I wish for a melee spec

[420MYK]

Its a common discussion in dchat and dissy etc. Melee spec. Theres no doubt that melee can be a very high risk high reward gameplay and i personally think itd be a really cool addition. This is just for a general discussion on it and to share ideas of what people would like to see in a spec kit that was melee based. Like me personally i was thinking something that was reasonably armored and had a form of dash or something similar to xeno pounces.

Helmet: Something light like the scout helm or something. Someone jumping into enemy ranks to make use of CQC needs to be able to not have a big mask covering their face.

Armor: Although id love to say "GIVE IT B18 STRENGTH" I think it needs to be a kit based around quick hit and run strikes, Something like Leader pattern armor that was a step quicker maybe. Possibly with Autoinjs like the B18.

Weapon: A sword or Axe or something (possibly randomized in sprite/name each round. One round its a sword another a mace etc.) that acts like a smartgun kit in that it automatically returns to the suit slot when dropped.

Backpack: A Jumppack that gives a dash action similar to a hunter leap (Turn the tide and pin them back for once). Id frankly keep this as not a container that can hold things like other kits. But as trade off it could also act as a stabilizer (you can knockdown benos and drag them, less chance of knockdown/quicker stand up).

As i mentioned itd be a kit based around hit and run strikes, picking up stunned, critted benos and keeping them down. It'd capitalize in the high risk high reward in that your either dashing in and smacking benos with a huge sword. If RPG spec shoots an HE and has three stunned xenos the melee spec could leap to the furthest one and cut them off. The risk being that theyd almost always be in xeno ranks and thats often a really really bad place to be.

Making the backpack a action item and the weapon mag harness to the suit limits the spec being able to take a BC shot gun or something and being too strong. With that loadout They can fit a sidearm or MD on their belt and pocket pouchs. maybe carry one ranged primary as well that always has the possiblity of being lost.

I dont know. I just think itd be kinda cool.

[Exodus]

My only few issues with this idea are:

1. In what realistic futuristic military scenario would a unit based entirely on getting close enough to hit things be useful in a universe where essentially every target you've fought previously is accustomed to using actual bullets. This would also mean a reorientation of squad-based dynamics since instead of relying on the Specialist to provide heavier hitting support or firepower, you're actually just covering for them so they can Rush Beno Cheeki Breeki.

2. In what scenario do you see this actually playing out in a manner that doesn't immediately end in FF. I can't even step closer to a Xenomorph when its six tiles away to shoot it better without catching AP in the back of the head. Someone who actually has to charge head-first into a swarm to fight them is just going to get lit up in about two seconds and die.

[Madventurer]

-snip-

This.

[420MYK]

1. warhammer 40k. Also The better armor would help protect against light arms fire etc, while picking back line heavy hitters like snipers etc. Not to mention Shock and awe. Noone with a Big gun Expects some guy to come boosting across the battlefield landing in their face swinging a claymore (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Churchill), Though i do see what you mean and in some ways obviously its geared towards xeno killing for game purposes. The biggest IG/IC problem id have with it is its sooo far away from xeno lore and is closer to 40k/starship troopers.

2. Yea FF would happen. Alot. Hence why the autoinjs to stabilize and such which is why like with all specialists youd need to learn the kit. Same as a hunter doesnt leap into the center most marine of a squad, the melee spec would have to focus on either getting the ones at the edge of combat therefore securing flanks or making fast picks against more central enemies and then using the dash to get out of FF angles. If youd like an HvH example to make it not based against benos then: MG nest gets naded, MS dashs in and disables the MG gunner allowing his squad to move on the cade line and suppress the the rest. as opposed to "we naded them but the MG is still standing and has us pinned and oh look thier all standing and shooting back/healing again"

[Exodus]

*snip*

1. Warhammer 40K does not for any reason qualify as a "Realistic" scenario. Those dudes are hulking eight foot giants of muscle and metal whereas we're dealing with a bunch of people who barely manage to get through Requisitions without accidentally fragging their own feet. Yes, there is some level of shock and awe to be faced when someone rushes you with a sword, but the issue is that you'll very quickly get over it, and shoot them before they can even remotely get close enough to hurt you. Even if the melee specialist manages to stab one guy, his buddy will just shoot you which is already what happens with Xenomorphs who are, naturally, melee specialists.

