Consolidated Cluster Hits Roll

[Scotty]

This one is pretty simple: add up the total size of all like weapons that hit, and roll on the Cluster Hits Table column that corresponds to that number.  If the total amount goes over 40, split it in half as evenly as possible.

Examples:

Two UAC/10s firing in ultra mode would roll on the 4 table.
Three RAC/5s firing at 3, 4, and 5 shots each would roll on the 12 table.
Two LRM-20s would roll on the 40 table.

Thinking about it:

LRM-15 + LRM-10 (for example, looking at you Yeoman) roll on the 25 table.
MML-7 firing SRMs and SRM-6 roll on the 13 table.

Pros: Ultra Autocannons deserve so much more than the 2 table; on the 4 table the average (7 result) is 3 hits.  Fewer dice rolls between weapons, especially units that have multiple cluster weapons of the same type (i.e. multiple SRM-2s).  Higher cluster table columns are usually more forgiving.

Cons: A single bad roll can just dumpster all of your cluster hit weapons.  The cluster hits table only goes to 40, getting riiiiiiight there or a little bit over makes it more complicated than just doing things normally.  Multiple weapons that usually squeak into extra hit clusters (multiple LRM-10s) now get fewer clusters but also greater damage concentration.

[Hptm. Streiger]

It would sound like a plan - but you should have the disadvantage that you also only get a single to hit-roll.
Speaking off Mechs like the Kraken you only need two rolls - one for to hit with 20 rounds of AC2 and one to get the clusters (might be an idea to apply damage in clusters of 5 as well) - of course, the chance that you deal more damage is outweighed by the chance to deal no damage at all.

[Sabelkatten]

The "2" column is the best on the whole table (71% hits, "3", "6" and "12" columns are next with 67%, "4" column gets 66%).

But I support the idea. I use it for LRMs, thought I break it at salvos of 20 (so 7 LRM5s would fire as one LRM20 plus one LRM15).

[Daryk]

I think consolidating the to hit roll goes a little too far.  Reducing the number of cluster rolls is a noble goal, but I think the cost is too much.

[Scotty]

I think consolidating the to hit roll goes a little too far.  Reducing the number of cluster rolls is a noble goal, but I think the cost is too much.

Note: I didn't suggest that, and I also think that's too much.  Just consolidating the cluster hits was the goal, primarily because rolling for two Ultras feels better on the 4 table than the 2 table.

[Daryk]

Ah, so just combining the cluster hits of the weapons that hit?  That makes much more sense.

[Sabelkatten]

Ah, misread. Still makes senses (my reason for the LRM change is because it makes spamming LRM5s less advantageous). But it does make multiple UACs a little bit worse, you'll have to take that into acount.

[Scotty]

It does, by about a sixth of a hit a turn.  I think it feels better to be able to roll a 7 and get extra hits, though, regardless of whether that's actually more or less likely than any combination of 8+ on the 2 column.

[Sabelkatten]

Just means you roll 6s instead... :p