Double Tap and sniper rifles

[molonel]

One thing that grates on my nerves is the idea of using Double Tap with a semi-automatic sniper rifle in order to gain an extra die of damage. There is absolutely no reason NOT to do it, if you can, especially if you're using one of the big 2d10 beasts. But it also leaves bolt-action sniper rifles marinating in suckage. It goes against the one-shot, one-kill mentality.

Thoughts on this?

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

I don't think it is "impossible", and I don't figure everybody has to adhere to a catch-phrase from the Vietnam war when using a particular type of firearm.

I figure it is probably a little too easy, and that the feat was more intended toward handguns, but it isn't such a big deal that I want to make house rules about it.

Most d20M characters will be "sniping" at short ranges anyway, if at all.

If you're worried about it, the simplest change is to rule all long-range weapons Single shot in utility if not mechanism.

--fje

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

Or, as I do, add a recoil penalty (is there one already?) if they use the Double Tap feat, as sniper rifles are not designed for accuracy with semi-automatic fire. Just one shot is enough to have to resight your target. Even with a good rifle, the recoil throws your shotline off a hair and that second shot will go wide, especially at range. I should know...

Of course with some of the newer 4th Gen sniper rifles, they supposedly are fixing that problem with gas vent recoil compensators and blowback carriages, but still. As Heap says though, most characters in most Modern games end up at point blank to short range anyway, so it won't matter.

 

[Vigilance]

There's no reason not to allow this mechanically, or even any realistic reason why you couldnt shoot more than once if you were close enough. That's the key.

Most of the time, against well-trained, observant targets, the sniper is going to be so far away that Far Shot and Dead Aim are much more valuable.

On the other hand, if a sniper is within 100 feet of a target (very close) then there's no reason not to shoot more than once.

Official Viet Nam statistics for snipers are never one shot per kill. Sometimes the numbers of 6 rounds per kill, sometimes as low as 1.4 rounds per kill. But you can see that "one shot one kill" is more a goal than a reality.

Also, a common sniper tactic when "decapitating" a unit is to identify an officer, shoot him in the gut, then shoot him in the jaw to prevent him giving orders but attempting to leave him alive (so his men will expose themselves to enemy fire and attempt to save him).

In this situation, the gut shot-jaw shot combo might very well be considered a double tap in game terms.

Chuck