[Xenon]

The topic of what attacks you can do in different fireing modes as well as when and how you can take the Multiple Attack free action to attack more than one target pop up now and then. Probably because the SR5 rules around it are spread out and sometimes even seem to contradict each other. I thought it would be a good idea to gather all talk about this topic in one thread so we can discuss it from different perspectives and hopefully reach some sort of conclusion on how the rules actually work.

I also made a similar thread that deal exclusively with Dual Wield (another hot topic). You can find that thread here:
http://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=11965.0

So, first of all. What does the rules state?

Read for yourself:

Multiple Attacks p.164
A character may use a Free Action to attack multiple targets in a single action (see Multiple Attacks, p. 196) by splitting their dice pool. This action must be combined with a Fire Weapon Action, Throw Weapon Action, Melee Attack Action, Reckless Spellcasting, or Cast Spell Action.

• Can be used to attack multiple targets
  
• When you attack multiple targets you split pool

Fire Semi-Auto, Single-Shot, Burst Fire or Full-Auto p.165
A character may fire a readied firearm in Semi-Automatic, Single-Shot, Burst-Fire, or Fully-Auto mode via a Simple Action (see Firearms, p. 424) but may not take any other attack actions in the same Action Phase. If a character has one weapon in each hand, he may fire once with each weapon by adding a Multiple Attacks Free Action (see Multiple Attacks, p. 96); the offhand modifier applies (see Attacking Using Off-Hand Weapon, p. 178). When taken as Simple Actions, Burst Fire fires 3 bullets, while Full-Auto fires 6 bullets.

• No mentioning that you can attack multiple times if using one weapon with SA, SS, BF or FA
  
• Can, however, attack multiple times while using SA, SS, BF or simple FA if you dual wield...
  
• BF is 3 bullets
  
• Simple action FA is 6 bullets

Fire Full-Auto Weapon p.167
A character may fire a readied firearm in Full-Auto fire mode via a Complex Action (see Firearms, p. 424). If a character has one weapon in each hand, he may fire once with each weapon by adding a Multiple Attacks Free Action (see Multiple Attacks, p. 196). Off-hand modifier applies (see Attacker Using Off-Hand Weapon, p. 178). When fired as a Complex Action, Full-Auto uses 10 bullets. Remember the effects of cumulative recoil when using these fire modes. And good fragging luck!

• No mentioning that you can attack multiple times if using one weapon with FA
  
• Can, however, attack multiple times while using FA if you dual wield...
  
• Complex action FA is 10 bullets

Fire Long Burst or Semi-Auto Burst p.167
A character may fire a readied firearm in Long Burst or Semi-Auto Burst via a Complex Action (see Firearms, p. 424). A character may attack multiple targets within Short or Medium range by adding a Multiple Attacks Free Action (see Multiple Attacks, p. 196). If a character has one weapon in each hand, he may fire once with each weapon by adding a Multiple Attacks Free Action (see Multiple Attacks, p. 167). Off-hand modifier applies (see Attacker Using Off-Hand Weapon, p. 178). Remember the effects of cumulative recoil when using these fire modes.

• Can attack multiple targets (not just multiple attacks) if using one weapon with Long BF or SA-Burst
  
• All targets must be within short or medium range
  
• Can also attack multiple times while using Long BF or SA-Burst if you dual wield...
  
• No mentioning how many bullets a Long-BF or a SA-Burst is

There is more text (and other rules) on another page in the book:

Single Shot (SS) p.178
Firing a Single Shot (SS) weapon uses a Simple Action that cannot be combined with any other attacking Simple Action in the same Action Phase. SS weapons can take advantage of the Multiple Attacks Free Action if the attacker is wielding two such weapons. Single Shot weapons include bolt-action rifles, single-action revolvers, pump-action shotguns, lever-action rifles, and some large weapons that need extra time to chamber a fresh round due to the cartridge’s size. Single Shot fire assumes another round is readied with each shot as long as rounds are available in the gun.

