A Needler is a silent and deadly ranged weapon that uses both laser power and needles crafted from a form of crystallised neurotoxin to kill its targets. Needlers have a long and bloody history, having been utilised by Mankind for millennia. These deadly weapons were favoured by the assassins of the Terran Courts during the days before Unification. Needle pistols are sophisticated and elegant handguns whose operation is silent, nearly invisible, and quite deadly. The finest examples use a combination of a flash-less laser to pierce flesh, followed by an impellor-shot of virulent poisons delivered instantaneously into the open wound. This combination can lay low the roughest foe with ruthless efficiency.
Sidearm: Attacks with this trait can be used at range (using Ballistic Skill), and can also be used to make a single attack in close combat (using Weapon Skill).
If an attack with this trait has an Accuracy modifier, it does not apply in close combat.
Silent: A weapon with this trait does not trigger Detect checks if used by a Hidden fighter, and does not risk raising the alarm in scenarios that use the Sentries special rules.
Toxin: When a fighter is wounded by an attack with this trait and does not successfully make a save, before Damage is applied roll a D6.
If the result is greater than the fighter's current modified Toughness they suffer a Flesh Wound. If this modifies the fighter's current Toughness to 0, they suffer a Memorable Death.
If the fighter is not killed, the attack's Damage is applied and resolved normally.
Unliving targets such as inanimate objects, vehicles, and robots are not affected by this trait.
Scarce: The Reload (Simple) action cannot be taken on a weapon profile with the Scarce trait.