[Help to design] In the 41st millenium there is only...

[Tema69]

Originally Posted by PPoS

Standard Bolter, Caliber 20mm (.75)
6dx2 pi++ (treated as a short weapon) with a follow-up 1d-1 cr ex [1d]

Standard Heavy Bolter, Caliber 25mm (1.0)
6dx3 pi++ (treated as a short weapon) with a follow-up 1d cr ex [1d+1]

I just finished calculating all the pros and cons of your stats vs mine, and I must say... bravo! These are really balanced, both fluff and tabletop wise. A Bolter will kill pretty much anything that isn't Carapaced with no problem whatsoever, and will be able to penetrate Carapace. You'd have to implement Semi-Ablative on all armour to justify Bolter vs. Power Armour though.
Max damage is currently 72, with average at 42, which means it'll take 5-6 hits at the same location before the marine will take damage.
That's a lot. And in the Ultramarine novels, Bolters are able to penetrate Power Armour "pretty" often. Doesn't deal a lot of damage, but it sometimes does.
That's why I'm thinking that changing it to 5dx2(2) pi++ would be best, even if that makes it a Carapace killer.
Anyway, 5dx2(2) pi++ will have an average damage of 35, against Power Armour (now reduced to) 75/50, which makes it able to penetrate and injure the limbs or the damaged torso. Unfortunately, it means that Carapace will be completely vulnerable against it (35 vs. now 25/15 due to (2) ). Then again, a solution would be to up Carapace to 75/50 or something like that (making it 37.5/25 after the bolter's (2) divisor)?


Edit:

Also, my take on the Powerfist (inspired by/stolen from Naloth):

Powerfist; Thr(10) cr; Reach C; Parry -2U; Weight 50; ST20
The Power Fist itself has DR50, while the support brace has DR30 and covers the arm. It grants Arm ST+10 and Striking ST+15, with that arm only. Arm ST is added to the user's ST to determine if he/she has enough to wield it. The actual weight is only counted towards general encumbrance. The Power Fist becomes unready after an attack or a parry, unless the user has twice the required ST (40 in this case, although the Arm ST helps to offset this).

Astartes Powerfist; Thr(10) cr; Reach C; Parry -2U; Weight 120; ST 25
The Astartes Power Fist has DR100, and attaches to the Power Armour arm. It grants Striking ST+30 with that arm only. The Astartes Power Fist becomes unready after an attack or a parry, unless the user has twice the required ST (50 in this case).