Ok dudes and dudettes.

Answer me this, how does dual wielding work, is their a skill, a talent, a tree in a specialisation at all?

Only ask cause I can foresee one of my players going for this kind of approach when they have enough credits.

You add a Difficulty die to the roll. If you hit with the first weapon, you can spend two Advantages to trigger a hit with the second weapon.

If you are using 2 weapons that use 2 different skills, the difficulty is increased by 2.

Look in the Combat section under Two-Weapon Combat (pg 210-11).

It doesn't work like Dual Wielding does in other RPGs.

Look in the Combat section under Two-Weapon Combat (pg 210-11).

It doesn't work like Dual Wielding does in other RPGs.

Which is a good thing.

Since your question has been answered...the player is going to probably find they'll need a dice pool of YYY or YYGG before dual wielding pistols starts to pay off. If their main pistol has the Superior quality (gives a free advantage) they're going to be very effective. As an aside, if both pistols are Superior it doesn't stack, only the first is used to determine the outcome of the hit.

Since your question has been answered...the player is going to probably find they'll need a dice pool of YYY or YYGG before dual wielding pistols starts to pay off. If their main pistol has the Superior quality (gives a free advantage) they're going to be very effective. As an aside, if both pistols are Superior it doesn't stack, only the first is used to determine the outcome of the hit.

Now THAT is a useful post. Thanks.

Since your question has been answered...the player is going to probably find they'll need a dice pool of YYY or YYGG before dual wielding pistols starts to pay off. If their main pistol has the Superior quality (gives a free advantage) they're going to be very effective. As an aside, if both pistols are Superior it doesn't stack, only the first is used to determine the outcome of the hit.

Yup. Put some damage-dealing attachments on your secondary weapon and some accuracy-enhancing attachments on your primary one.

If you are using 2 weapons that use 2 different skills, the difficulty is increased by 2.

And you use the lower of the skill ranks and characteristics of the two skills.

My question is why would a pistol wielding player NOT dual wield? My understanding is you can choose to shoot with a single pistol, even when you have both in hand, so it's much more versatile. I guess the downside is you don't have a free hand to grab stuff?

Or am I mistaken and you HAVE to shoot with both and take the +1 difficulty every time?

You never have to use both, but you have to decide before each shot whether you're going to try or not. Reason to NOT is flavour: I've suggested it to a player with a Pilot...he's a good shot (YYY) but he just doesn't like the visual.

Bah I was hoping there was a mechanical reason not too, besides not having a free hand. Because then it basically ends up being the "best path" in terms of damage options for pistols.

I agree it doesn't fit for all characters (mine included), but it's hard to resist.

Not really the best path, certainly not all the time. That extra difficulty die makes it less likely to a) hit at all; b) get enough advantages to do something useful. Sometimes doing a critical is better. Also, carrying two pistols takes more Encumbrance, drawing two pistols takes more time, if a GM wanted to make an issue of it he could easily set it up so the player has to make choices.

But once the two pistols are out, it's easy to just shoot with one, but have the option to shoot both. Whereas there is no comparable versatility with one pistol. Seems like a houserule of not being able to Aim when two pistols are drawn would balance it out well enough, without getting (arguably) petty with draw and Encumbrance issues.

No house rule needed. The +1 difficulty, 2 Advantage requirement, inability to jury-rig the Advantage requirement, and lower damage rating of pistols (compared to rifles) more than balances the potential for an extra hit.

Seriously. Don't nerf your PCs further by taking away aim. That's just silliness.

You're mistaken, I have no problem with dual wielding on it's own.

My problem is that it's better to carry two pistols than one, because if you NEED to shoot both you can choose to do so, or you can just shoot one. The only mechanical downside is not having a hand free. There is no added versatility of opting for a single pistol.

So for characters like Han Solo having a single pistol is arguably the "weaker" path. I don't like forcing players to weaken themselves just for theme, I think the game system should provide worthwhile, different upgrade paths. And right now it seems like two pistols = the end game for pistol characters.

If you have a player who wants to stick to using 1 pistol, but feels like the option is lackluster, add some scenarios where that extra hand really makes a difference:

Shooting while driving a landspeeder.

Shooting while on a rickety, swaying bridge.

Shooting while heroically swinging like Tarzan on a vine .

Shooting while racing on a ronto.

Shooting predatory avians while climbing a cliff face.

Er, there is added versatility: Grenades, stims, having a free hand to use for spending advantage or maneuvers (e.g. using terminals to switch off the lights or something)...

So for characters like Han Solo having a single pistol is arguably the "weaker" path. I don't like forcing players to weaken themselves just for theme, I think the game system should provide worthwhile, different upgrade paths. And right now it seems like two pistols = the end game for pistol characters.

You're skipping the important note: Choosing to use two weapons increases the difficulty .

So for characters like Han Solo having a single pistol is arguably the "weaker" path. I don't like forcing players to weaken themselves just for theme, I think the game system should provide worthwhile, different upgrade paths. And right now it seems like two pistols = the end game for pistol characters.

