Difference between revisions of "Weapon accessories"

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The term '''feeding system''' is a catch-all for any object whose primary function is to carry ammunition and feed it to a [[Weapons|firearm]]. They are the only type of weapon accessory which could be considered to be essential to the normal function of a firearm; as without these, certain firearms will not be able to fire at all, while others may require manual feeding of ammunition as a reload action in order to be able to fire.
 
The term '''feeding system''' is a catch-all for any object whose primary function is to carry ammunition and feed it to a [[Weapons|firearm]]. They are the only type of weapon accessory which could be considered to be essential to the normal function of a firearm; as without these, certain firearms will not be able to fire at all, while others may require manual feeding of ammunition as a reload action in order to be able to fire.
  
Seven types of items can be found in this category: '''Magazines''' (including ''en-bloc clips'', which are considered mechanically identical to magazines), '''Moon clips''', '''Stripper clips''' '''Speedloaders''', '''Speed strips''', '''Ammo belts''', and '''Reload packs'''.
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Seven types of items can be found in this category: '''Magazines''' (including ''en-bloc clips'', which are considered mechanically identical to magazines), '''Moon clips''', '''Stripper clips''', '''Speedloaders''', '''Speed strips''', '''Ammo belts''', and '''Reload packs'''.
  
 
All feeding systems can further be differentiated by the way they feed ammunition into weapons during a reload action, using two informal terms: '''Droppers''' and '''Holders'''.
 
All feeding systems can further be differentiated by the way they feed ammunition into weapons during a reload action, using two informal terms: '''Droppers''' and '''Holders'''.

Revision as of 12:16, 22 December 2018

Navigation: Main Page Weapon accessories




Weapon accessories are devices intended to be installed on weapons, typically firearms, in order to improve or modify their functionality or performance. Most weaoon accessories are optional, with perhaps the exception of feeding systems

There are five categories of weapon accessories: Feeding systems, Muzzle devices, Underbarrel devices, Optics, and Lights.

Feeding systems

The term feeding system is a catch-all for any object whose primary function is to carry ammunition and feed it to a firearm. They are the only type of weapon accessory which could be considered to be essential to the normal function of a firearm; as without these, certain firearms will not be able to fire at all, while others may require manual feeding of ammunition as a reload action in order to be able to fire.

Seven types of items can be found in this category: Magazines (including en-bloc clips, which are considered mechanically identical to magazines), Moon clips, Stripper clips, Speedloaders, Speed strips, Ammo belts, and Reload packs.

All feeding systems can further be differentiated by the way they feed ammunition into weapons during a reload action, using two informal terms: Droppers and Holders.

  • Droppers are feeding systems which transfer their ammunition into compatible weapons before being replaced in the inventory or discarded. This suggests that the compatible weapons have internal magazines. The typical example is the speedloader, which is designed to drop the ammunition it carries into a revolver cylinder.
    • Feeding systems considered to be droppers: Stripper clips, Speedloaders, Speed strips
  • Holders are feeding systems which are meant to be "held" by the compatible weapons in order to feed it. The capacity of such weapons therefore becomes that of the currently held feeding device (excluding the +1 round in the chamber). The reload action is therefore characterized by either the insertion, or the swapping of an old device for a fresh one full of ammunition. The typical example is the box magazine, which is designed to be held by the host firearm (such as a pistol or a rifle).
    • Feeding systems considered to be holders: Magazines, Moon clips, Ammo belts, Reload packs

All feeding systems belong to one of size tier, ranging from Tiny to X. Large. The size tier determines the base weight. When feeding systems are loaded with ammunition, their weight changes accordingly.

  • Example: An empty STANAG 30-round magazine has a Medium size tier, giving it a base weight of 1 unit. When loaded with 30 rounds of 5.56x45mm NATO (weight per round: 0.01 unit), the weight of that magazine becomes 1.3 units (1 from base weight + 30 x 0.01 from loaded ammunition).
Feeding system size tiers and base weight
Size tier Tiny Small Medium Large V. Large X. Large
Base weight (in weight units) 0.25 0.5 1 1.2 2 3

Magazines

Two kinds of magazines.

Magazines are devices designed to hold and feed ammunition into a firearm.

Though they can be internal or integrated to a firearm, the magazines covered as weapon accessories are specifically detachable magazines, intended to be carried as individual items in the inventory, in order to differentiate them with internal magazines, which are an integral part of a weapon and are therefore not treated as items.

Magazines exist in various types, sizes, and capacities, and may have any one of the seven size tiers.

All magazines belong to a magazine type, which can be thought of as a family of magazines, even if that family is made up of just one member.

The general rule of thumb is that all firearms that are compatible with a given magazine type, are compatible with all types of magazines of that type. There are very few exceptions to this rule and those exceptions will be explicitly listed.

  • Example: The Colt M16A4 is compatible with STANAG magazines, and can therefore accept any type of STANAG magazine, such as the STANAG 30-round magazine, the STANAG 40-round extended magazine, or even the STANAG 100-round C-MAG drum.

Many magazines may also receive extra descriptors, such as extended magazine, drum magazine, casket magazine, and more. These descriptors do not change their function and only exist to give the player an idea of their shape and purpose. For example, a magazine may be referred to as extended because it has a greater capacity than what is normally found on firearms using this magazine type, whereas a drum or casket magazine are called that way to draw attention to their shape.

Advanced tip
Although the vast majority of firearms that use magazines need them to function normally, a firearm may still be able to fire if the magazine is missing, depending on whether or not it is capable of holding an extra round (+1) in the chamber.

If it can, a reload action may be performed to "chamber-load" the firearm with a single round. But if it cannot, then that firearm is completely unable to fire any ammunition until a loaded magazine is inserted.


Moon clips

(wip)

Stripper clips

(wip)

Speedloaders

(wip)

Speed strips

(wip)

Ammo belts

(wip)

Reload packs

The term reload pack is a generic term for feeding devices that do not fit in the above categories. They are generally groups of objects abstracted as one item in the inventory.

Presently, there are two types of reload packs, and one of them (nailgun reload packs) will not be covered here; it does not count as a weapon accessory, but rather a type of Ammunition.

The only other type is the flamethrower reload pack, which is a kit containing enough fuel to completely refill the compatible weapon's gas tank alongside any other necessities (starter fuel, etc.).

Flamethrowers cannot be reloaded until they are empty, reload packs cannot be refilled (as their purpose is to completely refill a flamethrower to full capacity), and once used as part of a reload action, the reload kits are removed from the game, making them one-use items.

Muzzle devices

(wip)

Underbarrel devices

(wip)

Optics

(wip)

Lights

(wip)