Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 lordbobiv Jul 22, 2011 22:42:59	Hmm I hope this is the right place to post. Hi, I'm a long time DM/GM for a number of differnt systems but recently I've been GMing a D20 Modern game set in an alt-history modern world. While I love D20, I often find my players like to think outside of the box, and want to use cool weaponry that is not outside the frame of the world yet clearly out of the existing rule set. My problem atm is a player who wants to use a Sedgley OSS .38, a WWII Spec Op weapons that was most famously used in Inglorious Basterds. It is a basic single-shot break-action gun that fires when the user punches a target. I'm at a loss how to actually realize this within the system and not allow the gun to become too "bursty." Also he wants to duel wield them. As I see it theres 3 options: To allow his melee attacks activate the gun, therefore does (1d6+STR+2d6) for each hand To force him to make a touch attack, triggering an AoO To just ban the weapon, outright Yet there are serious issues with each of the three soultions: It becomes VERY "bursty". Even moreso the whole action of fighting melee may involve several punches occuring, its not a single punch persay. Do I just mandate that only one can go off a round? It breaks the flow. The gun is not a choice, if he punches someone it goes off. It would be impossible for him to attack melee and the gun not go off. Forcing him to use touch attacks is not quite right. Probably the best idea, but I feel like there must be some sort of soultion The other issue is that the D20 Weapon Locker set a precendent that Break-action single-shots only require a move action to reload. Again afraid of the 5d6+STR burst every round at first level. Thanks so much for your help!
#2 kronos182 Jul 22, 2011 23:59:24	How many rounds did the Inglorious Bastards version have? 1? 2? Most characters, until over level 10, only have 1 or 2 attacks, so if it has two rounds, it isn't too deadly. And most character's unarmed strikes only deal 1d3 non-lethal damage and provoke attacks of opportunities, unless they have the necessary feats.  So this weapon could allow the user to be considered 'armed' and negates the AoO and you can have it deal only the damage the weapon itself deals, making less rolling. Or do 1d3+STR+weapon damage. Which at 2d6 makes it a potent melee weapon, but only has say 2 rounds making it powerful for 2 rounds then only turns unarmed strikes to lethal for only 1d3+STR.  Then for reloading you have the problem of provoking attacks of opportunities. So it's not great for a lot of hits in a round, get off your one or two powerful hits in a couple of rounds, then reduced to normal hand to hand.  So it's not really THAT bad of a weapon, as it is limited, but unique. Great for surprise hits. As for the other part of attacks with it, I'd make it a normal melee attack. To attack and not fire the weapon, make the character take a -2 penalty to attack to strike without firing. Also no way to burst with the weapon, a rate of fire of Semi is what I'd give it, which allows for multiple attacks per round, if the character can hit someone multiple times in a round, but not multiple times in an attack. Oh.. as for fearing of bursting, with the reloading being a move action. Won't happen. Characters only get multiple attacks as a FULL round attack, allowing them to use multiple attacks if they have them, but can't move. If they use a move action to reload, they only have ONE attack option. So if they have multiple attacks per round, they can't use them, just the one attack. So with a limited payload, attacking only once after (or before) a reload is all they can do, but that leaves them open to get hit as they're reloading. Hope this helps a bit. Can look at the 101 Future Weapons thread and see if there's any odd weapons there you might like, or even request some.
#3 lordbobiv Jul 23, 2011 22:40:42	That was really helpful way to think about it. Thanks so much!
#4 kronos182 Jul 23, 2011 22:47:54	You're quite welcome. We all here generally try and help each other out. A real good gun guru if he's around still is backstabbist. He's really good for museum vs future tech comparisons and the like. Should see the pocket machine gun thread for some of this work. Any other questions, feel free to ask and hopefully we'll find the answer for you.
#5 meegz Jul 24, 2011 23:46:31	kronos put it exactly how I would. also, back in the original derringer days, they had something very similar that actually had a rotating cylinder, but its method of firing wasn't 'punching' someone with it, it was just designed so the 1.5 inch-ish barrel stuck out from between someones fingers in a nearly closed fist, and you fired it by squeezing.  accurate to about 2 feet (lol), had a 5 or 6 round capacity of a small caliber round i cant recall at the moment.  something to possibly mention and/or integrate if you're going to throw in the pistol in the OP
#6 kronos182 Jul 25, 2011 7:08:20	Well.. for a small caliber with a high payload, could go future tech way and use say a .22 caliber, which normally does 2d4 I believe (I don't have my book open at the moment), then add in say something like new caseless propellant like the XZ I made in 101 Future Weapons thread, which could bump it up to say 2d6 damage, metal storm a stack maybe? or just a small magazine, with say maybe.. 7 rounds at that size. say make it take a full round to reload just so people with quick reload can't just go all crazy and reload for free when they have multiple attacks.  This will give you 7 melee attacks that will do damage on par with an old great sword, but only using something better than brass knuckles. But then the big problem comes in to actually GETTING into melee with someone in a future campaign with laser and plasma bolts whizzing past your head. Hmm... now I want to make a future version of that weapon. I need to watch the movie again. I did make a pistol with a shotgun attached to it. A remake of an old weapon, but still fun.