4e Mechanics: Multi-barrel, multi-mount, and high-ROF weapons

[Tegyrius]

Starting a new thread because I have an overdeveloped drive for taxonomy and the existing 4e mechanics thread is becoming rules burgoo.

I started thinking about this a few months ago when I threw a ZSU-23-4 at my PCs. A single 2A7 23mm autocannon has a cyclic rate in excess of 800 rpm. By the 4e conversion rules, that would set it to ROF 6. So far, so good... but adding three more firing in unison, for a nominal ROF upwards of 3,000 rpm, has no additional effect. My hand-wave at the time was to say that the marauders in possession of the Shilka were only firing one of the guns to conserve ammo, but the problem lingered in my head.

The same issue exists for dual and quad MG mounts and rotary cannons. Not that I intend to give my PCs a minigun, but gun trucks with quad-.50s or ZU-23-2s are possible encounters... and I do have an odd appreciation for the LAV-PIVAD.

Urban Operations does feature a [spoiler if you're new to T2k] with a YakB 12.7mm rotary MG. Free League's solution for a gun with a 4,000 to 5,000 rpm cyclic rate was to model it as ROF 8. I have to admit that I find this rather unsatisfying. Two more ammo dice just don't seem to do the concept justice.

Any thoughts?

- C.