It's a fantasy role-playing game.

DM: You are Percival de Rolo, a human gunslinger . You are the member of the famous group of adventurers. Previously, Scanlan throws out a fireball, hitting two of the lackeys. The mage uses Misty Step and Scanlan tries to counterspell his attack, inspiring himself with fusaka.
DM: So the first shot with this is going to be 12 points of piercing damage from the first strike, plus two psychic, as the impact hits you and you feel this shocking ring in your head. You see a flash suddenly in your mind of the dark-shadowed face of Orthax laughing.
Player: 14 points total?
DM: Yes.
Player: All right.
DM: Second shot, which is a Violent Shot, on hit has double dice value. So that's 18 points of piercing damage.
Player: I'm going to try and slow it down with a catch.
DM: Okay. Plus four psychic.
Player: So I'm going to try and lower that 18.
DM: Go for it.
Player: Ooh! I lower it by 14 points.
DM: Okay. You catch the bullet, and for the most part it still pierces through.
Player: So four points of damage plus four psychic.
DM: Plus four psychic so eight total.
