Dual wielding in CPR  

 Another little guide for newcomers. Dual wielding in CPR is very different to other TTRPGs and I see a lot of topics asking questions about it. For more experienced GMs, feel free to comment, I'll update my post whenever I find it relevant (if I've missed something really important, and if I've got RAW wrong).

It's not about getting more attack/turn, but rather about having the choice to adapt during a fight without spending an action to switch weapons.

 1- p.169 DATA "No matter how many weapons you're holding, you can never make more than two Attack Checks as part of an Action. You also can't attack with two 1 ROF weapons in the same Action, even if you're dual wielding them."

2 -p.169 Split Movement and ROF "These are called 2 Rate of Fire Attacks (or 2 ROF). All attacks from 2 ROF sources can be "split" across a Move Action. You can move, shoot, move, shoot, move. You can even make a single attack from each of two different 2 ROF sources by "Splitting" your two attacks across the two of them, allowing them both to be used in a single Turn. So yes, you can use the Heavy Pistol in your left hand to take a shot down the hallway, then walk down that disgusting hallway to stab your victim with the machete in your right hand. Attacks from 1 ROF sources are slower, and take your whole Attack Action*, but you can still split movement around them."

3- p.170 Drawing, Dropping, and Stowing "Drawing an easily accessible weapon into a free hand isn't an Action. Dropping a held weapon to the ground isn't an Action but stowing it on your person is an Action. One exception: equipping and dropping a Shield takes an Action."

4- p.176 Melee Weapons in Combat "Melee weapons must be wielded in the number of hands that they were designed for, unless their handedness is specifically stated as otherwise, with one exception: A Character with BODY 8 or higher can wield a Melee Weapon designed to be wielded in two hands in a single hand."

5- You can use either or both hands without malus. No source here as there is no malus described for using both hands or your non dominant hand. 

 You do not increase the number of attacks you can make per turn when dual wielding. That's not the point in CPR.

So ? What are the advantages ?

You can wield 2 weapons without any malus. And as it takes an action to stow a weapon on you, being able to hold two gives you a permanent choice between two weapons without having to spend an action to change weapons. This is huge in a game where you have 1 action per turn (and 1 Move action).

Combat Questions Answered By James Hutt. --> 48:09 Dual Wielding

Here some examples :

2 Heavy Pistols

• • • you can fire one bullet from each during the same turn. If you have different ammo in magazine you can have choice. (AP + Incendiary)

    • you will likely not need to reload.

2 Heavy/Medium Melee Weapon

• • • you can benefit from two different effects in the same turn. Only few Heavy/Medium weapon have special effect in Red. Examples : Wakisahi mono, Tanto, stun baton. It's FAR better with CEMK + DLC about cyberweapon enhancement.

Heavy Pistol + Heavy Melee weapon.

• • • Let's you move, kill a dude with you melee weapon (armor/2) then, if you don't have enough movement to reach another opponent, you can shoot at him.

2 VHeavy Pistol

• • • If you have different ammo in magazine you can have choice : Turn 1 Incendiary, then Turn 2 AP.

    • you will likely not need to reload.

2 VHeavy Melee Weapon (Body 8)

• • • you can benefit from two differents effects but not in the same turn : Kendachi Mono 3 (ignore armor SP10-) & Arasaka Reaver (fire, AP effects).

    • VHeavy Pistol + VHeavy Melee weapon (Body 8).

    • If you can't reach someone, you can shoot at him.

VHeavy Pistol + Heavy pistol

• • • If you have different ammo in magazine you can have choice : Turn 1 Incendiary, then Turn 2 AP.

    • if you opponent have SP11 you can start to ablate his armor with a VHP then finish him with the HP.

SMG + VHeavy pistol (incendiary ammo)

• • • Incendiary ammo at the start of the combat

    • Autofire will get through the armor and dish massive damage.

And it starts to be really versatile with 2 cyberams (TechUP +1 slot) that's 4 weapons and 2 subdermal grip. You can't pop-up VH Melee weapon (except ChainRipp 4 slots or one linear frame 5K or a Invent + TechUP with some GM fiat here, we have such an upgrade in Interface 3.), but if you need one the cybernake is here for you and doesn't require any hand. The great thing about a pop-up weapon, in addition to concealment, is that you don't need an action to stow such a weapon. This gives you plenty of choice in terms of ROF, damage, ammo and range.

 For those coming from D&D or other games that offer more attacks per turn, this may seem a little disappointing. But once you understand the spirit of CPR and apply all the rules, it becomes clear that this ability brings undeniable advantages for a whole category of character.

Of course, Martial Artists and other bloodthirsty brutes using HW and a plethora of 2-handed weapons will find it pointless. On the other hand, when you get your fingers crushed, when you lose a hand or an arm. You're glad you've got Handgun. And even they'll be happy to have a Hurricane shotgun in two hands and an Assault Rifle in two others (shoulder arm mount).