There are two fireball blasters that I know of to be found in old AD&D modules. One comes from the DA3 module "City of the Gods" which had space techno. I added the official picture of the item and a full text description of the "heavy blaster" from the module below, there is also a hand version with less dice of damage:
Heavy Blaster - Model DA3 (Staff of Sunflame)
Description: This device actually looks more like an unwieldly club than a staff. The smooth dense, dark gray substance from which it is manufactured is studded with arcane bumps and bulges and it is broader and heavier at one end, tapering to a thin tube at the other.
Functioning: This shoulder fired weapon works like a crossbow (but is much lighter and is shaped like a rifle). It works exactly like a wand of fireballs, but does 8d8 points of damage at 360 Feet (120 Yards) whenever a small stud in the underside of the stock is pressed). The weapon has a standard power pack in the stock. Moving a slide on the stock causes it to eject its power pack; it can then be reloaded by simply sliding a fresh power pack into the butt end of the stock. Thumbing open a panel on the top of the stock exposes a vertical gauge whose red indicator line shows how many charges are left. The panel snaps shut when released. Each new power pack inserted in the weapon is good for 24 uses. The power pack already in a weapon when it is discovered by a PC is good for 5d4 uses.
The other version is from the old AD&D module S3 "Expedition to the Barrier Peaks". I call it the "S3" model, as opposed to the "DA3" model. There is also a lesser "hand" version. Picture of this one also attached, and full text of the module below:
(Power discs have 6 charges.)
Blaster Rifle – Model (S3)
Range: S=5", M=10", L=15"
Area of Effect: 1’ beam or special
Power Disc Drain: 2/use
Rate of Fire: l/round
Damage: Disruption or special
Save: All vs petrifaction see below
As with the blaster pistol, this item will also be usually found in a folded-up state, about 11/2’ long. When unfolded, it is about 3’ long, It weighs nearly 5 Ibs. It appears to consist of jointed metal rods, a curved metal plate, a hardened leather band or collar and a pane of glass, framed and mounted on the end of a rod. There is a black rivet at the end of the U-shaped rod. The metal plate has 3 raised, colored bars - black, white, and red - and a coin-shaped slot above them. There is a blue rivet on the side above the collar. The band is made of a hardened leather or horn-like material, fashioned into overlapping plates. No stitching may be seen. The glass is thick and dark on both sides. On one side of the frame is a metal mesh mounted on a small rod. The rifle must first be unfolded and then the left arm is thrust through the collar. This band will automatically constrict to a firm grip so that the gun need not be held constantly. It will only release when the blue button is pushed. The rifle activates when one of the colored settings is pushed. The black button on the U shaped handle is pushed to fire. The shot originates from the screen.
The effects of the settings are:
BLACK - Disruption beam setting usable to maximum range. This beam will vaporize anything short of hull metal when it hits. The beam affects up to six cubic feet of material. When an individual creature is the target a save is applicable. Shields are automatically destroyed, armor and protection devices must also be saved for. If save is successful individual takes 5-30 hit points, and saving throws for armor and/or protection devices is at -5 against next blaster (pistol or rifle) attack. Target creatures are stunned for 1-4 rounds despite saving.
WHITE - Heat beam setting effective out to medium range. A wave of heat sweeps out in a 4’ beam, and all in its path must save. Metallic armor reduces saving throw by -7, shields by -2, but magical bonuses are added, i.e. magic plate (+3) and shield (+3) would reduce the chance of saving by 9, but magical bonuses (+6 in this example) adjust that to only a -3. Creatures failing to save are melted, those saving take 5-20 hit points of damage and lose 1-6 points of strength for 1-6 turns due to heat exhaustion.
RED - Flame plane setting effective only to short range. A horizontal plane cuts a triangular area out to 5” (weapon’s short range), with a 2%” base. Inflammable materials in this plane start burning, and creatures take either 4-24 hit points of damage or 2-12 hit points if they successfully save. This setting does not lower armor values against successive saving throws, as it does not harm armor.
