Bulk of Petrol Tanks

[Saros Palanthios]

In the CRB, the Flame Pistol is listed as being Light bulk, and the Flame Rifle is 1 bulk (similar to other Small Arms and Longarms respectively). However in the Ammo section, standard Petrol tanks are listed as 1 bulk each, and high-capacity tanks as 2 bulk, whereas all other ammo besides Missiles are Light or no bulk.

We know that all standard weapons are sold pre-loaded with one full standard-capacity magazine/battery/etc.

How can a Flame Pistol include a 1-bulk petrol tank and still be Light bulk? Is a standard Petrol tank really supposed to be comparable to a Longarm in terms of bulkiness (both 1 bulk)? That seems excessively large to me. Combine that with the high price of Petrol (only four shots worth per 60-credit tank) and the very short range of Flame weapons and they start to look really impractical.

I really want my character to use a Flame weapon, but he's not a Soldier and doesn't have much excess carrying capacity. Am I missing something, or should Petrol tanks really be Light bulk?

[Segovax]

I imagine the bulk of the container contributes to the heavier weight of the ammunition, and once loaded in to the weapon the empty container that most of the weight comes from can be discarded.

Interesting find, that is peculiar.

[avr]

Extremely poor ergonomic design on the tanks? No, it's probably a mistake somewhere.

[Saros Palanthios]

Segovax wrote:

I imagine the bulk of the container contributes to the heavier weight of the ammunition, and once loaded in to the weapon the empty container that most of the weight comes from can be discarded.

Interesting find, that is peculiar.

I don't think the petrol is supposed to be poured into some kind of internal reservoir in the weapon-- the Petrol Tank description on page 190 says "A petrol tank snaps easily into the housing of weapons that are specifically petrol-powered." To me that indicates that the tank fits into the weapon much like a magazine or battery.

[EC Gamer Guy]

In the case of Petrol tanks it may make more sense to think of the "snaps into" as a hose from a tank on your back or belt to the weapon.

Also, remember that bulk isn't entirely weight but volume. Something large but lightweight still has a bulk rating due to being difficult to carry, like a beanbag chair.

[Zwordsman]

Honestly... I can not believe the idea that the petrol isn't under pressure or some how reduced in weight and such.. compared to what it is these days.

I still find it so weird that it is so heavy and so few shots. I mean all the future metal and tech and probably petrol refinements and enhancments..

Makes me sad.

I do really want a pulse pistol and a flame pistol for my engineer.. but it is pretty darn difficult to pull off

[EC Gamer Guy]

Most liquids don't compress very much. About all you can do is get fuels that release more heat as they burn and add oxidizers into the mix.