A blaster carbine was a shortened variant of an already existing weapon, traditionally blaster rifles. An individual who specialized at using carbines was known as a carbineer.
Description
A blaster carbine had a short barrel and compact two-handed grip, making it look more like a long pistol than a rifle.[2] Carbines offered distinct advantages from other weapons. First and foremost, they were generally shorter and lighter than their heavier cousins, and allowed for more capabilities especially in confined environments;[1] they also had a faster rate of fire than a typical blaster rifle. In addition, carbines were often cheaper to produce than ordinary rifles. In exchange for these advantages however, they had a shorter range, less accuracy[1] and less stopping power. Blaster carbines had a short-range stun setting as well as an autofire setting, which allowed the weapon to fire multiple shots at a greater area instead of the more accurate single-shot mode. The blaster carbine cost 850 credits without a retractable stock and 900 credits with that accessory. Its ownership and use was regulated by local authorities.[2]
Some blaster carbines, such as the E5 blaster carbine used by B1 battle droids, had a retractable stock. When the stock was folded, it allowed the user to treat the weapon as a one-handed pistol. When the stock was extended, the user could treat the weapon more like a rifle with greater range. However, the extended stock required that the weapon be used with two hands to be used properly.[2]
History
Despite these disadvantages, carbines were generally simpler and easier to use than rifles, and were therefore very popular with unskilled thugs or civilian owners looking for simplicity, ruggedness and ease of use. They were frequently used by nomads such as the Tusken Raiders of Tatooine.[1] Many a frontier homeowner had a carbine for home security. Owen Lars owned a blaster carbine at his homestead on Tatooine for defense against marauding Tusken Raiders. However, many people skilled in ranged weapons often preferred these weapons as well. They were often issued to walker assault teams.[1]
Perhaps the best-known example was Boba Fett's modified EE-3 carbine rifle. Rodian special forces were also known to prefer a N'Gant-Zarvel 9118 heavy carbine during their missions, despite its characteristic thud made when firing.
Appearances
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- The Old Republic: Revan (and audiobook)
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
- Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Star Wars: The Old Republic Cartel Market
- "The Price of Business" – Living Force campaign
- Shatterpoint (and unabridged audiobook)
- "Forces of Cularin: Force Convention" – Living Force campaign
- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- Han Solo at Stars' End
- Death in the Undercity (also reprinted in Classic Adventures: Volume Three)
- "The Cure" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 6 (also reprinted in Classic Adventures: Volume Four — The Best of the Journal)
- "A Bazaar Encounter" — Imperial Entanglements
- "Who Goes There?" — Imperial Entanglements
- "Death-Hunter" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 9
- "Droids Defiant" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 9
- "The Farrimmer Cafe" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 11 (Mentioned only)
- "Abregado-Rae Intrigue" — No Disintegrations
- "Seregar Turnabout" — No Disintegrations
- "The Farlander Papers" — Star Wars: X-Wing (Picture only)
- Jedi Dawn
- Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (First appearance)
- "To Fight Another Day" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 6 (also reprinted in Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club)
- Tatooine Manhunt (also reprinted in Classic Adventures: Volume Three)
- "Galaxywide NewsNets" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 4
- "Only Droids Serve the Maker" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 10 (also reprinted in Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club)
- Black Ice
- "The Long Arm of the Hutt" — Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Beginner Game
- "Trouble Brewing" — Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook
- "Takeover at Whisper Base" — Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Beginner Game
- "Operation: Shadowpoint" — Star Wars: Age of Rebellion
- Onslaught at Arda I
- Scavenger Hunt
- "Showdown" — Star Wars Gamemaster Kit (also reprinted in Classic Campaigns)
- Domain of Evil (also reprinted in Classic Adventures: Volume Two)
- Planet of the Mists
- Mission to Lianna
- "Two for the Price of One" — Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters
- "Operation: Shadowstrike" — Instant Adventures
- "The Treasure of Celis Mott" — Instant Adventures
- "The Breath of Gelgelar" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 14 (also reprinted in Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club) (Mentioned only)
- The Jewel of Yavin
- "Hammer of Destiny" — Imperial Entanglements
- Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
- The Game Chambers of Questal (also reprinted in Classic Adventures: Volume Five)
- "Crimson Bounty" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 14
- "Side Trip" (also reprinted in Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club)
- "Uninvited Guests" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 1
