Ammunition, The basic selection just isn't enough Options

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

See, I like playing the game where combat happens on a frequent basis--because I enjoy a good firefight--but I don't try to get into combat, nor do I play combat monsters (combat capable, usually).

I play combat smart. I use cover, I dodge, I conserve ammo. And most importantly: the cocky, regenerating vampire melee adept goes in first (I'd rather have a shotgun to his chest than to mine*).

*This actually happened. I was taking cover behind a bar and the vampire ran strait up to a guy and got blasted in the chest (pretty much downing him for the fight) without doing anything effective. I only got 1 kill that fight, compared to the sam's 4, but I didn't take a single box of physical.

I played a Jaguar shapeshifter Adept that did exactly that. Being downed twice by some combat drones armed with LMG, but every time the regeneration saved me (except once when an enemy runner shot me with a shotgun and I got a critical glitch on the BOD to resist the damage.

[Draco18s]

(except once when an enemy runner shot me with a shotgun and I got a critical glitch on the BOD to resist the damage.

And that is why I use cover.

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

And that is why I use cover.

You can't use cover when your whole mode of attack is running against someone and jump with fangs and claws aiming to their skull (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) .
I do use cover when I can't reach the target in single sprint, it just happens this particular runner had delayed its action to shoot the jaguar as soon as it leaves cover...

[Draco18s]

And that is why I use guns. Or spells, but mostly guns.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

And that is why I use guns. Or spells, but mostly guns.

Indeed... Melee is only used as a last resort. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Faraday]

Indeed... Melee is only used as a last resort. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Unarmed attacks are the most discrete and reliable way of carrying around damage available in shadowrun. Muscle augmentation and bone density augmentation never show up on cyber scanners, and are hard to spot astrally. Tack on some martial arts, and you can easily get 8-9P base DV. I won't even go on about adept powers...

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Unarmed attacks are the most discrete and reliable way of carrying around damage available in shadowrun. Muscle augmentation and bone density augmentation never show up on cyber scanners, and are hard to spot astrally. Tack on some martial arts, and you can easily get 8-9P base DV. I won't even go on about adept powers...

Agreed, it is just far more inferior to a Firearm in most cases. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

Agreed, it is just far more inferior to a Firearm in most cases. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The only problem is the time it takes for you to be from ranged to melee.
Being a jaguar shapeshifter that means the difference is negiligible most of the time. My only problem is that I rely mostly on Dodge with combat sense than armor.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

The only problem is the time it takes for you to be from ranged to melee.
Being a jaguar shapeshifter that means the difference is negiligible most of the time. My only problem is that I rely mostly on Dodge with combat sense than armor.

As a Shapeshifter, you are indeed fast, so closing distances should require negligible time. Nothing wrong with relying upon Dodge/Combat Sense, as I am sure it is rather difficult to obtain decent levels of Armor in your Cat Form. Regeneration does not hurt, either. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Faraday]

Agreed, it is just far more inferior to a Firearm in most cases. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Which is why I rely on firearms for general situations and use unarmed for more discrete *close quarters* situations. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Which is why I rely on firearms for general situations and use unarmed for more discrete *close quarters* situations. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

The only way to fly. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
If you are caught in a melee situation and you cannot melee, well, it will generally be a short fight.

[Irion]

@Tymeaus Jalynsfein

If you are caught in a melee situation and you cannot melee, well, it will generally be a short fight.

Depends on how you interpretate the rules...
(Since you would have gymnastic or dodge anyway)

If you have a GM who likes realism you should not try to use a gun in a knife fight.

As a Shapeshifter, you are indeed fast, so closing distances should require negligible time. Nothing wrong with relying upon Dodge/Combat Sense, as I am sure it is rather difficult to obtain decent levels of Armor in your Cat Form. Regeneration does not hurt, either.

Untill you run into a ward....miau no kitty door there.

[Brainpiercing7.6...]

@Tymeaus Jalynsfein

Depends on how you interpretate the rules...
(Since you would have gymnastic or dodge anyway)

If you have a GM who likes realism you should not try to use a gun in a knife fight.

The melee dodging being far too easy is one point - abundantly discussed. But it's also pretty easy to do the SR equivalent of a five-foot-step and then blast from point-blank. Unless you can bind people in melee, you better kill or maim them on your first attack.

Of course, getting people to full-dodge is already half the victory - because you've hurt them, and still taken away their action. You just need to hit hard enough to reliably make them do that. The cost of getting there... I'm not so sure it's worthwhile in melee.

[Irion]

@Brainpiercing7.62mm
It all depends on. I see no reason not to allow a parade against a range attack in melee. You will not try to dodge to bullet you will try to hit the weapon before it is pointed at you...

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

@Tymeaus Jalynsfein
Depends on how you interpretate the rules...
(Since you would have gymnastic or dodge anyway)

If you have a GM who likes realism you should not try to use a gun in a knife fight.

If you are involved in a Melee and you cannot melee, then all you can do is run. This usually ends poorly for the guy trying to run.

As for the Gun and Knife fight scenario you presented above. If they are seperated, and the gun is readied, then it is a gun fight and not a knife fight. If they are enclosed together, then it is a Knife fight, and not a gun fight. Circumstance matters here. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

[Irion]

If they are enclosed together, then it is a Knife fight, and not a gun fight. Circumstance matters here.

Yeah, thats what I said. If you are in a knife fight, you should not try to draw a gun...

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Yeah, thats what I said. If you are in a knife fight, you should not try to draw a gun...

Of course, if you cannot fight, why are you in that knife fight? Why are you not trying to run away? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)
The point would be to extend, so as to get out of that knife fight, so you can draw your gun, so it becomes a gun fight. *shrug* heh... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[CanRay]

Trying to remember my Sun Tzu about this very thing... Damn losing that book and my piss poor memory.

Something along the lines of: "The warrior cannot make himself invulnerable and cannot make his opponent vulnerable" or some such.