ogre
First Post
In an attempt to make firearms 'quicker and hence, deadlier' I have come up with a new form of AoO. I haven't play tested it yet, but I thought I would post it here and see if it can be ripped apart before I do 
I realize there are some who believe that firearms are fine in d20 Modern as they are, and that is fine. But, for the sake of this thread, please assume you feel they at least could be more scary in the game. Play devil's advocate if you must, we can save the discussion on if a new rule is needed or not for another thread if you wish.
The intent of this idea is to portray the quickness and upper hand one has with a gun that just isn't as relavant as say someone holding a knife or a bow. When I see real-world examples of gun fights, it just seems like people are diving for cover for more reasons than a "+4 to Defense"
So, with that said, let me know what you think.
Attacks of Vulnerability
Firearm combat rules assume that combatants are using cover, are prone or are more than one range increment from each other. Sometimes however, a combatant in a gunfight exposes himself, and doesn’t take proper precautions to protect himself from the speed and accuracy of firearms. In this case, combatants within one range increment can take advantage of this lapse in judgment to attack for free. These attacks are called attacks of vulnerability (AoV).
Weapon Type
A character can use a firearm weapon to make attacks of vulnerability whenever the conditions for such an attack are met (see Provoking an Attack of Vulnerability, below). A character never makes an AoV with other ranged or melee weapons.
Exposed Targets
A character with a ready firearm (it must be out and ready to fire) exposes all targets within one range increment of the weapon, even when it is not the character’s action. An enemy that is exposed while within range provokes an attack of vulnerability from the character.
Provoking an Attack of Vulnerability
The following two conditions must be met in order to provoke an attack of vulnerability:
1. The exposed target must be within one range increment of the attackers firearm.
2. The exposed target does not have any cover, concealment or is not prone.
Making an Attack of Vulnerability
An AoV is a single ranged attack with a firearm. Making an AoV uses one of the characters available attacks of opportunity (AoO). If he already used all of his available attacks of opportunity for the round, he cannot make an AoV and vise versa. A character does not have to make an AoV if he doesn’t want to.
An experienced character gets additional regular attacks (by using the full attack action), but at a lower attack bonus. A character makes his AoV however, at his normal attack bonus—even if the character has already attacked in this round.
Special Instances
If the target of an AoV threatens the attacker and is granted an AoO due to him using a ranged weapon while threatened, the AoO is resolved before the AoV. The one making the AoO can make a normal attack, which cancels the AoV if it does hit point damage (including nonlethal) or attempt a disarm maneuver which will also negate the AoV if successful.
I realize there are some who believe that firearms are fine in d20 Modern as they are, and that is fine. But, for the sake of this thread, please assume you feel they at least could be more scary in the game. Play devil's advocate if you must, we can save the discussion on if a new rule is needed or not for another thread if you wish.
The intent of this idea is to portray the quickness and upper hand one has with a gun that just isn't as relavant as say someone holding a knife or a bow. When I see real-world examples of gun fights, it just seems like people are diving for cover for more reasons than a "+4 to Defense"
So, with that said, let me know what you think.
Attacks of Vulnerability
Firearm combat rules assume that combatants are using cover, are prone or are more than one range increment from each other. Sometimes however, a combatant in a gunfight exposes himself, and doesn’t take proper precautions to protect himself from the speed and accuracy of firearms. In this case, combatants within one range increment can take advantage of this lapse in judgment to attack for free. These attacks are called attacks of vulnerability (AoV).
Weapon Type
A character can use a firearm weapon to make attacks of vulnerability whenever the conditions for such an attack are met (see Provoking an Attack of Vulnerability, below). A character never makes an AoV with other ranged or melee weapons.
Exposed Targets
A character with a ready firearm (it must be out and ready to fire) exposes all targets within one range increment of the weapon, even when it is not the character’s action. An enemy that is exposed while within range provokes an attack of vulnerability from the character.
Provoking an Attack of Vulnerability
The following two conditions must be met in order to provoke an attack of vulnerability:
1. The exposed target must be within one range increment of the attackers firearm.
2. The exposed target does not have any cover, concealment or is not prone.
Making an Attack of Vulnerability
An AoV is a single ranged attack with a firearm. Making an AoV uses one of the characters available attacks of opportunity (AoO). If he already used all of his available attacks of opportunity for the round, he cannot make an AoV and vise versa. A character does not have to make an AoV if he doesn’t want to.
An experienced character gets additional regular attacks (by using the full attack action), but at a lower attack bonus. A character makes his AoV however, at his normal attack bonus—even if the character has already attacked in this round.
Special Instances
If the target of an AoV threatens the attacker and is granted an AoO due to him using a ranged weapon while threatened, the AoO is resolved before the AoV. The one making the AoO can make a normal attack, which cancels the AoV if it does hit point damage (including nonlethal) or attempt a disarm maneuver which will also negate the AoV if successful.