2. The reason that this works with the B18 is that their armor is hard enough that they can shrug off at least a little bit of FF. In this example, you mentioned that the Melee Specialist wouldn't have armor as strong as the B18 which means that any amount of FF is going to have a pretty severe chance of breaking bones, IB, or otherwise murdering. Stabilizing yourself with an autoinjector is fine, but it doesn't fix your broken chest and ruptured lung.

I also fail to see the useful applications for a Melee Specialist even in the scenario you gave. You mentioned that before the MS would even get involved, the MG nest would have already been fragged. Why would the squad require their Melee Spec to run in instead of just throwing another HEDP at the already downed soldiers? It's inefficient, and it just increases the chances for harming friendlies. Sure, people can stand up, but an MS is only going to be able to stab one dude at a time.

It really just doesn't fit in with the "advancing technology" theme that CM embodies. It'd feel like a step in the reverse direction for the sake of a science-fiction trope.

[Simo94]

we had a melee spec once, when B18 and grenade launcher were two separate spec kits, the meta loadout for B18 was shield+machete or shield+gyro shotgun, that is the closest u can get to a melee spec, and the concept isnt viable or fun for everyone else but the spec.

[Renomaki]

Honestly, having melee-focused marines would be very... Well, lets just say it would end up disappointing more often than not.

The first issue is the fact that ACID SPLASH is a thing, meaning if you were engaging a target in melee, it wouldn't be long until you brought yourself into pain crit due to all the acid that rained on you due to all your slashing and stabbing.

There is also the issue of pounces/spits, which can knock your melee user right on his ass when he least expects it. You could be the fastest in the land, and still get fucked up because of a well-timed spit, opening you up to get slaughtered. There is a reason why a lot of people are afraid to charge in with bayonets as is, and it isn't because xenos are strong, it is because xenos have a way to DENY you the ability to get into melee range with them.

And sure, maybe a jump-pack would be a useful way to close the gap, but chances are it would more often than not just make it so you get fucked first in a fight, and probably not just from accidental FF as people spray bullets at the first xeno that comes in sight-range.

Trust me, I LOVE whipping out my bootknife and shanking xenos every chance I get, but I also know the risks involved in doing so. Hell, i'm a predator, and while we have some advantages that marines don't have, we still have several other issues that hinder our experience, mainly being how hard it is to connect blows against fast targets (and dave).

[ThatKazakhDude]

It would be great gameplay wise,but it would just make no sense lore wise

[Clutch]

you niggas really trying to become this smh

[Grubstank]

I could see a melee spec working out if it were a powerloader or something

but otherwise, I really don't see it working out in this setting/lore. And a powerloader really doesn't fit into the niche of the spec role.

[Earraigh]

Reinhardt from that boring-ass TF2 clone, huh?

I don't think it's even worth working on it. Give us a shotgun spec.

[CABAL]

Give us "Experimental Tech" spec with lasers. How cool is that? Pew, pew, pew pesky xenos!

Laser should have something more special than "Standard" SS13 laser. 100% accuracy, no recoil, no scatter, laser beam would slow xenos down instead of stunning etc.

Melee is really bad now and it's easy to understand why. It's just last resort, becouse even a tiny pistol is better at PB range, than slashing with knife.
Every situation is bad for melee spec.
Runner? Pounce. Sentinel? Neuro. Drone? Facehugger. Defender? Tail sweep and "punch".
It would require giving him Apesuit and it still would be more usefull on other spec, or PFC.

[David Stormwell]

Yea, It seems cool and all
For the lore aspect: it would be out of the question due to xenos killing you in a second.
Game wise: Some what the same, highly unethical, Surprised the USCM would even allow it

[Dauntasa]

Kit: Infiltrator
Armour: Weak protection, comparable to standard PFC armour, but with shock absorbers which prevent tackling and a facemask that provides protection against huggers and neurotoxin. Has no storage space.
Weapon: A mag harnessed armour-piercing combat machete. Does strong damage in normal combat, enough to take out a T1 in a couple of hits, but more importantly gains colossal bonus damage against aliens which are knocked down or resting, boilers dug in to fire, or queens in ovi, enough to kill T2s before they can get up and quickly dismantle T3s which aren't paying attention.
Backpack and belt : a cloaking device with 0 storage space which has pieces for both the back and belt slots. Infinite uptime but electrical pulses from the device will detonate any explosives or gunpowder on your person when activated, preventing you from carrying firearms or grenades. Deactivates if bumped into and when attacking, and cannot be reactivated for a few seconds.

