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Modern War - Gun Conversion is a firearms adaptation rulebook for use

with Zozer Games’ Modern War roleplaying game or the Cepheus Engine
RPG.

Author
Paul Elliott

12

Printed and Bound by Lulu Publishing 2020

Thanks to Ian Stead

Publisher: Zozer Games

Copyright © 2020 Zozer Games
Zozer Games is a trademark of Paul Elliott
Visit Zozer Games at www.paulelliottbooks.com
Find me on Facebook as Zozer Games

Cepheus Engine and Samardan Press are trademarks of Jason “Flynn” Kemp

Designation of Open Game Content

All of Modern War – Gun Conversion is Open Gaming Content.

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Any title of a product published by Zozer Games, including name ‘HOSTILE’, as well
as the trademarks ‘Cepheus Engine’ and ‘Zozer Games’, are designated as Product
Identity. References to companies, setting history, planets and worlds constitute
Product Identity.

Traveller
This Product is derived from the Traveller System Reference Document and other
Open Gaming Content made available by the Open Gaming License, and does not
contain closed content from products published by either Mongoose Publishing or
Far Future Enterprises. This Product is not affiliated with either Mongoose Publishing
or Far Future Enterprises, and it makes no claim to or challenge to any trademarks
held by either entity. The use of the Traveller System Reference Document does not
convey the endorsement of this Product by either Mongoose Publishing or Far Future
Enterprises as a product of either of their product lines.

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THE STAT BLOCK

Modern-day firearms information can be used to integrate that weapon
easily into the Modern War combat system. Here is the data for the
Brazilian FAMAE submachine gun:
FAMAE SAF [.40 S&W]
Dmg Range Base Auto UR Length Req.Str Wgt Mag Rds
Band Range (cm) (kg) Wgt
2D6+2 Medium 32 6 9+ 41/64 4/6/8 2.7 0.3 20
A widely exported Brazilian SMG, employed by police agencies and special forces
throughout South and Central America.

Reading the Firearm Data

This is what each of those categories mean:

Name and Calibre: The most common name is used here.

Dmg: The damage in six-sided dice that a weapon inflicts.
Range Band: The range band for the weapon where the difficulty to hit
is Average 8+; -2 if target is one range band further, -4 if the target is
two range bands further.
Base Range: An alternate base range for the weapon (see pg 128).
Auto: The Auto rating if the weapon is capable of automatic fire; ‘No’ is
single shot, ‘2’ or ‘3’ is burst only, ‘4’, ‘6’ or ‘8’ is full automatic.
Req. Str: The strength required to fire the gun, in the format: single
shot/burst/full auto. Not meeting this incurs a -1 DM to hit.
UR (Unreliability): Roll this value or over to avoid a malfunction.
Lgth: Weapon length in centimetres: stocks folded/extended
Wgt: Weight, unloaded, in kilogrammes.
Ammo Wgt: The weight of a single, loaded magazine or reload.
Rds: The capacity of a weapon’s standard magazine

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FINDING YOUR DATA

You may have access to books or magazines on firearms that include
the weapon that you are interested in. Failing that, Wikipedia tabulates
firearms data in a logical and systematic manner that provides nearly all
the information you need for conversion. Here is Wikipedia’s data on the
FAMAE:

Type Submachine gun

Place of origin Chile
Service history
Used by See Users
Production history
Designer FAMAE
Designed 1993
Manufacturer FAMAE
Produced 1993–present
Variants Mini-SAF
Specifications
Mass 2.7 kg (5.95 lb)
Length 640 mm (25.2 in) stock extended /
410 mm (16.1 in) stock folded
Barrel length 198 mm (7.8 in)

Cartridge 9×19mm Parabellum

.40 S&W
Action Blowback, closed bolt
Rate of fire 1,300 rounds/min
Effective firing range 150 m
Feed system 20- or 30-round detachable box
magazine
Sights Iron sights

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAMAE_SAF

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1 NAME & CALIBRE

The name is easy enough, but there are plenty of variations on some
firearms, such as the MP5 submachine gun or the FN SCAR, so be
careful. Likewise a number of firearms are offered in a range of calibres.
The FAMAE, for example, is offered in either 9mm or .40S&W. We
choose the slightly more powerful .40S&W calibre.

2 DAMAGE
The damage in six-sided dice that a weapon inflicts, which is based on
the weapon’s calibre. See the Calibre Table, below:

