Most lethal ballistic firearms (methodology)

  In this post I will summarize the methodology I used to obtain the results (the subject of the next post, feel free to skip ahead if the details don't interest you).  The results will likely surprise you.

  As usual, the Arsenal supplement is necessary for this post to be useful.  War! is also helpful for some options, but is not required.

  Simply comparing damage codes would be too obvious.  I am going to delve deeper into the topic by exploring range modifiers, firing modes, armour piercing, modifications, accessories, reload interval, ammunition, etceteras.

  For purposes of calculating probable damage value,  -1 dice pool modifier is synonymous with -1/3 damage value (DV).  This is because each die in a roll has a 1 in 3 chance of garnering a hit, and each hit increases the modified DV by 1.  Therefore -3 dice equals -1 DV, or -1 die equal -1/3 DV.  Similarly, 1 threshold modifier is the same as -3 dice pool modifier, which is again equal to -1 DV.

  Note: Muzzle load and breach load weapons were not included in my results.  A cursory comparison showed that they faired extremely poorly as a result of their poor reload interval.

  Ranges

  I will categorize weapons based on their range category, not their class.  This eliminates a lot of messy math to normalize the damage values based on range modifiers.

  Firing mode

  See my previous post for details.  In summary, one long and one short burst (full auto) or two long burst (high velocity) cause the greatest damage.

  I will use the recoil adjusted values, so recoil compensation will count as a positive modifier.

  Modifications

  Which modifications and accessories (and ammunition) to choose is a convoluted and intertwined subject which depends on a number of factors.  For the most part, the modifications listed below are in order of what will yield the most damaging, but it is not nearly as simple as checking off a list.

  Recall that restrictions disallow certain modifications, most of which are related in the notes.

Modification	Damage Value / Slots	Notes
Firing selection change	Single shot: Power / 4 + 1.0833 Semi auto:  1.0833 Burst fire: 2.0	Fully automatic. Non high velocity only.
Extended clip (large drum)	Varies	SMG, assault rifle and battle rifle, low ammo, clip reload only.
Extended clip	Varies	Clip reload only.
High velocity	Burst fire: 1.055 Full auto: 1.33	Fully automatic included. SMG, assault rifle and battle rifle only.
High-power chambering	Varies	Incompatible with high velocity.
Personalized grip	0.33
Under barrel weight (auto adjusting)	0.25	SMGs only.
Under barrel weight	0.16	Light Pistol to SMG only.
Barrel extension	0.10

  Note that there does not seem to be a benefit to converting a weapon to burst fire, as that functionality is available in full auto weapons and the cost (in modification slots) is the same.

  Barrel extension reduces the threshold in 10% of cases, and can be considered equivalent to 0.1 DV.

  Accessories

  Barrel Mount

  For all (except Holdout) weapons, I recommend a gas vent 3.

  If modification slots are scarce in your chosen weapon, and stealth isn't as important (preposterous!), you may wish to use a gas vent modification, and a silencer/sound suppressor accessory instead of the other way around.

  Gas vent 3 is worth 1 DV.

  Top Mount

  This was (in part) the subject of my previous post.  In short, for smaller ammo capacity clip weapons, smartgun is better.  Otherwise laser sight (with tracer rounds) is better.

  Under Barrel and "Butt" Mounts

  Your choice of under barrel accessories is limited by the class of weapon and the recoil compensation restrictions from Arsenal page 148.

  While the rules don't refer to a "butt" mount, there does seem to be one implied by several accessories.  These are only restricted by the recoil compensation rules.

  To summarize, the recoil compensation from the gas vent 3, under barrel and butt mount accessories is totaled, and then divided by 3 to calculate it's probably damage value bonus.

Class	Under Barrel Accessory	"Butt" Accessory	Total Recoil Compensation*	Damage Value*
Holdout pistol	-	Folding stock	1	0.33
Light pistol	-	Folding stock	4	1.33
Heavy pistol	-	Folding stock	4	1.33
Machine pistol	-	Folding stock	4	1.33
SMG	Fore grip	Folding stock	5	1.67
Assault/Battle Rifle	Gyro stabilization	Shock pad	10	3.33
Shotgun	Gyro stabilization	Shock pad	10	3.33
Sporting Rifle	Gyro stabilization	Shock pad	10	3.33
Sniper Rifle	Gyro stabilization	Shock pad	10	3.33
LMG	Gyro stabilization	Shock pad	10	3.33
MMG	Gyro stabilization	Shock pad	10	3.33
HMG	Gyro stabilization	Shock pad	10	3.33
Assault Cannon	Gyro stabilization	Shock pad	10	3.33

* Includes gas vent 3.

  Reload Interval

  This reflects the time spent reloading the weapon instead of firing it.  I calculate it as a multiplier of the damage.  See my previous post for details.

  Pre-filled belt with capacity 100 for all belt feed and speed loader are assumed for all cylinder firearms.

  Armour Piercing

  Each point of armour piercing is worth 0.33 DV.

  While it can be argued that armour piercing is not always applicable as a modifier, I know I don't leave the house without my armour underwear, and I expect anyone that I have cause to shoot at does the same.  For this reason, and to simplify things, I will always include it at full value.

  Recoil

  Likewise, uncompensated recoil counts at a rate of 0.33 DV (0.67 DV for heavy weapons, shotguns, etceteras).

  Ammunition

  Impact armour based ammunition was given a (virtual) -1 armour piercing bonus, as per this previous post.

  All weapons marked as Flechette only remained Flechette.  Assault cannons were compared using either AV assault cannon rounds, or high-power rounds.

  Stick-n-Shock was used for weapons with Power < 5.

  Armour-piercing flechette was compared to high-power rounds for other weapons.

  Other modifiers

  Other modifiers are typically environmental and beyond the scope of these computations.  Please leave a comment if you think I missed something.

  Execution

  Instead of attempting to calculate all the combinations of the above by hand, I wrote a small program to do it for me.  The methodology used in the program is more exhaustive (and therefore more accurate) than that laid out here, but the all the steps are essentially the same.