Automatic weapons and firing rate (autofire)

[kreynolds]

Ultramodern Firearms is kinda cool in that it notes some weapons have the ability to alter their automatic rate of fire. In the real world, this is true. Some weapons can have their cyclic rate cut in half. Unfortunately, there's no feature in the rules to cover this. I've been kicking around a couple solutions to this though. I think either one would work.

1) For weapons that allow it, a reduced-rate autofire attack only expends 5 rounds instead of 10. The area you target is reduced to 5 feet x 10 feet (instead of 10 x 10) and the Reflex DC stays the same.

...and/or...

2) For weapons that allow it, a reduced-rate autofire attack only expends 5 rounds instead of 10, but you can target a specific person instead of just an area. The net effect is as if you had a lesser version of the Burst Fire feat, except the number of rounds used is not reduced. For example, you make a reduced-rate autofire attack, you fire 5 bullets, suffer a -2 penalty to the attack roll, but deal +1 dice of damage. So, if you normal deal +2d6, you would deal +3d6.

Both options would still leave you good reason to go ahead and pick up the Burst Fire feat anyways, especially for those automatic weapons that don't feature a variable full-auto rate of fire.

What do you think?

 

[Unseelie]

In my game?

I'd call it flavor text and say it has no effect on game play.

But then, I'm Mr. Fast and Loose (no funny ideas there )

 

[kreynolds]

I'd call it flavor text and say it has no effect on game play.

Yeah, but if that were the case, why even mention it at all? I think Charles was on to something here, but I think he inadvertantly left it out. For example, he also mentions explosive hell-fire like shotgun rounds, but they aren't explained anywhere in the book, even though the other ammo type mentioned in the very same paragraph is explained.

But then, I'm Mr. Fast and Loose (no funny ideas there )

Hehe. Cute.

 

[Ranger REG]

Personally, keep the same area of effect (10-by-10) but reduce DC.

Otherwise, treat it as Burst Fire.

 

[kreynolds]

Personally, keep the same area of effect (10-by-10) but reduce DC.

I honestly think that with a slower rate of fire, it would be easier to keep your shots tight to a smaller area and keep the same Reflex DC. Do you think it might make sense to give the user the option of choosing one or the other? That might be pretty versatile. It would essentially allow you to spread the fewer shots over a wide area (10 x 10), but it would be a little easier for your targets to avoid being hit. Alternatively, you could also choose to tighten your fewer shots to a smaller area, which would make it just as difficult as normal for your targets to avoid being hit. How's that sound?

Otherwise, treat it as Burst Fire.

Do you mean that if a weapon can have its cyclic rate slowed down that you should gain the benefits of Burst Fire for free? That could be kinda cool, but I'm not sure if that would be too good of a bonus. What do you think?

 

[dkilgo]

Burst-fire for free I am not quite sure about.

But, you are right in the fact that it is easier to concentrate a smaller burst to maximize accuracy. I would say make the area of affect smaller, but increase the DC to reflect the character maximizing accuracy.

EDIT: Kreynolds nobody is perfect. I noticed some grammatical errors on your par in your first post. Namely typos...

 

[kreynolds]

I noticed some grammatical errors on your par in your first post. Namely typos...

Where?

 

[Ranger REG]

Do you mean that if a weapon can have its cyclic rate slowed down that you should gain the benefits of Burst Fire for free? That could be kinda cool, but I'm not sure if that would be too good of a bonus. What do you think?

I mean, read the Normal paragraph of the Burst Fire feat.

But since I've been spoiled by Spycraft I find myself wondering if d20 Modern Burst Fire feat is really necessary, especially for certain firearms that allow 3- or 5-round(?) burst setting.

 

[dkilgo]

Well, as far as I can see, the Auto Fire ability of weapons only allows you to target a general area of 10' X 10'. The Burst Fire feat allows you to target a single person with have the amount of amunition used in an Auto Fire.

So, to go along with my previous post, I would have to say that you would definitly have to have the Burst Fire feat to be able to control the weapon to obtain the maximum amount of damage from the weapon used in such a manner. A weapon used in the burst/automatic settings are really difficult to control without proper training. Hence, the feat.

Now, to your question Kreynolds. I don't think that I have to point out every single mistake you make. If you are that interested in the errors all you need to do is scroll up and look at them for yourself. I only pointed that out because everybodyon these boards make errors in typing, and I don't think they really want it pointed out to them. Heck, I wonder if they even care?

With that said, I bid you all a farewell!

 

[kreynolds]

I don't think that I have to point out every single mistake you make.

Actually, you do. If you're going to accuse me of having spelling errors in my post, when there are none at all, then you had better be prepared to point them out. So, that said, where?