I have what I hope is a quick and relatively simple question. How do pistols actually work in close combat?

In our first game session, we HouseRuled it that:

BS to attack with a pistol in close combat

Can't shot at another enemy if you are engaged

Can't use Full or Semi auto

Can't use All Out Attack

Can use Guarded Attack if you are also equipped with a melee weapon.

Are these correct/reasonable?

If people are trained in Pistol and Melee (Primative), at what modifier would they be using pistols to attack in melee? I already have trouble understanding the Dual Wield talents and how that works, and introducing gun/sword combos confused me further.

Thanks a bunch!

Caralon said:

Im not very familiar with the system myself but I believe that "BS to attack with a pistol in close combat" is the way you're supposed to handle it as stated in core p.195

"You cannot make ranged attacks whilst engaged in melee,
unless you are armed with a ranged weapon that is classed
as a pistol."

Pistols shoot only single shots in melee. Thats not RAW but as stated from the devs its RAI.

As for All out and guarded attacks, since a pistols are considered still ranged they cannot apply.

For the "Can't shot at another enemy if you are engaged" I dont really know how RAW handles that. I dont recall reading about it anywhere and I'd like to hear on it from someone more experienced.

In pages 11 and 12 of the Errata v3.0 and under the Appendix I, there is a really helpfull summary of all the combat talents including two weapon wielding ones check them out and if you still have questions ask them here.

Hope this helped.

This is a tricky question since many gaming groups house-rule the use of pistols in melee.

According to RAW (Rules As Written) and rulings from the developers pistols are subject to the following:

Only single shot
Use BS to hit
No bonuses for point blank range or red-dot sights, etc... In short no bonuses

I might have missed something but this is the general idea.

However! I find these restrictions artificial and kind of boring so in our group we use the following rules instead:

Single/semi- and full-automatic is allowed
No bonuses
Use WS to hit, since we interpret WS as melee know-how and not simply how to hit, WS symbolises skillful movement as well as reflexes and experience of close combat. You would need to be better at movement and positioning to score a hit in close combat since you don´t really have time to aim when someone comes at you with a sword. The opponent is constantly dodging and so are you!

Hope this helpes somewhat, I´m sure there are people around here that know the rules much better than I

Storhamster said:

Can the Aim action be used?

Inquisitor sapiens potensque said:

I would definitly think so.

So, does anyone have more info. on what combat actions you can use when firing a pistol in a melee combat? I think we are going to stick with BS.

I would think that WS should be used instead of BS. Nor should aiming be allowed. No point aiming a pistol at somebody when you are in the midst of a life-or-death melee. Move the gun into position and pull the trigger.

From my old days of playing (2nd edition) 40k tabletop, pistols were treated as melee weapons, in that, you roll your combat dice, work out who wins, and how many hits. The victor then gets x many successful hits. They have the choice of using the character strength, OR the weapon strength in working out damage as usual. If you had a plain combat knife you use your strength, if you have a power sword or chain sword, you use the weapon's strength rating. In the pistol case, you use the pistol/ammo damage in place of strength bonus. The rules describe combat as fluid and a series of movements/attacks/defense. In such a fight, your opponent draws a pistol to shoot you, you are going to try and wrestle it out of the way, etc, not stand there and let them shoot.

That being said, i think it might be permissible to use swift/lightning attack with a pistol in combat (unless there are specific rules against that in the errata or DH book, i dont have access to them at this moment). Still single shots, but you could technically get up to three shots. The ranged damage modifying talents should also work as well.

I dont know if that helped or hindered, but that is what i feel makes sense.

Asgard4tw said:

The rules in the errata state that if you have lightning attack you must have a melee weapon to use it. If you're dual wielding pistol/melee and have Two Weapon Wielder (Ballistic AND Melee) then when you use lightning or swift attack you get the bonus attacks with your melee weapon and ONE additional shot with your pistol. Clearly, not a full auto shot. A single shot.

If you don't have swift or lightning attack and you do have both Two Weapon Wielder talents then you can use a full action to make one attack (again, no full or semi-auto here) with each weapon.

And then there's more stuff about how to calculate the appropriate penalties depending on which talents you have (ambidextrous, etc). The errata has like a full page on multiweapon combat. I recommend reading it.