Are these balanced weapons? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are these balanced weapons? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
StruckingFuggle
02-13-07, 02:23 PM So, yeah. Tossing around some custom weapons for my campaign. Could use some input on if they're unbalanced or not (all weapon damages sized for medium creatures).

Light Exotic* Melee Weapon:
Clawbracer - 1d6 x3 (slashing). A clawbracer is strapped to the forearm, rather than held in the hand, leaving the wielder's hands free to hold or manipulate objects, though it prohibits the use of a shield. Furthermore, the wielder of a clawbracer gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC while fighting defensively or using the total defensive action. Due to the nature of wearing one, the wielder gains a +14 bonus vs. being disarmed of their clawbracer.

One-Handed Exotic* Melee Weapon:
Clawbuckler - 1d8 x3 (slashing). A clawbuckler functions like a clawbracer in all respects, plus it grants a +1 shield bonus.

Two-Handed Martial Melee Weapons:
Partisan - 1d10 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon. A Partisan can be used to trip.
Longneedle - 1d8 x3 (piercing). Reach Weapon. Can be Finessed.
Greatmaul - 2d6 x4 (bludgeoning).
Dire Maul - 2d4 x4 (bludgeoning). A Dire Maul can be wielded one-handed as an exotic weapon**.

Two-Handed Exotic Melee Weapon:
Longinus - 1d8 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon, can be Finessed.

Notes:
*starred becuase while exotic, they're also the racially familiar weapons of a race that uses a lot of 'em.
**The Dire Maul is meant to give Exotic Weapon Masters a gigantic hammer for swinging around with Uncanny Blow.

Anyway.. Anything that's sitting and waiting to horribly unbalance a game, or are they all fairly safe?
Grod_The_Giant
02-13-07, 02:25 PM Greatmaul is overpowered. I can tell you that right now. Same damage as a greatsword/greataxe, with the scythe's crit modifier? Exotic, maybe. Martial, no.
RobbyPants
02-13-07, 02:34 PM As Grod said, the greatmaul is too powerful for a martial weapon. It's pushing it for an exotic weapon.

I'd consider the Longneedle fair for a martial weapon, but you have the Longinus as exotic, even though they're effectively the same weapon. Remember that 19-20 x2 is considered the same as 20 x3 (think swords and axes). Consider dropping the Longinus to martial.

Other than that, nothing's really jumping out as too powerful.
draconic_swine
02-13-07, 02:39 PM Clawbracer and clawbuckler seem fine, but I'd reduce the bonus against being disarmed to +10 - the same as a locked gauntlet.

The partisan is too powerful for a martial weapon - it has reach and can trip like the guisarme, has an equivalent crit to the guisarme, yet does better damage.

Longneedle is fine - it's a longspear that can be finessed.

Greatmaul and dire maul both too powerful, as have been mentioned.

Longinus is underpowered (since it's the equivalent to the longneedle), as has also been mentioned.
StruckingFuggle
02-13-07, 02:40 PM As Grod said, the greatmaul is too powerful for a martial weapon. It's pushing it for an exotic weapon.

I'd consider the Longneedle fair for a martial weapon, but you have the Longinus as exotic, even though they're effectively the same weapon. Remember that 19-20 x2 is considered the same as 20 x3 (think swords and axes). Consider dropping the Longinus to martial.

Other than that, nothing's really jumping out as too powerful.

I had Longinus as exotic since it's got both the 19-20 threat range and that it's finessable. If I drop it to Martial, it pretty much gives the Longneedle no reason to exist (except if players prefer x3 over 19-20x2, I guess...)

Hm. So what would be fair weapon damage for a one-handed exotic bludgeoning weapon with a x4 crit?
draconic_swine
02-13-07, 02:47 PM I had Longinus as exotic since it's got both the 19-20 threat range and that it's finessable. If I drop it to Martial, it pretty much gives the Longneedle no reason to exist (except if players prefer x3 over 19-20x2, I guess...)

Hm. So what would be fair weapon damage for a one-handed exotic bludgeoning weapon with a x4 crit?

The heavy pick is a 1d6 x4 one-handed martial weapon, so upping the damage to 1d8 would be a fair exotic weapon.
Vharuck
02-13-07, 02:50 PM My comments are in red.

So, yeah. Tossing around some custom weapons for my campaign. Could use some input on if they're unbalanced or not (all weapon damages sized for medium creatures).

Light Exotic* Melee Weapon:
Clawbracer - 1d6 x3 (slashing). A clawbracer is strapped to the forearm, rather than held in the hand, leaving the wielder's hands free to hold or manipulate objects, though it prohibits the use of a shield. Furthermore, the wielder of a clawbracer gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC while fighting defensively or using the total defensive action. Due to the nature of wearing one, the wielder gains a +14 bonus vs. being disarmed of their clawbracer.

First off, slashing weapons are rarely x3 crit modifier unless they're chopping weapons, like an axe. So I'd make the crit modifier x2 but the range 19-20. Secondly, a dodge bonus makes no sense. I don't see how strapping claws to my forearms makes me dodge better. I think it would work better if it were a shield bonus. Disarming the clawbracer should be treated as though disarming a shield (however that works, I'm not entirely sure).

One-Handed Exotic* Melee Weapon:
Clawbuckler - 1d8 x3 (slashing). A clawbuckler functions like a clawbracer in all respects, plus it grants a +1 shield bonus.

Once again, I think 19-20/x2 is a better fit. Also, you might want to note that precedent has been set with the buckler. If you use a weapon with the same arm you're using a buckler, you lose the buckler's AC bonus. Though this could be ignored, I just felt like I should point it out.