Model DA3 Heavy Blaster (Staff of Sunflame)
Model S3 Blaster Rifle
I tried to add the blaster attachments after posting but they wouldn't take. So here they are in a new reply.
Heavy Blaster - Model DA3 (Staff of Sunflame)
Description: This device actually looks more like an unwieldly club than a staff. The smooth dense, dark gray substance from which it is manufactured is studded with arcane bumps and bulges and it is broader and heavier at one end, tapering to a thin tube at the other.
Functioning: This shoulder fired weapon works like a crossbow (but is much lighter and is shaped like a rifle). It works exactly like a wand of fireballs, but does 8d8 points of damage at 360 Feet (120 Yards) whenever a small stud in the underside of the stock is pressed). The weapon has a standard power pack in the stock. Moving a slide on the stock causes it to eject its power pack; it can then be reloaded by simply sliding a fresh power pack into the butt end of the stock. Thumbing open a panel on the top of the stock exposes a vertical gauge whose red indicator line shows how many charges are left. The panel snaps shut when released. Each new power pack inserted in the weapon is good for 24 uses. The power pack already in a weapon when it is discovered by a PC is good for 5d4 uses.
The other version is from the old AD&D module S3 "Expedition to the Barrier Peaks". I call it the "S3" model, as opposed to the "DA3" model. There is also a lesser "hand" version. Picture of this one also attached, and full text of the module below:
(Power discs have 6 charges.)
Blaster Rifle – Model (S3)
Range: S=5", M=10", L=15"
Area of Effect: 1’ beam or special
Power Disc Drain: 2/use
Rate of Fire: l/round
Damage: Disruption or special
Save: All vs petrifaction see below
As with the blaster pistol, this item will also be usually found in a folded-up state, about 11/2’ long. When unfolded, it is about 3’ long, It weighs nearly 5 Ibs. It appears to consist of jointed metal rods, a curved metal plate, a hardened leather band or collar and a pane of glass, framed and mounted on the end of a rod. There is a black rivet at the end of the U-shaped rod. The metal plate has 3 raised, colored bars - black, white, and red - and a coin-shaped slot above them. There is a blue rivet on the side above the collar. The band is made of a hardened leather or horn-like material, fashioned into overlapping plates. No stitching may be seen. The glass is thick and dark on both sides. On one side of the frame is a metal mesh mounted on a small rod. The rifle must first be unfolded and then the left arm is thrust through the collar. This band will automatically constrict to a firm grip so that the gun need not be held constantly. It will only release when the blue button is pushed. The rifle activates when one of the colored settings is pushed. The black button on the U shaped handle is pushed to fire. The shot originates from the screen.
The effects of the settings are:
BLACK - Disruption beam setting usable to maximum range. This beam will vaporize anything short of hull metal when it hits. The beam affects up to six cubic feet of material. When an individual creature is the target a save is applicable. Shields are automatically destroyed, armor and protection devices must also be saved for. If save is successful individual takes 5-30 hit points, and saving throws for armor and/or protection devices is at -5 against next blaster (pistol or rifle) attack. Target creatures are stunned for 1-4 rounds despite saving.
WHITE - Heat beam setting effective out to medium range. A wave of heat sweeps out in a 4’ beam, and all in its path must save. Metallic armor reduces saving throw by -7, shields by -2, but magical bonuses are added, i.e. magic plate (+3) and shield (+3) would reduce the chance of saving by 9, but magical bonuses (+6 in this example) adjust that to only a -3. Creatures failing to save are melted, those saving take 5-20 hit points of damage and lose 1-6 points of strength for 1-6 turns due to heat exhaustion.
RED - Flame plane setting effective only to short range. A horizontal plane cuts a triangular area out to 5” (weapon’s short range), with a 2%” base. Inflammable materials in this plane start burning, and creatures take either 4-24 hit points of damage or 2-12 hit points if they successfully save. This setting does not lower armor values against successive saving throws, as it does not harm armor.
Model DA3 Heavy Blaster (Staff of Sunflame)
Model S3 Blaster Rifle
I tried to add the blaster attachments after posting but they wouldn't take. So here they are in a new reply.
Tracy Johnson
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