Improvised and crafted melee weapons

[Roshi (DayZ) 397]

So I reckon that, given that we can craft bows, it would be great to be able to craft some melee weapons. For hunting as well as early game combat. Examples:
- Improvised spear - sharpen a long ash stick with an edged weapon. Harden the end by blackening in the fire.
- Machete/knife spear - unscrew handle from knife or machete (with screw driver). Duct tape to end of long ash stick. Thinking about Steve Brickman in Amtrak Wars (and simultaneously showing my age).
- spiked baseball bat - zombie genre must
- be able to take the end off a hoe or pitchfork to make a pole that could be used to make the above spears but also for making a fishing rod.
- take a hammer to a hoe to make a spear. Maybe use a sharpening stone to give it an edge. The Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania do this commonly for hunting purposes by trading for old hoes from neighbouring Bantu farmers.
- introduce spear throwing (seeing as we have physics for this now - could just use the throw key as an alternate fire).
- make weapon length more useful, and be able to push zeds (and players) back a bit with a successful melee hit.
- animations for being struck with a melee weapon - ie reeling to the side.

Open to other suggestions of course.

Edited October 30, 2014 by Roshi

[ToySmokes 116]

I like The ideas. Would deffentetly be bice to have some of them implemented

[budlime 29]

If the implement horses, I'd like to see riot gear jousting.

[Mor (DayZ) 57]

- make weapon length more useful, and be able to push zeds (and players) back a bit with a successful melee hit.

- animations for being struck with a melee weapon - ie reeling to the side.

I find this to be the most important part. Since without improving the current melee mechanics, I see no point in improving melee weapons.

IMO the ability to push zombies back, and making him stumble/fall a time during which he is vulnerable, could be invaluable to improving cooperation among players.

[budlime 29]

Riot shield+ improvised spear would be pretty sick. An apocalyptic Spartan of sorts. I like it.

[Roshi (DayZ) 397]

I find this to be the most important part. Since without improving the current melee mechanics, I see no point in improving melee weapons.IMO the ability to push zombies back, and making him stumble/fall a time during which he is vulnerable, could be invaluable to improving cooperation among players.

Agreed but see no reason why this couldn't be parallel development given that different teams would work on different aspects.