CALIBRE TABLE
Joules Calibres Power Damage
150-200 .22 Short (5.6x10.7mm), .22LR (5.6x15.6mm) 3 1D6+1
200-250 .32 ACP (7.65x17mm), 7×20mm Nambu, 8 x 27 4 1D6+2
mm R French
250-300 .380 ACP (9x17mm) 9mm Steyr (9x23mm), 5 1D6+3
7.62×38mmR, 7.63×25mm Mauser
300-350 9x19mm Para, 9×18mm Makarov, 7.62×25mm 5 2D6
Tokarev, 10.6×25mmR
350-400 .45 ACP (11.23x23mm), 0.455 (11.55×19.3mm), 6 2D6+1
.44 Russian (10.9x24mm)
400-800 .44 (10.9x33) .357 (9x33mm), 4.6x30mm, FN 7 2D6+2
5.7x28mm, 6.5x52mm, 9x39mm Subsonic,
.40S&W
800-2000 7.62x39mm Russian, 5.56x45mm NATO, 20 9 3D6
Gauge, LMG, 5.45×39mm, .303 (7.7x56mm)
2000-2800 7.92x57mm, 8x56mm, .30-06 (7.62x63mm), 10 3D6+1
.243 Winchester
2800-3500 7.62x51mm NATO, MMG, 7.65x53mm, 8x50mm, 12 3D6+3
7.62x54mm Russian, 7.5x54mm
3500-4500 12 Gauge, .300Mag (7.62x67mm) 13 4D6
4500-7000 .416 Rigby (10.57x73mm), 10 Gauge 14 4D6+1
7000-12000 7.92×94mm Patronen AP 15 4D6+2
12000- .50, HMG (12.7x99mm), Frag grenade, .55 Boys 20 5D6
22000 (13.9×99mm AP)
22000 - 14.5×114mm Russian AP 21 5D6+1
32000
22 5D6+2
20/25mm cannon 23 6D6

Our FAMAE is .40S&W, which equates to 2D6+2.

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3 BASE RANGE
We are going to calculate the Basr Range (in metres) first, before
establishing the Range Band. We can use the data from the first to
calculate the second. Wikipedia, or in books like the Smallarms Visual
Encylopedia, often quote a figure for the Max. Effective Range. When
divided by 4, we arrive at our Base Range. The FAMAE has a quoted
Effective Firing Range of 150m, dividing this by 4 we get 37.5. I adjust
this figure slightly to 32m (I like even numbers, and I sometimes like to
adjust numbers when I compare start comparing them to other firearms
in the same category.

Base Range = Max Effective Range ÷ 4

4 RANGE BAND
Which Range Band is the weapon best used at? Normally its obvious:
Pistols and Revolvers at Short, Assault Rifles, SMGs and Shotguns
weapons at Medium, rifles at Long. But to more individualise firearms,
we can instead use the Base Range to help us. Just HALVE BASE
RANGE, and check out the Range Band on the following table:

Metres Range Band

Less than 1.5m Personal
1.5 to 3m Close
3 to 12m Short
12-50m Medium
51-250m Long
251-500m Very Long
501-5000m Distant

The FAMAE Base Range ended up being 32m. We halve that to 16,
which falls within the Medium range band. This is good. If you decide
the value takes you into an inappropriate range band, change it to the
defaults mentioned above. Always use common sense and be prepared
to overrule a result if it really does seem illogical.

Range Band = Half the Base Range, check the table

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5 AUTO
A weapon that has a number listed in the Auto column is capable of
automatic fire, either as a short, controlled burst or as full autofire.
Automatic weapons are also capable of single shots. Typically a bolt
action rifle, semi-auto sniper rifle, pump action shotgun or revolver all
have 1 shot per combat round (thus an Auto rating either of ‘No’ or ‘-‘,
they mean the same thing). This number is based on the firearm’s rate
of fire. Look at the weapon’s Rate of Fire:

RATE OF FIRE TABLE

Rate of Fire Auto Rating

500-990 4
1000-1990 6
2000-2990 8
3000+ 10

Auto fire will affect the Required Strength to use the firearm effectively
(see 6, next).

Auto 4
Req. Strength is increased: Burst +1, Full Auto +2

Auto 6
Req. Strength is increased: Burst +2, Full Auto +4

The FAMAE has a Rate of Fire of 1300 rounds per minute, giving it an
Auto rating of 6 (that’s quite high for an SMG). Because it is capable of
Burst and Full Auto fire we must include add those figures when we
figure out Required Strength, next.

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6 REQUIRED STRENGTH
The strength required to fire the gun, in the format: single
shot/burst/full auto. Not meeting this incurs a -1 DM to hit. This value is
the most difficult to arrive at and is calculated differently based on the
type of weapon.

Handguns
Req. Str equals the Power value associated with the firearm’s calibre,
which can be found on the Calibre Table (page 5). For example: .45 ACP
= Power 6, Required Strength is 6. This may be modified:

DMs: Gun Weight 1.4 kg or more then +1 (too heavy to control)

Gun weight 0.7 kg or less then +1 (too light to dampen recoil)

SMGs, Carbines, Shotguns & Rifles

Req. Str is calculated by subtracting the weight of the weapon in
kilogrammes (round to the nearest whole number) from the Power of
the gun’s calibre. For example: a Sten Gun 9mm is Power 5, subtract
weight of unloaded Sten (2.95kg, round to 3kg) to get 2. Required
Strength is therefore 2 (3 if firing a burst or 4 if firing on full auto). If
the user has a Strength equal or over these numbers, he is OK!

