This isn't about making firearms uber deadly compared to stabbings and maulings -- it's about encouraging use of cover and ranged shots in a non-melee-centric environment. The rules as they stand tend to make it advantageous to close on a gun wielder ASAP, and don't make you want to hide behind a barrel taking potshots.
So, here goes. This is for a far-future setting, but similar principles can apply in others.
This WILL need tweaking. Probably a lot. I doubt it works well yet.
Thoughts?
So, here goes. This is for a far-future setting, but similar principles can apply in others.
This WILL need tweaking. Probably a lot. I doubt it works well yet.
- Some firearms are designated with the "sidearm" property. These are typically pistols and the like - quick and easy to use.
- Sidearms do not provoke attacks of opportunity in melee.
- Sidearms, in fact, are great at point-blank range. A shot from 5' away (in melee, or one sq on a battlemap) is gonna hurt. The attacker gets a +4 bonus to hit, and a hit autocrits.
- Rifles (or bows) do not have the "sidearm" property.
- "Overwatch" is a standard action similar to readying an action. It's basically readying an action to fire as soon as a target breaks cover.
- "Covering Fire" is an full-round-action area attack, affecting a 15' radius circle until the beginning of your next turn or until you are hit, whichever comes first. Any creature within that area which is not in 100% cover, or which leaves 100% cover, or which enters the area, is subject to an attack at -2 to hit.
Thoughts?