RoF

     My apologies for having been away for such a stretch. Between a chaotically undulating work schedule and the demands I place upon myself when preparing my own games, I've not made the time to post or update.
     A little back-and-forth on the FFG forums resulted in my latest look at revising the 40K RPG combat rules into a common set. I present to you...

Single Shot (Half Action)- +10 to BS Tests, may benefit from Aim Actions (Half and Full), may benefit from any and all targeting/sighting devices, any Success equals one (1) hit (The benefit of +10 for the Single Shot representing not hurrying the shot; with a Single Shot, a Half Action Aim, a Red-Dot sight, and Short Range there is then a +40 to BS Tests, which I feel is acceptable for the return of only one shot…that still might miss, or do crap Damage).

Semi-Auto (Half Action)- +/-0 to BS Tests, may not benefit from Aim Actions, may benefit from targeting/sighting* devices up to the weapon's maximum Short Range (so up to 50m with an M36 Lasgun…not shabby), one (1) hit per 2 DoS up to the weapon's Semi-Auto RoF (*This allows for the Red-dot sight to remain somewhat effective; if GMs are running extensive crossover games this rule does not affect the operational value of Spore Targeters; Without the benefit of +10 for the Single Shot or Half Action Aim there is still a +20 to BS Tests at Short Range, which I feel is still a considerable advantage considering the myriad other factors such as Personal and Cover AP, Fatigue, etc). Chances are still good for scoring more than one hit.

Full Auto (Full Action)- -10 to BS Tests, may not benefit from Aim Actions, may not benefit from targeting/sighting devices (aside from Spore Targeters and Motion Predictors), Standard Success (aka 1 DoS) is one (1) hit, changing to two (2) hits per 2 DoS up to the weapon's Full Auto RoF¹ (Consider that a person firing on Full Auto is likely either A- attempting to hit multiple targets in a hurry, without regard to accuracy, or B- attempting to suppress; at Short Range there is +/-0 to BS Tests, and the number of hits steps up a bit more gradually than the Full Auto RAW: ¹ With 1 DoS on Full Auto you receive one (1) hit, 2-3 DoS results in two (2) hits, 4-5 DoS results in four (4) hits, and so on. By "skipping" a DoS before awarding the weapon's full RoF it protrays the inaccuracy of the "spray and pray" mentality, but higher DoS (gained from higher BS scores) still result in more hits. If GMs are using Horde Rules from Deathwatch this Full Auto fire receives a very generous bonus to hit based on the Horde Magnitude, and even if GMs are instead using the Advanced Horde Rules from Tome of Blood (Black Crusade) the shooter still receives (at most) +10 to BS Tests.

These House Rules do the same as yours- encourage higher BS scores. Also, they are not intended to interact with or be cumulative with the rules for Suppressing Fire/Overwatch (two completely different balls of wax).

² I'd be inclined to further modify BS Tests for Full Auto in the event a firefight suddenly errupted within a relatively small and enclosed environment that was free of obstruction (say +10 if within a 15'x15' bedroom, +20 within an 3'-4'-wide hallway or average bathroom, and +30 if shooting at fish in a barrel). 

Speaking personally, I think the Full Auto House Rules (above) are acceptable. I don't think Full Auto was ever really meant to be game-breaking, it just worked out that way and the developers reacted by swinging the pendulum too far in the other direction…then a little back, again.

I feel Full Auto should be reserved for larger individual targets, massed targets (such as Hordes), and Suppressing Fire/Overwatch. Popping off a mess of shots on a guy little better than yourself is wasteful overkill and indicative of a panicky soldier.

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