You're skipping the important note: Choosing to use two weapons increases the difficulty .

Not quite, he's saying that a PC could always run around with 2 blasters in his hand to optimize his choices, even if most of the time he only shoots with one. Which does seem kind of hokey, but personally if a player wanted to do that I wouldn't care much. The other players would probably rib them..."Say, you ever gonna use that thing? Or is it just a fancy decoration?"

I have used 2 wpns since the beginning. My PC has a 4 Agl so it was a no brainer to use 2 blasters. Both of my blasters have BAM & Bantha eye's. In the beginning it wasn't very challenging because I always had 4 dice to use vs 2 (YYGG-Blue (Aim) v PP)

Now w/ all of the attachments, xp, and because I was rolling wrong, I roll...YYYY-Blue (Aim) vs PP-Blk (2 if armor)...Before I would add another Black die because both BAMs but now that I know it is only the 1st wpn that I have to calculate...THAT'S AWESOME! I can't wait to get my 5th Rank (Range Light)

In my group I am the "2nd Gun". Now for me, I am the Hotshot Pilot/Gunslinger. My guns do 8 pts ea. & 1 has Pierce 2 and the other Pierce 1. I'm the 2nd gun because our primary is a Droid w/ a Heavy Blaster that does on avg 12pts of Dmg. Max of 16 w/ all of his talents and such. I can avg 10pts but max of 16ish if everything goes off right.

Visually, if you play SWOR online? In the beginning of the Jedi opening there is a guy w/ a trench coat & hat w/ 2 blasters. That is me except my guy is Black, Bald, & wears Sunglasses.

For narrative purposes I do a lot of cover and shoot, and of course my famous "John Woo" maneuver. I jump from my cover area and in midair fire off 2 shots w/ my blaster then judo roll on the ground while my target explodes and I come up on a knee w/ a smile in a kick @$$ action pose then a Dove flies out from the Explosion. I usually do this when I know I can kill the guy in 1 hit.

Two Blasters RULES!!!

Not quite, he's saying that a PC could always run around with 2 blasters in his hand to optimize his choices, even if most of the time he only shoots with one. Which does seem kind of hokey, but personally if a player wanted to do that I wouldn't care much. The other players would probably rib them..."Say, you ever gonna use that thing? Or is it just a fancy decoration?"

Mine never did. Even when I did pull a pistol, it was only the one. Of course my skill was 2G, so tossing another Diff on there would have made the roll futile.

Not quite, he's saying that a PC could always run around with 2 blasters in his hand to optimize his choices, even if most of the time he only shoots with one. Which does seem kind of hokey, but personally if a player wanted to do that I wouldn't care much. The other players would probably rib them..."Say, you ever gonna use that thing? Or is it just a fancy decoration?"

Sure. A PC could.

Mine never did. Even when I did pull a pistol, it was only the one. Of course my skill was 2G, so tossing another Diff on there would have made the roll futile.

I know a PC doesn't have to, and thematically my character wouldn't want too (a Droid doctor). I'm just sad that the rules provide versatility for dual wielding, but not for intentionally single wielding. So like I said, the only REAL downside to dual wielding is not having a free hand, because you can still shoot 1 pistol exactly the same, but have the OPTION to shoot both (for increased difficulty). So like I said, versatility, and a better "end game" for pistols than sticking to one.

I know a PC doesn't have to, and thematically my character wouldn't want too (a Droid doctor). I'm just sad that the rules provide versatility for dual wielding, but not for intentionally single wielding. So like I said, the only REAL downside to dual wielding is not having a free hand, because you can still shoot 1 pistol exactly the same, but have the OPTION to shoot both (for increased difficulty). So like I said, versatility, and a better "end game" for pistols than sticking to one.

I don't understand, how is increasing the difficulty (and the added cost of 2 advantage just to activate the second hit) of a combat check not a REAL downside to two-weapon fighting?

I know a PC doesn't have to, and thematically my character wouldn't want too (a Droid doctor). I'm just sad that the rules provide versatility for dual wielding, but not for intentionally single wielding. So like I said, the only REAL downside to dual wielding is not having a free hand, because you can still shoot 1 pistol exactly the same, but have the OPTION to shoot both (for increased difficulty). So like I said, versatility, and a better "end game" for pistols than sticking to one.

I don't understand, how is increasing the difficulty (and the added cost of 2 advantage just to activate the second hit) of a combat check not a REAL downside to two-weapon fighting?

I must not be explaining it clearly. What I mean is when you dual wield, but CHOOSE to fire ONLY a single pistol, you aren't adding the additional difficulty die. So then you are basically firing the same as if you just had one pistol. But if you NEED to you can fire both weapons (at the +1 difficulty) with the chance to do more damage. You have no versatility when single wielding, and no chance to risk more damage for less accuracy.

So why would anyone choose a single pistol? Compared to dual wielding but only firing a single pistol (ie: more choice, more versatility). The only upside to a single pistol is having a hand free.