Telescopic Scope Q&A

[Trigger]

So, when the description of telescopic scopes say that the range penalty is negated for certain ranges, say increment 2 and 4, does that mean that range increment 1-2 have no penalty and range increment 3 has -2 or -4? and range increment 4 has what?

A quick example would be great.  Thanks.  Hopefully I wasn't doing this wrong.

[Alphastream]

The way I read it, which seems simple, is that you ignore that many range penalties. So, if you ignore range penalty 2, then you would ignore the first two penalties. Once you get to the third range increment, you would apply the penalty for being one range increment out of your normal (expanded) range.

Weapon has 20' increments. Telescopic sight ignoring 2 range increments.
- shoot target at 15' = no penalty
- 35' = no penalty
- 41' = counts as first range increment.

Also, don't forget to track CQB and laser sight ranges. Those penalties can be the bigger loss for some PCs. For my two-weapon pistol Triggerman, I have written down different "stat blocks" for each of the potential ranges and for different caliber mission picks (at high calibers, I have the telescopic sights and sometimes the threaded barrel with extension). This becomes really hard to track on the fly.

Teos

[Trigger]

The way I read it, which seems simple, is that you ignore that many range penalties. So, if you ignore range penalty 2, then you would ignore the first two penalties. Once you get to the third range increment, you would apply the penalty for being one range increment out of your normal (expanded) range.

Weapon has 20' increments. Telescopic sight ignoring 2 range increments.
- shoot target at 15' = no penalty
- 35' = no penalty
- 41' = counts as first range increment.

Also, don't forget to track CQB and laser sight ranges. Those penalties can be the bigger loss for some PCs. For my two-weapon pistol Triggerman, I have written down different "stat blocks" for each of the potential ranges and for different caliber mission picks (at high calibers, I have the telescopic sights and sometimes the threaded barrel with extension). This becomes really hard to track on the fly.

Teos

So if it negated the 2nd and 4th increment then the 1st and 2nd increment  have no penalty, the 3rd increment has -2 penalty, the 4th increment would have nothing or the carry over -2 from the 3rd increment???

I guess my real question was the carry over of penalties or just plain negated.

[Gatac]

Imagine it like that:

Without telescopic sight:

Increment	Penalty
First	0
Second	-2
Third	-2
Fourth	-2
Fifth	-2
Total	-8

Telescopic Sight, ignores 2nd and 4th increments:

Increment	Penalty
First	0
Second	0
Third	-2
Fourth	0
Fifth	-2
Total	-4

Gatac

[Trigger]

Imagine it like that:

Without telescopic sight:

Increment	Penalty
First	0
Second	-2
Third	-2
Fourth	-2
Fifth	-2
Total	-8

Telescopic Sight, ignores 2nd and 4th increments:

Increment	Penalty
First	0
Second	0
Third	-2
Fourth	0
Fifth	-2
Total	-4

Gatac

So without scope is 0, -2, -4, -6 and so on adding up the penalties to shoot.

With using 2nd & 4th negated scope and adding up penalties would be to shoot:

(0) 1st increment
(0) 2nd increment
(-2) 3rd increment
(-2) 4th increment
(-4) 5th increment
(-6) 6th increment

and so on...

[Crafty_Alex]

You've got it!

[Trigger]

Thanks for the quick response.

[Alphastream]

Cool! That's actually even better than I thought it worked.

Now I just need to revise my tables, in case I ever convince people to play LSpy again.

Teos

[Ezram]

I wonder: why did they choose those particular increments?

[Morgenstern]

Basically it extrapolates from real world experience with high power scopes. As the power goes up, the minimum range its really helpful for goes up (first increment that gets ignored is farther and farther out), but the benefit at longer range goes up also (number of ignored increments increases over all). It's basically set up to create a metagame like the real world - that there is a correct scope (or setting) for every distance, and its often not the same choice you'de make if you were shooting at a target 1 or more increments closer or farther away. Combined with the right rifle and a 2-3 feat investment in being a master sniper, and you can get some amazing total range/total attack check modifer combinations out of the system, in keeping with even the more legendary performance reports.

[Ezram]

That makes sense  .

[Desertpuma]

Imagine it like that:

Without telescopic sight:

Increment	Penalty
First	0
Second	-2
Third	-2
Fourth	-2
Fifth	-2
Total	-8

Telescopic Sight, ignores 2nd and 4th increments:

Increment	Penalty
First	0
Second	0
Third	-2
Fourth	0
Fifth	-2
Total	-4

Gatac

So without scope is 0, -2, -4, -6 and so on adding up the penalties to shoot.

With using 2nd & 4th negated scope and adding up penalties would be to shoot:

(0) 1st increment
(0) 2nd increment
(-2) 3rd increment
(-2) 4th increment
(-4) 5th increment
(-6) 6th increment

and so on...

This is also important because of the Elf and his vision.