 Try an H&K USP pistol, 9mm for power 5. Weight is 0.7kg, so no

modification is needed. Req.Str. 5.
 Try the M16A1 Vietnam Era, with 5.56mm ammo (Power 9).
Subtract unloaded weight of 4.3kg (rounded to 4) for a Req.Str. of
5. On burst 6, on full auto 7.
 Try the tiny Walther PPK, 7.65 ammo for Power of 5. The handgun
is 0.59kg, less than the 0.7kg limit, so we add +1 to Req.Str. for 6.
 Try the Parker Hale M85 sniper rifle, with 7.62 NATO round (Power
12), subtract gun weight 5.7kg (rounded to 6) for Req.Str. of 6 or
4 if using bipod.

Heavy Firearms (7.00 kg or more)

These are usually squad machine-guns, very heavy sniper rifles, the
Bren and BAR, etc. Use weight in kilogrammes (rounded) then
subtract 3.

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 Try the BAR, weight is 7 kg - 3 = Req. Str 5

 Try the Bren Gun, weight is 10 kg – 3 = Req. Str 7
 Try the MG3 weight is 11 kg - 3 = Req. Str 8
 Try the M60 GPMG, weight is 10.4 kg – 3 = Req. Str 7

Remember to calculate the weapon’s Auto effect on Required Strength.

Auto 4
Req. Strength is increased: Burst +1, Full Auto +2

Auto 6
Req. Strength is increased: Burst +2, Full Auto +4

The FAMAE is an SMG and we subtract it’s weight of 2.7 kg (rounded to

3) from 7 (the Power of the .40S&W cartridge). Required Strength for
single shot is therefore 4. The FAMAE has an Auto rating of 6, so its
Burst value is 4+2 (6) and its Full Auto value is 4+4 (8). We record this
in the following manner: FAMAE Req. Str. 4/6/8.

Big Guns: For the Barrett M82 and other .50 calibre anti-materiel rifles,
I recommend subtracting 5 or 6 rather than 3 from the weight.

Bipods
Sniper rifles and machineguns often have bipods, if they are used or the
weapon is braced on a wall, window sill or loophole, then Req. Str is
lowered by -2 temporarily.

7 UNRELIABILITY
The unreliability of a firearm is often subjective or has no real numerical
value. Weapons might be recalled, or have a bad reputation, fail
dramatically when in combat, and so on. Both the initial M16, first
fielded in Vietnam, and the Enfield L85A1 that was fielded during the
1991 Gulf War proved to have shocking reliability performance. Both
were successfully redesigned to address all of their technical issues.

The best that a GM can do to create an Unreliability value (higher is

more unreliable) is to use the base reliability table, then modify as he or
she decides based on that particular weapon’s history, reputation and
time in service (use Wikipedia for this).

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UNRELIABILITY – BASE VALUES

Weapon Type Base Unreliability

Revolver 5+
Automatic Pistol 6+
Submachine gun 7+
Assault Rifle 7+
Semi-automatic Rifle 6+
Bolt-action Rifle 5+
Pump-action Shotgun 8+
Semi-automatic Shotgun 7+
Automatic Shotgun 9+
Machinegun 7+
Grenade Launcher 5+

8 LENGTH
The length in centimetres is found easily on Wikipedia. If the firearm
includes an integral folding or extendable stock, then have that length
included also, in this format: folded length/unfolded length

The FAMAE has a Length of 41/64.

9 WEIGHT
The weight or mass in kilogrammes is found easily on Wikipedia. This is
empty weight where possible.

The FAMAE has a Weight of 2.7 kg.

10 AMMO WEIGHT
The weight of a loaded magazine in kilogrammes might be found
online, or the weight might be approximated by subtracting the
weapon’s unloaded weight from its loaded weight, if you have both
values. Otherwise, use the following rough weights as a guide to make
an approximation to your liking.

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AMMO WEIGHT (APPROXIMATE)

Ammo Type Rds Weight

Revolver 6 0.1 kg
Pistol 6-9 0.1 kg
Pistol 12-18 0.25 kg
SMG 15-30 0.3 kg
SMG 40-50 0.5 kg
Assault Rifle 20-35 0.5 kg
Assault Rifle 40-50 1 kg
Shotgun, loose 6-8 0.3 kg
Shotgun, mag 5-6 0.3 kg
Shotgun, mag 8-10 0.5 kg
Rifle, Battle/Sniper 5-15 0.25 kg
Anti-Materiel Rife (.50) 5-8 0.3 kg
Anti-Materiel Rife (.50) 10-12 0.5 kg
Ammo Belt 40-50 1 kg
Ammo Belt 100 3 kg

11 ROUNDS
The capacity of a weapon’s standard magazine.

LEGAL
The Cepheus Engine Compatibility-Statement License (CSL)
You must state on the first page where you mention Cepheus Engine that “Cepheus
Engine and Samardan Press are the trademarks of Jason "Flynn" Kemp,” and that
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You must comply with the terms of the OGL if the terms apply.

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Author Paul Elliott.

MODERN WAR – GUN CONVERSION