N18 Can you give knockback to unarmed models.

[GucciGonk]

hey everyone.

i thought I'd ask the hive mind on this one as i can't seem to find a way atm. tldr, is there a way to give the Knockback trait to an unarmed model?

I have a Goliath Stimmer with the Fists of Steel skill (unarmed attacks are S+2, D2). I'd love to give him knockback so i can move a whole bunch whilst pummeling some poor cawdor juve

From my current research, unarmed attacks don't have the 'melee' trait, and the things I've checked like the Bull Charge skill give weapons with the MELEE trait knockback.


Do any of you have some ideas as to if getting knockback on unarmed models is possible?

 

[Lunarcruiser]

As per rules Unarmed strikes aren't weapons and don't grant the Melee trait. They can just be used in close combat attacks. The Bull charge skill specifically uses the term "weapon with the Melee trait". So, no Melee trait means it can't be used to benefit from Bull Charge.
Incidentally as unarmed stiles lack the Melee or Sidearm trait they can't be used for Duel Wielding to gain an extra attack either.
There isn't a method of adding Knock back to a Goliath Strimmer unarmed attack.
Spud jackers are reasonably cheap however.

Apart from Fists of steel there is not a real way a Goliath Strimmer can improve a Unarmed attack aside from basic stat increases (normally or via gene smithing).
Alternatively, and this is a little out there, you could elevate the Strimmer to a Outcast Leader, give them Fists of Steel skill and the Wyrd Archetype and the Telekinesis discipline. That gives you a S+3 D3 unarmed strike.
That's a WS2+, S7 D3 attack. At 3A.
If they fail a Armour save if they have one the puny humans aren't getting up from that. You don't need Knockback on top. Give them a Harpoon launched as a comically giant pistol (with Ap-3) to deal with armoured foes and you're golden.
Plus you have willpower 7+ which is the best Willpower in the Goliath roster so you may actually be able to cast a power. Force Blast can even knock back foes close by. Or Crush to force choke the plebs.

 

[MusingWarboss]

As far as it goes, no. You can’t.

However if we’re talking about awesome themed miniatures and storytelling (and everyone is ok with it) then there’s nothing stopping you buying a spudjacker and not actually having one on the model as his “famous right hook” is known as “The Spudjacker” as it hits as hard as one (and uses the profile of one which must be on his fighter card and paid for).

If you’re trying to just buff unarmed then this approach isn’t going to work.

 

[GucciGonk]

thanks for the suggestions guys, i had my suspicions that it wasn't possible, but it's good to confirm that others couldnt find a way.
With my Stimmer, I'd given him Fists of Steel skill which gives unarmed attacks S+2 and D2, so i wouldn't be able to use the spudjacker trick. I do want to keep him with Fiats of Steel, cos he's also got the rapid fire grenade launcher, and with the Fists of Steel skill i don't need to give a melee weapon, which means i can save the creds for my other expensive heavily genesmithed guys xD. With him currently being 4+D3 attacks on the charge, at WS2+, S6, D2 it's been more than enough to turn anyone he so much as looks at into mist, and can even take down Spyrers if they fail their save.

The main reason for wanting the knockback is so i can 'move' a lot in combat. For example, I can charge 4+D3", then have 4+D3 attacks on the charge. with knock back you're probs moving 3-4 more inches, then if you've got Impetuous, after you've turned the victim into mist you get to move another 4". so the fighter is very slow, but if he can get a charge then he's moving 12" or more in a turn.

If you want to go full in on this idea they can take paired spud jackers, in which case you're getting a silly amount of attacks on the charge cos of paired so you can move what feels like halfway across the map, which i may do in another campaign.

thanks again for the help and cool ideas!