- "Return to Taul" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 2
- Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
- "The Event of the Season" — Tapani Sector Instant Adventures
- "Operation: Recovery" — Shadows of the Empire Planets Guide
- Shadows of the Empire 2
- Shadows of the Empire 3
- Shadows of the Empire 4
- Shadows of the Empire 6
- Star Wars (1977) 70 (colorized in Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 5: Fool's Bounty) (In flashback(s))
- "Special Ops: Ship Jackers" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 13
- Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi novelization (and unabridged audiobook)
- Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi junior novelization
- Mara Jade – By the Emperor's Hand 1
- Star Wars (1977) 81 (colorized in Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 5: Fool's Bounty)
- "Easy Money" — The Politics of Contraband (also reprinted in Classic Adventures)
- X-Wing: Rogue Squadron (and unabridged audiobook)
- X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble (and unabridged audiobook)
- "Death Is Remotely Possible" — The DarkStryder Campaign (Reprinted and collected in The DarkStryder Campaign, Deluxe)
- "The Trap" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 6
- X-Wing: Isard's Revenge
- "Scavenger Hunt" — Imperial Entanglements
- "No Disintegrations, Please" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 14
- I, Jedi (and unabridged audiobook)
- Children of the Jedi
- "Two for One" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 15
Sources
- Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game
- The Star Wars Sourcebook
- Star Wars Campaign Pack
- Galaxy Guide 1: A New Hope
- Star Wars Miniatures Battles, First Edition
- Imperial Sourcebook
- Galaxy Guide 6: Tramp Freighters
- Cracken's Rebel Field Guide
- Star Wars Gamemaster Kit
- Heir to the Empire Sourcebook
- Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition
- Star Wars Gamemaster Screen
- Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley
- Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts
- Dark Force Rising Sourcebook
- Galaxy Guide 9: Fragments from the Rim
- Dark Empire Sourcebook
- Planets of the Galaxy, Volume Three
- The Movie Trilogy Sourcebook
- Han Solo and the Corporate Sector Sourcebook
- Star Wars Miniatures Battles, Second Edition
- Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters
- Galaxy Guide 6: Tramp Freighters, Second Edition
- Cracken's Rebel Operatives
- Creatures of the Galaxy
- Star Wars Miniatures Battles Companion
- The Star Wars Sourcebook, Second Edition
- Imperial Sourcebook, Second Edition
- Galaxy Guide 11: Criminal Organizations
- The Star Wars Planets Collection
- Goroth: Slave of the Empire
- Dark Forces Manual: Coded Transmissions (Picture only)
- Galladinium's Fantastic Technology
- Dark Forces Official Player's Guide (Picture only)
- Alliance Intelligence Reports
- Galaxy Guide 1: A New Hope, Second Edition
- The DarkStryder Campaign
- Star Wars Gamemaster Screen, Revised
- "The Yard of Opportunity" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 8
- Heroes & Rogues
- "A Free-Trader's Guide to the Planets" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 10
- "Wanted by Cracken" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 10
- Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook
- Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded
- Shadows of the Empire Planets Guide
- Tales of the Jedi Companion
- "Cracken's Rebel Operatives" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 11
- Gamemaster Toolkit: Live-Action Adventures
- Wretched Hives of Scum & Villainy
- "Scouts' Dispatch" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 13
- The Black Sands of Socorro
- Secrets of the Sisar Run
- Rules of Engagement: The Rebel SpecForce Handbook
- Gundark's Fantastic Technology: Personal Gear
- Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook, Special Edition
- "Special Military Unit Intelligence Update" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 15
- Platt's Smugglers Guide
- The Far Orbit Project
- Arms & Equipment Guide
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords: Prima Official Game Guide
- "We Don't Need That Scum" on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Tech Specs: Carbines on the official Star Wars Galaxies website (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition Core Rulebook
- Threats of the Galaxy
- Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
- Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game — Champions of the Force (Card: Conscript Carbine) (backup link)
- Legacy Era Campaign Guide
- Rebellion Era Campaign Guide
- "Fringe Stat Pack" on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game — The Price of Victory (Card: Boba Fett's Blaster) (backup link)
- Lars, Owen in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Star Wars: The Old Republic Explorer's Guide
- Star Wars: The Old Republic Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Beginner Game
- Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook
- Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Game Master's Kit
- Ultimate Sticker Collection: Star Wars: Battles of the Clone Wars
- Enter the Unknown
- Suns of Fortune
- Dangerous Covenants
- Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Beginner Game
- Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook
- Stay on _target
- Lords of Nal Hutta
- Strongholds of Resistance
- Keeping the Peace