Advanaced Melee Weaponry
Melee weapons have advanced using technology and energetics in the same way that arms have. A major difference, however, is that advanced melee weaponry can still be used when their power source has expired. They just stay in the current form they were in when it expired and no longer gain the benefits of having a power source.
The initial purchase of advanced melee weaponry includes one Power Source of the same manufacturer.
Advanced Melee Weapon Description
Chain Blade
A special short sword designed with a small steam canister and a short length of chain built into the handle. Pulling the trigger on the handle shoots the blade out. A second pull retracts the blade back. Each pull requires a single burst of steam.
This weapon can drag a target towards you. On a successful attack and choosing to retract the blade, the target must make a guts check to resist being pulled. Only targets equal to or smaller than the wielder can be pulled. For each size category smaller the targets, guts check is -1.
Extended Reach Sword (ERS)
The combination of a glaive and a short sword that uses a small steam canister to transform between the two using one burst per transition. While in the short sword position, the weapon has the short sword properties. Like-wise while in the glaive position, the weapon has the properties of a glaive.
Harpoon Spear
A spear made of metal with a harpoon head. When the back end of the shaft is twisted, it shoots the head of the spear attached to a chain. If the spear head critically strikes, it impales the target, allowing you to pull them to you with a guts versus guts check. The impaled target suffers a -2 to their guts check. It requires a full turn to remove the spear if impaled.
The spear head can be shot out fifteen feet. Once the spearhead has been shot, it can be retracted with another twist of the shaft. Otherwise, the chain and head can be removed with a longer twist. Each twist uses one steam burst. Additional spear heads can be purchased in the special ammunition section of the arms article. The listed range for the spear is its reach first, followed by its spear head range (reach/ range).
Heat Blade
A long sword designed with a small steam canister build into the base of the blade. Activating the steam causes the blade to heat, which adds fire damage to its attacks. Two bursts of steam are required to add the fire damage on top of the slashing damage the blade already deals. The heat lasts for 10 seconds. The additional damage is fire damage and the total damage when the blades ability is active is 2d8 slashing/piercing and fire damage.
Steam Dagger
A small steam canister can be attached to the pommel of the Dagger. When the trigger is pressed, a burst of steam expels outward from the pommel, allowing the Dagger a harder, stronger thrust. The dagger uses two bursts to gain: an additional 1d4 base damage. An additional burst can add armor penetration.
Steam Hammer
The head of this metal maul is powered by a steam rocket and is quite large. The steam rocket is activated by a button on the shaft of the weapon. This is a Two-Handed weapon that uses three bursts from a medium canister to give an additional base damage die plus one accuracy. If the steam canister is empty or one is not present, the additional damage and accuracy is lost.
This weapon damages armor by one durability per critical strike (except for armor that resists blunt strikes). This additional durability damage is only applied when using the rocket power. Because of the power behind this weapon, a might of six is required to use the rocket power benefit. Not meeting this requirement causes the wielder to be knocked prone after each attack. This hammer is too heavy to lift if you have a might of three or less.
With ambidexterity mastery, you can dual wield a steam hammer and a different weapon, except for another steam hammer or a large weapon.
Sword Shield Axe
This weapon is a hybrid weapon. Its standard form is that of a sword and shield, but when combined by placing the sword in the shield and twisting, it turns into a two-handed battle axe. This weapon requires a small steam canister to transform. It cannot transform if the steam canister is empty or not present.
This weapons durability is listed to represent the individual parts. When in sword and shield form, the sword and shield both have five durability. When in the axe form, it has a six durability. This is indicated in the weapon table as Sword/Shield/Axe.
The damage works the same as the durability in that the first number listed is the sword damage (and shield if shield bashing) and the second is the axe’s damage.
When in sword and shield form, the shield grants you an additional protection of +1. This is only gained when in sword and shield form and is lost when in axe form. The shield protection does not stack with other shields.
