"Hatchet" as a sidearm.

[Pringle (DayZ) 3]

I know this has been vaguely suggested before, but I wanted to go against the odds and suggest it again. I believe the current "hatchet" should either become an Axe, a slower, bigger variant of the hatchet, a handheld weapon that goes where you would keep your pistol. Right now, sidearms are poopy in damage. Hatchets are the best thing for killing Zeds a freshly spawned player has easy access to. Even as a moderately geared player, I still use my hatchet when going to helicopter crash sites because my M14 is very loud.

That's why I propose for an actual hatchet, as in held in a single hand, to be added to the game either alongside the current "hatchet" which becomes an axe, or completely replace the hatchet. The complete replacement seems only necessary if the current under-powered damage rates for the sidearms to stay, because currently the hatchet dwarfs the other sidearms when it comes to damage.

The new hatchet would do half the damage of the current one, 2250, down from 4500. The new hatchet would fit in the tool belt, and the axe would only be able to fit in your primary slot. Both items would be able to chop wood.

I believe this is a very thought out suggestion and would like your feedback on possible problems/oversights.

Edited July 29, 2012 by Pringle

[Flambo (DayZ) 50]

Right now, sidearms are poopy in damage.

Words cannot express the admiration I have for this sentence.

Having the current hatchet as a sidearm would be a wet dream for many. I have mixed feelings about whether we should get what we want here, or be forced to suffer with it as a primary weapon. As far as having a half-damage variant, I doubt it would be very popular unless the halved damage is still enough to 1-shot a zombie. Is it? :huh:

Edited July 29, 2012 by Flambo

[leodimas 31]

That stuff will be easy to do in the standalone i hope.

For some reason , my revolver and M1911 still 1-shot zombies.

[Pringle (DayZ) 3]

Flambo, if the new hatchet didn't do half damage, there would be no reason to use the axe other than not having a hatchet. It needs to have some kind of downside in order to co-exist in the game with the axe if that happens. It could do the normal damage if the hatchet was totally replaced with my new suggestion.

And to Gyro, it sounds like you aren't updated to the latest version of the arma 2 beta patch.

[CHOSENMARINE 43]

Yes! They should be a side arm, and I hope there is greater variety of melee weapons in the future! :)

[Pringle (DayZ) 3]

A greater variety of melee weapons seems like an ok idea, but let's not turn this game into left for dead. Maybe other tools could be used as a melee weapon such as the hunting knife. Another thought that struck me was that the hatchet could do half damage, but headshots kill instantly. Seems logical, going on everyday zombie lore.

[s.taylor.75@gmail.com 23]

They need to do something so that you can switch from rifle to hatchet and back.

[nobody 31]

hatchet to primal slot, huntinh knife to sidearm. :)