Longarms in combat |
Longarms in combat |
Oct 20 2010, 11:44 PM
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#1
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Target Group: Members Posts: 11 Joined: 19-October 09 Member No.: 17,768 |
A common enough scenario in my games - a character is sauntering through an area with a rifle in their hands. Suddenly a ghoul runs up and starts to claw the player before the character gets to react. On the players first available pass they usually want to pull the trigger and open fire.
All I can see are the "point blank" and "in melee" modifiers to the firearms check. IMO it just isn't reasonable to point a longarm at something that's trying to claw you, but I'm not sure if the rules support this. My thoughts: Shooting at someone you are engaged with gives the target a melee defense roll instead of just the ranged attack defense roll. Is this supported by the rules? Another scenario: You've fired you longarm into the belly of ghoul #1. Ghoul #2 decides to disarm you. The ghoul wants to grab your rifle and rip it out of your hands. Is there a rule to help adjudicate this interaction? |
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Oct 20 2010, 11:58 PM
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#2
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Shooting Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 1,989 Joined: 28-July 09 From: Somewhere along the brazilian coast Member No.: 17,437 |
A common enough scenario in my games - a character is sauntering through an area with a rifle in their hands. Suddenly a ghoul runs up and starts to claw the player before the character gets to react. On the players first available pass they usually want to pull the trigger and open fire. All I can see are the "point blank" and "in melee" modifiers to the firearms check. IMO it just isn't reasonable to point a longarm at something that's trying to claw you, but I'm not sure if the rules support this. My thoughts: Shooting at someone you are engaged with gives the target a melee defense roll instead of just the ranged attack defense roll. Is this supported by the rules? Another scenario: You've fired you longarm into the belly of ghoul #1. Ghoul #2 decides to disarm you. The ghoul wants to grab your rifle and rip it out of your hands. Is there a rule to help adjudicate this interaction? My thoughts: Shooting at someone you are engaged with gives the target a melee defense roll instead of just the ranged attack defense roll. Is this supported by the rules? Yes it is. AFB right now, but I think disarm is described in the core book, if not, check arsenal, the chapter called "more ways to die". |
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Oct 21 2010, 01:05 AM
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#3
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Advocatus Diaboli Group: Members Posts: 13,994 Joined: 20-November 07 From: USA Member No.: 14,282 |
'Attacker in Melee' seems good enough (total -1); it *is* hard to miss someone that close. I mean, I see your point, but do we really want to penalize (a) poor crappy Longarms, (b) shotguns against ghouls?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Unless you want the ghoul to take the gun, just use a Called Shot to "Knock something out of the target’s grasp." (SR4A p161) |
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Oct 21 2010, 02:00 AM
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#4
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,537 Joined: 27-August 06 From: Albuquerque NM Member No.: 9,234 |
How exactly does a ghoul run up on someone carrying a rifle without the guy with the rifle being able to shoot him as he closes? Does he do this invisibly? It takes less than a second to shoulder and shoot when you have the gun in your hands already.
If you want to argue "reasonable" be sure to consider both sides. |
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Oct 21 2010, 02:05 AM
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#5
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Advocatus Diaboli Group: Members Posts: 13,994 Joined: 20-November 07 From: USA Member No.: 14,282 |
Obviously, he jumps down from the ceiling behind him. Duh. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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Oct 21 2010, 02:08 AM
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#6
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Prime Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,577 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Gwynedd Valley PA Member No.: 1,221 |
or out of a siding.
There are no rules for this but it's a good point. In taking the golan Heights the Israeli's did well in close action with the Syrians because they had the very short Uzi while the syrians were hampered in just the way you describe while using the AK-47 |
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Oct 21 2010, 02:11 AM
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#7
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 956 Joined: 16-June 07 From: Like a coyote, always on the move Member No.: 11,931 |
You should probably specify rifles, as shotguns are also a form of longarm and are designed specifically for close combat, a.k.a. the ghoul chomping on your squishy bits.
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Oct 21 2010, 02:12 AM
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#8
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Advocatus Diaboli Group: Members Posts: 13,994 Joined: 20-November 07 From: USA Member No.: 14,282 |
The AK-47's not even a Longarm, though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
I think it's a mistake to try and make the system too realistic, though. If a ghoul surprises you, they get a Surprise test already. Depends on the shotgun. Some are made specifically for shooting down birds, and they're mostly slug-loaded in SR4 anyway. |
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Oct 21 2010, 02:13 AM
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#9
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 956 Joined: 16-June 07 From: Like a coyote, always on the move Member No.: 11,931 |
While we're on the topic, related but different question: if his first reaction was to use the rifle to butt stroke the ghoul, would he use his longarms skill or have to default for not having exotic melee weapon: longarms?
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Oct 21 2010, 02:15 AM
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#10
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Advocatus Diaboli Group: Members Posts: 13,994 Joined: 20-November 07 From: USA Member No.: 14,282 |
It's a club, AFAIK. You and your dirty military terminology.
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Oct 21 2010, 02:16 AM
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#11
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Prime Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,577 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Gwynedd Valley PA Member No.: 1,221 |
The AK-47's not even a Longarm, though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I think it's a mistake to try and make the system too realistic, though. If a ghoul surprises you, they get a Surprise test already. oh I agree, I was just answering the question. |
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Oct 21 2010, 02:19 AM
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#12
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Advocatus Diaboli Group: Members Posts: 13,994 Joined: 20-November 07 From: USA Member No.: 14,282 |
Another way to look at this is, how does someone use a Reach weapon in the same circumstance ("a ghoul runs up and starts to claw the player before the character gets to react")? Dangerous thinking. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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Oct 21 2010, 02:22 AM
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#13
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Target Group: Members Posts: 96 Joined: 24-November 09 Member No.: 17,900 |
I thought the rule was that when you are in a melee with someone, and that someone tries to shoot you, you get a defense bonus equal to your melee skill?
