New improvised weapon: The Powerhead (a.k.a: the Bang Stick)

[V-Fib]

Quite simply: a wooden, iron, or steel shaft/spear with a bullet/shotgun shell on the end, which, when driven into the target, hits the primer and fires the round. Though normally used for shark/alligator/warthog hunting, it has been repurposed into dispatching the undead.

Example:

3 tiers:

Improvised Bang Stick

Made from wood and duct tape. Ammunition includes shotgun shells and 44 magnum rounds. Durability is only a few hits (1-5ish hits) before it breaks completely, and it only loads one round at a time. Does less damage than a firearm would do, but has more range than a regular melee weapon.

Bang Stick

Made from forged iron. Also can use shotgun shells, 44 magnum rounds, and shotgun slugs. Much greater durability. One round at a time.

Powerhead

Made from forged steel. Can use all the above ammunition. Even greater durability. One round at a time. Does the most damage out of the three.

 

[Brian9824]

Seems to do basically the exact same thing as the blunderbuss and would very quickly became obsolete versus a shotgun.

 

[V-Fib]

Seems to do basically the exact same thing as the blunderbuss and would very quickly became obsolete versus a shotgun.

It would be easier to craft than a blunderbuss, and it's meant to be easy to create so that when you're just starting out, or get stranded without resources, you can easily craft a self defense weapon. It's not meant to replace guns at all; it's just a cheap weapon that can be easily made.

 

[Brian9824]

It would be easier to craft than a blunderbuss, and it's meant to be easy to create so that when you're just starting out, or get stranded without resources, you can easily craft a self defense weapon. It's not meant to replace guns at all; it's just a cheap weapon that can be easily made.

A blunderbuss just takes some forged iron, duct tape and other easy to find items. All stuff you have by day 2-3 in game. You have the materials to craft the blunderbuss far before you have the components and skills to actually make shotgun or magnum ammo.

So it makes no sense to add ANOTHER weapon BEFORE the blunderbuss, that uses ammo thats not able to be made till the weapon would be obsolete.

It also makes no sense to make 3 different versions as thats what quality is for. The quality determins the damage and durability of fire arms.

 

[V-Fib]

A blunderbuss just takes some forged iron, duct tape and other easy to find items. All stuff you have by day 2-3 in game. You have the materials to craft the blunderbuss far before you have the components and skills to actually make shotgun or magnum ammo.
So it makes no sense to add ANOTHER weapon BEFORE the blunderbuss, that uses ammo thats not able to be made till the weapon would be obsolete.

It also makes no sense to make 3 different versions as thats what quality is for. The quality determins the damage and durability of fire arms.

This isn't a firearm; it would be classified as a melee weapon that uses ammunition as the component that does the damage.

Maybe this change: single use before it breaks, but has an extremely high chance to stun/knock down the target.

 

[Brian9824]

The point though is your describing an item which takes ammo and by the time you can make or get access to the ammo you'd have access to far better options.

So the item doesn't really fit anywhere. That plus the blunderbuss literally does the same thing, at the same range, and already acts as a bridge to guns. So there is basically no benefit to making the item as you suggest vs just using the blunderbuss which is easy to craft.