Confessions of a Gamer's Girlfriend - Melee Vs Projectile Combat Style

Tweet
Hey guys. This little post was actually written by a good college buddy of mine whom never discovered the greatness of gaming. Now she's taken the sweet time of contributing to Volatile Mode. Whether this will turn into a weekly thing is still up in the air, but you can find her under the amicable name "Jessi Rose" in the Facebook box on the sidebar. Send her a message of appreciation! My thoughts on Horde Mode 2.0 will be posted tomorrow. Enjoy the weekend!

The best and worst part about being invited to play a game with the guys is choosing your weapon. As the ‘token girlfriend’ you aren’t expected to really do much more then stroke their manly egos, and try not to get yourself killed. Essentially you are the kindergartener in the eight graders playground. That being said, choosing the most appropriate combat style for your skill set (or lack thereof) could make the difference between prancing around in the background, and actually making a difference in game play.

The simplest way to understand what weaponry and fighting styles are available is to divide them into the two basic categories of Melee and Projectile.

Melee

Basic Definition:
Combat that takes place at close range with a blunt object style weapon, or even your game avatars bare hands. This could also be stretched to include weapons you would ‘operate’ such as a car, or be thrown a very short distance such as an armchair.

Common Weapons of Choice:
Baseball Bat, chain saw, axe, ‘found objects’, vehicles, bare hands, etc.

Benefits:
This style of combat is really effective in game play where the enemy will quickly enter your personal space, or pop up suddenly at close range. Being comfortable with fighting on the front lines and running into danger zones is key with melee fighting. It is also important to think on your feet and be willing to hop into that car, or grab the nearest piece of furniture to throw 10 feet or so if need be.

This style of combat does not require very good aim or refillable ammunition. Your weapon of choice will typically have a longer ‘life expectancy’, meaning you don’t have to worry so much about foraging for new weapons multiple times during the round and/or level.

Drawbacks:
In games where the action is farther away, this weapon style can be considered slow and cumbersome. If you are playing in close proximity with your teammates, you run a much higher risk of injuring them, which could damage your campaign as a whole.

There are many situations and scenarios where this style of fighting can be considered more foolish than fearless; such as when the enemy head count is MASSIVE or you have to practically commit suicide to get close. Some games don’t even offer many viable melee weapon options; meaning this fighting style is not the most transferable or most practical to generally rely on.

Projectile:

Basic Definition:
Combat style that takes advantage of mid to long-range weaponry.

Common Weapons of Choice:
Guns, grenades, flamethrowers, etc.

Benefits:
This style of combat is effective whether you want to be closer to the action, or would rather keep your distance. Depending on your specific weapon, you can kill a single enemy with precision and grace, or wipe out dozens at a time with blinding rage. It doesn’t matter what style of enemy you are up against, a good gunman is always a welcome (and usually necessary) addition to any team.

Drawbacks:
Having at least adequate aim is necessary to make this style of combat effective. Also, newer players who don’t fully understand the game play, or are easily overwhelmed may find projectile style fighting more of a hindrance. Needing to find refills for ammunition or remembering to hit reload all the time may also be difficult for players who have yet to achieve a good ‘rhythm of play’.

While we all have our own opinions on what is the ‘best’ way to play the game, the reality is that everyone has a signature fighting style unique the them and their skill level. So long as you have a solid understanding of what type of game you are playing, and how your fighting style of choice is applicable. You can make yourself a valuable asset to the campaign you are with, and be more than just a ‘token girlfriend’ in your team member’s eyes.