• No mentioning that you can attack multiple times if using one weapon with SS
  
• Can, however, attack multiple times while using SS if you dual wield...
  
• Does not mention how many bullets you fire with a simple action Single Shot ("single shot" is, however, a heavy indicator that it is only 1 bullet - per weapon if dual wield)

Semi-Automatic (SA) p.178
Semi-automatic weapons fire a round every time the trigger is pulled and automatically chamber a fresh round after each shot. Semi-Automatic weapons fire a single round with a Simple Action but cannot combine that with any other attack Action in the same Action Phase. Semi-automatic weapons can take advantage of the Multiple Attacks Free Action if the shooter has two semi-automatic weapons. They also have the option of using a Semi-Automatic Burst (see below). See Firing Mode Table (p. 180) for attack information.

• No mentioning that you can attack multiple times if using one weapon with SA
  
• Can, however, attack multiple times while using SA if you dual wield...
  
• Simple action SA is 1 bullet (per weapon if dual wield)

Semi-Automatic Burst p.179
Semi-Automatic Burst mode is three semi-automatic shots taken in quick succession. Semi-Automatic weapons can fire a burst of three rounds with a Complex Action. With more shots going downrange they increase the chance that a bullet will hit. Semi-Automatic bursts can take advantage of the Multiple Attacks Free Action to fire at multiple targets with the same burst. See Firing Mode Table (p. 180) for attack information

• Can attack multiple targets with SA-Bursts
• Complex action SA-Burst is 3 bullets (per weapon if dual wield)

Burst Fire p.179
Burst Fire (BF) weapons are usually SMGs or assault rifles, but some pistols and shotguns can be modified for this mode. In burst-fire mode a gun rapidly fires three bullets every time the trigger is pulled. Firing a weapon in Burst Fire mode is a Simple Action that cannot be combined with any other attack Simple Action in the same Action Phase. Burst Fire weapons can take advantage of the Multiple Attacks Free Action to fire at multiple targets with the same burst. See Firing Mode Table (p. 180) for attack information

• Can attack multiple targets with BF weapons (weapons in plural - indicating dual wielding?)
  
• Hard to tell from this description if you can attack multiple targets if you use one weapon or if you need to dual wield
  
• Simple action BF is 3 bullets each time you pull the trigger
  
• No mentioning how many times you can pull the trigger in one simple action (but if you read the description of commplex action Long-BF below it is clear this simple action is for pulling the trigger once - per weapon if you dual wield)

Long Burst p.179
Long Burst (LB) mode is really just quickly firing in Burst Fire mode. In this mode, a gun fires two three-round bursts in rapid succession. Firing a weapon in Long Burst mode is a Complex Action. Long Burst weapons can take advantage of the Multiple Attacks Free Action to fire at multiple targets with the same burst. See Firing Mode Table (p. 180) for attack information

• Can attack multiple targets with Long-BF weapons
  
• Complex action Long-BF is three bullets twice for a total of 6 bullets in this action

Full-Auto p.179
Weapons that can fire in Full-Auto (FA) mode can throw bullets for as long as the attacker keeps the trigger pulled and the rounds last. Full-Auto weapons can be fired as a Simple Action, firing 6 bullets, or a Complex Action, firing 10 bullets. Full-auto weapons can take advantage of the Multiple Attacks Free Action to fire at multiple targets with the same burst. See Firing Mode Table (p. 180) for attack information.

