Effective Melee Characters? Options

[Glyph]

The term "Willpower Test" implies an attribute test to me, rather than a test where Willpower is only part of the dice pool (such as spellcasting or Drain tests). Personally, I would rule that it would only apply to Attacks of Will and Willpower tests to resist things like spells or some critter powers. It wouldn't be terribly unbalancing if mages could use it, though.

The martial arts abilities and maneuvers are useful outside of combat specialists, but generally, people using them for these other things are spending 5-10 points or so on them, rather than the 19-25 points that a dedicated martial artist will spend. And even 19-25 points wouldn't be that much, except that martial arts specialist are spending a lot of points already.

Still, impractical as they are, I like adept melee specialists. I simply have to deal with them being a more limited type of character than other builds.

[Traul]

The term "Willpower Test" implies an attribute test to me, rather than a test where Willpower is only part of the dice pool (such as spellcasting or Drain tests).

I don't get it: SR4 dice pools are always a combination of 2 stats. Even to resist a spell, the dice pool is Willpower + Counterspelling. And even for attribute only tests, SR4 rules tell you to pick 2 attributes.

[remmus]

in my mind a Melee focused character isn´t to limiting a character as long as the character isn´t melee exclusive.

1: throwing weapons: perfect weapons for when running into to much trouble but still wanna be a no gun puritan, also grenades like smoke and/or flash bang are perfect for most guards and street thugs to keep them busy while you cut the distance.

2. Stealth is your number 1 best friend both the kind where your not seen but also the kind where your not seen as something threatening, all the guns in the world are worthless if there owners don´t have a reason to raise them in the first place.

3. When everything else fails lots of armour works well and with the help of things like cyberware and the personal body suit even armoured cloth can protect you again a security guards handgun or a gangmembers smg

my 2 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) on the subject

[Ol' Scratch]

I don't get it: SR4 dice pools are always a combination of 2 stats. Even to resist a spell, the dice pool is Willpower + Counterspelling. And even for attribute only tests, SR4 rules tell you to pick 2 attributes.

Yeah. And considering that the maneuver in question requires a Complex Action to use, I don't think it would help much in most resistance tests.

[Moxie]

SuperSpeed the HedgePixie

This was just something I digged up when looking for pixie builds... Hilarious.

One tweak might be to add, attribute boost (strength) instead of the spell itself, same applies for agility or the like.