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Stats for a chainsaw


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I recently played MHI with a group of RPG friends, and they loved it! It was a definite hit.

 

One friend made his character a tribute to Ash from the Evil Dead movies, and we had to wing the stats for a chainsaw.  We looked online and there were at least 3 different stats on forums for a chainsaw.  Is there an 'official" one somewhere?  If not which set of stats would you recommend?

 

Thanks for all the help you all have been while I get used to a new system.  I love the forums here.

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Michael Surbrook posted this version of one for Ash on his website:

 

22 Chainsaw: HKA: 1d6+1, +1 Stun (+1/2), Continuous (+1), 0 END (+1/2), Blade (-1/4), Chainsaw can jam (a.k.a. Burnout), chance varies according to what is being cut through, normally it is a base 15- (-1/4), No KB (-1/4), OAF (-1)
11 Chainsaw: Tunneling: 1" through 5 DEF, 0 END (+1/2), Chainsaw can jam (a.k.a. Burnout),

 

 

There is also a brief description and subsequent build listed in Hero System Equipment Guide 6e on page 189:

CHAINSWORD
A stereotypical weapon in some Science Fiction settings, the chainsword is a chainsaw converted into a sword-like weapon, with a razor-sharp cutting chain rotating around the blade at high speed. It can cut through armor with ease, and is particularly useful for broad sweeping attacks (i.e., Multiple Attacks) against masses of robots, zombies, or other simple foes.

 

 

HM :)

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It's continuous because, Once you hit with a chainsaw, you can still keep chewing though the material. A sword or Axe cuts by converting kinetic energy of the swing into cutting power via the blade. A Chainsaw isn't much better at cutting if you have a high strength, in fact it may be more prone to jamming if you force the cut.

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It's continuous because, Once you hit with a chainsaw, you can still keep chewing though the material. A sword or Axe cuts by converting kinetic energy of the swing into cutting power via the blade. A Chainsaw isn't much better at cutting if you have a high strength, in fact it may be more prone to jamming if you force the cut.

 

That's not Continuous.  Not the Advantage.  You're still using an action every phase to use that chainsaw.

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That's not Continuous.  Not the Advantage.  You're still using an action every phase to use that chainsaw.

6e1 pg 334 Duration Advantages.

constant Value: +½

This +½ Advantage allows a character to use an Attack Power (or other Instant Power) on a continuing basis without having to make a new Attack Roll every Phase against the same target. In other words, this Advantage converts an Instant Power into a Constant Power, and all rules governing Constant Powers apply to it (see 6E1 127)."

 

Sounds EXACTLY like a chainsaw works. Once you dig in you don't have to make another attack roll. It may still take a half phase to keep going, but you don't need to keep applying attack rolls.

 

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Anyone who has actually used a chainsaw will be familiar with the 'pull' that one has on the object being cut on the 'downswing' side.  The harder time the teeth have of actually cutting a material the more the chainsaw pulls you toward the object.  I can see that as being the basis for Continuous (an upswing hit would not get this benefit).

 

With that said, a chainsaw being used as a weapon in fiction does appear to work more like a Lightsaber that has more Limitations on how it can be used and what it can affect. 

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I recall this question coming up in the past.

Pulp Hero, Dark Champions, Post Apocalyptic Hero, even Horror Hero, which would be the best fit.  None of them have a normal everyday chainsaw.

 

The reality is that Chainsaws make sucky melee weapons. You have to get to SciFi ones to even have a chance to not be silly. It IS a genre trope of Horror and by extension Urban Fantasy to have one of the Hero(ine)s with a chainsaw (thanks Ash/ Sam Raimi).

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I recently played MHI with a group of RPG friends, and they loved it! It was a definite hit.

 

One friend made his character a tribute to Ash from the Evil Dead movies, and we had to wing the stats for a chainsaw.  We looked online and there were at least 3 different stats on forums for a chainsaw.  Is there an 'official" one somewhere?  If not which set of stats would you recommend?

 

 

You don't want an "official" chainsaw. You want one that works like the one that guy had in those movies.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

Official Palindromedary

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  • 3 weeks later...

I mean, think about it -- people who slip with a chainsaw can get a horrible gash, maybe lose a limb. If it was a Continuous attack, they'd be cut in twain!

Thats more of a side effect. Rhink about this way, if I slip on a blade it does no more damage. If I slip on a chain saw and can't either move it or mysef, its still running and sawing is it not?

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