• Can attack multiple targets with FA weapons
  
• Simple action FA is 6 bullets and complex action FA is 10 bullets

Suppressive Fire p.179
Suppressive fire takes a Complex Action, uses twenty rounds of ammo, and ignores recoil. Though it may appear as a “spray and pray” technique it is in fact a combination of controlled and fully automatic bursts focused over a narrow area and directed at anything that moves. A character can suppress a triangular area projecting from the shooting character outward up to a distance of his choosing, up to the maximum range of the weapon, with a width of 10 meters at its end and a height of 2 meters. Make a (Weapon Skill) + Agility [Accuracy] Test, including bonuses for smartlink, laser sight, tracer rounds, and other gamemaster-approved modifiers, and record the hits. The suppressive fire zone lasts until the end of the Combat Turn as long as the firer does not move or commit to any other action.
Anyone in the suppressive fire zone or immediately adjacent to it takes a dice pool penalty to all actions equal to the shooter’s hits, unless they are completely unaware of it (a magician using astral projection, for example).
Any character who is in the suppressed area (but not behind cover or prone), or who moves into or out of the area before the end of the suppressive fire, risks catching some flying lead. That character must make a Reaction + Edge Test (+ any dice they may get as a result of choosing to use Full Defense) with a threshold equal to the hits scored by the suppressing attacker. Note that in the test, you use your full Edge rating, regardless of whether you have spent points during the session (though you do not, of course, use burned Edge points). If the test fails, the character is hit, suffering damage equal to the weapon’s base Damage Value modified by any special ammunition being fired. Characters in the suppressed area who remain behind full cover or drop prone are not at risk (though they suffer the normal modifiers for being prone; see Melee Modifiers, p. 187, and Ranged Modifiers, p. 173). Characters may choose to avoid rolling and use their Free Action to go prone and avoid getting hit. If a character does not have a Free Action remaining she may use the Hit the Dirt Interrupt Action and go prone instead of getting hit. Any character who stands up or moves again before the suppressive fire stops must make a test to see if she is hit.
If multiple suppressive fire actions occur covering the same area, only the highest dice pool penalty counts against targets in or near the suppressed area, but targets must make a Reaction + Edge test against all overlapping zones, taking damage from the ones missed. Reaction + Edge Tests in this situation are subject to the diminishing pool effect of being shot by multiple attackers in a single Action Phase. After each roll apply a –1 die penalty to the defender’s dice pool.

Multiple Attacks p.196
Characters sometimes want to really put on the hurting in a single Action Phase and can choose to attack more than once in a single Action Phase by using the Multiple Attacks Free Action. This action represents both attacking multiple times from a single melee weapon and attacking with two different weapons (firearms or melee). The attacker’s dice pool is calculated with all modifiers (Wound, Environmental, Situational, and the full recoil of all attacks if it’s a ranged attack) and then split as evenly as possible between all attacks, and each attack is handled separately. (Keep in mind as the dice pool gets smaller the chances of a glitch rise.) Edge spent on this test adds into the pool before it is divided. The total number of attacks you can make in a single Action Phase is limited to one-half the attacker’s Combat Skill.

• You can take this action to attack multiple times if you dual wield firearm or melee
  
• The max number of targets is skill/2 (but the limit can also be less depending on the attack being used, just never higher than skill/2)
  
• Can explicit attack multiple targets with a single melee weapon
• No mention that you can attack at multiple targets or even multiple times with a single firearm

[Xenon]

edit, after talk in this thread I decided to edit this post to highlight what is actual SR5 rules and what are the different house rule options we have until we get more clarification[/i]


P.179 State that you can use BF weapons to fire at multiple targets with the same burst, Long Burst weapons to fire at multiple targets with the same burst. Full auto weapons to fire at multiple targets with the same burst.
P.179 Also state that you can use suppressive fire for a combination of controlled and fully automatic bursts focused over a narrow area and directed at anything that moves. Suppressive fire is explained in detail, but it does not actually state which weapons that can use it (only that it cost 20 bullets over the cause of a full combat turn).
P.165/167 State that you can dual wield SS, SA, BF, Long BF, simple FA and complex FA to do multiple attacks.
P.165/167 State that you can use a single firearm for a SA burst or a Long Burst to attack multiple targets within Short or Medium range (but it does not state that you can use a single firearm in BF, simple FA or complex FA to fire at multiple targets)
P.164 State that you can do multiple attacks when combined with Fire Weapon Action, Throw Weapon Action, Melee Attack Action, Reckless Spellcasting, or Cast Spell Action.
P.196 State that you can take Multiple Attacks with a single melee weapon and when dual wielding firearms or melee (but it does not state that you can use a single firearm or throwing weapons to take the multiple attacks free action).
P.196 Also state you are limited to weapon skill / 2 targets.


