I've not read the entire thread so please don't slap me if I've missed something but information appears to be thin on the ground so hopefully I can help clarify the rules regarding MS ramping ->
(1) The first three shots of ANY string have to be in semi-auto.
(2) In order to start ramping you have to pull the trigger at a minimum rate of 5 pulls per second, that is once every 200ms or faster.
(3) Once ramping has started you must continue to pull the trigger at a minimum rate of 5 pulls per second (once every 200ms or faster) in order to sustain ramping.
(4) Ramping stops when you do not pull the trigger for 200ms.
(5) There is NO one second ramp restart period. That means that as soon as ramping has stopped (see 4) then you have to start again at (1).
In practice, many will refer to 'two shots per pull' or 'only one extra shot'. This is because 10bps equals 1 shot every 100ms and if it takes 200ms for ramping to stop (see 4) then two shots can occur in that time.
The closest that I can find on the MS website is -
In a move to come closer to a world wide standard of rules and procedures and as discussed at the CPL/SPL team owners meeting in Amsterdam, the MS will adopt the same ROF cap (10bps) as used in the PSP. The rules will be updated shortly by following wording of rule ''10.01 Markers''
- The first 3 shots must be semi-auto mode only.
- Markers will be limited to a ROF of 10 balls per second (in 2009 actually 10.5 bps), defined as no two consecutive shots may be timed shorter than 95ms apart (reading on ROF meter of 10.5 bps or less = legal; reading on ROF meter of 10.6 bps or higher = illegal).
- Ramping of shots will be allowed only once 5 bps has been achieved. Then the marker may ramp to 10 bps, but only as long as the 5 bps is continually maintained. Once the trigger is stopped to be activated, only one single additional shot may be discharged.
Clarification: the 5 bps for start/sustain ramping dose not need to be hit physically, it refers to the time delay between trigger activations, which must be at least the equivalent to 5 bps. So a marker may start to ramp up to 10 bps, if (after the first three shots being in semi-auto only) the time delay between 3rd and 4th trigger activation is less than 200ms.
I hope this helps.
Flash,
Planet Eclipse