So this came up in a game. The WI-GL20 grenade launcher, a fine example of Rifts weaponry. Range 24/48/96, damage by grenade, rate of fire 3, magazine 40, minimum Str to use d10. Perfect gun for a grumpy combat cyborg.

The WI-GL20 comes with the 'Concentrated Burst' rule, which adds +2 to the Shooting roll, +4 to damage, a -4 to target evasion (ouch), and uses three shots.

My problem is that I don't see a downside to this rule. The launcher already has an ROF of 3, so it doesn't change the ammo expended. And there doesn't seem to be any penalty to trying to use it in conjunction with other abilities or gear (Targeting Eye).

'Cause with my Targeting Eye upgrade and this, I can basically spam grenades till the magazine runs dry. Even if using recoil rules, that's still pretty vicious.

You're reading that correctly.

The only downside is you're getting "technically" less bang for the individual grenade-buck. In that you're trading 2 Grenades for a guaranteed +4 damage (and +2 to hit) for each Action.

It's *very* powerful - but consider that Grenades do 3d6 in a medium blast template. It's not like you're going to be doing CQB with it (or maybe you can pull it off as a Combat Borg - that's so fucking metal(tm)!

I look at it like this: you're a fucking Combat Borg. Doing 3d6+4 x 3 per round <> 5d10+5 AP 25 from ONE attack of a Glitterboy. Sure you're dropping heavy hands - but those are individual shots. There's a LOT of stuff in Rifts that can take those kinds of shots on an individual level. There aren't many that can take that BoomGun.

You *should* be dangerous as fuck to all but the most insanely powerful creatures running around the Rifts world. And that's what makes Combat Borgs dangerous - because you're ON all the time. Glitterboys gotta get out of those suits at some point. While you are self-contained and high-impact killer *all* the time in all circumstances.

Sure you don't pack the individual punch of a Glitterboy or maybe even a Dragon. But they'd be fools to count you out of a fight at any given moment. Normal people should *fear* you for what you are. This is why Combat Borgs are highly regulated in the CS and its also why most that decommission out have most of their goodies removed.

Enjoy that WI-Gl20 and go to town. Don't kill your friends in the process.

After sleeping on it, maybe they mean that concentrated burst expends three rounds for every 'shot' (attack in ROF), which effectively triples ammo usage in exchange for the buffs. That would make more sense.

And yeah, combat borgs are amazingly dangerous. My guy routinely no-sells attacks that would badly hurt the rest of the party. That's Rifts for you

3d6? Man, last night the bad guys WISHED it was 3d6. I loaded my WI-GL20 with high-explosive and was going to town. 3d10+4, AP 4, and I was routinely aceing the attack rolls, adding another 1d6 damage.

Quote from: Ghostmaker on July 18, 2021, 07:29:31 AM
After sleeping on it, maybe they mean that concentrated burst expends three rounds for every 'shot' (attack in ROF), which effectively triples ammo usage in exchange for the buffs. That would make more sense.

And yeah, combat borgs are amazingly dangerous. My guy routinely no-sells attacks that would badly hurt the rest of the party. That's Rifts for you

3d6? Man, last night the bad guys WISHED it was 3d6. I loaded my WI-GL20 with high-explosive and was going to town. 3d10+4, AP 4, and I was routinely aceing the attack rolls, adding another 1d6 damage.

HAHAH! So you're doing it RIGHT. 

You are the poster-Borg. My guy, you are living the Combat Borg dream!

Quote from: tenbones on July 18, 2021, 06:03:33 PM

Quote from: Ghostmaker on July 18, 2021, 07:29:31 AM
After sleeping on it, maybe they mean that concentrated burst expends three rounds for every 'shot' (attack in ROF), which effectively triples ammo usage in exchange for the buffs. That would make more sense.

And yeah, combat borgs are amazingly dangerous. My guy routinely no-sells attacks that would badly hurt the rest of the party. That's Rifts for you

3d6? Man, last night the bad guys WISHED it was 3d6. I loaded my WI-GL20 with high-explosive and was going to town. 3d10+4, AP 4, and I was routinely aceing the attack rolls, adding another 1d6 damage.

HAHAH! So you're doing it RIGHT. 

You are the poster-Borg. My guy, you are living the Combat Borg dream!

Pretty much. Targeting Eye adds +2 to Shooting rolls, so effectively you only miss a standard ranged attack if you roll a one. At that point, pick up the biggest gun you can, and go nuts.