[kastion]

Kit: Infiltrator
Armour: Weak protection, comparable to standard PFC armour, but with shock absorbers which prevent tackling and a facemask that provides protection against huggers and neurotoxin. Has no storage space.
Weapon: A mag harnessed armour-piercing combat machete. Does strong damage in normal combat, enough to take out a T1 in a couple of hits, but more importantly gains colossal bonus damage against aliens which are knocked down or resting, boilers dug in to fire, or queens in ovi, enough to kill T2s before they can get up and quickly dismantle T3s which aren't paying attention.
Backpack and belt : a cloaking device with 0 storage space which has pieces for both the back and belt slots. Infinite uptime but electrical pulses from the device will detonate any explosives or gunpowder on your person when activated, preventing you from carrying firearms or grenades. Deactivates if bumped into and when attacking, and cannot be reactivated for a few seconds.

lol so you want a super xeno on the marines team? Seriously cant be stunned, hits harder than a xeno, invisible permantly lol what and marines run pretty fast so its not slow. Ya thats balanced. Why not just give it pred armor too.

[Simo94]

Give us "Experimental Tech" spec with lasers. How cool is that? Pew, pew, pew pesky xenos!

Laser should have something more special than "Standard" SS13 laser. 100% accuracy, no recoil, no scatter, laser beam would slow xenos down instead of stunning etc.

Melee is really bad now and it's easy to understand why. It's just last resort, becouse even a tiny pistol is better at PB range, than slashing with knife.
Every situation is bad for melee spec.
Runner? Pounce. Sentinel? Neuro. Drone? Facehugger. Defender? Tail sweep and "punch".
It would require giving him Apesuit and it still would be more usefull on other spec, or PFC.

If they ever decide to add laser rifle, I would like its niche to be shooting throught glass/walls for lower damage.

[ScreamingIdiot]

Perhaps a shotgun spec with some form of ballistic shield that gives marines a resistance to tackles and slashes from the front. Great when working in tight advancing formations, but easy pickings if outflanked or without support. Simply letting marines be able to do more aggressive defensive maneuvers would allow more opportunities for melee, since benos will inevitably try to dogpile them.

[CABAL]

Shotgun and ballistic shield? Just ballistic shield makes sense to use, not in war, but against CLF should work. Blocking neuro, rav charges etc. Sounds pretty neat.

[Garrison]

For a melee spec to work, they need to be resistant to pounces/spit. Or alternatively, not get disarmed or completely helpless when they do get knocked down. (Still able to fight when knocked down unless they are in too much pain to do an action.)

Lore wise, it doesn't make sense since Xenos technicly aren't supposed to exist and no one but a handful of individuals know about them. Heck if marines knew that xenos were a thing, I'd see this being a practical idea, since there is a justifiable reason. Same time though, as the guy in the Alien vs Predator game said: "be sure to attack from a distance, molecular acid is a BITCH!"

Unless USCM can copy the acid resistant armor and weaponry of the predators. I don't see this becoming a reality.

[Sonosuke]

Doesn't make much sense... and the spec would kind of getting himself more FFed than killing something at all.

[misto]

why would you waste a spec slot on people going into melee? just get a bunch of pfcs to grab machetes and spears(you can make spears by making cable cuffs, attaching them to rod, and then attaching glass shard) have them take off their armor so they move fast, badda bing theres your melee boys

[solidfury7]

I'm already sick of dying because you mongs running with machetes.

You have no map pressure nor can you aid your team mates.

They're almost completely useless.

[Gnorse]

if you unironically use machetes against anything that isn't sticky resin/crusher/queen, you need to seek professional help.

[Avalanchee]

I'm already sick of dying because you mongs running with machetes.

You have no map pressure nor can you aid your team mates.

They're almost completely useless.

yeah well I'd rather have someone who can clear weeds, sticky and resin and actually deal some fucking damage instead of a random deadass retard with a M44 revolver

[ThesoldierLLJK]

It would lead to a lot less friendly fire, well except for the melee guy getting FFed by everyone else.