There are a lot of rules that directly contradict each other or state one thing but is never explained further.
We have asked for clarification and are currently waiting response.


Until we get an official response there are at least three ways you can make the above rules work.

1) Consider p.179 correct and you can attack multiple targets with SA-Burst, BF, Long Burst, simple FA and complex FA and with Suppressive Fire p.179. This mean you will consider that p.196 is wrong or at least not a complete list of all actions that can take the Multiple Attacks action. It also mean you need to house rule how the various bursts are split up. Will there be bullets between targets. Do targets need to stand close. Are you spraying a cone similar to suppressive fire, if so what size. Can you hit targets at long range. What happens when you use a 3 bullet burst and have an automatics skill of 7+ and - according to P.196 - are allowed to hit 4 targets. etc.
Suggested house rules
1a) All targets need to be within short or medium range for the weapon you use.
1b) All targets need to stand next to each other and the total area does not cover more than a 45 degree frontal cone.
1c) Limit number of targets to [number of bullets in the burst] as an additional wireless bonus if you have smartlink (no stray bullets), [number of bullets] / 2 if no smartlink (round up, symbolizing stray bullet between targets) and [weapon skill] / 2 (round up) - whichever is smallest.
1d) [Number of bullets per target] = [Number of bullets in the burst] divided as even as possible on [Number of Targets] if you have smartlink or [Number of bullets in the burst] / (2 * [number of targets]) if no smartlink (round down).
1e) Negative defense modification is equal to to [Number of bullets per target] -1
1f) Suppressive Fire can only be done in FA mode


2) Consider p.165/167 correct and that you can only attack multiple targets with SA-Burst and Long Burst on targets within short or medium range and with Suppressive Fire p.176. This mean you will consider that p.179 is wrong or is talking about attacks while dual wielding and that p.196 is wrong or at least not complete list of all actions that can take the Multiple Attacks action.
Suggested house rules
2a) Long Burst is two individual BF attacks that you aim at two individual targets.
2b) SA Burst is 3 individual SA attacks that you can aim at two or three individual targets.
2c) Suppressive Fire can only be done in FA mode


3 Consider p.196 correct and you can only take the Multiple Attacks action with a single melee weapon or dual wielding firearms or melee weapons. This mean you will consider that p.165/p.167 are wrong when it comes to SA-Burst and Long Burst as well as p.179 is wrong or is talking about attacks while dual wielding. The only action that let you hurt more than one target with a single firearm is Suppressive fire p.179
Suggested house rules
3a) Suppressive Fire can only be done in FA mode




I will personally use 2 at my table until we get more clarification.

[Xenon]

• Clear that you can take the Multiple Attacks free action if you dual wield SS, SA, SA-Burst, BF, Long BF, simple FA and complex FA.
• Clear that you can use a single weapon to attack multiple targets if you use a complex SA-burst within short or medium range or a complex Long-BF within short or medium range.
• Not clear if you can use a single weapon to attack multiple targets if you use a BF, simple FA or complex FA.

- IF we come the conclusion that we can attack multiple targets if we use BF, simple FA or complex FA -> do targets in this case need to be within close or medium range??

It is my understanding that you can use a single complex SA-Burst or a single complex Long-BF to attack multiple targets as long as they are within short or medium range. This is probably not even up for debate.
When it comes to simple BF mode, simple FA mode and complex FA mode it is my understanding that you can not attack multiple targets with them (unless you dual wield, in which case you can attack two opponent with one burst each or attack one target twice). This, however, is up for debate.

My reasoning for this, besides the rule text explaining what you can and cannot do in simple and complex actions, is that a BF fire 3 bullets very rapid at one target. In a simple action. Would be hard pressed to spread them at different targets. And for FA weapons it is my understanding that you are intended to use Suppresive Fire (which is a sort of a well defined frontal cone attack that last the whole combat turn).


