My Auto-Fire Rules (the Final Version)

[Dr. Bidlo]

Do, I wouldn't think to ask you to go back and rework a bunch of tedius other items. I was just expressing the potential for the way the Rate of Fire for weapons with Auto-fire is currently written as a bit confusing. For example:

Rate of Fire: 2D / 3D Auto-fire.

Coming from the base RAW assumptions, this tells me the weapon can Fire a maximum of 2D times, rolled randomly each turn, plus there may be an extra 1D if some special Auto-fire rule is used.

I am just asking you to think about it - don't make any changes. I know this is just the perspective from one person. Maybe others are not struggling with it as much as me.

[Dr. Bidlo]

I was just reviewing your weapons again today and noticed there was ""**" next to weapons with Auto-fire for Rate of Fire with a note directing to the Auto-fire rules. I think this is a good solution without completely reworking the write-up. Thanks.

[CRMcNeill]

No problem. I may change it in the future should I feel so inclined, but that requires energy (in every sense of the word) that I just don't have at the moment.
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Dr. Bidlo]

No kidding! I hope you are felling 100% soon!

[pakman]

Ok, I think I got this....

If I have this weapon:


Light Repeating Blaster
Skill: Blaster: Light Repeating Blaster
Ammo: 30 (1 Shot = 20-round Burst)
Cost: 2,000 (Power Pod: 100)
Availability: 2; X
One-Handed: No (-1D+2)*
Range: 3-50/120/300
Rate of Fire: 2D / 3D Auto-Fire (3D uses 5 Shots)**
Damage: 5D
Game Notes: -1D+1 to Blaster @ Point Blank Range

It can either be fired at a 2D mode, or a 3D mode.

in each mode the 2D or 3D can be added to hit or damage, based upon range.

If the character tries to do any other actions in the round, the suffer a map penalty based upon the fire mode.

Example: Sid the mercenary shoots his light repeating blaster at a trooper.
He uses mode 2d, and is at short range.

Sid decides to add 1D to hit, and 1D to damage.
There is no penalty to hit with this attack, if this is the only action he takes this round.


If sid decides to take another actions (or a reaction this round) it is at -2D.

Did I get that right?
_________________
SW Fan, Gamer, Comic, Corporate nerd.
Working on massive House Rules document - pretty much a new book. Will post soon....

[CRMcNeill]

[pakman]

Ok got it. Thanks for the clarification.

First value: XD
Shooting as a normal action - an automatic weapon gets a bonus to either hit or damage, based on range. All normal map penalties work.

Second Value: YD - gets bonus to hit or damage, based on range. Can't take another action.

How do you handle multiple targets - say three character sized targets in close proximity? (i.e. a group of three battle droids, or troopers etc.).

Is that in there or did I miss it somewhere?
_________________
SW Fan, Gamer, Comic, Corporate nerd.
Working on massive House Rules document - pretty much a new book. Will post soon....

[CRMcNeill]

In that case, the Auto-Fire modifier is used as a MAP off-set. So if the character is shooting three times at three different targets, that's a -2D MAP, but the weapon's Auto-Fire dice off-sets the MAP.

Based on what little I have learned about how automatic fire functions, thought, I'd probably only allow MAP off-sets on the Full-Round Burst.
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Dr. Bidlo]

[CRMcNeill]

I was mostly looking at it from a perspective that "firing at multiple targets with the same burst" should only be allowed when using the Full-Round Burst mode. I agree MAPs aren't the best way to represent it.
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Dr. Bidlo]

So if you are firing the one long-burst and you get the bonus die in auto-fire, you can only shoot once. I assumed that meant just one target. Can you actually sweep the long-shot and hit multiple targets?

[CRMcNeill]

[Dr. Bidlo]

Well, now I am confused. I thought the entire reason for the Auto-fire duce was to reflect the flurry of bolts, allowing someone to shoot a number of different targets and the extra due represented pumping all those shots at one target. If you allow this long-shot to target mtiple 'close' targets, you have to still add more rules that are not present in your current stats.

[CRMcNeill]

It has more to do with the mental capacity of the shooter to focus on multiple targets at once. Having read / spoken to people with real-life experience firing fully automatic weapons, I get the distinct impression that there is a real challenge in splitting a single burst of fire between multiple targets, and that it is better represented by the machine gunner essentially targeting an area, not just the beings in it. In fact, it's common practice for infantry units to disperse themselves (keeping minimum space between individuals) specifically to prevent the targeting of individuals.

So, while a character could use their Auto-Fire dice to off-set MAPs by making three separate attacks, each augmented by the weapon's Auto-Fire dice. What they can't do is make a single attack against three targets simultaneously, using the 2D Auto-Fire to off-set the 2D MAP for attacking two additional targets.

However, if the shooter were to target a specific area with a Full-Round Burst, they'd have a chance of hitting anything in that area (provided it isn't too large), like a blast-radius effect. I haven't fully worked out the details, but it would effectively side-step MAPs by making one attack that affects everything inside a given area.

Sorry if I'm not making sense; I'm still a little addled from COVID.
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Dr. Bidlo]

Take your time with your recovery! I am asking so many questions because I will be using a heavy repeater to repell of boarding action in an upcoming game, so will have a chance to use your rules very soon and wanted to be clear on them.