The fire selector should cut ammo capacity for each clip by 1/2 or 1/3 depending if it has 1 or 2 extra clips.

I have never been fond of the 3 full clips on one gun idea.
 

I know it's RAW, but the physics of the whole thing hurts my brain.  And clips going through the middle of the gun where whatever the hell triggers bolts to ignight are, would that not interrupt the action some how? 

One on each side and underneath I might be able to suspend my disbelief, but something is silly about the three clip thing, especially if they go through the weapon.

Oh, and the guy on page 85 has the exact same buttons as the other marines, but doens't have bulky crap sticking out of his gun, so what does that mean?

HappyDaze said:

Maybe it's a take on staggered magazines? Where the 1 on one side and the 1 on the other feed alternatively with each shot, and same with the 2-2?

And like ItsUncertainWho suggested, 1/2 or 1/3 clip size makes sense for the addon magazines, so you have one big sickle shaped magazine, then two smaller box mags that are split in half on either side of the gun?

Hiromoon said:

So effectively 5 magazines that need changing when you run out? That would make reloading a pain in the ass...

No kidding.

Maybe apply half action to change out a short mag from the fire selector? So if they run empty on either of their alternative ammunition loads they can just pop it out and slap a new one in?

I am slightly surprised at how long it takes to actually reload in this game. A full action? Are we saving the empty magazines?

 I am slightly surprised at how long it takes to actually reload in this game. A full action? Are we saving the empty magazines?

Possibly. However, we're also speaking the proper litanies to appease the machine spirit. Managing that within six seconds is a feat unto itself.

Hiromoon said:

Would you want to upset the machine spirit of your bolter by mistreating one of its companions?

As a side note, I meant all ammo when referring to the Fire Selector. 

Example:

Standard Clip = 30

w/ Fire Selector(2 clips) = 15/15

w/ Fire Selector(3 clips) = 10/10/10

ItsUncertainWho said:

I see, well, I don't know. I mean, it doesn't fit with the figures with the full sized magazine on the bottom...

You can go either way. I just prefer splitting all the ammo to account for weight. Three full clips is a lot of weight to be hanging off of a weapon. although having the primary a full clip and the secondary clips less isn't that bad.

Example:

Standard Clip = 30

w/ Fire Selector(2 clips) = 30/15

w/ Fire Selector(3 clips) = 30/10/10

ItsUncertainWho said:

Why not just go with that then? One clip would be a 10, the main one would be 30, and a second one would be 10...

Heck, given how the bolters look, 5 bolts on either side in their demi-magazines....

HappyDaze said:

Right.  I'd be ok with a fire selector maybe adding 1 clip, or adding up to 2 smaller clips (say 8-10 rounds max).  Those small side boxes couldn't conceivably hold more than about 4 rounds, based on round size.  If they extend into the weapon body too much, they would block the barrel.

Interestingly, in Inquisitor where the Deathwatch and the fire selector first appeared, they mention that Brother Artemis carries 2 bolt gun reloads and five rounds each of special ammunition. I always assumed that the smaller mags just carried 5 rounds each; it seemed to make mores sense than full mags, especially when looking at the model.

DW

Maybe 2 10-round magazines instead of 4 5-round magazines in addition to the main one?

Hiromoon said:

The more I look at the various artwork, the more I'm thinking those aren't the actual magazines.  After all, they're numbered in most of the pictures.  I think those might be "plugs" of some sort to keep the receivers and ejection ports clean.  Maybe.

-=Brother Praetus=-