[PiXeL01]

If this has been discussed before then please delete.

I was looking through the stats on Melee weapons and then it struck me, why would anyone use anything but a combat knife (other than style of course and that goes a long way!).
It is 100% legal which means you can carry it anywhere since you don't need a permit, it's concealable, it's cheap and the stats themselves are amazing.

So why use anything else especially if talking black trenchcoat?

[Reaver]

Wait, you mean people are NOT taking a combat knife as a weapon of last resort?!?

WTF is wrong with them?? Its cheap! Its legal! Its useful!

[Rooks]

I carry plastisteel / Diakote ruby knife

[Marcus Gideon]

Can I have Ruby's Knife?

[Moonshine Fox]

I always have a knife on me, for utility if I don't have the edged skill. I go with an extendable baton when I have the clubs skill.

[Novocrane]

Does anyone else feel the combat knife stats are too high to leave room for other concealable fancy melee options?

I don't know much about the difference between a ka-bar fighting knife (combat knife) or bowie knife (short cougar fineblade) or whatever turkey carving attachment the vibroknife resembles, but it seems a little odd that the best and cheapest options of the three are one and the same.

[PiXeL01]

Those were my thoughts exactly. Especially the AP value is a bit concerning.

[ScytheKnight]

Those were my thoughts exactly. Especially the AP value is a bit concerning.

Especially as I think even an activated Vibro-Knife at best matches a combat knife. Aren't Vibro-Weapons supposed to be amazing at penetrating armor? That is after all the reason they're usually 'invented'... but the knife is sub-par to the Combat Knife andnthe Blade can't match the Monosword...

[Adamo1618]

Why care about legal issues when the knife can't be found? I personally love the Sapphire knife. Accuracy is a little bit worse, but a personalised grip fixes that for ya. Unarmed is also a great solution for street samurai, especially since Striking Callus and Sharkskin were introduced. Along with martial arts you can ruin someone's day big time.

[Whiskeyjack]

I agree with you except on the point about martial arts. They're generally not vey good.

[Jack_Spade]

Not very good is not the same as bad.

An optimized disarm and counterstrike build can generate some serious hurt
Likewise a combat knife (weapon focus) and Pentjak Silat make for a seriously deadly combination.

[Herr Brackhaus]

Yep; the combat knife is a great investment for any character, blades skill or not. Never know when you might need a cutting implement for utility purposes, and the combat knife is an even better investment with a point or two in blades.

[Mirikon]

Restricted just means you need to have a fake license to show if you're stopped by the Star. And if you're wearing a lined coat or similar, then a katana is easy enough to conceal. But usually when I go for a character focused on bladecraft, I end up with 4-8 bladed weapons on my person at any one time, as well as a pistol or two. Sure, I only have the two hands, but sometimes I get excitable as to choice. And yeah, a combat knife is one of the options I bring, but it isn't the be all end all of blades. Sometimes you want more reach. Sometimes you need more AP. Or the higher base damage of other blades. Sure, a combat knife is a good desperation weapon, but in all the times I've played a melee-focused character, I've never had to draw my knife. Rule #1 of winning a knife fight: Don't get into a knife fight.

[Rift_0f_Bladz]

My 3 blades on my current character (blade based melee adept) is 2 combat knives, weapon focus (currently at +2) katana, sword (wakazashi), and a claymore (nadochi) for when ap and raw damage are needed. But yeah, the combat knifes stats are to good for it price, availability, and lack of restriction.

[Strange]

My 3 blades on my current character (blade based melee adept) is 2 combat knives, weapon focus (currently at +2) katana, sword (wakazashi), and a claymore (nadochi) for when ap and raw damage are needed. But yeah, the combat knifes stats are to good for it price, availability, and lack of restriction.

I count 5 there?