Anime Style Weapons: The Scythe [Archive] - Wizards Community

Anime Style Weapons: The Scythe [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Starmage21
09-15-04, 12:59 PM Want to carry around an anime style scythe in your game? no problem! Heres a minor rules variant just for you!

An anime stylized scythe appears only slightly varied from a regular scythe. The shaft of the weapon is not angular to allow more powerful blows(which might appear unwieldly to those unfamiliar with this kind of weapon), but straight. The blade of the weapon curves outward slightly like a scimitar and tapers to a wicked point. Most of these weapons have a thrusting point for use in small spaces as well. The Anime Style Scythe is an exotic weapon.

2 hand weapon(no monkey grip for you), reach weapon, otherwise as normal (2d4 damage/x4 crit. Pierce or Slashing damage).
obrysii
09-15-04, 09:31 PM so basically, all you did was make it a reach weapon?

It seems more cosmetic than anything
Starmage21
09-16-04, 12:20 AM when you can still use it to make trip attacks at reach makes it awesome. I had a character use a scythe like this for a long term game. Its not overbalanced at all.
Lord Nat
09-16-04, 01:13 AM Most of the time in Anime Scythes (?) are used one handed.

You can do this with a mod to the handle of the Scythe to make a loop that goes around most the arm near the top.

Let me see if I can find a pic of this some where....
questionc
09-16-04, 05:16 AM Actually... that kind of is overpowered.

Probably not a game-breaker or anything, but still, the Scythe is already one of the best weapons due to it's unique crit. If you add to it the fact that it has reach and can trip (basically obseleting the Guisarme and Glaive), then yes, it is overpowered.

It's a decent weapon concept though. I believe that making it an exotic weapon instead (which makes sense, as it's no longer a normal scythe) would fit it's abilities.
Watchman
09-16-04, 10:09 AM What's described here is likely a device known as falcastra, a Medieval polearm very obviously derived from the scythe. By what little I know of that rare weapon, it was essentially a scythe redesigned for combat. (Apparently not too popular though, which suggests it wasn't really worth the trouble.)

Well, that's nothing unusual really - falchions were originally little more than cleavers dragooned into combat service...
Starmage21
09-17-04, 01:26 AM An anime stylized scythe appears only slightly varied from a regular scythe. The shaft of the weapon is not angular to allow more powerful blows(which might appear unwieldly to those unfamiliar with this kind of weapon), but straight. The blade of the weapon curves outward slightly like a scimitar and tapers to a wicked point. Most of these weapons have a thrusting point for use in small spaces as well. The Anime Style Scythe is an exotic weapon.

sorry if it wasnt obvious enough =\

Heh actual scythe weapons used for warfare looked more like moon shaped blades at the end of a pole (and was considered a polearm)

*on another note*
One of my long term characters used a scythe just like this in combat without any exotic weapon proficiency. I dont recall the fact that it was a reach weapon making any fights we were in any easier (in fact, I recall several battles where it was much harder to fight with simply because it was a reach weapon).
questionc
09-17-04, 10:01 AM sorry if it wasnt obvious enough =\Doh!

I dont recall the fact that it was a reach weapon making any fights we were in any easier (in fact, I recall several battles where it was much harder to fight with simply because it was a reach weapon).*shrug* Reach is better than non-reach because WOTC says so I figure.
Starmage21
09-17-04, 11:23 AM lol

when dungeon crawling, ever fight alot of lesser creatures like kobolds or goblins? Normally, the smart thing to do is back into a doorway so only 1 or 2 can get to you at a time. You cant do that with a reach weapon, you have to back out 5' just to hit the guys that were in front of you :D
tarkin
09-17-04, 12:00 PM A reach weapon weilded by someone that does not take appropriate feats, planning etc. is a bad idea.

A reach weapon wielded by someeone that knows how to use it FAR better than a non-reach weapon.

It sometimes requires an ally to help you out, but it is a huge aid. Keep in mind that to make use of the reach weapon you need more space. If trapped in a 10ft by 10ft room, your reach will do no good. The ideal area is actually a forest: open enough to let you move, with enough cover to protect you against long distance ranged attacks.

