First, an explanation of the various terms we will be referring back to. "Semi- automatic" is a term, like many of those we will be using, to the old days of slugthrowers, and means that ONE round is discharged each time the trigger is pulled by the shooter. "Burst" means that a small number of shots, usually between two and five, are discharged each time the trigger is pulled. "Full Auto", or "fully automatic", means that when you hold down the trigger, you will fire rounds until you have run out of ammunition and/or let up on the trigger. "Selective Fire" capability means that one may choose between several different modes of fire, usually semi-auto and burst and/or full auto. "Cyclic Rate" is the number of rounds per minute (#r/m) or second (#r/s) that the fully automatic mode discharges when the trigger is held down. The majority of weapons, from blasters to grenade launchers, that are considered to be man portable are semi-automatic, as they fire one round per trigger pull.
Repeating Blasters are the most common of the full autos today. Repeaters are designed with three to five barrels, housed in a cooling jacket that protects the internal working of the barrel mechanism. The barrels fire in turn, pumping out, on the average, 850r/s. This means that a large number of shots pound into a relatively small area in very rapid order, with a certain amount of shot dispersion imparted by the mobile nature of the firing mechanism. Due in part to ammunition consumption, and in part to minimize wear, there is fire limiter in the trigger group. Once the limiter trips (usually due to barrel heat), the system will not fire until it is safe to do so again. Due to the nature of the systems, and the cyclic rates involved, this limit is usually reached in a tenth of a second burst, and takes several seconds to cool.
Repeating blasters are usually classed by weight and throughput. Light repeating blasters are about 50-100% larger than infantry rifles, having a maximum range similar to rifles and only marginally more powerful, will still be conservative enough to use standard powerpacks. Medium repeating blasters are two to three time the size and weight of rifles, having about two-thirds more range and one third more power on target. They are usually moved by a two man crew, and fired from a bipod and power generator. Finally, the heavy blaster rifles are the size of light artillery pieces, having more than twice the range, and almost twice the power, of a rifle. They are manned and carried by a three to four man crew, and fired from a tripod or vehicle turret and feed from an external generator.
Light repeaters have an area of effect of 1/2m Medium repeaters 1m Heavy repeaters have a 2 meter area of effect. There is no added difficulty or bonus to the shot, due to the high rate of fire.)
Full autos will have a stats entry entitled "modes". This will tell you what fire modes are available on a certain model, and how many shots are fired in each burst.
When firing on "full auto", or long burst, the weapon may be fired that twice that round (unless specified otherwise). There is an additional -1D penalty to all actions that round, and no other attacks or piloting rolls may be made, and only one (1) reactive skill (Dodge, etc). Short bursts are treated just like any other shot.
It is a simple action to switch between firing modes.
When fired in burst or full auto, there is +2 difficulty to hit if the basic Blaster skill (or a specialty other than those that follow) is used. These specializations are not used to fire in semi-auto. The appropriate specialization will be given in the discussion:
Once a shot from a burst hits, each additional shot on the same target, or an adjacent one (<1m away) is one level of difficulty lower. The combined damage for a number of shots from a burst on the same target is determined as per the rules for Combined Actions in your rule book (I prefer those in 2.0). The only difference is that Blaster replaces Command as the skill of choice.
The legal problems with automatic blasters is usually the same as those for repeating blasters, or worse.)
These weapons cover a large area in a single shot. This accomplished via multiple barrels, shot dispersion crystals and a whole array of methods. The weapons of this class are large, inefficient and delicate. The often cost moer than they are worth, but some of the better models are usable, in thier specialised niches. They are not vary useful for general applications. The only real strengths they have over repeating blasters is that they are smaller, have fewer moving parts and often less regulated.
Pulse rifles effect a large area, but they do have holes in their pattern. Each target in he field of fire must make success Dodge roll, or be hit.