Faction: PRDF#
Stat Block:#
Primary Skills:#
Gunnery (Small Arms), Gunnery (Heavy Weapons), Awareness (Battlefield), Tactics (PRDF), Electronic Warfare (Datalink)
Secondary Skills:#
Athletics (Pack Training), Medicine (First Aid), Institutions (PRDF), Culture (Peace River), Survivial (Badlands), Melee (Brawling), Pilot (Ground Vehicle)
Dress Uniform:#
The PRDF dress uniform is a black jumpsuit with brown gloves and a black vest with the Paxton logo on it. A black flat cap is worn outdoors.
Standard Armor: Paxton Modular Armor System#
Although a copy of Northco’s Mk 23 flak armor at its most basic level, the PMAS has several advantages in coverage and defense against disabling weapons. It also replicates some of the urine recycling features of the common desert suit for extended badlands use, though these are not mentioned much in the advertising. (Light Flak/Medium Flak/Heavy Flak, Stun Protected, Full Suit)
Standard Armor: Paxton Pilum Exoskeleton#
The PRDF was the first modern military on Terra Nova to adopt powered armor for standard use after reports from the Black Talons showed the popular stereotypes of its inadequacy were false. The Pilum is still primitive compared to its colonial counterparts, and is essentially just turtleshell with an awkwardly integrated exoframe. Operators are advised to avoid sudden movements to prevent the servo-mechanisms from dislocating their limbs. (Power Armor, Bulky)
Main Weapon: Paxton R36 Assault Rifle#
A light and accurate bullpup assault rifle that has few actual flaws but a very poor reputation, thanks to the popularity of its predecessor and the logistical mess that was its introduction. It only became the PRDF’s standard service rifle a decade and a half after its introduction, and even then many units still try to replace them when they can. (Light Carbine, High Quality, Ammo Efficient)
Main Weapon: Paxton R23 Assault Rifle#
The R23 was the PRDF’s original assault rifle, chambered in a higher caliber than the R36 and generally having a reputation for performance and reliability. It lacks ergonomics and has excessive recoil, but in general people will take it over its replacement when they have a chance. (Medium Carbine, Reliable)
Main Weapon: Paxton S59 Submachinegun#
The S59 has been manufactured for export in such vast quantities that even if it was not as effective as it has proven to be, it would still be the only rational choice for the PRDF due to the sheer amount of existing infrastructure dedicated to manufacturing it. (Medium SMG, Reliable)
Sidearm: Paxton P9 Automatic Pistol#
A pistol so widely used that its own ubiquity has led to it being perceived as generic. There is definitionally nothing special about the P9, as the notable qualities of other pistols are always judged in comparison to it. (Medium Pistol)
Squad Organization:#
PRDF Squads are composed of 8 soldiers. These are divided into two Teams, each of which has 3 soldiers with a Main Weapon or Special Weapon and 1 soldier with a Support Weapon. 3-man Support Teams also exist, which consist of 1 soldier with a Main Weapon or Special Weapon and 2 with Support Weapons. Support Teams are never attached directly to Squads, but instead operate as part of the wider Section.
Support Sidearm: Paxton P9R Machine Pistol#
The P9R is essentially just a standard P9 pistol with automatic-fire capability and a frontal grip. It originated as a popular conversion among PRDF units and civilian owners of the P9 that took advantage of the pistol’s modularity, which Paxton then capitalized on by releasing an official version of the modification. (Medium Machine Pistol)
Support Sidearm: Paxton S59F Machine Pistol#
The S59F is a concealable version of the S59, preserving the receiver but dropping the stock and shortening the barrel. It was originally intended for bodyguards and undercover PaxSec agents who could not openly carry around a heavy weapon. Its low muzzle velocity and range mean it is not often used as a standard weapon by the PRDF, but some officers prefer it to the P9R. (Light SMG, Reliable, Compact, Concealable, Rapid Drop-off)
Special Weapon: Paxton S59G Suppressed Submachinegun#
A modified S59 with a new barrel integrating a flash/sound suppressor. Aside from this it has identical performance to the base model and has interchangeable parts. The S59G is used as a primary weapon by special forces around the globe, and a number of them have been assigned to PRDF units operating in New Peace River to avoid causing public disturbances. (Medium SMG, Reliable, Silenced)
Special Weapon: Paxton R25 Assault Carbine#
The R25 is a shortened version of the R23, chambered in the same caliber but with a reduced barrel to make it easier to handle and transport at the expense of range. The R25 was originally developed for the Peace Officer Corps for use in urban environments, but rapidly became an omnipresent backup weapon for vehicle crews. (Medium Carbine, Reliable, Compact, Rapid Drop-Off)
Special Weapon: Paxton R37 Assault Carbine#
The R37 is a shortened R36, intended to replace the R25 for vehicle crews. While initially as unpopular on the export market as its full-size sibling, the R37 has gained wide acceptance in a way the R36 did not, as vehicle crews looking for something to cover their retreat in an emergency tend to care less about ammunition compatibility or stopping power. (Light Carbine, High Quality, Ammo Efficient, Compact, Rapid Drop-Off)
Special Weapon: Paxton Sunburn Laser Rifle#
