun from holster to ready for firing position, takes just a fraction of a second.

Its been a while since I was in the service, these days I tend to gravitate to a shoulder or pancake rig for less obvious carry. But yeah, don't skimp on quality or on reliability, ease of use, and speed of use for whatever works for you.

Every race has outstanding examples of different sidearms and longarms, and some not so outstanding examples. *laughs*

One of my personal favorites is the Grizzly 11mm semiautomatic slugthrower. Minmatar design. It's solid, reliable, and rugged to the point that you can bury it for a while, clear the mechanism and barrel, and still fire it. The big slug it fires will drop a man in his tracks with decent accuracy and range. Plus, the slug is less likely to be a problem inside structures and stations where things might have an unpleasant reaction to laser, plasma, or gauss pistol fire...that's experience there, you tend to pick up all sorts of unauthorized gear at times when you're a grunt, so i had the opportunity on a few occasions to use one in a fight while I was in the service.

It does have a hefty recoil, so that one wont work for everyone, and i dont advise using one in low, or zero gravity.

Can't say I'd ever use it in a firefight myself, Fred, but I can appreciate a classic piece like that, and the nerve it takes to actually use it.

I've been training with dueling pistols since I was very young. I would not recommend anyone who hasn't trained specifically in pistol dueling to try using one in an actual combat scenario. If you have military training, a regular pistol will do you much better.

I'm usually not a direct combatant when I'm in a battlezone. I'm either covering something for The Scope, or coordinating with DUST Mercs. As a result, I can get away with my dueling pistol most of the time, I rarely have to fire it unless things go south. On one occasion, I had to fight my way out of an ambush with several colleagues and DUST mercenaries. I turned down using a conventional weapon mostly because of my preference for the dueling pistol. It performed rather admirably, I never missed a shot and every shot took down and adversary despite our foes wearing rather thick body armor (armor of any kind is forbidden in lethal and non lethal duels as a result most dueling pistols are not intended to have armor piercing capabilities). I didn't have the time to check if they were all lethal hits, but they probably were. Anti-matter doesn't do a body good.

I wouldn't say it takes nerve to actually use it in a firefight, at least anymore than other weapons. It's merely a weapon I've been fond of and have a personal connection with. Soldiers have an affinity to their assault rifles, assassins love their knives, hitmen adore their snipers, and duelist such as myself prefer their dueling pistols. I appreciate the kind words however, thank you.

I aced my personal weapons training in the institute, and have a modified version of the Duvolle assault rifle, toned down so that a non-dust-merc can use one

Somebody sold you a hot air blower? I wouldn't rate that in a fight. Good for stripping paint, though.

Somebody sold you a hot air blower? I wouldn't rate that in a fight. Good for stripping paint, though.

It also functions as a hair dryer.

Yeeeeeeah... I have to ask... Why bother to detune a duster gun when DL makes the absolute best standard infantry plasma rifles in the Cluster? The G75-VLB is just a bigger variant of the more standard guns in the G series. Get one of the normal ones, it'll weigh half as much, and do just fine against non-dusters.

Pretty much all duster equipment is originally from other fields, and only very few things have been designed specifically for DUST mercenaries. Heck, the heaviest DUST weapon you can get, the Forge Gun, is a re-purposed Deep Core mining tool, and the Heavy Machine Gun used to be a vehicle mounted turret. I don't get it why people call the baseliner versions toned down, when its the duster version that were modified and beefed up for more lethality.

That said, I used a hot air blower once to detonate a miniature explosive charge attached inside it. It was surprisingly effective disabling people's hands while they were stripping paint.

No, much of the light weaponry is specifically designed for the DUST merc market.

Take the Duvolle G75-VLB: that thing has the highest plasma density per shot of any blaster rifle on the market, and the highest cyclotron power rating. all of which they made room for by stripping out the radiation sink and heat shielding. That thing will fatally irradiate a user who's not wearing a dropsuit, in addition to giving them horrible burns on their hands. Hell, even the mercs get a nasty dose of radiation from firing that gun, but given how short the life expectancy on their clones is, that hardly matters.

Don't get me started on those plasma shotguns CreoDron make. Those things will set you on fire if you fire them, quite aside from the cyclotron radiation. There was no market for a gun like that before DUST troopers came along. I mean sure, laser rifles and scramblers are just the same weapons with the safety protocols stripped out, and SWARM launchers are all but unchanged, but it's not like there are no weapons for the DUST trooper market.

Besides, rumour is that some of the weapons labs are experimenting with morphite enrichment. Try to imagine a tech two assault rifle for a second. or tech three! I guarantee you some crazy bastard at Kaalakiota has already experimented with fullerenes and Sleeper nanoribbons.

"The drop uplink is a slave transponder, a short-range tether that produces the precise spatial coordinates necessary to generate a localized wormhole, traversal of which allows the user to travel short distances instantly. Highly experimental, the process is excruciatingly painful and exposes organic tissue to excessive radiation, resulting in accelerated cellular decay and, ultimately, death. "

Tend to see that in other DUSTer equipment.

Take the Drop Uplinks for example.



That's gotta leave a mark. Granted, the ability to hop through a miniwormhole in a dropsuit and come out whereever the uplink is clamped down is an enormous tactical advanateg if deployed intelligently (not in places where, say, someone might ambush you.)

Wish we had these when I was in the service, but wouldnt have been too keen on rad-roasting myself with it, especially in those days before the DUSTers clone bodies, implants, and dropsuits.

I find that my social grace keeps me from needing a side arm.

I've been experimenting with a series of capsuleer specific nano-viruses.

For example, one is tailored to leave small bumps on the genitalia and cost almost as much as a full set of standard +4 implants to cure.

A second, which is still in the experimental phase, is targeted towards low-grade clones and causes a sense of euphoria in the victim while simultaneously inhibiting feelings of empathy or guilt. The test subjects often report feeling as though they were 'awakening for the first time' or 'being truly free.'

Weaponized nano-virus? That seems like a very inefficient (and indiscriminate) way to attack somebody.

Come to think of it, is that even legal?