3.5 cutlass source? [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.5 cutlass source? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Snapdragyn
10-11-04, 06:26 PM Does anyone know of a 3.5 source for cutlass? I've poured through every 3.5 WotC book & can't find it, grrr.
Valkrist
10-11-04, 06:29 PM I believe I saw that puppy in a Mongoose book. Q-fighter 2 maybe?
Thorak
10-11-04, 07:56 PM But really, is it so hard to say "It's a shortish curvy sword, so I'll use Scimitar stats"? I mean, the greatsword covers claymores, zweihanders, flamberges, and a host of other types of 'greatsword'. All the weapon designations are designed like that. If it's really similar to an existing weapon, just use the existing stats and call it what you like for descriptive purposes.
Egres
10-11-04, 07:59 PM Does anyone know of a 3.5 source for cutlass? I've poured through every 3.5 WotC book & can't find it, grrr.
The PGtF didn't update it, and so you must simply use the FRCS version.
Tony Vargas
10-11-04, 08:00 PM It's a curved swordlike weapon. You could stat it as a kukri, scimitar, or even falchion, depending on how big you want it to be. You could even fill in a bastard-sword-sized version at d8 (18-20/x2) slashing as an exotic weapon (working just like a bastard sword), if you really wanted to.
Fixxxer
10-11-04, 09:23 PM Does anyone know of a 3.5 source for cutlass? I've poured through every 3.5 WotC book & can't find it, grrr.

3.5? Not that I know of. There was a cutlass in the 3.0 Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. As I recall, it was a martial weapon and was basically a longsword that provided +2 vs disarm attempts.
Arcen
10-11-04, 11:01 PM Dragon Magazine seems to reprint it every other month or so, should be showing up there any minute now.
Shadowsouled
10-12-04, 08:24 AM I would say the cutlass is more like a Short Sword than a scimitar. I would say this because it's a pirate sword and pirates are rogueish. If it is a curved short sword it could be finessed, scimitar can not be finessed.
Thorak
10-12-04, 08:41 AM I would say the cutlass is more like a Short Sword than a scimitar. I would say this because it's a pirate sword and pirates are rogueish. If it is a curved short sword it could be finessed, scimitar can not be finessed.
Except that cutlasses tended to be heavier than scimitars, and about the same length. So why on earth would it be finesseable?
Bluebrush
10-12-04, 08:53 AM In the april issue of Dragon (Pirates, Dinosaurs, Ninja!) the cutlass was presented as:

Light Martial weapon, d6, 19-20/x2 Slashing/piercing
Gains a +2 to disarm checks (Or maybe just resisting them, I'll have to check)
It was about the same weight as a short sword, and only a little more expensive.
psionichamster
10-12-04, 09:06 AM hmmm....the old scimitar vs. cutlass debate

(honestly, i dont know that its that old, or that deep, but hey...)

here's some pics of both

CUTLASS (http://www.arms2armor.com/reproductions/repros.htm#CURRENT5)

SCIMITAR (http://www.kevingsummers.com/NewFiles/scimitar.jpg)

as an indian weapon, the scimitar (also called a Shamshir and numerous other things) typically had a single edged, back-curving blade. sometimes, but not always, there was a false edge at the tip, enabling thrusts better. almost always, the grip was in an L shape, with the perpendicuar edge protruding under the weilders pinkies and helping to balance the curving edge...

the cutlass, as is shown in the above picture, often had a basket hilt, with a heavy, relatively short blade. often curved and single edged, the cutlass's shorter total length and heavy guarding of the user's hand made it very useful for defense and attack on the close confines of a ship, which is where it was most often used.

the companion weapons to these, as the dagger to the longsword, were the Kris for the Scimitar and the Hanger for the Cutlass...

give them a look on google for some decent info

as has been suggested before, i'd use scimitar stats for the cutlass, perhaps trading the improved crit range for a +2 to disarm checks, or something similar...

hope this helps,
the hamster

ps...i know the scimitar pic is not that good...i had a better one, but the internet ate it on me! :(
dalantjen
10-12-04, 12:19 PM I believe the Seafarer's Handbook had one listed as well (though that is 3.0 material) and I think they listed it just as psionichamster suggested, a scimitar with a bonus to disarm instead of extra crit range.

