So I was running Enter the Unknown and the party was getting back to their ship after the trouble with the Empire had started. I decided to as basically a boss for the adventure, since they decided to flee, to have an Elite Scout Trooper waiting for them alone in their ship waiting to ambush them.

The trooper had lowered loading ramp of their ship and way laying down prone at the top of the ramp pointing his rifle out at them as they approached. No one spotted him.

First shot that gets fired, BAM, 3 successes. The gadgeteer went from full health (12 wounds) down to 1 remaining wound point after the first shot with Pierce 2, Jury Rigged Armor Clothing and all.

That one sniper with 1 rank in Ranged Heavy and 3 Agility was able to pin down the whole party for 5 combat rounds. They had a tense moment with it and they had fun figuring out how to deal with him.

It sure is! I was watching episode IV this weekend and noted that everyone that was shot with one went down in one shot, without fail.

That EotE for ya. None of this namby pamby piles of HP absorbing 8 hits from a +12 bow of sharpshooting hooey. If a high power sniper rifle hits you, you're gonna be hurting.

That EotE for ya. None of this namby pamby piles of HP absorbing 8 hits from a +12 bow of sharpshooting hooey. If a high power sniper rifle hits you, you're gonna be hurting.

You've obviously not seen characters walking around with Soak of 8+ yet. It can happen without too much effort. At the same time, experienced PCs can easily deal crazy amounts of damage.

Yeah, combat in this game is dangerous, particularly when weapons that use the Ranged (Heavy) skill get involved.

Of course, the E-11s is balanced by the Slow-Fire quality, which means that while each shot can be a doozy, the shooter only gets to fire every other round. That alone can be a deciding factor, particularly if one of the shooter's opponents is an equally good shot and has a regular blaster rifle; it might not be as much damage per shot, but the fact he gets two shoots to the E-11s' user's one can quickly change how the fight turns out.

Yeah, combat in this game is dangerous, particularly when weapons that use the Ranged (Heavy) skill get involved.

Of course, the E-11s is balanced by the Slow-Fire quality, which means that while each shot can be a doozy, the shooter only gets to fire every other round. That alone can be a deciding factor, particularly if one of the shooter's opponents is an equally good shot and has a regular blaster rifle; it might not be as much damage per shot, but the fact he gets two shoots to the E-11s' user's one can quickly change how the fight turns out.

And in the world of the absurd, that sniper could have two of these rifles and switch back and forth each round. If he has Quick Draw it doesn't even use a maneuver. Because of Encumbrance, I don't recommend this if the sniper needs to be mobile.

Yeah, combat in this game is dangerous, particularly when weapons that use the Ranged (Heavy) skill get involved.

Of course, the E-11s is balanced by the Slow-Fire quality, which means that while each shot can be a doozy, the shooter only gets to fire every other round. That alone can be a deciding factor, particularly if one of the shooter's opponents is an equally good shot and has a regular blaster rifle; it might not be as much damage per shot, but the fact he gets two shoots to the E-11s' user's one can quickly change how the fight turns out.

And in the world of the absurd, that sniper could have two of these rifles and switch back and forth each round. If he has Quick Draw it doesn't even use a maneuver. Because of Encumbrance, I don't recommend this if the sniper needs to be mobile.

I also don't suggest in the fear of drawing the wrath of a GM that takes dim view of such cheesy tactics.

"Oh look, there's a combat airspeeder with a pair of heavy blaster cannons that's got your position..."

Or if you're the GM, drawing the ire of players who can be very inventive in ways to derail the encounter/adventure. Players can be such an infuriating yet amusingly unpredictable set of individuals.

Well, I'm already of the opinion that a speeder bike with an auto-blaster in the hands of a Driver is the most overpowered combat character you can make early in the game, but that's because the interface between character scale and planetary scale is handled like crap.

Well, I'm already of the opinion that a speeder bike with an auto-blaster in the hands of a Driver is the most overpowered combat character you can make early in the game, but that's because the interface between character scale and planetary scale is handled like crap.

What happens when the action goes inside?

Well, I'm already of the opinion that a speeder bike with an auto-blaster in the hands of a Driver is the most overpowered combat character you can make early in the game, but that's because the interface between character scale and planetary scale is handled like crap.

What happens when the action goes inside?

You blow holes in the walls!

I didn't say if was best in all situations, but outdoors no one should ever be fighting in character scale if they can help it.

Well, I'm already of the opinion that a speeder bike with an auto-blaster in the hands of a Driver is the most overpowered combat character you can make early in the game, but that's because the interface between character scale and planetary scale is handled like crap.

What happens when the action goes inside?

You blow holes in the walls!

I didn't say if was best in all situations, but outdoors no one should ever be fighting in character scale if they can help it.

Tell that to the Wookie with a custom vibroaxe with crit 1!

Well, I'm already of the opinion that a speeder bike with an auto-blaster in the hands of a Driver is the most overpowered combat character you can make early in the game, but that's because the interface between character scale and planetary scale is handled like crap.

What happens when the action goes inside?

You blow holes in the walls!

I didn't say if was best in all situations, but outdoors no one should ever be fighting in character scale if they can help it.

Tell that to the Wookie with a custom vibroaxe with crit 1!