What to do if you have a reach weapon and are in that doorway situation:

Let an ally get in the doorway blocking the enemy. You stand behind your ally, and make extra free attacks against your enemey. (They get Cover, but so what, your attacks are pure gravy on top of your allies's )

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Starmage21 09-15-04, 12:59 PM	Want to carry around an anime style scythe in your game? no problem! Heres a minor rules variant just for you! An anime stylized scythe appears only slightly varied from a regular scythe. The shaft of the weapon is not angular to allow more powerful blows(which might appear unwieldly to those unfamiliar with this kind of weapon), but straight. The blade of the weapon curves outward slightly like a scimitar and tapers to a wicked point. Most of these weapons have a thrusting point for use in small spaces as well. The Anime Style Scythe is an exotic weapon. 2 hand weapon(no monkey grip for you), reach weapon, otherwise as normal (2d4 damage/x4 crit. Pierce or Slashing damage).
obrysii 09-15-04, 09:31 PM	so basically, all you did was make it a reach weapon? It seems more cosmetic than anything
Starmage21 09-16-04, 12:20 AM	when you can still use it to make trip attacks at reach makes it awesome. I had a character use a scythe like this for a long term game. Its not overbalanced at all.
Lord Nat 09-16-04, 01:13 AM	Most of the time in Anime Scythes (?) are used one handed. You can do this with a mod to the handle of the Scythe to make a loop that goes around most the arm near the top. Let me see if I can find a pic of this some where....
questionc 09-16-04, 05:16 AM	Actually... that kind of is overpowered. Probably not a game-breaker or anything, but still, the Scythe is already one of the best weapons due to it's unique crit. If you add to it the fact that it has reach and can trip (basically obseleting the Guisarme and Glaive), then yes, it is overpowered. It's a decent weapon concept though. I believe that making it an exotic weapon instead (which makes sense, as it's no longer a normal scythe) would fit it's abilities.
Watchman 09-16-04, 10:09 AM	What's described here is likely a device known as falcastra, a Medieval polearm very obviously derived from the scythe. By what little I know of that rare weapon, it was essentially a scythe redesigned for combat. (Apparently not too popular though, which suggests it wasn't really worth the trouble.) Well, that's nothing unusual really - falchions were originally little more than cleavers dragooned into combat service...
Starmage21 09-17-04, 01:26 AM	An anime stylized scythe appears only slightly varied from a regular scythe. The shaft of the weapon is not angular to allow more powerful blows(which might appear unwieldly to those unfamiliar with this kind of weapon), but straight. The blade of the weapon curves outward slightly like a scimitar and tapers to a wicked point. Most of these weapons have a thrusting point for use in small spaces as well. The Anime Style Scythe is an exotic weapon. sorry if it wasnt obvious enough =\ Heh actual scythe weapons used for warfare looked more like moon shaped blades at the end of a pole (and was considered a polearm) on another note One of my long term characters used a scythe just like this in combat without any exotic weapon proficiency. I dont recall the fact that it was a reach weapon making any fights we were in any easier (in fact, I recall several battles where it was much harder to fight with simply because it was a reach weapon).
questionc 09-17-04, 10:01 AM	sorry if it wasnt obvious enough =\Doh! I dont recall the fact that it was a reach weapon making any fights we were in any easier (in fact, I recall several battles where it was much harder to fight with simply because it was a reach weapon).shrug Reach is better than non-reach because WOTC says so I figure.
Starmage21 09-17-04, 11:23 AM	lol when dungeon crawling, ever fight alot of lesser creatures like kobolds or goblins? Normally, the smart thing to do is back into a doorway so only 1 or 2 can get to you at a time. You cant do that with a reach weapon, you have to back out 5' just to hit the guys that were in front of you :D
tarkin 09-17-04, 12:00 PM	A reach weapon weilded by someone that does not take appropriate feats, planning etc. is a bad idea. A reach weapon wielded by someeone that knows how to use it FAR better than a non-reach weapon. It sometimes requires an ally to help you out, but it is a huge aid. Keep in mind that to make use of the reach weapon you need more space. If trapped in a 10ft by 10ft room, your reach will do no good. The ideal area is actually a forest: open enough to let you move, with enough cover to protect you against long distance ranged attacks. What to do if you have a reach weapon and are in that doorway situation: Let an ally get in the doorway blocking the enemy. You stand behind your ally, and make extra free attacks against your enemey. (They get Cover, but so what, your attacks are pure gravy on top of your allies's )