Then we have the issue of avoiding getting hit. And how many targets can you attack.

If we can agree on that you can only use a single firearm to attack multiple targets if you use a complex SA-burst, a complex Long BF or with FA in suppressive fire then this not as difficult to understand as we thought in a lot of previous posts.

If we start from the top and work the way down.
FA suppressive fire You use Reacion + Edge (+willpower from full defense if that is used) to defend against suppressive fire. This is clear from the rules and not up for debate. One thing that might be under debate, however, is how much damage you take. If you are hit, will additional net hits increase DV or do you always only take base DV (+ammo mods).
- From the text it does seem to be binary. Either you are hit and take base DV (+ammo mods). or you are not hit. "Net hits" does not seem to increase the damage.

Long BF. One BF is basically 3 bullets that is fired very rapidly (it take less than 0.2 seconds to fire all three bullets). It is safe to assume that you can only land one BF at one target and that it can not be used to spread among multiple targets. A long BF is basically two individual BFs. For a non-wired person that is one burst of 3 bullets over 0.2 seconds and then - within 3 seconds - another burst of 3 bullets over 0.2 seconds. This does indicate that you can use a Long-BF complex action to fire 1 BF at one target and then 1 BF at another target (that does not have to be standing next to the first target or in a frontal cone - you are after all not really spraying bullets here). To avoid a BF both targets get -2 on his defense roll (as per normal BF rules). If you fire both bursts at the same target then he would have taken one attack with -5 on his defense roll (as per normal Long-BF rules). As per Multiple Attacks free action you can only attack two targets if you have a weapon skill of 3 or more (if we assume you round up).

SA-Burst. SA-burst is tapping 3 bullets with a semi automatic weapon. for a non-wired person that would mean about one shot per second. If fired on a single target that target would take -2 on his defense roll (as per normal SA-Burst rules). If spread among up to maximum of 3 individual targets then they would have to avoid one bullet each and take -0 on their defense rolls (as per normal SA rules). Attacking 3 individual targets with one SA-burst would split the attack pool three times - something that will increase the risk of glitch very fast. You also need to be a very skilled gunner for the rules to even let you attack three targets (skill of 5+ as per the multiple attacks rule). A more "normal" use of SA-burst would be to fire one shot at one target, one shot between the targets and then the third shot at the the second target. Since it is only two targets the pool would "only" be split twice. Both or all three targets need to be within short or medium range. As per Multiple Attacks free action you can only attack two targets if you have a weapon skill of 3 or more and you need a weapon skill of 5 or more if you want to attack all three targets.

A lot of speculation from my side, but I think it make a lot of sense and there are no rules that contradict my reasoning. However, there are very few rules that support my reasoning as well - so everything is up for debate. I want more perspectives on this.

Code: [Select]

Type  One hand attack      Targets  Action  Pool  Shots Dodge Notes
====  ==================== ======= ======= ===== ===== ===== ============================
Melee Melee Attack            1    Complex Full   N/A   -0   
Melee Melee Attack         Skill/2 Complex Split  N/A   -0   Max skill/2 targets
SS    Single Shot             1    Simple  Full    1    -0   No recoil
SA    Semi-Automatic          1    Simple  Full    1    -0 
SA    Semi-Automatic Burst    1    Complex Full    3    -2   
SA    Semi-Automatic Burst    2    Complex  /2     3    -0   skill 3+ short/medium range
SA    Semi-Automatic Burst    3    Complex  /3     3    -0   skill 5+ short/medium range
BF    Burst Fire              1    Simple  Full    3    -2   
BF    Long Burst              1    Complex Full    6    -5   
BF    Long Burst              2    Complex  /2     6    -2   Skill 3+ short/medium range
FA    Simple Full Auto        1    Simple  Full    6    -5   
FA    Complex Full Auto       1    Complex Full   10    -9   
FA    Suppressive Fire    No Limit Turn    Full   20    -0   Cone, Reaction+Edge to dodge

