This attachment can be applied to any ranged heavy weapon and the base modifier removes a setback from the targets movement or from the Guarded Stance maneuver. Doesn't Guarded Stance only apply to melee attacks?

3 minutes ago, Lukey84 said:

This attachment can be applied to any ranged heavy weapon and the base modifier removes a setback from the targets movement or from the Guarded Stance maneuver. Doesn't Guarded Stance only apply to melee attacks?

No. Guarded Stance imposes one Setback to any attacks made against you. However, it also grants you a +1 you your melee defense on top of that as well.

I just checked the rule book on page 201 -

"A character can take a maneuver to assume a guarded stance, helping him defend against melee attacks. A character who performs this maneuver adds 1 Setback to any combat checks he makes until the end of his next turn. However, he also gains melee defense 1 until the end of his next turn."

I think the attachment is supposed to remove the setback die from the wielder's use of Guarded Stance - not the target's.

2 minutes ago, Krieger22 said:

I think the attachment is supposed to remove the setback die from the wielder's use of Guarded Stance - not the target's.

So... it compensates for you trying not to get hit in melee while using a rifle? That seems 99% pointless as the rifle guy is far better off not bothering with Guarded Stance and instead spending that maneuver to just back up before shooting the fool swinging a stick at him.

But even if the mechanics work out, that still makes very little sense. Compensating for the motion of the target is what I expect from this piece of gear, not some kind of self-stabilization.