GURPS ULTRATECH ballistics?

[hal]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

GURPS generally favors increasing central tendency in firearm damage values up to six or seven dice.

I can go with that. Problem is...

When some gun damage stats are listed as being 3d6-1 and I get a calculated stat of 2d6+2 (both are average damage of about 9) then I have to try and figure out why it might be 3d6-1 instead of 2d6+2

I'm guessing that it all depends on whether average damage is 9.5 or if the average damage is 9.0.

In game play, using say, 3d6-2 for weapon damage is about 8.5 average. Minimum damage is 1, maximum damage is 16, but average works out to 8.5 On the flip side, using 2d6+1 averages to 8.0 with a minimum damage of 3, and a maximum damage of 13.

Which would most gamers look at saying "I would prefer this over that"?