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I recently had a player that wanted to use their CC instead of their RC when trying to fire their shotgun at an Engaged Range enemy. I ruled against it in the moment, but it seems like a great idea for a Talent. I'm thinking it could only apply to pistols or shotguns. Gunkata FTW. To make it spicier, maybe even let them use a Pistol or Shottie while being grappled?

I recently had a player that wanted to use their CC instead of their RC when trying to fire their shotgun at an Engaged Range enemy. I ruled against it in the moment, but it seems like a great idea for a Talent. I'm thinking it could only apply to pistols or shotguns. Gunkata FTW. To make it spicier, maybe even let them use a Pistol or Shottie while being grappled?

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Hi Tliciousx,

Regarding the talent, I don't know... what exactly would it be used for?

To get back to the action itself, I would not allow close combat (instead of ranged combat) for the use of pistols or handguns during extremely close melee (or in a grappling situation). I don't know, but in my mind, close combat is for hitting with your fists or with an object. Using firearms and handguns is "exclusively" reserved for ranged combat. If someone tries to break free and hit the other with the handgun, if the weapon is loaded (you see where I'm going with this), the handgun could accidentally discharge (and that could injure both the person holding the weapon and the other character).

I think you made the right decision by preventing your player from using close combat to fire the handgun.

Arthur.

IMO, as a gm, Id only allow them to be used as a bludgeoning style attack with a critical failure resulting in a forearms discharge that might his a bystander. Id give an attack using a rifle/shot gun to club a chance to damage the weapon on a critical also depending on who/what is being attacked.

In Alien Evolved Edition, using Close Combat for ranged weapons at Engaged (Adjacent) range is part of the RAW (though you can only use ranged weapons that have an appropriate range rating).

I like it, because it makes the close combat skill more valuable (in all the Alien games I have played, ranged weapons were readily available, so melee was underutilized). Thus, I'd just port the Evolved edition rules to my Alien first edition game.

Indeed, the (Evolved) rules already allow using ANY ranged weapon in close combat ( CC roll ) without needing a talent.

Weapons that have 'Adjacent' minimum range do so without penalty. Other weapons apply penalties according to how many range bands its minimum range is above 'Adjacent'. A typical rifle would apply -2... A typical Sniper rifle -4, and so on.

Also, note that the target CAN DEFEND against this attack, even if it is a fire-arm.

In Alien Evolved Edition, using Close Combat for ranged weapons at Engaged (Adjacent) range is part of the RAW (though you can only use ranged weapons that have an appropriate range rating).

I like it, because it makes the close combat skill more valuable (in all the Alien games I have played, ranged weapons were readily available, so melee was underutilized). Thus, I'd just port the Evolved edition rules to my Alien first edition game.

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That's true, I had forgotten that rule. Thanks for the heads-up, Colgrevance. There are some rules from the Evolved Edition that I don't use yet.

Arthur.

I recently had a player that wanted to use their CC instead of their RC when trying to fire their shotgun at an Engaged Range enemy. I ruled against it in the moment, but it seems like a great idea for a Talent. I'm thinking it could only apply to pistols or shotguns. Gunkata FTW. To make it spicier, maybe even let them use a Pistol or Shottie while being grappled?

Seems legit but only at or within min range, and it doesn't ignore min range penalty (That person is still in your face.)