patent rover
As of right now combat is a very player centric affair that tends to make dealing with cops a lot like a game of whack a mole... Click the enforcer when they pop up and go about the case.
Hand to hand weapon to weapon combat needs expansion. It's the common way that the game punishes mistakes so doing it should be risky and engaging. Skill based.
Too that end... It should be pretty clunky, slow swings, big rejoinders and disarming attacks... Keeping fit and eating right can prepare you but you'll lose the majority of even fights unless you become skilled at blocking and dodging.
Your weapons cap out at cudgels, the enemy has access too murder weapons which means there's an echelon of fighting individuals who will hand you your ass without advantages such as pepper sprays or tasers, disposable and decisive.
Most NPCs also have access to a gun and a melee side arm, preferring to engage with a melee weapon, failing that their mitts, than failing that or when players get too big for their boots a gun. Creating a scaling economy of danger that incentivises quick scuffles and punishes long engagements, citizens grabbing reinforcement or other timers to make getting in quick and getting out necessary
violet wave