N18 Poll: Backup weapons

[JawRippa]

Narratively it makes sense for gangers to have back up guns or melee weapons, but are they really needed? Do you often get to a point in battle when your special or heavy guns run out and the battle hasn't been decided yet, so a sidearm can make a difference?

I want you to answer the question in the poll purely from "optimised" standpoint. If your group makes usage of tactic cards, and you are often targetted by a "Click!", imagine how you'd answer the same question if "Click!" or similar weapon jamming tactics were not used.

 

[JayTee]

I should clarify that I'm considering "short on cash" to be in gang creation, after which a reasonable backup weapon on one of the gang's heavy-hitters is one of my first purchases. We also have Reload as a Basic action, not Simple, so you only get 1 shot per turn to try and recover an out-of-ammo gun.

That said, the heaviest weapon I've started any gang with is the Cawdor heavy crossbow as I'm not a fan of Heavy weapons early-on.

I'd also note that often the backup weapon I choose is actually a Basic (And something a Special) weapon, it's rare I'll specifically choose a Pistol as backup as they lack range. If my Heavy stubber guy eats a Click! he's often too far back from the 'frontline' to waste a couple of turns running forward with a Pistol, I'd rather he can swap to a Lasgun and contribute at a better range.

 

[JawRippa]

I should clarify that I'm considering "short on cash" to be in gang creation, after which a reasonable backup weapon on one of the gang's heavy-hitters is one of my first purchases.

I'd say that "short on cash" applies for gang creation, since you need a fair number bodies at the start, so saving creds is a priority. I should have written "backup weapon" instead of "sidearm" now that I think about it

 

[TopsyKretts]

Sidearm makes me think of pistols. While in old Necromunda, I would often apply a back-up gun/weapon, which could be a basic weapon (auto/las gun) or some times a pistol.

 

[JawRippa]

I wonder if it is it possible for a mod to edit the poll's question to be about "back-up weapon" instead of a "sidearm"?

 

[Heart of Storm]

I never do.

In principle I know I should, not just for heavy/special weapons but also for the less reliable basic weapons (non enforcer boltguns im looking at you!)

But the reality is I rarely do, at the start I'd rather have more bodies - giving a better gun to a ganger who can shoot it every turn is more cost efficient then giving a weapon you'll ideally never use to an already expensive model.

 

[TopsyKretts]

The backup gun is sorely missed. I made one conversion in old Necromunda attaching a lasgun to a flamer, because flamer was particularly prone to running out of ammo.

That would never happen now

 

[Blackmonkey0]

Backup weapons are a luxury for later in a campaign, short range special/heavy weapons like flamers are the ones I’ve give an extra wpn once the creds are rolling in

 

[JawRippa]

The backup gun is sorely missed. I made one conversion in old Necromunda attaching a lasgun to a flamer, because flamer was particularly prone to running out of ammo.
That would never happen now

Weren't flamers as prone to running out of ammo as they are now? Or do you mean the fact that flamers are overpriced for what they do and are not popular?

 

[TopsyKretts]

It's a long time since I played older editions, but I think flamer had some special rule making it more prone to going out of ammo? Regardless, a backup gun was always useful because all (ranged) weapons effectively had scarce as an universal rule. Today, you can reload the flamer on a 5+ and continue shooting next activation.

 

[spafe]

I wonder if it is it possible for a mod to edit the poll's question to be about "back-up weapon" instead of a "sidearm"?

done

 

[Al_Weeks]

I'll caveat my answer that for special weapons the back up weapon at creation that I buy for my escher is often a stiletto knife (because my plasma/metla/chemthrower/flamer will be trying to get close for range/to hit bonuses anyway.

Pistols for then become a purchase after a game or two.

 

[almic85]

Over 6 different gangs in 6 different campaigns I have taken a total of 5 back up guns for heavy and special weapons and none of them have been at gang creation.

Often it’s simply a matter of having the credits to spare (a long rifle champion got a back up plasmagun) or to let my heavy weapons move and shoot (a heavy crossbow champion got an autogun because I couldn’t get access to suspensors at the trading post) rather than actually worrying about running out of ammo.

 

[Galtarr]

I'm not sure of question? I'm assuming it means during campaign? Mostly as I think I'm not alone in trying to get extra bodies at start. I'd rarely buy extra weapons at creation but will buy complimentary weapons throughout campaign. Generally buy secondary basic weapon for anything with scarce like plasma and needle rifles. If the fighters role is up close like a needle rifle or flamer then I might go sidearm or CC. Needle rifles are a classic for resorting to CC when out of ammo.

Why do you specify short of cash?

Also the answer is yes for Escher, No for Goliath who tend to switch to CC for latter stages of game.

 

[necrotix]

My Heavy Stubber Escher has a Lasgun backup, but then they're dirt cheap. Last game I played she did more work with the "backup" gun than the Heavy Stubber I'd taken her for. I'd say there's a lot of variables, not least of which is the House you're playing and therefore the basic/pistol options on offer.