Re: Out of Ammo, broken weapons in FMA

Adrian Johnson wrote:
> 
> So - we're up to double one's on the shooting rolls produces a
stoppage of
> some kind.  It could be unintentional out of ammo, it could be a jam,
it
> could be another kind of malfunction.  To resolve this, the character
must
> take a task check as per normal, and requires one action.
> 
> No one is immune to these effects, but better troops are a) less
likely to
> suffer from it in the first place, and b) more likely to resolve the
> situation immediately if it does occur - and these differences are
> inherently built into the system.  No extra mechanic required.
> 
> This keeps things simple, requires no extra record keeping.  Maybe a
"jam"
> chit or equiv. placed by the figure until it is cleared.  And adds the
> potential for the "unknown" or "surprise".
> 
> I know Tom doesn't like the idea of the randomness involved in running
out
> of ammo by mistake, but if we say that this mechanism doesn't just
involve
> running out of ammo in the current magazine, but also potential jams
and
> other malfunctions (which are indeed more surprising, if not random
events)
> - maybe this will be less disturbing.
> 
> Thoughts, anyone?

Even the best run into ammo or weapons difficulties.

In Aliens, Drake drops the Smartgun either due to running out of ammo or
a 
weapons malfunction and uses his secondary weapon.

In Predator, Mac burns all the mini-gun ammo hosing the jungle down.  It
would 
have been very useful later in the movie, but I wouldn't want to be the
guy
carrying the thing.  Can you say Predator bait?

My thoughts:  A double '1' earns a 'Weapon down' chit or something like
it.
A task check is made to repair or reload the weapon.  A '1' on the task 
check breaks the weapon for the duration of the game.  A failed attempt
keeps
the chit on the board and a success removes the chit.  This simulates
either
a broken weapon, out of ammo, or a fumbled reload, in one simple
mechanic.

Jon