Powered Melee Weapons in the SWU

[CRMcNeill]

I recall a recent topic (which I can't seem to find) where the point was made that certain melee weapons (such as the vibroblade) did not feel particularly "Star Wars-ish". Speaking for myself, I like having exotic melee weapons incorporated into a sci-fi universe, especially for close quarters combat. In addition to the various light and vibro weapons available in the RAW, I also use power and chain weapons from Warhammer 40K, just to add a little spice and variety. I'm curious as to what melee weapons the rest of you use in your campaigns.
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[ZzaphodD]

The telescoping force pike have always been a favorite..

(aside from lightsabers of course)
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My Biggest Beard Retard award goes to: The Admiral of course..

[garhkal]

Mostly the non powered stuff (swords, mauls, hammers, spears) and vibro ones.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[jmanski]

VibroKatana, VibroMachete. I want to do a VibroTomahawk but haven't found the right NPC yet...
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Blasted rules. Why can't they just be perfect?

[Raven Redstar]

I've got a concept for a SpecForce Pathfinder that will use a Tomahawk. Although his is going to be made of a special meteor metal, not necessarily "Vibro."

[CRMcNeill]

Thanks for the input, guys. I should have been more clear; I was thinking more along the lines of "what weapons do you use that aren't already a part of the EU in some form". Your suggestions on force pikes and vibro-weapons are very cool and have given me some good ideas, but I'm looking for unique weapons that aren't already a part of the EU, like WH40K chain weapons and the like.
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[CRMcNeill]

On a related note, what is your take on Force Pikes? Are they simply an upgraded form of shock weapon, or does the "Force" part of the weapon generate an energy barrier that allows the pike to parry a lightsaber without taking damage? Personally, I prefer the latter, especially since they seem to be the primary weapon of the Red Guard (since they are guarding the Emperor, a major concern would have to be a Jedi trying to assassinate Palpatine, so the Red Guard would need a weapon that did something other than look very cool while getting sliced in half by a lightsaber).
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Bren]

[CRMcNeill]

[Bren]

[vanir]

In EU all echani weapons are cortosis weave. That would be forcepikes, vibroblades, etc.
Royal Guard (crimson guard) originally used echani weapons and were trained in echani martial arts (I rule +1D brawling damage for the specialisation).

I add power swords (uses energy cells to empower mundane blade lengths, offers similar lightsabre resistance as cortosis weave because of energisation).

Actual alchemically forged weapons (using sith alchemy or scholar: arcane technologies to construct) are almost indestructible by any normal means, thus are always lightsabre resistant, but extremely rare, they are Force imbued artefacts and priceless in credit value terms.

Echani weapons look like normal vibro weapons and forcepikes.
Power weapons (power swords, power axes) do similar damage to vibroweapons but look quite different, more like archaic weapons with alien technologies added.
Alchemically forged weapons look like alien derivatives of archaic weapons, like obsidian swords or crystalline-alloy axes. Again similar damage to SWU-tech melee weapons.

Regular archaic melee weapons are of course roughly a dice down on damage, ie. a vibro-broadsword is Str+3D so an archaic mundane broadsword is Str+2D. An echani vibrosword of course does Str+3D as a rough base but also turns lightsabres. A Forcesword does the same but looks different, it's a different tech. A sithsword, same again, different tech again.

[CRMcNeill]

[ZzaphodD]

[CRMcNeill]

IMC, chain weapons remain as they are in WH40K (i.e. a sword or an axe combined with the chainsaw from hell), but I change it up a bit for power weapons. I make force weapons in the SWU like power weapons in WH40K (a damaging energy effect over a material core), while power weapons are normal melee weapons that are energy reinforced. In Rules of Engagement, Veteran CompForce troopers are equipped with power armor, which has the same armor values as Stormtrooper armor, but without the Dex penalty. My theory here is that the armor is lighter and more flexible, but also serves as a conductor and wave-guide for an energy shield that provides most of the protection, without the rigidity of Stormtrooper armor to reduce Dexterity.

Still looking for cool new ideas that aren't found in the EU...
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[CRMcNeill]