Paxton Arms is the first (and so far only) Terra Novan corporation to sell infantry-portable laser weapons on the open market at an affordable price. To reduce production costs, the Sunburn uses industrial-grade optics rather than special military lenses, resulting in higher diffraction and therefore a smaller effective range. Even with these cut corners the Sunburn is still sold at cost, and the actual profit factor comes from the fact that the laser is designed to only be chargeable by Paxton’s proprietary PowerPax batteries. While this strategy has brought significant revenue to Paxton Industries, it has led to no end of logistical headaches for the PRDF’s laser-equipped units. (Light Infantry Laser, Special Design, Rapid Drop-off)
Support Weapon: Paxton R27 Suppressive Fire Weapon#
A strange hybrid of SMG, SAW, and carbine, the R27 SFW was designed as a compact rifle-caliber machine gun adapted from the R23 that could be used for close-range suppression in urban combat. In practice this means the R37 has very limited range and quickly runs out of ammunition while not being noticeably more powerful than an assault rifle, leading to a poor reputation among its operators. (Medium Carbine, Rapid Fire, Rapid Drop-off, Ammo Hog, Light)
Support Weapon: Paxton S15 Squad Support Weapon#
The S15 is a compact machine gun designed for Paxton’s standard 7mm rifle round, and is instantly recognizable by its iconic drum magazine. Although it is slightly more expensive than its competitors it has superior export sales to the Badlands due to both its light weight and the fact that its ammunition compatibility simplifies and cheapens logistics. It was planned to be replaced in the PRDF by a 5mm successor, but the commercial failure of the R36 collapsed that plan. (Light Machine Gun, Compact)
Support Weapon: Paxton S22 Tactical Support Weapon#
The S22 was originally designed as an automatic sentry gun for perimeter defense but was adapted into a crewed weapon for use by the PRDF. The S22’s long barrel and stabilizer make it accurate but also awkward to handle when not set up, and it cannot be moved by a single person without the aid of an exoskeleton. Elements of the original sentry design remain, allowing the gun to be remotely controlled once deployed. (Medium Machine Gun, Bulky, Reliable, Remote)
Support Weapon: Paxton Super Sparrow#
A militarized version of Paxton’s popular Sparrow target rifle, with a longer barrel for increased range and a frame-compatible receiver. Intended for squad marksmen in situations too kinetic to allow a proper sniping position to be set up, the Super Sparrow is easy to use and has good accuracy but poor penetration due to its small-caliber ammunition, making it less effective against body armor than other weapons designed for the same role role. (Light Rifle, Reliable)
Support Weapon: Paxton S24 Sniper Rifle#
A further development of the Super Sparrow with integrated optics and a suppressor. Although it offers a steadier aim and finer control than most of its similarly-priced competitors, the S24 is often mocked by the snipers of other militaries for usually needing multiple shots to kill a target in body armor, which they feel defeats the point of sniping in the first place. (Light Sniper Rifle, Reliable)
Support Weapon: Paxton Bulldawg Shotgun#
The POC’s standard pump-action shotgun, used by the PRDF without modification. The Bulldawg is in many respects an unlicensed copy of the BallisTech Type-12, integrating frame compatibility at the cost of ammo capacity. Strong sales to the badlands and local police departments has made its continued manufacture worth the cost of ICP’s constant lawsuits. (Medium Shotgun)
Support Weapon: Paxton Hailstorm Automatic Shotgun#
The Hailstorm is a truly legendary weapon, though the legends about it are not always positive. It is both the smallest mass-produced automatic shotgun on Terra Nova, being easily concealable under civilian clothing, and the one with the highest rate of fire at over 800 RPM on the highest setting. These qualities have the side effect of making the Hailstorm almost impossible to aim in any meaningful capacity, and according to its instruction manual it is not intended to be used on targets further than 8 meters away. Debates between gun aficionados on whether the Hailstorm is a powerful but highly specialized weapon or a useless joke have been raging since its introduction in the 19th century and show no signs of letting up. The PRDF uses the Hailstorm for clearing bunkers and interrogation enhancement. (Light Automatic Shotgun, Light, Concealable, Rapid Fire, Rapid Drop-Off 2, Off Balance)
Support Weapon: Paxton R33 Grenade Launcher#
The R33 was originally designed as a grenade launcher-rifle hybrid that would fire airburst grenades set to proximity-detonate above enemy positions. It was downgraded to a more conventional grenade launcher design after a series of premature detonations in testing, but it retains most of its original rifle-based construction and is compatible with frame conversion parts for the R27. (Light Grenade Launcher, Frame)
Support Weapon: Paxton Warhammer Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launcher#
The Warhammer is a handheld rocket launcher that fires squat shaped-charge warheads which protrude from the launch tube. It was originally designated for export only, as PRDF doctrine emphasized the use of guided missiles against vehicles. However, with the stress to supply lines caused by the protracted war against the CEF, the Warhammer has become the PRDF’s de facto primary antitank weapon due to its availability and ease of production. (Medium RPG)
