As written, using improvised weapons is a Melee attack. However, how about allowing them as a Brawl attack under certain conditions.

1) The improvised weapon must be within Engaged Range from the combatants at the moment the attack is made.

2) The attacker must spend a Maneuver to interact with the environment immediately prior to the attack.

This doesn't represent picking up a rock and hitting someone with it - that would be Melee. It represents slamming someone's head into a rock or slamming them down on a table or shipping crate.

As written, using improvised weapons is a Melee attack. However, how about allowing them as a Brawl attack under certain conditions.

1) The improvised weapon must be within Engaged Range from the combatants at the moment the attack is made.

2) The attacker must spend a Maneuver to interact with the environment immediately prior to the attack.

This doesn't represent picking up a rock and hitting someone with it - that would be Melee. It represents slamming someone's head into a rock or slamming them down on a table or shipping crate.

I wouldn't see this as a problem. It's almost like a cinematic use of the situation and the way you described going the checks sound like a reasonable use of a 'Brawl' attack with an improvised weapon.

Yeah, it just depends what the weapon is and how you describe yourself using it. Chains wrapped around your fists? Brawl weapon. A chain you are whipping around? Melee weapon.

Yeah, it just depends what the weapon is and how you describe yourself using it. Chains wrapped around your fists? Brawl weapon. A chain you are whipping around? Melee weapon.

Yes, I meant to include more in my reply, and the "description" part was only part of the thought. I'm not sure where my brain is today.

My thought was that, mechanically, this is the same as picking up a rock and smashing it into someone. You take a maneuver, and you make a combat check. The only real difference is the narrative description, which can end up making all the difference.

Using the environment like that isn't exactly a improvised weapon. Why not simply assign a weapon rating based on the roughness of the surface. I see no reason to add difficulty or any of the other improvised weapon rules to such an attack.

God help them on a lava world.

Using the environment like that isn't exactly a improvised weapon. Why not simply assign a weapon rating based on the roughness of the surface. I see no reason to add difficulty or any of the other improvised weapon rules to such an attack.

God help them on a lava world.

I concur. Add/remove dice and assigning a weapon rating based on the improvised table would be my course of action.

As written, using improvised weapons is a Melee attack. However, how about allowing them as a Brawl attack under certain conditions.

1) The improvised weapon must be within Engaged Range from the combatants at the moment the attack is made.

2) The attacker must spend a Maneuver to interact with the environment immediately prior to the attack.

This doesn't represent picking up a rock and hitting someone with it - that would be Melee. It represents slamming someone's head into a rock or slamming them down on a table or shipping crate.