Silencer/Supressor
Function: Killers who try to work discretely can add silencers to their guns. These devices muffle (but do not eliminate) the noise made. Bystanders might hear a shot fired with a successful Wits + Composure roll, with a penalty equal to the rating of the silencer. Some weapons such as revolvers and shotguns can't be fitted with silencers. Note that silencer ratings are not added to Dexterity + Firearms rolls.
Unfortunately, most bullets still travel 1,100 feet per second or more, and they still break the sound barrier with a sonic pop. While a suppressor muffles the sound of the bullet leaving the barrel, a suppressor can’t silence sonic booms. The trick is to use subsonic ammunition. Smaller caliber rounds or specially made bullets can be subsonic: they travel just under the speed of sound, and while they have less power, they also make next to zero noise. (Though the bullet still makes a faint sound on impact.)
All guns make noise, no matter what kind of suppressor or ammunition is being used. However, bystanders nearby (within 50 yards) have a –4 penalty to their Wits + Composure roll when attempting to notice the sound from a suppressed subsonic bullet. Bystanders have an easier time hearing a suppressed supersonic bullet, however. Witnesses within 100 yards may hear the shot, suffering only a –2 penalty to their Perception roll. Note that suppressors also diminish muzzle flash. Characters attempting to pinpoint where a bullet came from do so at a –3 penalty if the shooter uses a suppressor.
Contrary to popular belief, suppressors can be made for all firearms, including shotguns and revolvers. However, revolvers are difficult to silence effectively, and bystanders have only a –2 penalty to their roll.
Supressor
Discreet killers wishing for total silence when using a suppressor might be surprised at how much noise is still present when firing. A suppressor works by dissipating some of the builtup pressure that comes from discharging a bullet down a slim barrel. The suppressor allows some of the gas to escape before the bullet exits the barrel, thus dampening the noise.Unfortunately, most bullets still travel 1,100 feet per second or more, and they still break the sound barrier with a sonic pop. While a suppressor muffles the sound of the bullet leaving the barrel, a suppressor can’t silence sonic booms. The trick is to use subsonic ammunition. Smaller caliber rounds or specially made bullets can be subsonic: they travel just under the speed of sound, and while they have less power, they also make next to zero noise. (Though the bullet still makes a faint sound on impact.)
All guns make noise, no matter what kind of suppressor or ammunition is being used. However, bystanders nearby (within 50 yards) have a –4 penalty to their Wits + Composure roll when attempting to notice the sound from a suppressed subsonic bullet. Bystanders have an easier time hearing a suppressed supersonic bullet, however. Witnesses within 100 yards may hear the shot, suffering only a –2 penalty to their Perception roll. Note that suppressors also diminish muzzle flash. Characters attempting to pinpoint where a bullet came from do so at a –3 penalty if the shooter uses a suppressor.
Contrary to popular belief, suppressors can be made for all firearms, including shotguns and revolvers. However, revolvers are difficult to silence effectively, and bystanders have only a –2 penalty to their roll.
Item type
Component
Weight
Durability: 3
Dimensions
Size: 1
Base Price
Cost: •••
Making a Suppressor
Characters can jury-rig a suppressor for just about any firearm. Clever assassins can make suppressors out of cans, PVC pipe or rubber tubing. Doing so requires an extended Dexterity + Crafts roll. Ten successes must be accumulated, and each roll is equal to 15 minutes of time.Using a failed suppressor on a weapon reduces the weapon’s Damage potential by 1. If the character suffers a dramatic failure on the construction roll, the suppressor looks fine, but the bullet cannot leave the barrel of the gun and destroys the weapon.