Dartcaster
Dartcasters function in a similiar manner to Needler, however they fire heavy darts rather than crystaline slivers.[1][3]
Overview
Dartcasters are found in a variety of forms, most using pressurised gas or crossbow mechanisms to fire small metal darts at high velocities. With limited capacity to inflict damage, its common for users to dip the dart in powerful toxins and substances. These can range from simple needler poison to exotics such as hallucinogens or tranquillisers and any number of other chemicals, drugs and poisons. Other varieties of dart include explosive, holy silver coated and armour piercing varieties. The armour-piercing adamantine variety is described as fractal edged and can to penetrate light body armour with ease. These darts are subsonic, their passage sounding only a slight hum or a shikshikshik noise as they speed through the air. This combined with the lack of flash created when the weapon is fired, makes the dartcaster excellent for stealthy combat. Dartcasters are a favourite for some bounty hunters as well as assassins and members of the Inquisition and Adeptus Arbites as, in additon to their stealthy operation, they an offer a wide degree of flexibility for combat. In a pinch, skilled users can also simply throw the dart manually at the target. Some dartcasters have been fitted with forearm mounts or laser sights to upgrade their capabilities.[1][2][3]
Known Patterns
Cadence “Widower” Dart Caster Device
A weapon of assassination that grew out of the bitter guild vendettas in Hive Magnagorsk on Fenksworld, the Widower is another design created by the mysterious artisan cult known as Cadence and is now perhaps their most widely known creation. The weapon uses a much more powerful magnetic/las impellor than found in Imperial Needle weapons and is supplied by their makers with an attachable frame-stock and a long-barrelled impellor that increase the profile, weight and range of the weapon.[3]
Related Articles
Sources
- 1: Rogue Trader Core Rulebook, pg. 127
- 2: Blind (Novel), Chapter Nine
- 3: Dark Heresy: The Inquisitor's Handbook, pg. 111