I loaned my book to a buddy though, so I can't say for sure.
Neofish
10-12-04, 10:53 PM In the april issue of Dragon (Pirates, Dinosaurs, Ninja!) the cutlass was presented as:

Light Martial weapon, d6, 19-20/x2 Slashing/piercing
Gains a +2 to disarm checks (Or maybe just resisting them, I'll have to check)
It was about the same weight as a short sword, and only a little more expensive.

he's exactly right, that is the 3.5 version of the cutlass.
Edymnion
10-12-04, 11:02 PM hmmm....the old scimitar vs. cutlass debate

(honestly, i dont know that its that old, or that deep, but hey...)

here's some pics of both

CUTLASS (http://www.arms2armor.com/reproductions/repros.htm#CURRENT5)

SCIMITAR (http://www.kevingsummers.com/NewFiles/scimitar.jpg)Agreed.
As someone that collects swords, and owns both a cutlass and a scimitar, they're nothing alike. The cutlass, while not exactly on par with a shortsword, is still relatively light and nimble. The scimitar on the other hand, that bad boy is more like a one handed axe. The extra blade at the end makes it end heavy, meaning you get it moving and let it's own momentum carry the blow through.

Mechanically though, I'd say downsize the scimitar (drop it's size catagory by one, drop the damage dice one step), and there you go, a cutlass.
Feldspar
10-14-04, 07:53 PM In the april issue of Dragon (Pirates, Dinosaurs, Ninja!) the cutlass was presented as:

Light Martial weapon, d6, 19-20/x2 Slashing/piercing
Gains a +2 to disarm checks (Or maybe just resisting them, I'll have to check)
It was about the same weight as a short sword, and only a little more expensive.

I'm generally against creating new weapons unless they really are different. Is a cutlass just a basket-hilted short sword? Is a broadsword just a basket hilted longsword? Maybe the best way to do this is to add a new piece of equipment:

Basket Hilt: Adding a basket hilt to a one handed or light weapon gives you a +2 to disarm checks but 1) prevents the use of the weapon two-handed and 2) does not allow you switch the weapon from one hand to the other as a free action.