[Xenon]

reserved

[Carmody]

Hi Xenon,

this is a very good summary, here are my own thoughts:

1/ Even if your argument is really valid, I would not be surprised if it were actually possible to shoot at multiple targets in BF and Full Auto (simple action) for 2 reasons:
   1.1/ It is stated in p. 179 that it is possible
   1.2/ It will be simpler to have all burst behave the same, whatever they require a simple or complex action

2/ As I already stated on some other posts, one other question remain: what is the defense penalty in that case?
   2.1/ shall the shooter "assign" a given number of bullets to each target and the defense penalty is computed based on this number (and the "not enough bullets rule p. 180" ?
   2.2/ Shall we consider that given the number of bullets flying all around the defensers, all of them take the full penalty?

3/ I think all the target should be close one to another, like for attacking several targets with a shootgun. With the current rules, you can fire a burst and hit one guy in front of you and the second one behind you!

[Xenon]

read my updated 3rd post.

[ZombieAcePilot]

A dose of common sense goes a long way. Personally, I would require any target for a multiple attack burst(of any type)/full auto be against targets within 1-2 meters of the previous or force the player to expend bullets on empty spaces as if they were enemies. As for the short bursts, I wouldn't get that in depth into it. Its easier to understand if all the modes you can use to make multiple attacks operate the same way. That said, more leniency on distance between targets could go to a semi-auto burst than a simple action burst. I really do think that long burst is more appropriate for making multiple attacks (broken into two short bursts), but I wouldn't force that ruling onto a player if they were making a reasonable attack (maybe the targets are grappling with one another, this could be a valid time to use a short burst).

All in all go for the intent of the rules and break it down using the the rules we do know apply (split dice after penalties and bonuses, bullets -1 per target is the penalty they take to defense, needing to spend the free action, etc). Don't allow your players to cheese up the game by splitting full auto attacks onto guys 180 from each other (this is what dual wielding is for) and you should be just fine.

[Xenon]

The rules seem to suggest that the only way you can use FA against multiple targets are:
1) Suppressive fire. A cone that is 10m wide, as long as you decide (up to maximum range) and 2m high. Need  a weapon skill of at least 3+.
(think spray n pray where targets need to stand close)
2) Dual wielding two FA weapons. Attack two individual targets. Once with each FA weapon (either with simple FA or a complex FA). Need  a weapon skill of at least 3+.


The rules seem to suggest that the only way to use BF against multiple targets are:
1) Long-BF complex action where you attack two different targets with one BF each. Both targets must be at short or medium range. Need  a weapon skill of at least 3+.
(think two individual 0.2 sec concentrated burst fires, not "spraying full auto")
2) Dual wielding two BF weapons. Attack two individual targets. Once with each BF weapon (either with simple BF or complex Long-BF). Need  a weapon skill of at least 3+.


The rules seem to suggest that the only way to use SA against multiple targets are:
1) SA-Burst complex action where you attack two or even up to three targets with one shot each. All targets must be at short or medium range. Need  a weapon skill of at least 3+ for two targets and at least 5+ for three targets.
2) Dual wielding two SA weapons. Attack two individual targets. Once with each SA weapon (either with simple SA or complex SA-burst). Need a weapon skill of at least 3+.


The rules seem to suggest that the only way to use SS against multiple targets are:
1) Dual wielding two SS weapons. Attack two individual targets. Once with each SS weapon (with simple SS). Need a weapon skill of at least 3+. Recoil apply.




A: Seem to suggest that you cannot aim accurate at different individual targets with one single 0.2 sec concentrated BF.
B: Seem to suggest that you cannot aim accurate at different individual targets while using FA
- and instead suggest that you use a "combination of controlled and fully automatic bursts focused over a narrow area and directed at anything that moves" (aka suppresive fire).



From a real life perspective this even make a lot of sense (except dual wielding, but from a Hollywood perspective even that make sense I think).

