Directorate Officer
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create a modern bow for use
- Image Source: here
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Lucerne Personal Defense
- Affiliation: Directorate, Silver Jedi Concord, Lucerne Personal Defense Customers
- Market Status: Closed-Market
- Model: LPD-71 Stronghand Compound Bow
- Modularity: different arrow/projectile types, various bow attachments (sights, arrow holders, etc)
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material: carbo-plas frame & pulley components, flexorcord bowstring, permex furniture & coating, Magnatomic Grip Panel handle
- Classification: Compound Bow
- Size: Large
- Weight: Light
- Ammunition Type: arrows / various projectiles
- Ammunition Capacity: Extremely Small
- Effective Range: Long Range
- Rate of Fire: Low
- Damage Output: Very High
- Recoil: Low
- Simple Weapon: The Stronghand is a relatively simple weapon on the galactic scene, designed primarily for hunting on worlds with more restrictive weapons laws. Its simple construction means that its fairly easy to find or make replacement parts, and many layman can easily make these repairs in the field. Its simplicity also means that it tends to avoid most weapons scanners, especially as the Stronghand does not have any electronic devices, power supplies, or metal in it.
- Fiber-Optic Sight: Unlike some more primitive bows, the Stronghand does have a fiber optic-based sight, allowing it to be reasonably aimed at up to several hundred meters for precise, though arrows can technically fly much further to hit large targets or just to conduct area of effect attacks.
- Take-down: The Stronghand has several takedown levers which allow the bow to quickly fold its limbs inwards, making it very compact for transport or concealment.
- Stealth Weapon: The Stronghand is a fairly stealthy weapon both in transport and in actual use. During transport, it can be made very compact due to its collapsible assembly while its nonmetallic nature and lack of electronics make it unlikely to be detected by weapons scanners. In use, its fire is nearly silent and doesn't typically have much of a visual signature as well.
- Heavy Hitting: The Stronghand is a fairly powerful weapon, with most arrows used creating as much damage as a typical slugthrower hunting rifle. A single arrow with the right show placement is capable of taking down most medium sized game animals (up to a bantha) with a single shot, though such kills are rarely as instantaneous as those made with a gun.
- Skilled Use: As with most bows, using the Stronghand requires much more skill and practice than the average blaster rifle.
- Low Rate of Fire: Since a single arrow can be drawn up at a single time, and the process is entirely dependent on the user's phyiscal condition and skill, the Stronghand tends to have a lower rate of fire compared to most galactic standard weapons.
Ostensibly, the Stronghand is Lucerne Personal Defense's first product intended for civilian hunting - bows tend to be much less regulated than blasters or slugthrowers on most worlds, and they tend to be viewed as more socially acceptable even in cultures upon which violence is frowned upon. The Stronghand itself is fairly typical of such common hunting weapons, using simple mechanics to grant the user additional power and ease of use compared to traditional primitive or composite bows. In another bid to make it more friendly than the traditional bow, the Stronghand also has a fiber optic based sight, which makes aiming much less of a guess for the inexperienced beginner or the stressed expert.
Yet despite its apparent civilian market, weapons experts note that the Stronghand clearly has some features which seem to speak to different intents. One of the most obvious of these is the very careful selection of materials - Stronghold doesn't have any metal in it. Combined with the ease of its takedown, it seems to be designed with a certain amount of concealment in mind from weapons scanners and other security devices which isn't typical for a hunting weapon. The other feature that seems to undermine the Stronghand's alleged hunting weapon status is the selection of stock, carbon-fiber based arrows from Lucerne Personal Defense, which can take a wide variety of arrowheads.
Spearpoint: A simple spike of mirrsteel designed for deep penetration through thick hides of animals and many light armors. This is probably the most common and cheapest ammunition available for the Stronghand. It is often chosen by hunters looking to penetrate through thick scales or against dangerous predators.
Broadhead: This wedge-shaped head has several hardened and sharpened blade-like edges. While it lacks the deep penetration of the Spearpoint head, it tends to cause grievous lacerations with significant bleeding. It is the most common arrow used by hunters, as it tends to minimize internal damage to the animal and thus to the meat itself.
Armor Piercing Explosive: This spike-shaped arrowhead has an internal cavity filled with detonite. When the arrow collides with the target or object, the kinetic impact detonates the detonite. Because of the shape of the metallic portion of this bullet, it actually acts as a micro-shaped charge, with the detonite being focused forward into the target. While ostensibly designed to ensure damage against fauna with unusually thick hide or scales, it is also effective at penetrating many personal body armors.
Poisoned: Officially marketed only for use against dangerous apex predators, this arrowhead consists of mirrsteel barbed bullet liberally coated in Cyanoxis D-570. Upon impact, the barbs irregularity carve up deep channels into the wound and then act to make arrowhead removal more difficult and damaging, while the poison furthers blood loss, frequently leading to deep internal bleeds and blood trails that can be easily followed.
Stun: This arrowhead consists of lightly-constructed plastic shell that contains bothan stun spores. Upon impact, the spores either enter the body or can be inhaled by the target. Depending on the target, the effect can range from mild nausea and vomiting to unconsciousness. This is supposed to be used to stun animals to temporary subdue them for movement or to plant wildlife trackers and other devices on them. It is just as effective against most organic sentients as it is against wildlife.
Acid-Filled: At a glance, this appears to be a typical spearpoint arrowhead. However, the spike is actually fairly thin, actually acting as a reservoir for Trifaraleen gas. If the arrowhead penetrates into the target, the gas will be released into the target itself to rapidly eat at tissue. Against impact against armor and other hard objects, the gas will rapidly corrode a portion of the impacted target before dissipating away. Supposedly developed to help deal with particularly dangerous apex predators, it has other uses against artificial constructs such as security devices, personal armors, and droids.
Incendiary: This arrowhead contains a small detonite tip which acts as an impact primer for plasticene thermite gel contained within a plasteel jacket. Upon impact, the detonite ignites the gel, heating up the immediate impact area to almost 5000 degrees Celsius, which is more than capable enough of starting fires and burning through many armor materials. It tends to create deep, tunneling internal burns on organic targets. Officially sold to help civilians defend against Bryn'adul engineered creatures in the wake of the Bryn'adul Empire's defeat and efforts by many to reclaim their worlds.
CryoBan: This arrowhead consists of a thin, plasteel container filled with condensed CryoBan. Impact causes this thin outer shell to rupture, releasing a relatively small, but highly concentrated burst of CryoBan. Officially sold to help civilians defend against Bryn'adul engineered creatures in the wake of the Bryn'adul Empire's defeat and efforts by many to reclaim their worlds.
Stronghand is primarily marketed towards hunters and other outdoors enthusiasts who may have a need to protect themselves from wildlife. It's not uncommon to see starter packages featuring the bow, a quiver, dozens of basic arrows, and few other basic accessories in large department stores and outdoor shops. Unofficially, the Stronghand does see some use by unconventional forces and guerillas sponsored by the Directorate, where its ease of concealability and silent operation make it useful for some small-scale operations with stringent weapons controls.