This offers similar, though scaled down, benefits and restrictions of a locked gauntet.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Snapdragyn 10-11-04, 06:26 PM	Does anyone know of a 3.5 source for cutlass? I've poured through every 3.5 WotC book & can't find it, grrr.
Valkrist 10-11-04, 06:29 PM	I believe I saw that puppy in a Mongoose book. Q-fighter 2 maybe?
Thorak 10-11-04, 07:56 PM	But really, is it so hard to say "It's a shortish curvy sword, so I'll use Scimitar stats"? I mean, the greatsword covers claymores, zweihanders, flamberges, and a host of other types of 'greatsword'. All the weapon designations are designed like that. If it's really similar to an existing weapon, just use the existing stats and call it what you like for descriptive purposes.
Egres 10-11-04, 07:59 PM	Does anyone know of a 3.5 source for cutlass? I've poured through every 3.5 WotC book & can't find it, grrr. The PGtF didn't update it, and so you must simply use the FRCS version.
Tony Vargas 10-11-04, 08:00 PM	It's a curved swordlike weapon. You could stat it as a kukri, scimitar, or even falchion, depending on how big you want it to be. You could even fill in a bastard-sword-sized version at d8 (18-20/x2) slashing as an exotic weapon (working just like a bastard sword), if you really wanted to.
Fixxxer 10-11-04, 09:23 PM	Does anyone know of a 3.5 source for cutlass? I've poured through every 3.5 WotC book & can't find it, grrr. 3.5? Not that I know of. There was a cutlass in the 3.0 Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. As I recall, it was a martial weapon and was basically a longsword that provided +2 vs disarm attempts.
Arcen 10-11-04, 11:01 PM	Dragon Magazine seems to reprint it every other month or so, should be showing up there any minute now.
Shadowsouled 10-12-04, 08:24 AM	I would say the cutlass is more like a Short Sword than a scimitar. I would say this because it's a pirate sword and pirates are rogueish. If it is a curved short sword it could be finessed, scimitar can not be finessed.
Thorak 10-12-04, 08:41 AM	I would say the cutlass is more like a Short Sword than a scimitar. I would say this because it's a pirate sword and pirates are rogueish. If it is a curved short sword it could be finessed, scimitar can not be finessed. Except that cutlasses tended to be heavier than scimitars, and about the same length. So why on earth would it be finesseable?
Bluebrush 10-12-04, 08:53 AM	In the april issue of Dragon (Pirates, Dinosaurs, Ninja!) the cutlass was presented as: Light Martial weapon, d6, 19-20/x2 Slashing/piercing Gains a +2 to disarm checks (Or maybe just resisting them, I'll have to check) It was about the same weight as a short sword, and only a little more expensive.
psionichamster 10-12-04, 09:06 AM	hmmm....the old scimitar vs. cutlass debate (honestly, i dont know that its that old, or that deep, but hey...) here's some pics of both CUTLASS (http://www.arms2armor.com/reproductions/repros.htm#CURRENT5) SCIMITAR (http://www.kevingsummers.com/NewFiles/scimitar.jpg) as an indian weapon, the scimitar (also called a Shamshir and numerous other things) typically had a single edged, back-curving blade. sometimes, but not always, there was a false edge at the tip, enabling thrusts better. almost always, the grip was in an L shape, with the perpendicuar edge protruding under the weilders pinkies and helping to balance the curving edge... the cutlass, as is shown in the above picture, often had a basket hilt, with a heavy, relatively short blade. often curved and single edged, the cutlass's shorter total length and heavy guarding of the user's hand made it very useful for defense and attack on the close confines of a ship, which is where it was most often used. the companion weapons to these, as the dagger to the longsword, were the Kris for the Scimitar and the Hanger for the Cutlass... give them a look on google for some decent info as has been suggested before, i'd use scimitar stats for the cutlass, perhaps trading the improved crit range for a +2 to disarm checks, or something similar... hope this helps, the hamster ps...i know the scimitar pic is not that good...i had a better one, but the internet ate it on me! :(
dalantjen 10-12-04, 12:19 PM	I believe the Seafarer's Handbook had one listed as well (though that is 3.0 material) and I think they listed it just as psionichamster suggested, a scimitar with a bonus to disarm instead of extra crit range. I loaned my book to a buddy though, so I can't say for sure.
Neofish 10-12-04, 10:53 PM	In the april issue of Dragon (Pirates, Dinosaurs, Ninja!) the cutlass was presented as: Light Martial weapon, d6, 19-20/x2 Slashing/piercing Gains a +2 to disarm checks (Or maybe just resisting them, I'll have to check) It was about the same weight as a short sword, and only a little more expensive. he's exactly right, that is the 3.5 version of the cutlass.
Edymnion 10-12-04, 11:02 PM	hmmm....the old scimitar vs. cutlass debate (honestly, i dont know that its that old, or that deep, but hey...) here's some pics of both CUTLASS (http://www.arms2armor.com/reproductions/repros.htm#CURRENT5) SCIMITAR (http://www.kevingsummers.com/NewFiles/scimitar.jpg)Agreed. As someone that collects swords, and owns both a cutlass and a scimitar, they're nothing alike. The cutlass, while not exactly on par with a shortsword, is still relatively light and nimble. The scimitar on the other hand, that bad boy is more like a one handed axe. The extra blade at the end makes it end heavy, meaning you get it moving and let it's own momentum carry the blow through. Mechanically though, I'd say downsize the scimitar (drop it's size catagory by one, drop the damage dice one step), and there you go, a cutlass.
Feldspar 10-14-04, 07:53 PM	In the april issue of Dragon (Pirates, Dinosaurs, Ninja!) the cutlass was presented as: Light Martial weapon, d6, 19-20/x2 Slashing/piercing Gains a +2 to disarm checks (Or maybe just resisting them, I'll have to check) It was about the same weight as a short sword, and only a little more expensive. I'm generally against creating new weapons unless they really are different. Is a cutlass just a basket-hilted short sword? Is a broadsword just a basket hilted longsword? Maybe the best way to do this is to add a new piece of equipment: Basket Hilt: Adding a basket hilt to a one handed or light weapon gives you a +2 to disarm checks but 1) prevents the use of the weapon two-handed and 2) does not allow you switch the weapon from one hand to the other as a free action. This offers similar, though scaled down, benefits and restrictions of a locked gauntet.