Bringing a gun to bear.

[lexington]

As far as I can tell a firearm's Bulk is only relevant in Close Combat, fist fight range. But this doesn't seem to pass the (admittedly unreliable) common sense test. If an enemy is a few yards away from me shouldn't it be easier to jerk a pistol toward him and get off a shot than to try the same thing with a sniper rifle?

If so, does anyone have any house rules to cover the difference?

[Verjigorm]

Originally Posted by lexington

As far as I can tell a firearm's Bulk is only relevant in Close Combat, fist fight range. But this doesn't seem to pass the (admittedly unreliable) common sense test. If an enemy is a few yards away from me shouldn't it be easier to jerk a pistol toward him and get off a shot than to try the same thing with a sniper rifle?

If so, does anyone have any house rules to cover the difference?

You pivot, if I'm not mistaken. Watch swat teams or soldiers clearing buildings, notice how when they go around corners and such, they pivot their entire body, rather than moving the weapon. Your weapon should, theoretically, remain in the same ready position.

[Stormcrow]

The Bulk statistic also affects the penalty used for a Move and Attack.

I'm not sure I see the common sense that says, in one second, a Fast-Drawn pistol will be significantly (+1 or more) more accurate than a Fast-Drawn rifle. If you can point it in the general direction of the target, it doesn't matter how easy it is to handle. On the other hand, the rifle's better Acc will certainly improve the shot more after aiming.

What might seem a little odd is that a Gunslinger can get off a more accurate snap shot with a rifle than with a pistol. But this is an effect of the unrealistic Gunslinger advantage.

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by lexington

As far as I can tell a firearm's Bulk is only relevant in Close Combat, fist fight range. But this doesn't seem to pass the (admittedly unreliable) common sense test. If an enemy is a few yards away from me shouldn't it be easier to jerk a pistol toward him and get off a shot than to try the same thing with a sniper rifle?

The action that would be considered bringing your weapon to bear on the target is probably AoA(Determined), likely plus the Braced option. that's sighted (not Aimed) shooting in GURPS.

Applying a penalty to point a firearm at a target only really makes sense if you've had your attention elsewhere. Otherwise, GURPS assumes that you can pivot pretty freely. You can switch targets pretty easily with a Reach 2 or 3 spear; a firearm should be less awkward than that!

Still, half or a third of bulk, round down, wouldn't be out of line if you insisted on a penalty. I'd be careful about this in a game where you can change facing by up to three hex sides with basically no restrictions!

Doug

[lexington]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

The action that would be considered bringing your weapon to bear on the target is probably AoA(Determined), likely plus the Braced option. that's sighted (not Aimed) shooting in GURPS.

That sounds like what I'm looking for (looking at the HT rules for a rifle sling) unfortunately bracing only help in GURPS if you take the time to Aim.

Originally Posted by Stormcrow

I'm not sure I see the common sense that says, in one second, a Fast-Drawn pistol will be significantly (+1 or more) more accurate than a Fast-Drawn rifle. If you can point it in the general direction of the target, it doesn't matter how easy it is to handle. On the other hand, the rifle's better Acc will certainly improve the shot more after aiming.

Yeah, I guess it might simply be below resolution.

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by lexington

That sounds like what I'm looking for (looking at the HT rules for a rifle sling) unfortunately bracing only help in GURPS if you take the time to Aim.

Really? I thought two hands on a pistol, for example, qualified as braced regardless of Aim. Have I been playing a house rule for years and not realized it?

dhc

[lexington]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

Really? I thought two hands on a pistol, for example, qualified as braced regardless of Aim. Have I been playing a house rule for years and not realized it?

dhc

BS calls it +1 to Acc and HT says that you get "an extra +1 when aiming".

I might borrow your rule though. It's an edge case but gives an advantage to people with pistols if they're surprised.

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by lexington

BS calls it +1 to Acc and HT says that you get "an extra +1 when aiming".

I might borrow your rule though. It's an edge case but gives an advantage to people with pistols if they're surprised.

High Tech (and then Tactical Shooting, when it appears) will take precedence ;they're better calibrated for the realism you're looking to emulate.

[jacobmuller]

Basic 548: Braced weapon: +1 if stationary and took a turn to Aim.
Oops.
PS just this morning I discovered I'd misread the Rule of 14 - it's nice to have company LOL

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by jacobmuller

PS just this morning I discovered I'd misread the Rule of 14

If you don't mind saying... How?

I have wondered why it wasn't called the Rule of 13 :/