Hi All,

I'm running my second ever EOTE session soon and I'm trying to get my head around the rules again (its been a while!) One thing that struck me while creating my next session is that long range weapons, i.e Sniper Rifles etc.. Don't seem to have any disadvantage for close range combat. Is that correct?

The way I understand it is that weapon ranges in the weapon description simply state the maximum range possible. Naturally range also increases difficulty. But does that mean that a pistol is just as easy to shoot at close range as a sniper rifle?

Yes, they are both just as easy to use at closer ranges, until you get into engaged. And having used various arms I can say that it isn't unreasonable. The environment plays more havoc with the long barrel when it tight quarters and such, but out in the open a rifle can be brought to bear pretty quickly.

If the 2 meter long marksmen barrel being just as good as a shortened barrel pistol indoors bothers you, then I'd suggest using setback dice for longer weapons being used in tight areas. I'd think it would be hard(ish) to maneuver around tight starship corridors with anything longer than a blaster rifle/carbine. A setback die on any turn the character moves too much, or needs to attack threats on either side of them, would be a way to show how much harder it is to use these long weapons indoors.

Also remember the Engaged range band is actually pretty big. It's the bursting radius of a grenade, so not merely the "adjacent" distance we tend to think of in relation to fist fighting. It's likely a lot of fights in the Edge side of things will involve the engaged band when the guy you're trying to cut a deal with decides you aren't worth the trouble.

A long barreled weapon has other drawbacks to consider. Cumbersome. Unable to be concealed easily. Encumbrance. Higher difficulty once engaged.

Expendables

They use huge weapons/small weapons/random things near their hands to fight.

If there is any question of how combat works in this system or how it makes sense, watch those movies. Pretty much the same level of "barely" realism.

Engaged is described as being within reach of melee weapons.

Short is beyond this.

With realworld training and experience in such things I have no problem with a sniper rifle having a penalty to accuracy at Engaged, while NOT having a penalty at Short. Note I said to "accuracy". Once that target is beyond the reach of your barrel, there is no penalty to accuracy. The Engaged penalty (imho) is trying to slip your big weapon off of your shoulder just to be able to get the barrel on target since it would otherwise stick beyond him. It's also the problem of the enemy being able to knock said weapon away easily - that long barrel is in reach.

If you were going for more realism I wouldn't mess with accuracy at different ranges. It's good as is. What I would do is offer some advantage/disadvantage for time to get on target, not the accuracy. As in, you can pull a pistol up and acquire a sight-target picture pretty quickly. Doing the same with a sniper rifle is much slower. Perhaps give your very big weapons (sniper rifle, repeating blasters) Prepare 1 (must expend 1 Maneuver before you can take a shot). I personally wouldn't do this, but it does have some justification in reality.

Only if your engaged I believe there is a different difficulty.