Using Melee, What is it good for? Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Switch to: Outline Standard Switch to: Linear+

[Hida Tsuzua]

When does melee combat come up during gameplay and what is its uses? Is it a vital or at least a useful skill for a shadowrun?

I've wondered about this for a while now because for nearly every use of a close combat weapon from fists to a katana can be replaced or bettered with the use of a firearm. Gangers in your way? Use a gun. Need to silently take out a guard? Sneak up and use a super silent pistol. Need to sneak a weapon in? Use a hold-out or a cyberarm gun. Need to beat someone up but no kill them? Use a taser.

I can see melee used in bar fights, but that's not that important for most games. It could also be used in some circumstances such as slitting a guard's throat or knocking out a wageslave or extraction target, but tasers or fully silenced firearms would work as well.

Then there is magic. I can see melee used a lot in astral combat (there really aren't any other ways to fight) and possibly used as a means to deal with spirits with weapon foci or the whole "power of self" thing.

Lastly and most importantly, it can be cool. While a John Woo gunfight is cool, sword fights or martial arts masters going at it can be even better at times.

So I'm curious, what do you think of the use of melee combat (from swords to martial arts) and what experiences have you had with it?

[Person 404]

Should be noted that a silenced gunshot is not totally inaudible. Hard to hear, but still audible. Of course, a full-out fistfight is unlikely to be quiet, but a knife in the back can be...

[FlakJacket]

[Arethusa]

In SR, as in real life, you do not always get to operate on your own terms. Hand to hand combat is a necessity when range is not an option, whether that's because of extreme CQB, ambush, or simple infiltration. Hand to hand combat is obviously not too useful for a large open battle, but conditions are hardly ever so reliable. Adaptability is life.

[BitBasher]

Because HtH is popular with adepts, as their type of magic is very werll suited to it, and if you get caught in hand to hand without the skill you're likely to get beat into a grease spot in remarkably short order.

There is either the hand to hand expert, or the people that sooner or later need to not get massacred by him. This means it's always a useful skill to have. As stated above, you cannot always pick your fights.

[Omega Skip]

First of, I never play an awakened character if I have another option. I play mostly sams / faces, and once every few years maybe a decker or the occasional rigger. My characters usually go for pistols / tasers, but I always make sure that I also pick enough melee skillpoints to at least be able to defend myself.

Whenever a melee fighter goes for one of my characters, I first try to shoot him, and that works 95% of the time. But if my opponent survives that, I run, because I wouldn't stand a chance against such opposition anyways. But of course, most of the time you can't run away. At that point all I can do is rely on my teammates' support.

The biggest advantage melee has over ranged combat is that it's much easier to take away your gun than to take away your kung-fu. This however is really only a factor during the occasional prison escape, or similar situations. (Which, now that I think of it, aren't all that uncommon)

And that's basically my experience with melee: The dual-wielding melee adept is like a turtle. It's very easy to pick them off when they're young, but the few who survive have a chance to reach a very old age. Plus, it's kinda scary to have somebody wielding two swords charge you, all the while you blast away at him, and the guy just doesn't drop.

[JaronK]

Well, with my combat troll, I invested enough points to have Spurs 7, and he hit for I believe 16S (pair of Dikote Spurs, strength 10). He could use the spurs to penetrate vehicle armour better than his heavy machine gun, and there's something to be said for that.

JaronK

[Abstruse]

You also don't have to draw and ready or quickdraw your fists. You just step up and start swinging. There are also times when you won't have your weapons (high class bar with weapon scanners, captured and stripped naked, etc.) or where using a firearm would be disadvantageous ("We want the guy alive"). Also, remember you can always make someone spill the beans if they're alive, but dead men tell no tales.

The Abstruse One

[Omega Skip]

That is so true... I'd much rather have somebody "punch the guy in the face" than "blow his hand off" during interrogation.

[TinkerGnome]

There's also the issue of spirits and critters. Most of them go at you in hand to hand. Being able to damage them isn't quite so important as not being a greasy smear by the time you're able to do something that could save your hoop.

[toturi]

Melee is when you run outta ammo. Long missions do that to you. If it is a simple break in or datasteal, then you won't have that problem. Heck, for data theft or stealing something, it is best that you do not even get shot at or attacked.

[Mr.Platinum]

Yeah tottaly for when you run out of ammo fighting of those damn gangers in the redmond barrens.

Or when you want to be a ninja or just cause your a sick puppy and want to look at some ones guts.

[toturi]

Or those drones.... god, those drones....

[Mr.Platinum]

or those damn bug spirits!!! Break out the butter knife and coat it with Raid and damn, I am all of a sudden super bug killa man with a butter knife

[TinkerGnome]

That'd work if, you know, allergies did absolutely anything to make a weapon pierce through protection from normal weapons.

[Siege]

Running out of ammo can be amazingly inconvienent at times.

-Siege

[Mr.Platinum]

[Misfit Toy]

My answer's pretty simple: I use it because it's fun to bash someone's skull in with a tire iron.

[Mr.Platinum]

[Misfit Toy]

You're on my list, buddy.

[BitBasher]

[Siege]

[Mr.Platinum]

[John Campbell]

I figure melee is worth it just for the expressions people get when you pull a battleaxe on them.

[Siege]