Balefire Flamethrower

Illustration of a Balefire Flamethrower, from Book of the Wyrm, 2nd ed.

A Balefire Flamethrower is a level 5 quasi-mystical weapon that isn't quite a Fetish, but is somewhat like one. It shoots balefire at a target. Pentex makes it and they don't sell it.

Overview

Field Operatives of the Flamethrower are known as "Baleflamers". Despite the risks involved using this potential explosive equipment, the "Baleflamer" is prized by Pentex soldiers.

The flamethrower fires a stream of semi-liquid balefire out to a range of 30 feet, and can coat a human-sized being pretty quickly. It requires a Dexterity + Firearms roll, difficulty 7 to have the fire be on target. Those unlucky enough to be caught in the steam take two Health Levels of highly aggravated damage; this cannot be soaked, although it can be dodged (or weathered via the Gift: Resist Toxin). The damage continues each round until the victim manages to extinguish the fire. Naturally, balefire burns take twice as long to heal, and add +10 o any rolls on the Battle Scars chart necessitated by the burns.

The containment unit has enough fire in it for six bursts; the operator can hose down multiple targets in a turn by expending more fuel.

However, the weapon isn't totally reliable. Should the wielder botch his attack roll, the propulsion unit explores in his hands, causing as much damage as if he'd been hosed down himself (with no chance of dodging). If the fire hasn't been extinguished by his action next turn, the containment unit explodes. If the wielder is, at any time, hit in the back by any attack scoring at least five damage successes (whether soaked or not), the containment unit explodes.

When the unit goes up in a brilliant green fireball of radioactive napalm, the wielder immediately takes three Health Levels of damage, and will continue to take three more each turn - his entire body is doused in the stuff. Anyone within fifteen feet must take an action to dodge (difficulty 8) or be caught in the explosion, taking one to three Health Levels of damage and the same number each turn, depending on how much of their bodies was exposed. And remember, balefire isn't soakable!

References

• WTA/cMET: Mind's Eye Theatre: Book of the Wyrm, p. 206
• W20: Book of the Wyrm 20th Anniversary Edition, p. 184-185