Sidearms Question

[kjamma4]

Originally Posted by PBarone714

The RAW on p. 9 actually says: "Sidearms can be fired from either the left or right sides of the car." The RAW does not specify if crew members can fire a weapon out of the opposite window from where they are seated.

They don't specify that they are seated next to each other either.

[Aleph]

Originally Posted by PBarone714

The only benefit I can see out of allowing crewmembers shoot sidearms out the opposite side window is that it might shorten the amount of time that the game will take.

Ensuring that a player can always make some sort of attack in the larger two firing arcs, regardless of the state of their car, does help keep the game moving and helps prevent long, drawn-out games. Especially in the late game or small point value games.

[Overload]

We normally fire vehicle weapons if possible and only use sidearms once they are destroyed, or out of arc.
I haven't crunched the numbers, but I assume vehicle weapons are superior to sidearms, damage-wise, assuming a close target?

[HeatDeath]

Most likely. A Crew Point is worth something like 3-4 Build Points.

[Sam Mitschke]

A 1BP sidearm typically hits a bit harder than a 1BP weapon. For example, the "expected average" hits for a single attack with the Light Recoilless Rifle is 1.67, while the Assault Rifle sits at 2.33. However, a 1BP weapon also provides some amount — typically 2 points — of damage protection, while sidearms do not. The fact that sidearms can be used from both the left and right arcs is valuable...but it's also useful that weapons can go (and be stacked) on any side of your car, giving you slight increases in attack and defense wherever they are equipped.

We did it this way for several reasons:

1. We wanted players to still be a threat to opponents to the very end, even after losing all of their equipment.

2. The tradeoffs between sidearms vs 1BP weapons make for compelling decisions, particularly in small games.

3. This balance felt right in playtesting, even if it's thematically odd, and we always favored fun over thematic precision when it came up.

[Overload]

Originally Posted by Sam Mitschke

A 1BP sidearm typically hits a bit harder than a 1BP weapon. For example, the "expected average" hits for a single attack with the Light Recoilless Rifle is 1.67, while the Assault Rifle sits at 2.33. However, a 1BP weapon also provides some amount — typically 2 points — of damage protection, while sidearms do not. The fact that sidearms can be used from both the left and right arcs is valuable...but it's also useful that weapons can go (and be stacked) on any side of your car, giving you slight increases in attack and defense wherever they are equipped.

We did it this way for several reasons:

1. We wanted players to still be a threat to opponents to the very end, even after losing all of their equipment.

2. The tradeoffs between sidearms vs 1BP weapons make for compelling decisions, particularly in small games.

3. This balance felt right in playtesting, even if it's thematically odd, and we always favored fun over thematic precision when it came up.

Fascinating. Very interesting. Thank you for posting that, Sam.

[Sam Mitschke]

Thank you for the kind response, Overload!

Also, I meant to say a 1 *CP* sidearm up above and made a typo — sorry about that!