From:	Luc Maillet <maillet@******.CERT.FR>
Subject:	Re: SRII:Autofiring rules
Date:	Wed, 9 Dec 92 15:44:22 +0100

What you forget is that such weapons were NEVER meant to be used singlehanded-
-ly. LMG, MMG, HMG, Miniguns, etc... are used exclusively on bi- or tripods, or
in vehicle turrets, that guarantee a stable weapon platform. Using it without
such gear is just asking for trouble, despite what Mr Rambo can say...

As for light weapons ( SMG, assault rifles ), they are almost always used in
"short burst" mode ( 3-round burst ). Most assault rifles have a fire selector
which allow the user to choose between single shot, short burst and full auto.
In full auto mode, these weapons are mightily unstable without some sort of
recoil compensation.

What Shadowrun is missing is a rule for suppressive fire, i.e. a rule for
interdiction. So here's one :

Suppressive fire is made against a ZONE ( as opposed to a single/multiple
targets ). The weapon must be used on full-auto mode, with the maximum fire
rate of the weapon ( say, 10 for light auto weapons, 15 for MGs, and perhaps
20 for Miniguns ).
Recoil modifiers are HALVED BEFORE APPLYING RECOIL COMPENSATION. Any stable
platform ( bi/tripod, turret ) negates recoil altogether.
A single success test is made by the gunner. Normal rules apply for fire
combat, except that many TN modifiers don't apply ( you cover a zone, which is
essentially a fully visible, stationary target ), and that targeting devices
don't help ( the TN is almost always 4, then ). Successes determine the wound
increase. This is NOT augmented by short or long burst damage modifiers ( this
simulates the spreading of bullets over the zone ).
Each target in the zone must then resist the damage.
the target zone must be no wider than (number of bullets fired)/2 meters, and
that at any range. Anything wider allows for too much scattering.

What do you think of that ?