Shovel spears

[sillls]

Shovel spears

 

Shovel spears or a shovel being used as a spear works surprisingly well as a weapon. I started out using a stone shovel which looks sort of like a spear. Then worked my way up to iron ones.

 

Using a shovel as a spear looks better and gives the player more options.

 

When the shovel is used as a weapon, you have a slightly better range than any other may melee (non ranged) weapon. So you can stay out of a zombies attack and better at avoiding getting hit.

This is best used against crawlers zombies and snakes. Up until now there was no real way to fight against snakes since it was nearly impossible to hit them with a ranged weapon and attacking them with a melee was exposing you to get hit both badly and repeatedly. The best thing you could do was to avoid them.

 

For walking zombies. I find that it is best to aim for the neck since this is more likely to stun them. Plus you have a good chance to hit them in the head.

While the object is to hit the head, it's better to aim for the neck because some zombies bob there hear side to side. Making it hard to hit.

 

The tradeoff is that like the stone ax, the shovel is a tool and does do as much damage as a spiked club but it's slightly better ranged makes up for it. Naturally an iron or even steel shovels would work better do to the material used.

 

As with all weapons, the player needs to practice to get better but it has a short learning curve and it won't take long for the player to pick up.

 

On the down side, the shovel is not the best to be used against aggressive animals like the boar, since they have a different type of attack of ramming the player. I tried it once with a stone shovel and got my ass handed to me by one very quickly and got gored to death. I only tried this once with a stone one and may have faired better if I used hit and run tactics. Instead of going head to head with one. Lesson learned.

 

Can be more useful in Alpha 17 since improved AI makes zombies more effective at attacking.

 

 

So to summaries, shovels used as spears:

 

 

Have the best range of all melee weapons.

Have a different angle of attack.

Better at taking out crawlers.

Much better at taking out snakes by far.

Better at stunning walking zombies if you aim for the neck.

Help you even more in next Alpha.

 

Not good for attacking animals like boars.

Have only average entry damage.

 

 

Note: Steel shovels not tested.

 

 

Let me know what you guys think.

 

 

EDIT: Steel shovels tested and work better than other ones, as expected.

 

 

Note: Even use a stone shovel is good.

 

October-27-2018

Update: Here is a screenshot of me using a simple stone shovel on day one:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1549434505

[skullpoker]

Boars don't notice you until you hit them, meaning you can run right up to them, crouch, and get a sneak attack with your bow. I have not seen a boar take more than one hit.

 

As for crawlers and snakes, I advocate crouching for them, too. Even if they already see you it is easier to hit low enemies with any weapon when you're closer to their level. If I tried to use a shovel on a snake I'm pretty sure I would end up creating a snake pit and leaving.

[Druga Runda]

Definitely interested in testing steel shovels spears.

 

I'll eventually change axes to do actual damage, as it's more fitting to a Z - apocalypse game, will likely add shovels to the list in some fashion.

[SittingDuck]

Definitely interested in testing steel shovels spears.

 

I'll eventually change axes to do actual damage, as it's more fitting to a Z - apocalypse game, will likely add shovels to the list in some fashion.

 

yeah shovels work but i don´t like shoveling Zs

 

I think the working tool should work as weapons but are slower to hit would be a good change. like the sledge Hammer.

btw a fighting axe would have a bigger blade because for a good hit you need a rectangular angle to the swinging pole, and with a bigger circle you improve that changse very much.

[Talibvor]

Shovel spears

 

I was fortunate enough to score the "Spears" CD at a used record store in Boulder, CO back in 94 or 95.

 

Probably my favorite TT record in a tie with "Nomad."