Recoil/Heft question

[fenriswolf]

I have a quick question that I hope someone can clear up. If a character's strength DM is equal to the recoil or heft rating of a weapon, do they incur an initiative penalty on the following round? The rules state that if their strength DM is less than the weapon then they receive a penalty and if their DM is more, then they do not. Just wondering what happens if it is equal.

 

[The Chef]

i would say equal or greater negates the penalty

 

[fenriswolf]

That was going to be my ruling as well. I guess the book could have been a little bit clearer by using "equal to or greater."

 

[Sevya]

That's how I've always run it. The penalty is equal to the difference, so if they're equal the penalty is 0.

Sevya

 

[Stainless]

The wording, as you've said, is if "less that", as opposed to "less than or equal to". Thus, if the Str DM is the same or higher than recoil/heft, there is no penalty.

But remember, if shooting a burst, the recoil increases by 1 and if shooting full auto, the recoil is increased by half the auto value.