Rifts Ultimate Edition, page 327, second column, first paragraph wrote:W.P. Paired Weapons is designed for Melee Weapons like knifes, swords, clubs, etc, not guns. When shooting two guns at once there is a penalty of -2 to strike with the regular hand and -6 to strike with the off-hand.
Greetings and Salutations. So above is the quote, both the part that is considered absolute proof it doesn't apply to guns along with the part that creates contention that it does apply to guns (but at reduced capability). I can see about three ways to interpret the above line ...
1: W.P. Paired is not
intended for guns, but can still be used with the penalties listed.
2: W.P. Paired cannot be used with guns. ANYONE can used guns paired automatically at the penalties listed (no special skill required).
3: W.P. Paired cannot be used with guns. The penalties listed apply to the few specific O.C.C. which grant that ability.
I find the third option improbable. At no point does it mention such limited circumstances, reference any of the O.C.C., reference another book (such as New West) which allows such a feat (though RUE references other books often in other places), and the O.C.C. in those other books give no indication of such a penalty. I see little support for this interpretation.
The second option is plausible. Palladium does put rules in odd places at times. However, in this case, it does feel ... unusual. Not only does is this in an odd location, but it has other implications that are left unanswered. Guns don't have a skill to fire at the same time (outside of specific O.C.C.) so it can't get better, but at the same time firing two guns becomes
easier to using two melee weapons at the same time (which, by all indications, cannot be done AT ALL without the skill). Also, this ends up causing other O.C.C. (such as Gunslingers) which are designed to use two weapons at the same time at a greater penalty as a result of not excluding them from this penalty (and their O.C.C. does not exclude them from this penalty). This interpretation has complications, but it's possible.
The first option I find the most likely. While the skill is not intended for use with guns, it's possible (with the skill) with penalties. This supports the fluff text. Also, it doesn't grant any random person with two guns and no training the ability at equal penalty to those trained for it. Additionally, as the Gunfighter and the like have O.C.C. specific abilities (not the skill), they are not hindered by a skill specific penalty (which allows them to excel in their field of expertise).
That's all for now. Thank you for your time and patience. Farewell and safe journeys.[/justify]