Sniper mini-game?

[briansommers]

I’m wanting to play a sniper and do a solo game using gurps 4e.

I’m thinking of pulling my Avalon Hill game Firepower out for board/terrain and counters to use with it.

Rolling for stealth for finding a good spot to set up in, etc
Rolling for enemy to spot etc…

Not sure how to go about this.

[JulianLW]

GURPS Tactical Shooting by Hans-Christian Vortisch is what you're looking for!

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by JulianLW

GURPS Tactical Shooting by Hans-Christian Vortisch is what you're looking for!

If you're looking to simulate real world sniping in the greatest detail, then yes. There are important optional rules about getting the greatest accuracy out of your sniper rifle possible.

On the other hand if you're wanting Rule of Cool "Right Hand of God" sniping you might want Gun Fu for its' cinematic Sniper Template.

<shrug>You can go along way just with High Tech.

[ericthered]

Do you need more help with building the sniper and ruleset or setting up the scenarios?

[briansommers]

Thanks, I’m good.

I was looking into that with tactical shooting but now it’s almost the opposite - maybe my first “problem” with GURPS - and that is when an effective skill gets so high, what’s the point of rolling? I guess there is the chance of rolling a 17, 18.

Maybe cap the skill?

When there is very little chance of missing you take the “edge”/excitement of failing.

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by briansommers

Thanks, I’m good.

I was looking into that with tactical shooting but now it’s almost the opposite - maybe my first “problem” with GURPS - and that is when an effective skill gets so high, what’s the point of rolling? I guess there is the chance of rolling a 17, 18.

Maybe cap the skill?

When there is very little chance of missing you take the “edge”/excitement of failing.

You could consider either fiddling with which optional rules you use until you get the sort of odds you like, or move the drama from 'making the shot' to 'setting up the shot'.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by briansommers

Thanks, I’m good.

I was looking into that with tactical shooting but now it’s almost the opposite - maybe my first “problem” with GURPS - and that is when an effective skill gets so high, what’s the point of rolling? I guess there is the chance of rolling a 17, 18.

Maybe cap the skill?

When there is very little chance of missing you take the “edge”/excitement of failing.

What levels of Skill are you looking at? Aiming for the Skull is -7 and 300 yards of distance is -13. Are you thinking about Skills greater than 36?

If that is the problem you maybe giving out too many cp for starting characters. Or not designing well-rounded characters. DX16 is 120 pts and Guns +20 is 76 but even for 250 pt games that not a very practical design.

[Outlaw]

Originally Posted by briansommers

Maybe cap the skill?

When there is very little chance of missing you take the “edge”/excitement of failing.

That is my go to for that very reason. Of course, you have to make sure the possible is possible. For example, there have been confirmed kills in excess of 4500 yds (ish).

Modifiers for wind, lighting conditions, general visibility (fog/dust/etc), cold/hot weather, I've been lying in this ditch for 3 days and ants are biting me in the crotch, etc can also be used to drop effective skill levels.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by briansommers

Thanks, I’m good.

I was looking into that with tactical shooting but now it’s almost the opposite - maybe my first “problem” with GURPS - and that is when an effective skill gets so high, what’s the point of rolling? I guess there is the chance of rolling a 17, 18.

Maybe cap the skill?

When there is very little chance of missing you take the “edge”/excitement of failing.

Solutions:

- Don't roll. You already solved the problem, the actual execution is just an execution.

- Do roll, because there's still a thin chance of something going wrong...and the time cost of rolling 3d6 is negligible compared to the setup that went into getting that roll anyway so why not.

Third path:

As others say, question how you got to be making such an easy shot. Do you have shooting skills that a god would envy? Are you using a gun so upgraded it practically aims itself? Are you setting up as if for a two-mile shot when shooting just across the street?

[Refplace]

Failing only on a 17 or 18 is probably about right for something that well set up. A sniper is not going to take a shot where they are not pretty darn sure of making it. Shooting can reveal their location after all!