Long time readers may have noticed the new logo. When I put up this site back in 2016 I was just trying to get things going as quickly as possible (under the assumption it is better to have an imperfect thing done than nothing at all) so the logo was just some text and a line drawing I thought had turned out particularly well. But it’s been 7 years now, so it was well past time to get that fixed. I’ll be updating my few solo projects with the new logo as well. Enough about that.
Even though we are done with expansion books for Starfinder 1E (though there is still another AP and plenty of adventures coming out for the system!), there are a few holes yet to be filled in terms of content. One I noticed recently is the ground between longarms and small arms that the SMG (Sub-Machine Gun) occupies. Traditionally an SMG is somewhat larger than a handgun, but still nominally a one-handed weapon, that uses small arms ammo but is capable of doing full auto sprays. In game terms that means a small arm that has the Automatic trait, using up a clip to make a cone attack instead of a single target one. Useful against groups and essential when fighting swarms!
There are already a few SMGs in the system – the Uppercut line of analog SMGs, and the Disintegration line of energy SMGs. That covers Piercing and Acid damage (and the Disintegration SMGs have some of the best Range of acid weapons, not to be discounted), but what about the other energy types? Electricity doesn’t really feel right for this, as a line effect feels more natural for that. Sonic, the oft forgotten energy type, could work. Cold and fire, particularly fire, work just fine. Looking at the existing SMGs, we see mostly middle of the road range, high clip capacity coupled with high per shot usage, and average damage. Price, surprisingly, is on the high side of average but not close to the highest cost for their level. Putting all that together…
Maxim SMGs
Small Arms
| NAME | LEVEL | PRICE | DAMAGE | CRITICAL | RANGE | CAPACITY | USAGE | BULK | SPECIAL |
| Scorch SMG, Blaze | 3 | 1450 | 1d4 F | — | 50 ft. | 20 | 2 | L | Automatic |
| Frost SMG, Chill | 3 | 1450 | 1d4 C | — | 40 ft. | 20 | 2 | L | Automatic |
| Roar SMG, Racket | 3 | 1450 | 1d4 Sonic | — | 30 ft. | 20 | 2 | L | Automatic |
| Scorch SMG, Backdraft | 9 | 13500 | 3d4 F | — | 50 ft. | 20 | 2 | L | Automatic |
| Frost SMG, Sleet | 9 | 13500 | 3d4 C | 1d6 Frostbite | 40 ft. | 20 | 2 | L | Automatic |
| Roar SMG, Tumult | 9 | 13500 | 3d4 Sonic | Stifle | 30 ft. | 20 | 2 | L | Automatic |
| Scorch SMG, Bonfire | 15 | 117500 | 3d8 F | — | 70 ft. | 40 | 4 | L | Automatic |
| Frost SMG, Graupel | 15 | 117500 | 3d8 C | 2d6 Frostbite | 60 ft. | 40 | 4 | L | Automatic |
| Roar SMG, Commotion | 15 | 117500 | 3d8 Sonic | Deafen | 50 ft. | 40 | 4 | L | Automatic |
| Scorch SMG, Catastrophe | 20 | 884000 | 5d10 F | — | 90 ft. | 80 | 4 | L | Automatic |
| Frost SMG, Ice Age | 20 | 884000 | 5d10 C | 4d6 Frostbite | 70 ft. | 80 | 4 | L | Automatic |
| Roar SMG, Commotion | 20 | 884000 | 5d10 Sonic | Deafen | 60 ft. | 80 | 4 | L | Automatic |
Maxim SMGs
Based out of the Gideron Authority, Maxim Manufacturing makes several lines of fully automatic energy based personal firearms. Compact enough to easily transport, but capable of an impressive spray, the weapons are quite popular with mercenaries and para-military organizations. Perhaps as a result they have a nasty reputation among the Stewards and station security organizations, as the collateral damage inflicted by these weapons is notorious.
As always, if you like this or any of the other content here on Solo Run Studio I would welcome a little of your support through Ko-fi. Until next time Starfinders!
Jeremy Corff
Artist and Writer