Way of the Bow

(Author's Note: Bows are probably a fairly widely homebrewed resource, because they are given as an example, yet remain unstatted. This entry does not assume any particular stats for bows, it is more just a general commentary on their possible place in the universe. My personal preference for stats is picking a few from AUGC by SquireNed to utilize as appropriate)

The bow and arrow is a tool for hunting and warfare which predates history. A simple device, it's primary use in warfare was long supplanted by the development of gunpowder, but for it's simplicity and history the design and methodology has retained even after The Fall. Archery has a strong cultural connotation for many, both as a sport, an art and even in spirituality - folk heroes, legends and mythological figures can be associated with the bow, or are said to govern the art.

With the wide spread of knowledge and technology, bows remain fairly simple to make. Almost anybody with survival skills can scrounge a basic "self bow" from line and raw materials, while tools or fabbers can produce a basic recurve or composite bow. While they take a little assembly time, compound bows are also fairly easy to produce using carbon composites - and some designs take it further - shape adjusting smart material bows, or self pulling "automatic bows". Arrows have a similar revolution, from chips of glass and volcanic rock on carbon tubing to monofilament accushot smart arrows. The variance of gravity and atmospheric density, combined with overall greater physical aptitude of transhumanity can similarly make very impressive displays of archery.

Archery is preserved as a traditional sport many places, with target archery still being the most common - but Field archery is practiced on Mars, and the largest and greenest Lunar cities and Cylinder habs which have the available space. As a classical art, archery also persists. HEMA enthusiasts on Venus have recovered or engineered several historical styles, including a revival of the English longbow. Traditional archery is popular on Luna, with their high Indian population - the Sanskrit word for "archery" was eventually applied to all martial arts. Hybrid English-Indian systems and styles are popular in the Outer System. The real place to go for the competitive market in archery sports and arts is Mars, however. North African and Central Asian diaspora have preserved horseback archery, even some attempts at chariot archery. There is enough East Asian diaspora that traditional arts like Korean Gungdo and Japanese Kyudo are still taught, while Indian, European and American influences also exist. And Mars has the space and low gravity for some impressive shooting. Sadly, outside of neo-primitives and the exotically rich, bowhunting and fishing has gone almost completely extinct.

But, archery is not just a sport or an art - the bow is a weapon. While their efficiency is still outpaced by more modern weapons, they have advantages which a skilled user can make good use of. Bows are very quiet compared to firearms, seekers and even railguns which still have a supersonic report. They are much less disrupted by atmospheric effects than energy weapons (especially with the right smart arrow), and have a unique advantage that their ammunition can often be recovered after a fight. All this while retaining a decent range, accuracy and damage profile. The Rajput of the Ultimates swear by the effectiveness of a proper bow in the hands of the adequately skilled and augmented in killing "soft" biomorph exsurgents and small TITAN bots - and doing so quietly. Martian Nomads sometimes use them to pick off small Wild Artificials or neogenic creatures like Causapods. They also occasionally use them to quietly dispose of bandits and corporate busybodies who trespass.

The simplicity and construction of some bows means they can even be concealed past some security measures, so they have been occasionally used in assassination attempts, terror attacks and intrusions. Some bioconservative or even primitivist groups have used simple bows to kill as a public statement, where as quiet intrusion specialists just prefer the low sound level to lethality ratio. This also doesn't discount fantastic phantom thieves and hitmen who just like to show off. The Way of the Bow is alive and well in AF 10, in a multitude of ways.

Harpoon Gun

Underwater combat is an interesting proposition, but is a very real possibility on certain planetoids in the Solar System (Ceres, Europa) or even exoplanets. Melee combat is slower and more exhausting, physical projectiles normally move slower, which reduces their effective range and accuracy, and the additional recoil can damage weapons. Beam weapons may entirely not function in water, or have greatly reduced range due to much higher diffusion. Grenades and explosives are very powerful, but harder to use underwater. But, for those who need to engage underwater, there are options based on classical technology which may be functional.

Harpoon Gun: A modern version of of a historical weapon, the Harpoon Gun is rare off aquatic planetoids like Ceres and  Europa, though occasionally seen among Gatecrashers on aquatic planets. It has a basic function, firing a small spear or harpoon which is engineered to travel through the water. They operate of a canister of compressed gas, which is good for 100 shots and [Trivial] to replace. The Harpoon Gun has a low rate of fire, but can shoot a variety of ammunition (see below) reliably through the water without cost of effectiveness. A modern harpoon gun comes equipped with a Smartlink and a Safety System. [Moderate]
Harpoon Gun SS Ammo 1
10/30/50/70

Harpoon Ammo (Price for 20):

Harpoon: Standard harpoon, which is designed to be fired underwater. AP -6, 2d10+4 DV [Trivial]
Barbed: Sharply barbed harpoon which inflicts more harm, but less penetration. AP -2, 2d10+7 DV [Trivial]
Injector: Hypodermic harpoon, designed to deliver a payload of drugs on impact. AP -5, Half DV. [Trivial], plus payload cost
Limpet: A specialized harpoon which is designed to carry a minigrenade when fired, which then detonates as normal. It's AP and DV are as the grenade. Halves the maximum range. [Trivial], plus Grenade cost
Diamond Harpoon: Variant of the harpoon edged in industrial diamond for better armor penetration, but imparts slightly less force to the target. AP -10, 2d10+2 DV. [Low]
Net: Harpoon Gun round which is actually an expanding net designed to entangle the target. Target hit with the net is entangled and takes a -30 on all physical actions and mostly immobilized unless they can make a COO or SOM x3 test to escape. Large targets only take -10. Reduces range by 50%.
Pronged: A harpoon which has it's normal head replaced with electroshock prongs, ideal for incapacitation, but reduced maximum range by 10%. AP -3, 2d10+3+Shock DV. [Low]