1. Can a ranged weapon only fire as far as its range? (i.e. a Holdout Blaster has a range of Short. Does this mean it cannot be fired at a target that is Medium range or further away?)

2. Is there a penalty for firing at a range further than the weapon's listed range? (If the answer to #1 is "Yes", then no answer is needed for this question).

3. Is there a penalty for firing at a range less than the weapon's listed range?

Thanks.

No. You Cannot Shoot Beyond The Range

The penalty For Shooting In A Shorter Range Is Only In Engaged. +1 For.Ranged Light +2 For.Heavy Weapons.

Page 208 Of The Core Book Has This info

Edit: There Are Talents That Let You Shoot Beyond The Range Sniper Shot Comes To mind

1. Can a ranged weapon only fire as far as its range? (i.e. a Holdout Blaster has a range of Short. Does this mean it cannot be fired at a target that is Medium range or further away?)

IIRC, there’s a talent for that. If you have the right Specialization, and you’ve bought the talent in question, then I think you can spend a Destiny Point and then take a shot at one range band longer than the weapon is normally capable of, for an increased level of difficulty.

3. Is there a penalty for firing at a range less than the weapon's listed range?

Not per se, no. But for Ranged Heavy weapons, there is a penalty for firing at Engaged range, and maybe even for Short range.

1. The talent Sniper Shot lets you shoot one range band past the weapon's range for every rank you have. This talent exists in a few specializations, but can also be had as an armour attachment in Dangerous Covenants.

2 and 3. The weapon's listed range is the maximum range. The only weapons with a minimum range are the big ones that use the Gunnery skill; those weapons cannot be used at Engaged range. Also remember that weapons using the Ranged (light) skill increase the difficulty once when used at Engaged range, and Ranged (heavy) weapons increase it twice at Engaged. But they're all fully useable from Engaged up to the maximum range.

Thanks all for your help!

No. You Cannot Shoot Beyond The Range

Mechanically you cant shoot beyond the range of the weapon (except under some circumstances). However it's reasonable to dramatically fire - out of frustration or desperation - for no effect. The shots fall well short of their target or the energy packet has been so defused that the bolts impacts with no effect. Narrative it adds drama and tension to a scene, even if they cant be damaged at that range.

1. The talent Sniper Shot lets you shoot one range band past the weapon's range for every rank you have. This talent exists in a few specializations, but can also be had as an armour attachment in Dangerous Covenants.

It's also a function of the Marksman Barrel in the CRB too.

My group originally just house ruled that you could always attempt a shot one range band further than the weapon could normally Fire but to succeed you'd have to generate and spend 1 triumph to do so, meaning more often than not its a waisted action but could always produce that wild random stray shot that struck effect as the player or npc fires wildly after their foe who's getting away.