Ok I too have problems with Gattling Pistols losing a lot of their uniqueness to DA pistols.
I also have a desire for slicker combat, so flatly refuse to allow a 2 handed, DA pistol wielding pistoleer to roll 4 times an action card to shoot. I opt for the one roll per gun and the raise for the second bullet as mentioned by Nick for DA pistols, however this infringes even more on the gattling pistols usefulness IMO.
The last time this discussion was raised Cheyenne Wright posted (on 31st Aug 2000) the following rules which I feel are as close to laying the issue to rest as any others that I've seen.
********************************************************************************
SA-Single Action
DA-Double Action
GP-Gatling Weapon
SA weapons can fire once per action card or can 'fan' up to 6 shots at a -4 to the roll.
Fannin' - the number of shots to be fanned must be announced before the roll is made.
One bullet hits for every successes and raise. Roll a d20 for each hit to determine wound
locations. Only the first fanned bullet can be 'called'. Raises have no effect on hit locations for
fanned shots. Roll damage for each bullet separately.
DA weapons can fire up to two bullets per card. To fire a second shot the shootist must
declare this as his intent. Most DA's suffer stiff trigger pulls and recessive a -2 penalty to the
roll if a second shot is attempted on one card. Only one roll is made per gun, per card. The
second shot hits only on a raise. Again only the first bullet can be 'called'. Raises have no
effect on hit locations for multiple shots. Roll damage for each bullet separately.
GP weapons must fire 3 bullets on every trigger pull. Score one hit for every success and
raise. Roll hit location randomly or group the shots in the same location for a white chip.
Whither random or grouped, roll damage for each bullet separately. Spend a red chip to roll
grouped damage all at once.
***************************************************************
I'm not completely sold on the usage of fate chips for the gattling pistol and instead am likely to include some type of grouping rule. Of the top of my head I might try the following
Gattling weapons must fire 3 bullets on every trigger pull. Score one hit for every success and
raise. Only the first shot can be aimed, otherwise roll D20 for random location. If second shot hit,
work out the number of adjacent hit locations to the location of the first bullet including the location of the first bullet (gizzards is not a viable adjacent hit location), double this number to get the die type to roll - (if the head is an adjacent location assign this only one point and place the extra point in the present bullet location. Roll the die type indicated and work your way from the bottom up counting off 2 per location until you reach the number rolled.
Example: Roll 13 to hit, so first two bullets of the burst hit, the third going wild. You roll the random hit location for the first bullet - getting a 5 - you see you have hit the lower guts. Adjacent locations to the lower guts are, left and right legs and upper guts - this leves 4 viable locations for the second bullet (including the lower guts). Doubling this to get the die type you roll a D8, getting a number 5, you work your way up the body 1-2 left leg, 3-4 right leg, 5-6 stays on lower guts, 7-8 moves to upper guts. Therefore the 5 indicates that the second bullet has also hit the lower guts.
Head Example: Aiming at the head an roll an phenomenal 25 to hit. Base TN is 13, therefore you have hit with two raises so all your bullets have hit. The first bullet automatically hits in the head, for the second the only adjacent location is the upper guts - hence you have 2 possible locations including the head and you roll a D4 for the grouping, (1-2 upper guts, 3-4 head : the head is only assigned one location point if it is the adjacent location). The D4 comes up 2 -so the second bullet hits in the upper guts. The third bullet adjacent locations are lower guts, left arm, right arm, head and the present location the upper guts. Doubling this number of locations gives you a D10 to roll (1-2 lower guts, 3-4 left arm, 5-6 right arm, 7-9 upper guts, 10 head : head only gets one point location as it is in this case an adjacent location - for the second bullet it was the present location in which case it received 2 points as every other location). Your luck holds and roll a 10 meaning that the third bullet has hit in the head as well.
After trying to explain that system I'm left thinking that it might be a little complicated - however it makes perfect sense to me :)
I'm also not totally satisfied with just penalising the multiple firing of DA pistols due to the fact that unlike Gattling Pistols you can get quality DA pistols which dramatically off set any penalty imposed for multiple shots.
Roy
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ All internet traffic to this site is automatically scanned for viruses and vandals. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++