As with the
stun module gadget, the variable charge gadget takes advantage of an energy
weapon's ability to modify the
damage caused by its own shots. This gadget gives the user the ability to "power up" his or her shots by focusing more energy into a single blast. A
weapon with the variable charge gadget may be primed as an
attack action, increasing the
damage of its next shot by +1 die. For example, a
weapon that normally deals 2d6 points of
damage deals 3d6 points of
damage after being primed for one round. A
weapon may be primed for up to three rounds. If primed for more than three rounds, it becomes unstable; on the fourth round the
weapon must be fired or else it explodes and deals the fully charged
damage (normal
weapon damage, +4 dice) to the user. When this occurs, the
weapon is completely destroyed.