Lightning Fingers on the Schofield

[fsbof]

Hey Guys,

how would you rule the benefits of Lightning Fingers (Gun Fu p.20) when reloading a break top revolver with auto ejector like with S&W Model 3 Schofield? It has a switch you can reach with the thumb of you main hand in order to break it off.
Would you say that qualifies for downgrading opening the revolver from a ready maneuver to a free action? How about closing the gun again?

[Pursuivant]

Sure, go for it.

Given the hyperdetailed nature of the perk it seems fair to extend it to quickly manipulating any part of a TL5-6 revolver.

[fsbof]

Thanks Pursuivant :)

I tend to read the perk in the same way. Only thing is, if I get that right: Lightning Fingers combined with Quick Reload should let you fully reload a break top revolver for free since you converted every step into a free action.

Double loading would even be redundant then, because your number of free actions in a given turn isn't limited and the amount of bullets you load via free actions doesn't matter?!

Seems quite absurd, common sense suggests limiting free actions in a reasonable way here.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by fsbof

I tend to read the perk in the same way. Only thing is, if I get that right: Lightning Fingers combined with Quick Reload should let you fully reload a break top revolver for free since you converted every step into a free action.

Lightning Fingers + Quick Reload doesn't let you do that. This is on the grounds of (a) common sense, as you say, and (b) rules interpretation.

You open the gun, which ejects the cartridges, as a free action, and fast-draw your speed-loader, also a free action. Now you have to insert and release the cartridges, which isn't a free action. So that's the first turn done.

Next turn, you close the gun as a free action, and can start shooting (or aiming). Lightning Fingers doesn't really improve on what you can do with Quick Reload for this case.

I had to work this out for Webley top-break revolvers in British-based WWII games.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by fsbof

Seems quite absurd, common sense suggests limiting free actions in a reasonable way here.

If that's something a player wants and is willing to drop 2 points worth of perks on it (many hundreds of hours of practice after all), then sure, why not.

It's a cool little trick that rarely matters very much in actual play - entirely appropriate for a perk really. After all you could take one cinematic perk (one of the variations of Infinite Ammunition) and never worry about reloading at all, or if you insist on pure "realism" drop one point into access to unique/cutting edge technology firearms and 1 into signature gear and custom order something with identical statistics except it comes with a huge magazine, or belt feed or something.