Bullseye Rifle

[ATN082268]

Bullseye Rifle

Overview

  The Bullseye Rifle is an autocannon designed by Clan Wolf scientists as a
weapon to be used against the increasing number of advanced Inner Sphere ‘Mech
designs especially those which incorporate the vulnerable extra-light engines.
During the initial stages in the invasion of the Inner Sphere, the Clans
encountered few ‘Mechs with advanced technology. As the invasion continued
on up through the truce of Tukayyid, more advanced ‘Mech designs were
encountered with more armor and firepower. These advanced designs inflicted far
greater damage to Clan forces and as a result, project Bullseye was
commissioned by Clan Wolf as a way to counter these designs especially those
with the extra-light engines which will be encountered in even greater numbers
after the end of the truce.

  The Bullseye Rifle is heavy and bulky due in part to the sensor package which
is an integral part of the weapon. The sensors help aim the weapon at the
greatest source of heat emanating from the target, which in the case of a
‘Mech, is towards the center where the engine is located. This “center mass”
sighting helps put more rounds on target and is especially effective against
‘Mechs with Inner Sphere extra-light engines. The Rifle is slightly less
effective on non-’Mech units due to their flimsier nature that dissipate heat easier
and its sensors are incompatible with the Clan’s advanced targeting computer.


Tonnage: 14
Critical: 7


Heat: 5
Damage: 10
Ammo: 5 shots/ton


S: 1-6
M: 7-12
L: 13-18


Game Notes: Apply a -1 bonus to the to-hit number. After a successful hit, roll for
the location of damage as normal, except apply the damage with a one location
shift as per the damage transfer diagram for ‘Mechs (LA and LL becomes LT, LT
becomes CT, RA and RL becomes RT, RT becomes CT. H and CT hits do not
transfer). The damage transfer applies only to ‘Mechs and the respective
standard damage location charts should be used for other units. The Bullseye
Rifle can not be linked to a targeting computer.


-ATN

[Stormfury]

Why would one want this over dual TC'd LPLs/ER PPCs, or a TCed Gauss Rifle, or...?

[ShadowRaven]

Just a friendly suggestion, but you might want to post these over on the ground combat thread, which is where your others have been moved to

[ATN082268]

Just a friendly suggestion, but you might want to post these over on the ground combat thread, which is where your others have been moved to

  Good idea although it looks like the fan design area would be more appropriate...

-Andrew

[ATN082268]

  Bullseye Rifle

  Overview

  The Bullseye Rifle is an autocannon designed by Clan Wolf scientists as a
weapon to be used against the increasing number of advanced Inner Sphere ‘Mech
designs especially those which incorporate the vulnerable extra-light engines.
During the initial stages in the invasion of the Inner Sphere, the Clans
encountered few ‘Mechs with advanced technology. As the invasion continued
on up through the truce of Tukayyid, more advanced ‘Mech designs were
encountered with more armor and firepower. These advanced designs inflicted far
greater damage to Clan forces and as a result, project Bullseye was
commissioned by Clan Wolf as a way to counter these designs especially those
with the extra-light engines which will be encountered in even greater numbers
after the end of the truce.

  The Bullseye Rifle is heavy and bulky due in part to the sensor package which
is an integral part of the weapon. The sensors help aim the weapon at the
greatest source of heat emanating from the target, which in the case of a
‘Mech, is towards the center where the engine is located. This “center mass”
sighting helps put more rounds on target and is especially effective against
‘Mechs with Inner Sphere extra-light engines. The Rifle is slightly less
effective on non-’Mech units due to their flimsier nature that dissipate heat easier
and its sensors are incompatible with the Clan’s advanced targeting computer.


Tonnage: 14
Critical: 7


Heat: 5
Damage: 10
Ammo: 5 shots/ton


S: 1-6
M: 7-12
L: 13-18


Game Notes: Apply a -1 bonus to the to-hit number. After a successful hit, roll for
the location of damage as normal, except apply the damage with a one location
shift as per the damage transfer diagram for ‘Mechs (LA and LL becomes LT, LT
becomes CT, RA and RL becomes RT, RT becomes CT. H and CT hits do not
transfer). The damage transfer applies only to ‘Mechs and the respective
standard damage location charts should be used for other units. The Bullseye
Rifle can not be linked to a targeting computer.


-ATN

[willydstyle]

I think a weapon that almost always gets torso hits is an interesting concept, but does not really work out well.

One of the reasons that we have a randomized hit location table is because while mechs might not be moving fast enough to cause a well-aimed shot to entirely miss, they are moving around enough that a shot that was aimed at the torso might hit the arm or upper torso. Thus having an integrated targeting computer to make it so shots *always* hit the torso doesn't make sense considering game mechanics that are already in use.

Consider giving it a rule similar to a called shot: any shot that hits is transferred one location inward on the roll of a 6,7, or 8, or a 8+, or something else similar.  This represents that a targeting computer can increase your chance of hitting a specific location, but cannot fully account for the movement of the target.

Secondly, I think the weapon simply has poor stats.  It's heavier than a gauss rifle, does less damage, has less ammo, has less range, and has significant heat build up. While I commend you in not making a weapon that is clearly superior to existing tech, I also think that making a weapon that is clearly inferior is less than ideal. I would drop its tonnage to 10, and leave the other stats the same, including the ammo count, considering this is something of a Clan analog to an AC/10 with precision ammo.

[mutantmagnet]

The Precision ammo almost makes the AC 10 a competently balanced weapon so I hardly see that as a negative point to be made.

As for the OPs actual weapon, I mostly  disagree with head hits not transferring to the Center Torso.

Out of personal preference I would prefer this weapon had two less crits, one more ton and did 12 damage while following the rule that head hits transferred to the CT.

I'm getting sick of the design limitations of various weapons and think a rethink is needed on the allocation of crits, heat and mass whenever new weapons are introduced.

On the surface I would see this weapon as the bane of IS XL and both tech XXL designs. It may even be overpowered against them.

[majesticmoose]

Wouldn't this be a modified version of a targeting comp anyway?

My suggestion would be to make this a TC substitute, that can increase the to-hit (TN) but provides a slightly more randomized version of a called shot.

so for instance, at +1 TN, but you can choose to use the punch/kick hit table.  At +2 TN you may use the punch location and treat arm hits as torso hits.

same weight as a standard TC, and it is incompatable with c3, regular TC, etc.

[Fallen_Raven]

It might just be me, but losing the option of hits to legs might be a bad thing. How else do you expect to slow down a mech? Not to mention taking off the more vulnerable arms where the guns just happen to be...

[ATN082268]

It might just be me, but losing the option of hits to legs might be a bad thing. How else do you expect to slow down a mech? Not to mention taking off the more vulnerable arms where the guns just happen to be...

  Well it depends. When partial cover applies, you have no chance of a wasted shot. Besides, if you cleave off a side torso, the arm drops off.

-Andrew

[Fallen_Raven]

  Well it depends. When partial cover applies, you have no chance of a wasted shot. Besides, if you cleave off a side torso, the arm drops off.

-Andrew

True, I guess I'm just wary of taking a weapon that is too specific in its specialty. A case of YMMV I think.