Heavy Pistol construction., Building a better gun. Options

[SomeGuy]

Hello again. As it stands now the game I'm currently playing in is great, but most of our heavy firepower comes from magic. Most PCs aren't skilled with guns aside from my character, and he's far better in physical combat then ranged.

So most of our battles typically involve the shaman and mage nuking the hell out of what ever our enemies are until we get into melee range, and the adepts just destroy them with close range martial arts. I'm not complaining, it's a lot of fun, but I've got a feeling our GM will be throwing more weapon based enemies at us.

Any how looking for some suggestions for better heavy pistols. My character has full ambidexterity so i'd like to turn him into a led slinging machine. Any suggestions?

[Ol' Scratch]

For all around firepower and style in one package, you don't get much better than the Savalette Guardian. As a SA heavy pistol it has a good Concealability rating, a good clip size, and has most of its mounts available. The nice thing about it, however, is that you have the option of spending a Complex Action to fire a BF shot with it, too.

Since you have ambidexterity and apparently plan on using it, the targeting system it comes with isn't really an issue, though you'll probably want to add a laser sight anyway just in case you need or want a little more accuracy when firing a single pistol from time to time.

Other good options are the Colt Manhunter (comes with a laser sight by default and thus doesn't reduce Concealability if you decide to use one), the Morrissey Alta, and the Gyrojet Pistol. The first two have good Concealability and/or Ammo ratings, and the latter is incredibly powerful but noisy. The Gyrojet also requires its own special skill for some strange reason, so if you already have points invested in Pistols it's not really something you'll want to consider.

[Gorath]

I think you can get a 10M heavy Pistol what is undetectable by MADs and has very high conceal. You need: Ceramic Components, Reduce Barrel, Personal Grip, Improved Conceal, Higher Power...

So you have a weapon what you can carry with you without big problems, BUT if you lose that weapon it could point to you.

[Diesel]

I suggest picking up some skill in SMGs, personally. Assault rifles also, but that doesn't sound your style. Pistols just don't cut it when it comes to slinging lead, IMO.

[SomeGuy]

I wouldn't mind picking up SMGs, but i want to be able to take advantage of my ambidexterity.

[otomik]

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showth...ad.php?t=147670

first of all, everything must be in quick draw concealable holsters and smartlink-2

MainGuns (unconcealable one on each hip)
Eastern flavor: Savalette Guardian for rapid firepower
Western flavor: Cavalier Deputy or Ruger Superwarhawk have big firepower and you don't have to worry about leaving casings at the scene (using the usual ex-explosive or APDS means the bullet itself won't leave much evidence either) the old west mystique will be intimidating as well.

Backup Guns
Morrisey Elites for concealability, mounted in Shoulder Holsters

Surprise Guns mounted in Sleeve holsters (try to work this concept out w/ GM)
Cavalier Scouts or Walther Palm Pistols

[littlesean]

Don't forget the Eichiro Hatamoto II, while it is a single shot, I have a character that swears by it. Of course he is a mage and has a different type of ammo to fall back on, but it is great for softening up a target.

[Smiley]

Custom make a 10M burst-fire pistol and load in some APDS or Ex Explosive. You can squeeze in total recoil comp, a silencer, and lots of other goodies. Look in Cannon Companion for the rules. It'll cost you, but it's well worth it.

[de4dmeta1]

[Smiley]

No, but they DO work in single-shot mode, which this pistol has.

[Arethusa]

It's not like the bullshit makes any sense anyway. There's no need to nitpick that much.

[Cursedsoul]

Why not pick up an Ares Viper Slivergun?

30 round clip, SA/BF, built in silencer, conceal 6.

Sure you fire flechette rounds, but they're no worse than normal ones. +1DL vs unarmoured, and Normal DL vs armoured, they get normal ballistics or 2x impact. Its not an issue because most armor just doesn't have the impact to make it a problem.

Take an armor vest w/ plates for 5b 3i.

