Game strives for realism; fists better than an axe

[Grimey Rick 3417]

I don't know about anyone else, but I personally haven't touched a melee weapon since after the first day of the current patch. Two-handed melee weapons are too hard to hit glitchy, teleporting zombies in the head on a consistent basis. I also find that the damage is totally random: sometimes I'll kill a zombie in one shot to the head with a Firefighter Axe, sometimes it takes three. The same can be said about fists. I've killed zombies with one punch to the head from time to time. Usually though, it takes 3-5 punches to the head to kill a zombie.

 

The only real reason I have for a melee weapon is when I'm a fresh spawn in need of a can opener. Strangely enough, the Splitting Axe will somehow open a can of food while only spilling ~20% of its contents. The Machete is also fairly efficient at opening canned food. However, once a can opener is acquired, I promptly drop the melee weapon.

 

It's also nice not having to wait that extra second to put away your gun and then draw your melee weapon in the presence of a zombie/unsuspecting passerby. You can go straight from your gun

to your fists very quickly, take care of business, and then switch back to your gun. On top of that, with the recently fixed mouse acceleration, it's much easier to consistently punch other players and zombies in the head.

 

So, with all of that being said, does anyone else avoid melee weapons these days?

Edited April 30, 2014 by Grimey Rick

[hombrecz 832]

So, with all of that being said, does anyone else avoid melee weapons these days?

 

I still like me melee weapons! I want to find bayonette or combat knife and try to stab zombies in the face, to see if that's effective.

See knives are small, so they don't get stuck inside buildings when you attack, like axes do.

 

Wish machette went to some holster at your hip, hate to see it floating at player's back.

 

Anyway yes, melee is a bit clunky, especially if server is desyncing / lagging, but it is still 10x better then in mod.

If server runs good, I don't have problem axing zombies in the head.

 

edit: I think, devs should tone down the K.O. effect of fist. As it is now, everybody is frikkin Tyson and in PvP, fist is really more lethal then axe to the face, which is bollocks.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Hombre

[hiniberus 122]

I enjoy taking up bayonets for the gun I have at the time as melee weapons, they have a bit more range than the fists and are just about 10%~ish slower than the fists so I'm down with it. Doubles as a can-opener too! Though if I have a gun without a bayonet, I normally just keep my axe just for a friend or I drop it 'till opener is found.

 

Before the axes used to spill up to 40~60% of canned food, just mentioning it since you pointed out their efficiency.

[darth_vaizard 42]

I'll carry a machete just in case.  

Teleports into hands (no animation for drawing it) 
just as effective as fists against a zombie (if not slightly more so)
more likely to cause bleeding on players (a problem for them obviously)
AND it can open cans... what's not to love?
Also, it's a machete :P

[colekern 1364]

The title and your profile pic combine perfectly.

[Deathlove 2286]

I don't know about anyone else, but I personally haven't touched a melee weapon since after the first day of the current patch. Two-handed melee weapons are too hard to hit glitchy, teleporting zombies in the head on a consistent basis. I also find that the damage is totally random: sometimes I'll kill a zombie in one shot to the head with a Firefighter Axe, sometimes it takes three. The same can be said about fists. I've killed zombies with one punch to the head from time to time. Usually though, it takes 3-5 punches to the head to kill a zombie.

 

The only real reason I have for a melee weapon is when I'm a fresh spawn in need of a can opener. Strangely enough, the Splitting Axe will somehow open a can of food while only spilling ~20% of its contents. The Machete is also fairly efficient at opening canned food. However, once a can opener is acquired, I promptly drop the melee weapon.

 

It's also nice not having to wait that extra second to put away your gun and then draw your melee weapon in the presence of a zombie/unsuspecting passerby. You can go straight from your gun

to your fists very quickly, take care of business, and then switch back to your gun. On top of that, with the recently fixed mouse acceleration, it's much easier to consistently punch other players and zombies in the head.

 

So, with all of that being said, does anyone else avoid melee weapons these days?

No because there are other melee weapons still just as good as the axe. They said they are going to be fixing it back up anyways. Just dont use the axe till it gets buffed again.

[pilgrim* 3514]

Not axe - just FNX45 now, good for players too.

And run a lot.

Also got a can opener.

Edited April 30, 2014 by pilgrim

[liquidsnake 275]

Machete works for me. 1-2 hits to the head and you're done. It's also easy to aim with

[Ghostflux 100]

I think the chance to knock somebody out with fists should be heavily reduced. It doesn't make sense for new spawns to rush towards geared players with their fists up, knowing that there's a large chance that they'll actually win the fight even if the other guy is armed. Instead I would rather see the effectiveness of blunt weapons such as the wrench be able to grant to quick knock out that new players want.

 

In the mean time I'll just keep shooting any new spawn that comes within 10 meters of me with his fists raised. Better safe than sorry.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Ghostflux

[agentneo 337]

im killing zombies with a single hit to the head consistently, ask my friends, they see me do it, when it runs at me i run at the zombie, when its about 2 metres away i start my swing, i lean back, aiming high and to the right, and as me and the zombie run past each other, i swing my character 180 degrees to face behind and it clunks the zombie in the head literally everytime zombie hits the deck and i double tap him for the win

 

Its childsplay, haven't you ever seen a zombie movie or TV Show., In the words of the great Rick Grimes : Aim for the head!

[Grimey Rick 3417]

I agree with everything said here, I just find it funny how random the damage seems to be.

 

Sometimes you'll kill a zombie in one hit to the head with your fists. Sometimes it'll take ten punches to the head. I agree with the comments pertaining to the Machete, too. If anything, I generally pick one up if I find one in pristine condition. It doubles as a can opener and more consistently kills zombies in one or two hits to the head.

 

I've just never seen a zombie flick where people run around punching zombies in the head like it ain't no thang, that's all.

 

Because alpha?

 

[boneboys 7988]

Well, lets hope that this well know balance issue is resolved before OP decides to make another of these rather pointless Topics.

Dance like a Butterfly.
Sting like a Bee.

[Inception. 9443]

For future reference, Rick, the report function clearly states:
 

This form is to be used ONLY for reporting objectionable content and is not to be used as a method of communicating with moderators for other reasons.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Inception.