Weapon upgrades

[Joeri Jean]

I'm looking for a Firearm upgrade that allows you to install an extra magazine, so that you can choose from witch magazine you fire. Where do I find it?

[meadicus]

Hmm, not sure one exists. But should be easy enough to conjour.

It'd say the important factor here is how easily it is for the weapon user to switch ammo type.

1 upgrade if it takes 1 half action to switch between magazine.
2 upgrades if it takes a reload action to switch (so free for people with quick draw 2/round)
3 upgrades if it is a free action to start with, perhaps with the addition of a second trigger.

Of course I know nothing about guns in reality, so how possible this actually is I've no idea.

[Krensky]

In reality, the only weapons I can think of that have multiple feed systems like this are cannon. The M242 Bushmaster for instance, and the various auto-loading tank and artillery guns. The only small arm I can think off off the top of my head that have (had) multiple magazines like this are the Dardick guns (at least, the design was for two independent magazines, but they weren't switchable and I can't remember if the produced revolvers had one or two magazines).

That said, meadicus's thoughts look good, there's notes here somewhere (from me) on a linkless feed system gadget for small arms.

But let's see if we can get you what you really want. What are you trying to replicate? The Lawgiver? The traditional FPS secondary fire mode? Just more ammo?

[Txabier_Arrizotegui]

But let's see if we can get you what you really want. What are you trying to replicate? The Lawgiver? The traditional FPS secondary fire mode? Just more ammo?

Exactly! What are you trying to come up with? To me it reads as if you want the chance to have 60 rounds instead of the usual 30 in a submachine gun, but that might not be the case.

If its more ammo you want, it's as simple as taping upto 4 magazines together (althought that is both cumbersome, a bit unwildy and does not make you cool but silly, just look at some Somali irregulars), and placing one on the gun feeder. Then taking a reload (or 1 1/5 or even 2 if you go the 4-taped way) to place the next one and so on. Quick draw does not help anyone in this situation.

If you want your firearm to have multiple ammo feeders OF THE SAME TYPE, I'd say that is a matter of 2 upgrades (extra feeder, modified frame) and sligthly more cumbersome weapon (adjust weight accordingly).  Reloading such a weapon would take one reloading action per mag. Making a 3-mag gun is both unwildly and brokey, but you are free to go with it if you want.

If you want TWO different types of ammo (i.e.: normal and explosive shells or shotgun) you need one reloading action for normal magazines and two or more for the explosive shells/shotgun ammo. Quick draw only helps with the first type of ammunition.

At least that how I'd rule it.

[OverNinja]

Adding two different feeds for a weapon is difficult and adds needless complexity to a weapon.
Having said that, there are two weapons with twin feed in SC 2.0. Plus break-action shotguns are by their nature dual feed weapons.

- The Truvelo Neostead pump shotgun in SC 2.0 PDF, pages 265 and 310.
- Prototypes of the Changfeng CF05 Heavy Submachine Gun in BFoG: Dragon's Fury, page 4. No stats for a dual-fed weapon.

[MugMug]

In my day we didn't mess around with all these fancy twin feeds; we duct taped two magazines together and lived with it.

Just a thought. Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be. Duct tape (common item), multiple magazines (most firearms), two different types of ammo (ammo upgrade), and a reload action are all you need.

Walter

[gaghiel42]

If you wanted to go crazy, you could say... miniaturize a second of that same gun into itself.  Thus using an action to switch ammo types of the same sort.  *shrug*  I'm with Mug Mug, although I know that these sort of ammo selector things will be important in near future/space games where people want to use Judge Dredd guns..

[Mister Andersen]

Farthest Star has promised us the cannister round...

[MilitiaJim]

Farthest Star has promised us the canister round...

It's a bit easier to design from the ground up fairly fundamental change like a second ammo feed.  Do you want one barrel firing both ammunitions, or two complete actions on one trigger?

[Krensky]

Adding two different feeds for a weapon is difficult and adds needless complexity to a weapon.
Having said that, there are two weapons with twin feed in SC 2.0. Plus break-action shotguns are by their nature dual feed weapons.

- The Truvelo Neostead pump shotgun in SC 2.0 PDF, pages 265 and 310.
- Prototypes of the Changfeng CF05 Heavy Submachine Gun in BFoG: Dragon's Fury, page 4. No stats for a dual-fed weapon.

I stand corrected.

The Neostead does show us, mechanically, how the switch between magazines should work. As far as upgrade cost, that's a bit stickier. Brainstorming here, but cost in upgrades might be the caliber of the gun? With a freakishly large install check and cost, and definitely a hit to error range and complexity.

[MilitiaJim]

I would say the Neostead pretty well shows:
A) It's a bottom up build.
B) It can be done.
C) I would call it 4 upgrades or a gadget.

You could probably get it to work decently with a lever action rifle.

[Txabier_Arrizotegui]

Gadget is more likely, wouldn't you say?

It's a gun, yes. But it's a very high-tech and cutting edge one, which brings it nearer to the super-science field... effectively making it a gadget.

And that would lead to its own complications.

Ah, Game Controlling what ifs, how much did I missed you! 

[MilitiaJim]

There is nothing really super science about it, just some tricky engineering.  You could build it out of an M-1911 if you didn't mind firing .22 rounds.  (Which you would need to get two magazines to fit in the magazine well.)

A gadget pick I see getting some sort of large capacity magazine/feeder that lets you swap ammo types on the fly.  Also easier to do the larger the weapon with which you want to do this.

[MugMug]

If spending a gadget pick is on the table, just make one gun the housing for a miniaturized other gun. The rest is handled with flavor text.

Walter

[MilitiaJim]

If spending a gadget pick is on the table, just make one gun the housing for a miniaturized other gun. The rest is handled with flavor text.

I think spending a gadget pick is only necessary if you want to do that with a pistol.

Of course I'm still left with a central question:  Why would you want to do this with something other than a shotgun or large caliber vehicle weapon, both of which can have it out of the box.