[Jackleg Rooster]

I know in reality the Thunderstruck is not the sort of thing to use in daily running, but lets say i want to anyway.

What are a good set of mods to make it really useful? I'm assuming that due to my body and strength are less than 8 that a GM might use that optional rule and require me to put it in a gyrorig, unless i can use something like the reduced weight mod as a counter argument (Though I'm aware that the weapon being lighter might make recoil worse). For this idea chameleon coating is required, so its about the last four slots. I have two builds I'm thinking of, one with the rig, one without. Any ideas are welcome!

Ares Thunderstruck Gauss Rifle (no rig)
   +Advanced Safety System
   +Hip Pad Bracing System
   +Smartgun System, External
   +Chameleon Coating
   +Easy Breakdown, Powered
   +Improved Range Finder
   +Reduced Weight
   +Trigger Removal
   DV: 9P   AP: -4   RC: (1)

Ares Thunderstruck Gauss Rifle (rig)
   +Advanced Safety System
   +Gyro Stabilization
   +Hip Pad Bracing System
   +Smartgun System, External
   +Additional Clip
   +Barrel Extension
   +Chameleon Coating
   +Improved Range Finder
   +Trigger Removal
   DV: 9P   AP: -4   RC: (7)

[Mäx]

Too tired to make any comments about the mods, so i'm just gonna mention that the AP should be -half - 4 just like all the other gauss weapons, it's in the Arsenal errata.

[UmaroVI]

You might also see if you can convince your GM to allow you to fire it from a tripod or something like that. The gauss rifle makes a great sniper rifle, if you're willing to shell out for Powered Breakdown and maybe Barrel Extension.

[Socinus]

You might also see if you can convince your GM to allow you to fire it from a tripod or something like that. The gauss rifle makes a great sniper rifle, if you're willing to shell out for Powered Breakdown and maybe Barrel Extension.

Why would you want to do that?

A Barrett does the exact same damage, has the same AP, has a longer range (even without a barrel extension), costs 4,000 more nuyen, requires specialized ammunition and power packs.

A Gauss rifle is cool, dont get me wrong, but it's kind of a bastard child when it comes to weapons in Shadowrun. It hits hard, but the Vigorous hits harder as well as having a better AP and the Barrett can be re-bored to carry High Power Rounds. It's got range but the Barrett is even longer and can still do more damage. The Gauss rifle requires specialized ammunition and power packs, it's distinctive, and illegal as hell.

I've had character use them in throw-away games; they're cool but they serve flavor more than function.

[Xzylvador]

^ You're forgetting that they halve armor before applying the -4.
Your sniper rifle will have a pretty hard time firing through a armored vehicle or super-armored troll/cyborg, 8P, -4AP base, -4AP APDS plus a net hit or 4, let's give you 20 damage. Vehicles with over 20 armor won't take a scratch. (Anything less gets turned to stun which doesn't affect vehicles.)
Take the Gauss Rifle's 9P + 4 hits = 13 damage, half AP - 4. Vehicle needs at least 36 armor to be invulnerable.


Don't have the book at hand right now, but Vigourous is the quickfiring autoburst for +14DV, right? Problem is that that extra DV isn't added to determine if it pierces the armor.

[UmaroVI]

Also, Assault Cannons and Sniper Rifles have the same extreme range, which as a sniper is all you really care about. And as mentioned, the -half -4 AP means that the Gauss is incredibly good at taking down hard targets.

[Mäx]

Yeah the gauss rifle is definedly the ultimate man portable snipers weapon.

[Socinus]

^ You're forgetting that they halve armor before applying the -4.

I only see that notation on the vehicle gauss cannons, not on the man portable one.

Don't have the book at hand right now, but Vigourous is the quickfiring autoburst for +14DV, right? Problem is that that extra DV isn't added to determine if it pierces the armor.

Vigorous is SS, 10P, AP-5.

[UmaroVI]

Check the Arsenal errata.

[Socinus]

Check the Arsenal errata.

Ah.

That's pretty awesome but I'm still not entirely sold on the gauss rifle.

A Barrett firing AV rounds gets -9AP to vehicles. So if you have a vehicle armor of 20, the gauss rifle brings it down to 10 and the Barrett, with no special mods, brings it down to 11.

It's a little better, but I think the Barrett's ability to fit different types of ammunition, longer range, better availability, cheaper price, and easier to get ammunition make it better at sniping than the gauss rifle.

[JoeNapalm]

You all do realize, of course, that now I have to find a way to mod it to be concealable? 

"C'mon in! Ol' Painless is waiting!"

(Oh, sure...laugh, if you want...but I've already got an AR with the Conceal rating of a Hold Out Pistol.)


-Jn-
City of Brass Expatriate

[JoeNapalm]

Check the Arsenal errata.

Ah.

That's pretty awesome but I'm still not entirely sold on the gauss rifle.

A Barrett firing AV rounds gets -9AP to vehicles. So if you have a vehicle armor of 20, the gauss rifle brings it down to 10 and the Barrett, with no special mods, brings it down to 11.

It's a little better, but I think the Barrett's ability to fit different types of ammunition, longer range, better availability, cheaper price, and easier to get ammunition make it better at sniping than the gauss rifle.

Armor 20 vs a Guass Rifle is 6, not 10.

(20 / 2) - 4 = 6

And if I recall, the Barrett only gets that AV -9 vs vehicles. Gauss Rifles get it vs vehicles and people.

Did someone order a fine, red mist?

-Jn-
Ifriti Sophist

[Mäx]

longer range

AS have been said multiple times in the thread allready, sniper rifles and assault cannons have exactly the same max range.
Also barrets AP against vehicles when using AV ammo is -10[-4+(-6)]

Gauss Rifles get it vs vehicles and people.

And most importantly against spirits

[Socinus]

Alright, I see your point.

I think you'd have a hard time getting it past a GM, but I do see your point.

[Kontact]

It's not a GM decision unless they want to change the rules.  As it is, the rule is plainly stated in the errata. 

p. 30  Ares Thunderstruck Gauss Rifle
  Add the following sentence to the end of the weapon de-
scription: “Halve all armor but smart armor against the gauss
rifle (before applying the AP modifier)”.

I could swear I remember the Barret having an extended extreme range of 2500m... I guess not though.