Guest Post: Is a blaster right for you?

[This submitted post comes from ‘Kantis Nolef’ of the SWLH facebook community.]

“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” – Han Solo, Episode IV.

When most people start thinking of props and accessories, they tend to think of blasters first. Blasters in the Star Wars universe seem to be as common cell phones in ours, and with myriad shapes and sizes, there’s something for every species. But does your character need one? Sure, if you’re in the Outer Rim on an inhospitable planet, it’s a matter of survival…but what if you’re not? Would it be necessary for a musician on Corellia to have a rifle slung across their back? Does a cook on Sullust need a pair of Westars?

Whichever career path you choose, I can’t stop you from arming yourself. That being said, I hope I can help you get the best blaster for your persona.

Are you a holojournalist looking for something compact and discreet like a holdout blaster? A spacer looking to add some swagger with a heavy pistol on your hip? Roleplaying game materials are often a great resource at this stage, as they tend to group their blasters by size or type – AND they usually include models beyond the limited examples seen on screen! Once you decide what type of blaster you want, you should think of what model you’ll go with.

Everyone knows the classic BlasTech DL-44, but there are so many more options out there!:

Do you like the style of the DL-44 but find it overused? Consider something like the Merr-Sonn Power 5! As we can see in the examples above, the propbuilders for Episode I got very creative in their variations on the C96 base. A streamlined ELG-3A or Q2 “Diplomat’s Blaster” can lend an air of elegance to an upper-class impression. Or are you the rough-and-tumble type who cobbles together what you need from what’s available? If you’re looking for something tough and durable, consider the DH-23 ‘Outback’.

The Galaxy is a big place, so a custom blaster is always a possibility. However, if you’re going to build your own blaster, there are some things you should keep in mind. George Lucas and the Original Trilogy propbuilders based most of their blasters on real-world firearms—with a few older or more recent outliers as exceptions, think ‘WWII ± 10 years’.
While foam dart or water guns look “sci-fi”, they may not fit the specific aesthetic of a blaster in the Galaxy Far, Far Away. Think like the propmakers of the original films…airsoft or pellet guns are a good base to start with, and if kept functional, give you authentic opportunities to practice with a real-world skill.

Once you have your base, you’ll need to make it look like it belongs in the Galaxy. Consider lengthening or shortening the barrel, adding or removing a stock, putting a scope on it, or even combining two guns into one. Add parts to break up the silhouette and familiarity, but don’t just slap stuff on. As you add greeblies, think about what they would “do” in-universe: why did the manufacturer put it there? Does it adjust a setting or control a function? If there’s a magazine well, you might cut the magazine down or plug it.

With your blaster assembled and ready for target practice, you’ll want to give it a level of wear and tear that compliments your outfit and character. Whether that means keeping it shiny, dragging it through the dirt to get it grimy, or just a good ‘used’ patina somewhere in-between: the choice is yours. It bears repeating that just as the specific blaster should match your persona, so too should the blaster’s amount of weathering: a Senator wouldn’t have a grungy ‘Saturday Night Special’, just as a Mos Eisley glit-biter wouldn’t have a ceremonial, immaculately-chromed pistol.

Now that you’re now ready to defend yourself against the scum and villainy of the galaxy, just remember to handle your blaster in a safe and responsible manner:

And one last thing: …Han shot first. 😉