Support Weapon: Paxton A5R Mortar#
The A5R is a modification of the long-serving A5 tube mortar. To protect the operator from counterbattery fire, the A5R has a deployable wheel near the baseplate and can be operated via a remote control. In practice this has failed to significantly improve survivability given that the A5R cannot be reloaded from a distance or on the move, meaning that sustained fire remains just as dangerous. (Medium Mortar, Remote)
Support Weapon: Paxton H14 Infantry Missile Launcher#
The H14 is one the few Paxton Arms weapons not intended primarily for export, and is instead designed to give PRDF infantry a qualitative advantage over enemy vehicles. It fires AG-22 missiles fitted with high-fidelity optical seeker cameras, giving it superior homing capability to its polar equivalents. While the H14 is a superlative weapon, AG-22 stocks are limited due to the missile’s complexity and it is increasingly reserved for high-value targets. (Medium Anti-Vehicle Missile, Advanced, High Quality, Special Design)
Support Weapon: Paxton H20 Infantry Multi-Missile Launcher#
The H20 was rapidly designed and rushed into service during the second CEF invasion to alleviate logistical concerns with the AG-22 missile. With a boxy multitube design vaguely resembling the DiMaean FLARE, the H20 attempts to compensate for the lower performance of its cheap AG-24 missiles through salvo fire. While the H20 has proven surprisingly effective against targets, it is despised by the PRDF rank and file due to poor quality control meaning that the AG-24 often fails to fire when it is most needed. (Medium Anti-Vehicle Missile, Rapid Fire, Bulky, Inferior Weapon)
Support Weapon: Paxton H17C Surface-to-Air Missile Launcher#
The H17 was designed during the War of the Alliace for the express purpose of providing infantry with a means of taking down the CEF’s trans-atmospheric fighters. It failed in this goal, but was useful enough against Terra Novan aircraft to remain in production with some adjustments. The H17 fires a shortened version of the AA-12 Silk air combat missile adapted for ground launch. Although more powerful than most comparable weapons, it is far too large to be fired from the shoulder and must be set up and fired by a full crew. (Heavy Anti-Air Missile, Advanced, Bulky)
Support Weapon: Paxton R18F Tactical Clearance System#
The R18F was developed during the War of the Alliance as a dedicated anti-GREL weapon. It is based around a twin-barreled rifle frame with a flamethrower on top and a shotgun barrel beneath, intended to be loaded with armor-piercing slugs. The intent was for troops to light the GREL on fire with the flamethrower to distract them, and finish them off with the slug. In practice, only the flamethrower component of the R18F was commonly used. (Light Flamethrower, Underslung Shotgun)
Support Weapon: Paxton A6X Modified Crowd Suppression Device#
The A6 is a large tripod-mounted liquid projector, capable of dispensing adhesive nets that form in midair for crowd suppression. The A6X is an unlikely military variant derived from Paxton Biological’s research into artificially recreating White Sand. It is designed specifically for use against armored targets, mixing a special corrosive “Solution Red” with the standard adhesive. While deadly, the A6X has a high rate of failure due to Solution Red’s tendency to eat through the barrel and storage canister. (Heavy Net Gun, Inferior Weapon, Ammo Lock: White Sand)
Support Weapon: Paxton Nightlight Laser Sniper Rifle#
The success of the Sunburn meant that Paxton Arms would inevitably produce more commercial laser weapons to drive the sales of PowerPax. A direct adaptation into a sniper laser was not possible, as precision optics were necessary for any sniper weapon. Instead, money was saved by using a more primitive pump source. This made the Nightlight—as the Sunburn’s successor was called—significantly larger without any notable increase in power, though this was considered an acceptable tradeoff for a sniper rifle. (Light Sniper Laser, Heavy, Special Design)
Melee Weapon: Paxton K7 Emergency Utility Knife#
The PRDF does not place significant emphasis on melee combat training outside of special units. The K7 knife is intended to be used to cut straps and cables in emergency situations, and is not balanced for combat. It can be used in a fight, but this is not recommended. (Medium Knife, Off-Balance)
Melee Weapon: Paxton K10 Tactical Vibroknife#
The one place where the PRDF sees a need for infantry melee weapons is for stealth operations, where they can be more concealable than a firearms discharge. The K10 is designed specifically for use by CTF stealth units, and uses special motors that eliminate the characteristic “hum” that emanates from most active vibroweapons. (Light Vibroknife, Concealable, Silenced)
New Weapon Trait: Remote#
The user of this weapon can fire it without being in physical contact, from a distance of up to 5 meters away. The user may not benefit from the Aim action while operating the weapon in this manner. +1 PL.
New Weapon Trait: Remote#
The user of this weapon can fire it without being in physical contact, from a distance of up to 5 meters away. The user may not benefit from the Aim action while operating the weapon in this manner. +1 PL.
