[HT] Full-Auto weapons and RoF #!

[Kallatari]

From the post on Machine Pistols vs SMG, so as not to derail the subject there:

Originally Posted by HANS

... However, this would be an easily applied rule for other automatics as well. The unregulated RoF for large-calibre machine pistols is actually 20+, meaning you wouldn't be able to fire bursts shorter than 5 rounds. While this isn't a direct disadvantage, it is inconvinient and a good rule for more realistic play.

Cheers

HANS

This is interesting, because I was contemplating adding some houserule for automatic weapons as I noticed that there are maybe only 3 or 4 weapons in all the High-Tech books that actually have a ! in their RoF, and none in Ultra-Tech. I found it weird that anyone could decide the exact number of rounds fire each time they used a full automatic weapon.

Do I understand correctly that you're saying that adding the effects of RoF #! to all full automatic weapons is a realistic/plausible ruling? That would make sense to me.

Even that, however, wouldn't complete address my concern. It still wouldn't stop someone from, for example, firing exactly 8 rounds (without some sort of burst limiter).

My houserule would be that, each time you fire on full auto, you roll 1d. The results modified the number of rounds actually fired compared to what you hoped to fire: 1 = -20%; 2 = -10%; 3-4 = exact number; 5 = +10%; 6 = +20%. There's always a minimum of 1 and maximum of weapon's RoF in a given turn. You don't have to roll if you fire the weapon's maximum RoF.

Is such a ruling realistic? Should skill have an impact of this?


PS: I realize this is just another roll to add in combat, which adds a layer of complexity, but I don't mind. In fact, I've automated this calculation into my MapTools anyway, so it's no extra trouble for me at all.