Se7en Sagas

In the Dawnfall universe, where survival is an art, your equipment is not just about defense and offense; it’s about making a statement and adapting to a world reborn from ashes. While the core book offers a narrative approach to gear, allowing you to do things you normally couldn’t or enhancing your skills, this post is dedicated to those of you craving a more granular, tactical depth—especially when it comes to combat equipment.

General Guidelines

Before diving into the specifics, remember that the guidelines for obtaining, repairing, and personalizing equipment in the core book still apply. Use these rules to further define the functionality and tactical advantages of your gear.

Combat Equipment Breakdown

Weapons

In the harsh landscapes of Dawnfall, weapons are as much about survival as they are about combat. We categorize them into light and heavy, with each category offering unique tactical benefits. Light weapons give +1 to damage, heavy weapons give +2 to damage, light armor absorbs 1 point of damage, heavy armor absorbs 2 points of damage.

The damage a player would inflict is still aplied to the Hit Threshold of the enemies, and the damage a player would receive is still aplied to his Physical Stress.

Light Weapons

• Scrap Dagger: Gives +1 to initiative, perfect for those crucial first strikes. Made from sharpened metal scraps, it’s quick to draw and deadly in a skirmish.
• Salvaged Cleaver: Offers +1 to parry attempts. This repurposed tool is ideal for defensive maneuvers, giving you the upper hand in close quarters.
• Rebar Club: Delivers +1 to stun attacks. This hefty piece of construction debris is effective for subduing foes without lethal force.

Heavy Weapons

• Wrecking Axe: Inflicts +1 damage against armored opponents, tearing through makeshift defenses with ease.
• Chain-bound Hammer: Allows a player a retry on one missed attack per combat; however, its weight and lack of balance also give -1 to the skill test. It looks cool, though.
• Industrial Warhammer: Ignores 1 point of armor soak. Forged from heavy machinery parts, it’s designed to demolish any defense.

Light Ranged Weapons

• Refurbished Bow: +1 to hit at long range. Crafted from durable scrap materials, it’s perfect for taking down enemies from a distance. Medium Range.
• Homemade Crossbow: +1 damage on the first hit, deadly in ambush scenarios. Constructed from various machine parts, it’s reliable and lethal. Medium Range.
• Thrown Gear Blades: Can attack multiple targets in one round. These sharpened industrial saw blades are deadly when hurled with precision. Close Range.
• Scrap Pistol: A makeshift firearm crafted from assorted metal parts and old gun components. Its reliability varies, but it packs a decent punch when it counts. +1 to initiative; quick to draw, allowing for a rapid follow-up action if the first shot misses. Medium Range.
• Pipe Rifle: Constructed from plumbing pipes and fitted with a basic firing mechanism. It’s longer than a pistol but still light enough to be handled with ease to hit at medium range; this weapon is designed for slightly longer engagements than typical light weapons. Medium Range.

Heavy Ranged Weapons

• Junkyard Harpoon Gun: A heavy-duty weapon re-engineered from industrial equipment to fire large metal harpoons. It’s cumbersome but devastating. +2 damage; can pin an enemy to surfaces if the shot exceeds the enemy’s Difficulty by 3 points. Medium Range.
• Salvaged Rocket Launcher: Once a military-grade weapon, now patched together with various mechanical scraps. It fires explosive projectiles made from scavenged ordnance. +3 damage to the primary target and +1 damage to all adjacent targets; ideal for disrupting enemy groups. Long Range.
• Railroad Spike Shooter: A formidable weapon that uses compressed air or gunpowder to launch heavy railroad spikes at high velocity. Ignores 2 points of armor soak; the sheer force and mass of the spikes make it a lethal choice against armored foes. Medium Range.
• Industrial Coilgun: Utilizes electromagnetic coils to launch metal projectiles at high speeds. It’s a pinnacle of scavenger engineering. +2 damage with increased accuracy; allows re-rolls on missed attacks thanks to its precision engineering. Long Range.

Armor

Protection in Dawnfall is about layering scavenged materials to create effective barriers against attacks.

Light Armor

• Tire-Tread Vest: Absorbs 1 point of damage per attack, crafted from rubber tires for mobility and noise reduction.
• Canvas Shield-Garb: Enhances stealth with its environment-blending design, ideal for silent reconnaissance missions.

Heavy Armor

• Car Door Cuirass: Absorbs 2 points of damage per attack. This repurposed car door provides significant protection and intimidates foes with its imposing presence.
• Stop Sign Block Armor: Offers the highest durability, ideal for those leading the charge. Made from road stop signs, it turns a fighter into a juggernaut.

Conclusion

The Dawnfall equipment system is designed to be as dynamic and resilient as the survivors who wield it. By choosing the right gear, you not only prepare yourself for the threats of a broken world but also carve out your identity in the ruins. Whether you’re assembling a silent assassin’s kit or gearing up for frontal assault, your equipment choices define your survival strategy in the wastelands of Dawnfall.