[FST_Gemstar]

I dont' think they can but I don't have my text handy. Would it be ok to use them as blades instead of unarmed?

[Xenon]

Both Blades and Unarmed use the Close Combat skill

edit: ah, SR5 question. nm.

[Sugarpink]

For 5E the answer per the rules is no. But it's a reasonable thing to ask your GM if they might allow it anyway.

[Stainless Steel Devil Rat]

"Well Actually"....


5th edition DOES have an arcane rule that permits skill defaulting in the manner like the OP is asking about.  See the Substituting Skills sidebar on pg 130 (SR5)

The TLDR is Yes, but the GM determines by Fiat how many dice you lose in the process of using the "wrong, but similar" skill for a task.  Personally, I'd call it a -2 dice penalty.  Of course, what your GM says is what counts though.

[Tecumseh]

Let's back up a second and define what "External Hand Razors (non-ware)" are. Because I'm only aware of hand razors being implants.

Hand razors are like sharp fingernails, about an inch long. In 5E, all cyber melee weapons use Unarmed Combat (page 458), potentially with the Cyber-Implant Weapons specialization. If there's a non-ware version then I haven't heard of it and I'd ask for a page reference to see what I missed.

Forearm snap blades are the non-ware (external) equivalent of cyber spurs. Per page 422, these use the Blades skill.

So which weapon are we talking about?

In 4E, cyber-blades in the hands or forearms used the Blades skill, while other implant weapons (like shock hands, or blades in other places) used Unarmed Combat. So there's certainly precedent to use Blades in addition to or instead of Unarmed Combat.

[Sugarpink]

Let's back up a second and define what "External Hand Razors (non-ware)" are. Because I'm only aware of hand razors being implants.

Hand razors are like sharp fingernails, about an inch long. In 5E, all cyber melee weapons use Unarmed Combat (page 458), potentially with the Cyber-Implant Weapons specialization. If there's a non-ware version then I haven't heard of it and I'd ask for a page reference to see what I missed.

Forearm snap blades are the non-ware (external) equivalent of cyber spurs. Per page 422, these use the Blades skill.

So which weapon are we talking about?

In 4E, cyber-blades in the hands or forearms used the Blades skill, while other implant weapons (like shock hands, or blades in other places) used Unarmed Combat. So there's certainly precedent to use Blades in addition to or instead of Unarmed Combat.

In 6E they also use the blades specialization, to add to your precedence.

[Tecumseh]

Welcome to the boards, Sugarpink. Always nice to have some new blood.

[Sugarpink]

Welcome to the boards, Sugarpink. Always nice to have some new blood.

Much appreciated