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Since ranged combat bonuses are not stacked on top of HtH bonuses, the max you can really get is a +3 for an aimed shot (+1 every 3 levels) and perhaps a bonus of +1 or +2 from the weapon or optics itself, leaving most characters with about a +8 at 15th level just from weapon proficiencies. An additional +2 can be gained from the sniper skill for a bolt action or semi-auto rifle, for a max of +10 to strike from skills at 15th level. Is this correct (with no OCC or stat or equipment bonuses)?

For RUE, it seems that the max skill/WP bonuses are even lower...

-STS

All depends on what you're shooting, and whether you're playing just Rifts stuff or things from other books.

In general, though...

+2 Aimed Shot
+0 to +7 from Weapon Proficiency, depending on the weapon and the character's level.
+2 Sniper
+3 Laser Targeting (Aimed Shot Only) (RGMG 189)
+1 Targeting Sight (MOH or Cyber/Bionic Eye) (It's never specified, afaik, whether this stacks with laser targeting)
+x for well-balanced weapons and such, like Wilk's or the hunting rifles in Dinosaur Swamps. Conventional SDC weapons can be modified with Improved Balance that gives +1 to strike, and their Weapon Condition tables have a chance that a found weapon is "Excellent! Like New, +1 to strike and gets top dollar in trade."
I don't think it's ever specified that the modification and Like New bonus can apply to MD weapons, but it would seem entirely reasonable IMO to rule that they can/do.
+y from OCC/Race/Whatever bonuses

All in all, a 1st level character with the Sniper skill (+2) could fire an Aimed Shot (+2) from a well-balanced (+1) rifle they were Proficient in (+1), that has Laser Targeting (+3), for a total of +9 to strike without anything controversial happening.
IF the GM approves MOH/Cyber targeting eye (+1) stacking with the Laser Targeting, and approves the weapon as Like New (+1), that bumps up to +11.
And you could probably get another +1 for the right OCC/RCC/whateverCC.

Killer Cyborg wrote:All depends on what you're shooting, and whether you're playing just Rifts stuff or things from other books.

In general, though...

+2 Aimed Shot
+0 to +7 from Weapon Proficiency, depending on the weapon and the character's level.
+2 Sniper
+3 Laser Targeting (Aimed Shot Only) (RGMG 189)
+1 Targeting Sight (MOH or Cyber/Bionic Eye) (It's never specified, afaik, whether this stacks with laser targeting)
+x for well-balanced weapons and such, like Wilk's or the hunting rifles in Dinosaur Swamps. Conventional SDC weapons can be modified with Improved Balance that gives +1 to strike, and their Weapon Condition tables have a chance that a found weapon is "Excellent! Like New, +1 to strike and gets top dollar in trade."
I don't think it's ever specified that the modification and Like New bonus can apply to MD weapons, but it would seem entirely reasonable IMO to rule that they can/do.
+y from OCC/Race/Whatever bonuses

All in all, a 1st level character with the Sniper skill (+2) could fire an Aimed Shot (+2) from a well-balanced (+1) rifle they were Proficient in (+1), that has Laser Targeting (+3), for a total of +9 to strike without anything controversial happening.
IF the GM approves MOH/Cyber targeting eye (+1) stacking with the Laser Targeting, and approves the weapon as Like New (+1), that bumps up to +11.
And you could probably get another +1 for the right OCC/RCC/whateverCC.

Plus + from WP Sharpshooting for the weapon depending on PP which stacks on the weapon's WP

Oh, yeah forgot about WP Sharpshooting...

Thanks.

-STS

A bit of a house rule option (never used as such) with some Megaversal Precedent from the old 1E RT RPG. In the 1E RT RPG (#5 or Sent) they introduce WP: Cyclone Weapons, which provided a bonus to various Cyclone Weapons on top of any other WP (this WP IIRC did not progress at the old Modern rate). So in theory there is a megaveral precedent for offering WP like this that allow one to be more proficient with a restricted list (as an example by manufacturer).

Killer Cyborg wrote:+1 Targeting Sight (MOH or Cyber/Bionic Eye) (It's never specified, afaik, whether this stacks with laser targeting)

The Laser Targeting Add-On found in WB5 (pg151) states "Note: Laser targeting can be used in conjunction with a telescopic sight and/or thermo-imager."

The Cross Hair Sight Add-On (found as above) states "This bonus is not applicable when laser targeting is engaged."

The above would indicate that simple cross hairs and laser targeting are not compatible. Given the text in WB5 is repeated elsewhere (RUE specifically, other locations?) I think we can rule out a "only for Triax Model" would be incompatible loop hole, which means in a broad sense...

The description in the old RMB (pg231) would lead one to think the "Targeting Sight Implant" would basically amount to the Cross Hair sight Add-on (in WB5) and be out given "Cross hairs are superimposed...", given the way the Multi-Optic Helmet (pg245) appears to include the feature (without detail) so it would be out. The Multi-Optic Eye (pg231) is a bit fuzzier, it has a Targeting Display (it adds +1 strike with any weapon) so depending on how that is designed to function it might or might not work if not for the update from Bionics SB (pg35) where they spell it out as a cross-hair. So unless these implants are more unstated to be more advanced than the Cross Hair Add-on in terms of operation, it would seem they are not compatible.

Hand to hand Assassin adds bonus to strike with ranged weapons, as do some specialized OCCs like the China Gun Master (or whatever they're called).

Stalking in Dinosaur Swamp adds a bonus
The CS Sniper special training adds a bonus
The optional rule from Mysteries of Magic allows you to level up the weapon arbitrarily high at any given level.
The vital strikes skill in Splicers and elsewhere allows for some other bonuses.
And of course the plethora of options from the Rifter and some N&SS shenanigans.