Core Rules - Melee Combat

[Jak Nazryth]

Melee rules state "when a Traveller is within 2 meters of an enemy, they are said to be locked in close combat.
Is this supposed to say "within 1 meter of an enemy"?
Traveller combat gird/movement is divided into 1.5 meter spaces... 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, and so on...
Because 1.5 meters is approximately 5 feet. 2 meters is over 6'. 1 meter is around 3' (which makes sense)
I can shoot my shotgun (or rifle) at anyone 5' (1.5m ) in front of me. If they are 3 feet (1 meter) from me... basically in my face (locked in close combat) then yeah... I'm kinda screwed with a long gun... which is when bayonets come in handy!
Basically (if you use a combat/grid map) when you "enter an occupied space" you are in close combat.

Is this correct... should it be 1 meter instead of 2 meters?

 

[legozhodani]

A competent swordsman can also skewer you from 3 metres, even with a relatively heavy blade. So 2 meters sounds good to me. At 2m you raise weapon/pull trigger, I slash or lunge. Who ever misses is toast. On the whole the firearm will do more damage, but still dangerous for all. And 2m is pretty close for bayonet range, taken from the person. Spear like weapons are good at, again 3m or so between two bodies. Within that the weapon is tipped and they are within your reach unless you pull back or engage in 'grapple'.

As grapple is within Traveller rules. Winner may still end up stabbing or shooting the looser.

Just my 2p worth.

 

[Jak Nazryth]

All true... a person with a knife can rush somebody from a distance of 15'-20' (5-6 meters) before the other can draw and shoot. That is what causes a lot of controversy with "Police brutality" when a cop shoots at a knife wielding subject when he's 3-4 meters distance. Most people simply don't understand how quickly a knife wielding subject can charge and start stabbing/slashing throats.
Hence... if a Traveller character can move his 6 meters (4 spaces) on a minor action and be in the space beside the target, he gets a melee attack.
Close Combat is a special circumstance above and beyond the normal "melee attack" significant action. Otherwise, why not call melee attack "close combat" attack?

Since I'm focused on the "Close Combat" rules mechanic....
As written, since a combat grid is 1.5 meters, if the 2 meters = "close combat" rule is true, then somebody 2 squares away is considered "in close combat" with an enemy. This is dumb because if a bad guy finishes his minor action (move) and ends 2 squares from a target (since 2 meters distance rounds up to 3 meters, not down to 1.5 meters... on a combat grid) then he can attack with a knife? And the person he is attacking cannot return fire with a shotgun? That doesn't make any since. You wouldn't have to even move next to his space to attack with your fists, knife, or anything to be considered in close combat!

Either the rule needs to say "1.5 metes" (in the square next to the opponent) or 1 meter (within the opponents space)
Based on all the other game mechanics I've played in the past "Close Combat" is a special consideration separate from "melee" combat, and has ALWAYS been defined as "in your face" (within your hex/grid/space) because it does prevent long guns from being used, and even pistols are at a disadvantage... the two target in essence must trade blows with close combat weapons, like knives, fists, etc..
Now per your example above, if a competent swordsman has enough movement, he CAN end up in an opponents space and be considered "in close combat"... then the poor soul he's attacking is screwed.
Unless there is some official input, I can only assume the rule meant to say "within 1 meter"

I'm kindly looking for Mathew / Mongoose writers to reply.

 

[Condottiere]

Shooting from the hip option.