The Driver can engage from beyond character scale extreme range with no loss of accuracy. One hit and the Wookiee drops. Don't ever get into open combat on foot if even light (Silhouette 2) vehicles are about or you'll find your toughest character is tissue paper.

Good GM gimmick to put the fear of god in at times, but would make every outdoor conflict situation predictable and boring if that was always the norm for outdoor combat.

Good GM gimmick to put the fear of god in at times, but would make every outdoor conflict situation predictable and boring if that was always the norm for outdoor combat.

But it also highlights that this game needs some man-portable weapons that can actually hurt a strafing vehicle. Sadly, the missile tube barely does enough damage to shoot down a swoop. If the strafing baddie has something as inexpensive as a T-16 with an Auto-Blaster (only 10,500 credits), you're as screwed as a womp rat in a canyon.

Players can be such an infuriating yet amusingly unpredictable set of individuals.

Heh. I am reminded of our last session.

The GM had set up this elaborate "boss fight" encounter on a planet, against his tough mercenary captain and his gang of soldiers. But instead of confronting the mercs directly, we stole their Firespray, bombed the everliving daylights out of them, shot up their transport, and then went "hey, we now control the only two ships off this planet. Hand over the hostages and we might be willing to negotiate."

I think we made a Nemesis.

Afterwards, the GM was heard muttering "I always underestimate your dedication to avoid a fair fight."

I'm not sure why he was really surprised that we came up with a "creative" (or imho obvious) solution to being badly outgunned. None of the characters are particular combat-savvy. We're a politico, a trader, a thief, and a mercenary (who's only packing a blaster pistol), so he really should have seen it coming. Still, it was a fun session.

(For the record, since we're not total jerks, we did leave the mercs a ship so they could get off the planet-full-of-carnivorous-vegetation)

The Driver can engage from beyond character scale extreme range with no loss of accuracy. One hit and the Wookiee drops. Don't ever get into open combat on foot if even light (Silhouette 2) vehicles are about or you'll find your toughest character is tissue paper.

I'm the GM, don't need to tell me Now, how I work that into a story everyone enjoys....

Good GM gimmick to put the fear of god in at times, but would make every outdoor conflict situation predictable and boring if that was always the norm for outdoor combat.

But it also highlights that this game needs some man-portable weapons that can actually hurt a strafing vehicle.

I completely agree.

Light repeating blaster is man-portable....for a strong man at least. If you spend a little time with the modifications you can make it a useable weapon against vehicles. But in the case of a driver on a speeder bike, you don't need to take down the bike, you just need to take down the driver - much more squishy.

The trooper had lowered loading ramp of their ship and way laying down prone at the top of the ramp pointing his rifle out at them as they approached. No one spotted him.

First shot that gets fired, BAM, 3 successes. The gadgeteer went from full health (12 wounds) down to 1 remaining wound point after the first shot with Pierce 2, Jury Rigged Armor Clothing and all.

This is perfect timing, I'm about to bring the Imperials down in BtR. My son's explorer probably wants one of these, this will be a nice way to "give" it to him ... if he can take it ... mwaaahahahaha!

Light repeating blaster is man-portable....for a strong man at least. If you spend a little time with the modifications you can make it a useable weapon against vehicles. But in the case of a driver on a speeder bike, you don't need to take down the bike, you just need to take down the driver - much more squishy.

It's just completely unbelievable that a civilian air/landspeeder is not threatened by an E-WEB, let alone a man-carried RPG/missile launcher.

It's just completely unbelievable that a civilian air/landspeeder is not threatened by an E-WEB, let alone a man-carried RPG/missile launcher.

I don't see why they wouldn't be - you just don't see a lot of guys carrying those around. I guess the same could be said for the LRB but it's at least a one-man operation.

By the rules, the speeder itself is not threatened, the passengers are. Take a look at what a machine gun can do to a car, or what an RPG can do even to an APC. A missile should do more than just smudge an air speeder. It should potentially explode it.

By the rules, the speeder itself is not threatened, the passengers are.

Can you point me to the page for this? I seem to have missed it.

Of course common sense itself dictates this is true, but I just don't see people walking around downtown Coruscant with an RPG.

Light repeating blaster is man-portable....for a strong man at least. If you spend a little time with the modifications you can make it a useable weapon against vehicles. But in the case of a driver on a speeder bike, you don't need to take down the bike, you just need to take down the driver - much more squishy.

It's just completely unbelievable that a civilian air/landspeeder is not threatened by an E-WEB, let alone a man-carried RPG/missile launcher.

How do you figure?

Rolling it out a few times I end up with a repeating blaster HTing the average civilian speeder in around 4-5 hits, and the Missile tube in 3ish... It's no instant kill I grant you, but anything the players might be on the receiving end of should probably have some wiggle room.

3 hits for a missile is ridiculous. The player wiggle room is dodging the missile and/or having to make a crash landing when one of their turbofans gets hit, not necessarily coming apart in the air. But the threat of coming apart in the air has to be real.

I think a repeating blaster fragging a speeder after a few hits is fine. I wouldn't expect that to one-shot it but it should be able to lay down a field of fire that eliminates the speeder. Maybe 1-2 actions with autofire.