So if unarmed you would get Reaction+Unarmed, or Reaction+Unarmed+Dodge for full defense. This is to represent pushing the gun out of the way, etc.. |
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Oct 21 2010, 02:29 AM
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#14
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Advocatus Diaboli Group: Members Posts: 13,994 Joined: 20-November 07 From: USA Member No.: 14,282 |
That sounds like a house rule, and did the OP mention it earlier? It seems reasonable, if that's what your table wants.
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Oct 21 2010, 03:23 AM
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#15
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,416 Joined: 4-March 06 From: Albuquerque Member No.: 8,334 |
No no no. You're all focusing on the wrong issue here.
He says it's a "common enough scenario" that his PC's get ambushed by ghouls. How are they not all dead by now from infection? |
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Oct 21 2010, 03:25 AM
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#16
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Advocatus Diaboli Group: Members Posts: 13,994 Joined: 20-November 07 From: USA Member No.: 14,282 |
Presumably, they're different PCs each time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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Oct 21 2010, 03:53 AM
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#17
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Shooting Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 1,989 Joined: 28-July 09 From: Somewhere along the brazilian coast Member No.: 17,437 |
Presumably, they're different PCs each time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Or they are ghouls already killing other ghouls. It's a tough of a ghoul-eat-ghoul-world. |
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Oct 21 2010, 07:06 AM
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#18
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Target Group: Members Posts: 11 Joined: 19-October 09 Member No.: 17,768 |
Thanks for the replies. We have a modified game here with a few scenario rules - infected isn't as big of a deal for the PCs as it is in standard games.
Back to the rules though - my opinion is that if you are using your rifle or shotgun as a club or a parrying device (what you would probably do if you were getting attacked in melee) it would be difficult to switch to aiming the gun. The melee rules are loose in SR4, but I tend to think of engaged characters as being activley engaged ala D&D where firing a ranged weapon in melee provokes attacks because you cease defending yourself to make the attack. I'm thinking about this from 2 perspectives: 1) Melee attackers already get the short end of the stick with reduced damage codes and fewer attacks vs a higher defense. In my critter heavy campaign this makes many of the critters I want to use even more foddery than usual. The penalty for shooting a grizzly bear in the face with a hunting rifle as it chews on your leg is -1 dp. This seems low. 2) Cinematic, I want the game to be action packed. I also want to encourage variety - but the big guns are awesome and if there's no penalty to using a rifle while engaged vs using a pistol I think the obvious choice is going to be the rifle - same attacks with higher damage. Also having a tiger jump you and knock your rifle out of your hands or having a ghoul put you in a headlock so his friend can start eating your arm... just more entertaining combat options. I'll check out Arsenal and the More Ways to Die to see if they have some good options. |
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Oct 21 2010, 07:08 AM
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#19
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 241 Joined: 28-September 10 Member No.: 19,081 |
Or all his characters are.... for example... drakes. HMHVV Immunity!
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Oct 21 2010, 07:52 AM
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#20
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,817 Joined: 29-July 07 From: Delft, the Netherlands Member No.: 12,403 |
Or you use bayonet... usig the polarms skill (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)
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Oct 21 2010, 08:24 AM
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#21
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Hoppelhäschen 5000 Group: Members Posts: 5,807 Joined: 3-January 04 Member No.: 5,951 |
My thoughts: Shooting at someone you are engaged with gives the target a melee defense roll instead of just the ranged attack defense roll. Is this supported by the rules? That's the Savage Worlds way. Additionally, there, only pistols can be used in melee, longarms can't. In SR RAW, you are free to use your Panther assault cannon when swarmed by a pack of rabid dogs. You don't even invoke the option of an interception attacks, as those are only for movement. Unless you houserule it your way and maybe restrict melee use to shortarms. |
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Oct 21 2010, 01:16 PM
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#22
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,102 Joined: 23-August 09 From: Vancouver, Canada Member No.: 17,538 |
This post has a cumbersome weapon rule (14th post down) that might do what you are looking for. I like the idea for my own games as firing long arms or even non-bulpup assault rifles in melee combat seems ... wrong somehow. Butt stroking someone with one is just fine, especially if it gets them to back up so you can shoot them, but just firing in melee? Not so much.
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Oct 21 2010, 03:02 PM
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#23
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 976 Joined: 16-September 04 From: Near my daughters, Lansdale PA Member No.: 6,668 |
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Oct 21 2010, 04:05 PM
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#24
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,431 Joined: 3-December 03 Member No.: 5,872 |
That's the Savage Worlds way. Additionally, there, only pistols can be used in melee, longarms can't. In SR RAW, you are free to use your Panther assault cannon when swarmed by a pack of rabid dogs. You don't even invoke the option of an interception attacks, as those are only for movement. Unless you houserule it your way and maybe restrict melee use to shortarms. I am not a fan of can'ts. I suspect I could use a rifle in melee it might be harder but I am fairly sure I could. For SR though personally I don't think you should get the point blank advantage to compensate for the in melee advantage. Point blank should be for when you are close enough to be in melee but you aren't the target of the melee attack. Then it would be a -3 die penalty which is a big deal for normal shooters but not a big deal for street sams etc, which is fine to me. |
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Oct 21 2010, 04:26 PM
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#25
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Old Man Jones Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 4,415 Joined: 26-February 02 From: New York Member No.: 1,699 |
I would point out that in the real world, soldiers get far more training on how to use their rifles in melee than their pistols.
Pistols aren't much better than brass knuckles in melee. Rifles, having far more mass, are preferable. That said, soldiers tend to get more training in hand-to-hand and knife combat than in firearm-as-melee combat. -k |
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