That 9M becomes a 3M, which isn't a great deal worse than a 4M, especially considering you get 30 rounds and SA/BF. That's the worst you'll ever likely face. If you're taking on a guy in full security armor with a pistol you need to seriously re-think that plan. The only armor that will make it nigh useless is the winterized coverall, but how often are you going to see someone wearing THAT?

Sure the cost different between that an an armor jacket is only 100, but that flak vest is going to intimidate a civilian a lot more than a guy in a jumpsuit ever will, and that 100 adds up when you need to equip hundreds of goons.

So anyways, you ALSO get conceal 8 in a QDCH which becomes 12 under a longcoat. That's one damn concealable weapon.

Of course being generally overpowered it may not be allowed in the game.

Try seeing if you can get a browning ultrapower with the integral laser sight removed, and if it will give you an additional conceal point.

If that's all possible a 7 conceal weapon with 10 rounds to a clip that costs 525 (presuming you get no resale bonus on the sight) isn't bad at all.

The Morrisey Elite would be another contendor. 5 shots to a clip, but if you can get a return of +1 conceal that gives you a conceal 8 weapon (hold out sized), which becomes 10 in a QDCH, which becomes 15 under a +50% longcoat or similar item.

You can probably be like Deniro in Taxi Driver, Get yourself an arm holster that you can use to slide it into place and pepper someone. 5 shots won't do much, but its a helluva backup at 9M (as opposed to 4 or 5L for a HO).

If none of that is possible I also vote for a Morrisey Alta as its sleek, stylish, and small.

[Ol' Scratch]

If memory serves, Lone Star beat cops have a standard armor consisting of an Armored Vest with Plates and a Leather Jacket. That's effectively 4/4 armor and that'll reduce a Slivergun to 1M damage.

[Odin]

[Ol' Scratch]

Almost positive it was real leather, or if not it's reinforced synthetic leather since it grants 0/2 armor. And that's just day-to-day armor. If expecting something major, they'll throw on an Armored Jacket on top of the vest. Dunno how they avoid the heavy penalties, though.

[kevyn668]

There already is a version of the Browning UltraPower w/o the laser sight. Its the MaxPower. Conceal is 6. You'd have to do some fast talking to convice me that if you strip the LS off an UltarPower you should get the conceal point back...

Stick with Sav. The Viper has its pros and cons but unfortunately most of the people you'll be shooting at will probably have pretty good armor.

[Odin]

my only problem with the savallette is it can cost a lot to replace if you lose it compared to most other heavy pistols which may be a problem in a low nuyen campaign personally I wouldn't bother with it if you don't have a smartlink II. If you do forget everything I just said Grade A Bang! Bang! :D

[kevyn668]

[Arethusa]

Yeah, PAC out of the last SSC. Silly line referencing the equally silly as hell Robocop (3, was it?).

[tjn]

Anyone with FFBA is actually going to have an equal chance of soaking a normal HP round vs an AVS under most conditions.

Main advantage of other Heavy Pistols is the capability to use specialized ammo, the power of a Ruger Super Warhawk, the Integral Recoil of a Savalette Guardian, the concealability of a Morrissey Elite or the relative cheapness of a version of the Ares Predator. (Edit) Or the ceramics of a WW infiltrator.(/Edit)

On the otherside, the AVS has an ammo capacity comparable to a machine pistol, already capable of BF, integral silencer on a conceal 6 frame, an extra damage level, and the availability of a basic Predator.

[Smiley]

[Arethusa]

You play your games exclusively in Winter?

[Siege]

The Savalette is way, way too much pistol to carry on a day-to-day basis.

I load it as part of heavy-duty kits where getting caught with a BF handgun is the least of your worries.

Otherwise, Colt Manhunter or similar HP will do nicely.

-Siege

[Hunter]

[Siege]

I knew I was going to get called on that.

Without checking the book, I imagine a cop will be more interested in a BF-capable HP then he would, say, a standard HP.

Of course, that's sheer speculation and assumed role-playing on my part and certainly not a canon ruling.

-Siege

Edit: Of course, carrying a day-to-day handgun increases the chance of you needing to discard it - or swap out the barrel and hammer. Sorry, again - no basis in canon.