| posternutbag |
Note: I will be using the general term "scattergun" to reference any firearm that is firing pellets, ie blunderbuss, shotgun etc.
In general, I like the Pathfinder firearms rules, but I hate the rules for scatterguns.
My problem is that, while you have a chance to hit everything within the cone of fire, it is actually harder to hit a specific target within the cone, because you take a -2 to hit on each roll.
I have been wingshooting and shooting sporting clays for a long time, and I just cannot abide this. This will be my attempt to "fix" the scatter rules. Feedback is very much appreciated, I wouldn't be posting if I didn't genuinely want criticisms and critiques of my idea.
1) Scatterguns can fire slugs or pellets.
2) When firing slugs, use the standard firearms rules, except that the critical multiplier is x4 rather than x2. Sabot or slugs shot from a shotgun are very deadly, hence the x4 critical.
3) When firing pellets, scatterguns target flat-footed AC and make an attack against all creatures in a cone. A blunderbuss targets every creature in a 15 foot cone, a shotgun targets every creature in a 30 foot cone. A double-barreled shotgun can fire only one barrel at a time when making a cone attack. This attack ignores concealment but cannot be modified by precision damage or feats such as Vital Strike.
4) Everything else remains the same (attack roll, critical chance, misfire chance, etc) and the critical multiplier drops to x2, as printed.
Why have I done this?
I believe that targeting Flatfooted AC with pellets more accurately reflects the real-world effect of buckshot. It would be nearly impossible to dodge a cloud of 7-10 .30"-.33" shots/pellets moving at aprox 1000 fps, but penetrating power is lost (hence not automatically bypassing armor and having a lower critial, x2 rather than x4 for slugs and bullets). All of this is even more true if loaded with birdshot. Trying to dodge a cloud of 300+ pellets of no8 shot at 1100 fps would be impossible, but the penetrating power, damage and range are correspondingly lessened. But, in general, combat shotguns shoot buckshot-like loads, so this was my model.
If you have actually bothered to read and think about all of this, I hope you will comment and let me know what needs to be changed and improved.