[Carmody]

Hi Xenon,
your assumption makes lot of sense to me, which does not mean this is what was initially intended.
Let's wait for the FAQ, hopefully this point will be covered.

[Ryo]

Does the Multiple Attacks free action allow you to attack one target twice in a single action phase, or is it always applied as attacking multiple targets at the same time?

Multiple targets at the same time, not one target twice.

A quote from Aaron from the SR5 FAQ thread. He's a freelancer, so this is probably going to be the official FAQ response.

[Xenon]

A quote from Aaron from the SR5 FAQ thread. He's a freelancer, so this is probably going to be the official FAQ response.

Good info Ryo. Thank you

I'll put that into the Dual Wield thread; that can be found here:
http://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=11965.0

...that you can only use two firearms to attack two individual opponents, and not one individual opponent twice.



(it doesn't really make sense for Throwing weapons though - as Throwing Weapons explicit state that you can attack multiple readied throwing weapons at a target by taking the free action).

[Ryo]

(it doesn't really make sense for Throwing weapons though - as Throwing Weapons explicit state that you can attack multiple readied throwing weapons at a target by taking the free action).

I strongly suspect that's a typo.

[Xenon]

I strongly suspect that's a typo.

Yes, if we are not allowed to aim both weapons at one target while dual wielding then I suspect it is a typo just as you do.  I asked Aaron for clarification.

[ZombieAcePilot]

The rules seem to suggest that the only way you can use FA against multiple targets are:
1) Suppressive fire. A cone that is 10m wide, as long as you decide (up to maximum range) and 2m high. Need  a weapon skill of at least 3+.
(think spray n pray where targets need to stand close)
2) Dual wielding two FA weapons. Attack two individual targets. Once with each FA weapon (either with simple FA or a complex FA). Need  a weapon skill of at least 3+.


The rules seem to suggest that the only way to use BF against multiple targets are:
1) Long-BF complex action where you attack two different targets with one BF each. Both targets must be at short or medium range. Need  a weapon skill of at least 3+.
(think two individual 0.2 sec concentrated burst fires, not "spraying full auto")
2) Dual wielding two BF weapons. Attack two individual targets. Once with each BF weapon (either with simple BF or complex Long-BF). Need  a weapon skill of at least 3+.


The rules seem to suggest that the only way to use SA against multiple targets are:
1) SA-Burst complex action where you attack two or even up to three targets with one shot each. All targets must be at short or medium range. Need  a weapon skill of at least 3+ for two targets and at least 5+ for three targets.
2) Dual wielding two SA weapons. Attack two individual targets. Once with each SA weapon (either with simple SA or complex SA-burst). Need a weapon skill of at least 3+.


The rules seem to suggest that the only way to use SS against multiple targets are:
1) Dual wielding two SS weapons. Attack two individual targets. Once with each SS weapon (with simple SS). Need a weapon skill of at least 3+. Recoil apply.




A: Seem to suggest that you cannot aim accurate at different individual targets with one single 0.2 sec concentrated BF.
B: Seem to suggest that you cannot aim accurate at different individual targets while using FA
- and instead suggest that you use a "combination of controlled and fully automatic bursts focused over a narrow area and directed at anything that moves" (aka suppresive fire).



From a real life perspective this even make a lot of sense (except dual wielding, but from a Hollywood perspective even that make sense I think).

Most of what you said is unsupported. The rules seem to suggest you can use the multiple attacks action with any mode of fire from semi auto burst up through full auto. You can split your attack up to half your skill with a minimum of one shot per person (hence a semi out or normal burst could only ever hit three people). Dice are split as evenly as possible. This just isn't so hard to understand. If you want house rules for your group because burst fire couldn't possibley hit 3 targets in .2 seconds, whatever. Just stop trying to pass it off as official or supported in the text when it isn't.

[Michael Chandra]

The problem with the rules is that they don't state whether all targets get the full dodge penalty. We really need the errata'd complete section.