[HOE] More on Shotguns... (longish)

["Joel Ashman" <joel.ashman@home.com>]

OK,

There have been some good ideas and discusions about Shotguns.

Here's how I like to handle them, other than carefully when they are loaded.
(I'm adding to a few things I said previously)

First, assume that Buckshot is being used.  I surely hope the character's
are asking for bird-shot.  But, if anything smaller than Buckshot is used,
reduce the die type to D4

I believe the shotgun shells of the time were full-metallic (not 100% on
this though).  Paper was available, but I'd suspect that the average
character would be grabing metallic shells over paper (no need to specify).

I think that shotguns should be totally ineffectual beyond their extreme
range mod: 40m for a standard long barrel shotgun or 20m for a sawed-off
shotgun.  The pellets spread too fast, and lost velocity quickly.  Much
beyond 50m, they'd just sting.  Remember, shotguns kill by inflicting trama
over a large area, as opposed to a bullet which causes Massive Trama to a
small area

Modern shotguns gain extra range by using Chokes.  A choke makes the end off
the barrel smaller than the guage of the shell, and forces the shot into a
tighter pattern, thereby making them more effective at a longer range.  I do
not know if shotguns of Civil War era had Chokes.  I doubt it though.

For Slug rounds, use your rifle score at -2 to the roll (no real sights on a
shotgun).  If a character wanted to make up a skill, Shooting: Shotgun
Slugs, I'd consider letting them.   +5 to the base range for using Slugs

With Double Barrel shotguns, the shooter can either take 2 separate shots in
one action, using 2 to hit rolls and 2 location rolls, or fire both barrels
simultaneously, making 1 hit roll, and one location roll for both shots.
Each round is counted separately for damage, then the wounds applied at the
same time (prev example.  14 and 13 equals 4 wounds vs 27 = 4 wounds.  This
makes the DB shotgun VERY effective at close range, as it should.

As for Massive Damage, maybe consider using that for Small Targets Size 4 or
under. This would lend it self to vaporizing a rabbit or turkey. A shotgun
certainly won't do massive damage to a Mojave Rattler, if it damages it at
all.

General Firearm thoughts

Expert shooters shoot by knowing their particular weapon.  I think a -2 is
in order anytime you use a weapon other than your own.  It's what happens in
real life.  No 2 people shoot the same. Ever see the guy who can shoot a
quarter out of the air with a snub-nosed .38 special revolver?  It had fixed
sights.  No adjustments.  He just knows how the gun shoots, and he has a
d*** high shootin: pistol ability

Rifles ranges are not nearly long enough.  I'm inclined to double the ranges
for all rifles, except for maybe the .22.  I can shoot at a 8.5x11 peice of
paper all day with my .44 special winchester and never miss (maybe a bit of
an exaggeration ;) ).  My rifle skill:  3D10 (maybe)  DL Rules.  TN 5  Rng
Mod +5 (100yds/20).  Small Targer +4  Drawing a Bead -2 (an extra action)
Total TN 12.  A difficult proposition with 3D10 Shootin: Rifle

I'd like to figure out some way to merge Target Size with Called Shot.
Hitting a Rabbit is about the same as shooting a man in the head.  Hitting a
man in the chest is the easiest part.  There should be no penalties for
doing so.  Haven't put much thought to this though, yet.


--Joel