Descriptions are fluff. Nowhere, in the weapons Section, does it make mention of the Scythe of Semai having a blade. Both the Belzarach and the Scythe have a CC mod of 0, but that just means that in CC they do the same DM as if they were fired. There is no SA of slashing, rending, etc., just a CC of 0.
I am not trying to come down on this. With their CC 0, they are impressive weapons in CC - but they do not get any SA for their "blades."
One other note - the pics show blades, but, I have seen plenty of Belzarachs on Legionnaires that have no blades, and Scythes whose blades are not even close to three feet long (in scale) so the argument on that is definitely up for grabs.
That's likely because they are considered sturdy weapons for knocking someone upside the head with a buttstroke.
At any rate, the following is culled word for word from my file of the pre-release rules and checked against teh released book... Both match so I know there was no change in this between final testing and printing. I may sound a bit harsh... but its because I went and did the stinkin' research when I really should not have had to.
Section 8.5, page 49 (top of page)Unless otherwise stated in a model’s profile, models may not make Ranged Combat attacks while engaged in Close Combat. Nor can they use any special equipment that is not related to Close Combat while engaged in Close Combat. Items that require no active effort on the part of the user (such as gas masks and environmental suits) are an exception to this rule.
Section 21, page 127 under heading of Close Combat: "This range comes into play when a model is in Base contact with an enemy model and attempting to use an equipped weapon on that enemy model. While Melee Weapons are best at these ranges, most other weapons suffer problems. Sidearms are compact enough to allow a model to use it in Close Combat Range to shoot an opponent with greater Penetration and Harm, which is reflected in their bonus to hit. ALL OTHER WEAPON TYPES, with the exception of SOME SPECIAL) are difficult to use at close combat range, with the butt of a weapon's stock being used to bludgeon an opponent, since the barrel cannot be brought to bear at an enemy that is so close."/[/i][
Further More, it mentions at the start of
Section 21.3 that rifles can only be used as AdHoc clubs in Close Combat and that rifles with the exception of the Yari and theBelzarach, are unwieldly in CC.
This alludes to the thought/belief that the damage of a rifle in CC is the model STR score + bonus for charging/extra models. Bayonet's description
(Section 21.8 on page 141 in the box marked Bayonets) says it adds + to CC Value and or + to DM of a Rifles Close combat score, which has been established as the CC modifier and model strength for to hit/damage (IE: if you can't shoot him, you are therefore clubbing him using the model str for damage) respectively. For Example: AC19 Volcano on a brotherhood trooper : Cc -4, DM 4 (str of trooper)
Adding a bladed bayonet (+1CC/+1 Dam) makes the Volcano a -3CC/4+1 before any charge bonuses.
The Sectioner…yep, adds 6 points of Damage in CC… but nothing to the CC score. The Belzarach cannot take a loadout and as mentioned, it is supposedly built in like the Yari Shogun bayonet is. I can accept this very willingly… and would play it as such.
Now….
<insert sarcastic acidic tone here> What part of the above says that one uses the SHOOTING DAMAGE when a bayonet is used? Where have I missed a reference in the book? GIVE ME A PAGE reference please.</end tone>
If someone would read the book and see what's written (and yes, maybe it should have been clarified a bit better… but come on people- use the grey matter between your ears!!), the answer to this particular question is readily apparent and if someone had bothered to read a little bit more, this arguement would have been a non-starter.
Thank you for reading.
