Quick question.  Let me assume for a moment that I’ve got a PC with who’s attacking a goon.  Said goon has a DR to be hit of 15.  If the PC makes a single attack, they roll the dice, add the skills & other modifiers, and if they get at least 15 then they’ve hit the target.

However, if they decide instead to make multiple attacks (within the limits of the number of attacks for that weapon and whether they’re performing a full or half attack for that segment), they roll the dice, add the skills etc, and again, if they get the same 15 they hit the target again (for the first attack at least).

Exertion comes into effect for the subsequent attacks, but it seems to me that it’s really a no brainer to do as many attacks as you can most of the time.  You’ll have the same chance of hitting the target the first time as if you make a single attack, plus you have the opportunity to hit it multiple times afterward.  I can’t really see a reason why it wouldn’t be more advantageous to do multiple attacks for an attack over a single attack.  Or am I missing something critical?

It only really matters when you have a limited supply. Like if you are shooting a gun for example. If you can only hit them once or twice, why always use your full 5 shots on semi-automatic? You might as well go all out for melee.

That was pretty much the impression I got.  Thanks for the confirmation!

AlokikolA - 27 July 2010 10:00 PM

It only really matters when you have a limited supply. Like if you are shooting a gun for example. If you can only hit them once or twice, why always use your full 5 shots on semi-automatic? You might as well go all out for melee.

A whole bunch of that. 

Generally starting (around 500 CDP) characters will only have the dice pool to connect with a couple of shots.  My players generally calculate their number of shots as the average of their dice pool plus one.  So if the have a DR of 25 to hit and 3d6 remaining in the cycle with an SPL of 15 they would usually choose to fire two shots as their average result on that dice pool would be a 25 and they could get lucky with a high roll.

Yes, if you are standing still, swing your melee weapon the max number of attacks
If you are moving, remember you can move 1/2 your distance based on stance, and then attack 1/2 your max attacks.

For ranged, if standing still, then go as high as max IF you can realistically hit all of those times on a decent roll.
If you are moving, might as well only pop off a single shot due to the movement penalties, unless you have a real good field/skill rank.

And of course, watch your ammo… especially if you use a rare caliber.