Two-Handed Martial Melee Weapons:
Partisan - 1d10 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon. A Partisan can be used to trip. After looking at pictures of partisans, I don't see how they could effectly trip somebody better than a normal longspear. In fact, it looks exactly like a ranseur, and I think should be treated as such.
Longneedle - 1d8 x3 (piercing). Reach Weapon. Can be Finessed. I like this one, very good idea
Greatmaul - 2d6 x4 (bludgeoning). Too powerful. 2d6 x3, like a greataxe.
Dire Maul - 2d4 x4 (bludgeoning). A Dire Maul can be wielded one-handed as an exotic weapon**. No offense, but at this point I think you're putting desired weapons into game mechanics so much as desired game mechanics into weapons. In any case, could you describe this weapon to me? I'm thinking like a dire flail, which is two-headed, but I don't know what this would look like.

Two-Handed Exotic Melee Weapon:
Longinus - 1d8 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon, can be Finessed. Again, a physical description would help, as "Longinus" only turns up as the name of a soldier who used a lance when I Google it.

Notes:
*starred becuase while exotic, they're also the racially familiar weapons of a race that uses a lot of 'em.
**The Dire Maul is meant to give Exotic Weapon Masters a gigantic hammer for swinging around with Uncanny Blow. I think this is best served by taking the Monkey Grip feat and using a Large Greatmaul.

Anyway.. Anything that's sitting and waiting to horribly unbalance a game, or are they all fairly safe?
StruckingFuggle
02-13-07, 04:28 PM Alright. Revisions:

*The Dire Maul is now a 1d8 x4 two-handed bludgeoning weapon...

*The Partisan gets downgraded to 1d8, as well, making it basically just a Guisarme with 19-20x2 instead of 20x3 crits.

*The "Longinus" is now 1d10, and either has a +2 bonus to disarms, or is throwable. Since I'm trying to do something newish and there's no throwable reach weapons. Either/or. But probably not both.

*The Greatmaul gets upgraded to Exotic, with 2d4 base damage; a +2 bonus on disarming but not for being disarmed; and a +1d4 bonus damage while sundering.

*The Dire Maul is now exotic, too, but is basically the same, except: it gains a +2 circumstance bonus to Strength checks and ignores the first 5 points of a nonmagical object's hardness (stacks with Adamantine). Basically, it's a big honkin' Warsledgehammer.

*Clawbracers get dropped from x3 to 19-20x2 just to go with the trend, I don't feel like pointlessly bucking a trend, but...
*Clawbucklers get kept x3, though, because hey ... the Predator gets x3 crits, dangit. :) But you lose the shield bonus if you attack with it now, like a buckler (but if you pick up two-weapon defense, this is not only waived, but the shield bonus stacks with that granted from TWD)

And for some replies to Vharuck:
*Clawbracers/bucklers: Noted on the 19-20 vs. x3 crits. It's a dodge bonus, rather than a shield bonus, because it's the same as broadbladed shortswords. That way it stacks if you wield two of them, and it's not so much they help you dodge, I guess, as it is you use them to ... well I don't know. The mechanic is basically stolen from the BBSS, I don't know they they give you +1 dodge bonuses, either.
*The bonus is +14 because it's your standard locked gauntlet bonus, and then an equalizer for being a light weapon ... so hm, it should be +14 for the bracer, and +10 for the buckler.

*A Partisan by name isn't necessarily a Partisan by statistics. I didn't so much try to adapt a Partisan as I wanted my expanded-threat spear to be able to trip, and Partisan was the first currently unused spearname I could think of. Eh.

*Re the Dire Maul: "No offense, but at this point I think you're putting desired weapons into game mechanics so much as desired game mechanics into weapons." ... none take, and that was basically the intent from the beginning. "I would like to see weapons like this..." ... and then I just grabbed names because I needed something to call them other than Prototypical Weapon N, N+1, N+2, etc etc. :) Anyway. Not Dire like a Dire Flail, more Dire like a Dire Bear. Bigger. Meaner. Basically, "a big honkin' sledgehammer".

*The Longinus is somewhat like the Partisan, I needed a name and couldn't think up a nifty obviously fictional name like Longneedle (which I rather like), so I just grabbed another Spearyname... in this case, chopped "lance/spear of" off of "lance/spear of longinus".
DarkRhystar
02-13-07, 07:21 PM Light Exotic* Melee Weapon:
Clawbracer - 1d6 x3 (slashing). A clawbracer is strapped to the forearm, rather than held in the hand, leaving the wielder's hands free to hold or manipulate objects, though it prohibits the use of a shield. Furthermore, the wielder of a clawbracer gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC while fighting defensively or using the total defensive action. Due to the nature of wearing one, the wielder gains a +14 bonus vs. being disarmed of their clawbracer.

Hand-axe damage (martial)
Light (dual-wieldable with no penalties)
Light (finessible)
Free Somatic Weapon feat
+1 Dodge AC
No shield allowed
+14 untyped bonus against Disarm

Too powerful.

One-Handed Exotic* Melee Weapon:
Clawbuckler - 1d8 x3 (slashing). A clawbuckler functions like a clawbracer in all respects, plus it grants a +1 shield bonus.

Battle-axe damage (martial)
Free Somatic Weapon feat
+1 Dodge AC
+1 Shield AC
No shield allowed
+14 untyped bonus against Disarm

Still too powerful.

Two-Handed Martial Melee Weapons:
Partisan - 1d10 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon. A Partisan can be used to trip.

Looks alright.

Longneedle - 1d8 x3 (piercing). Reach Weapon. Can be Finessed.

One step above the battle axe in power even if you equate reach to non-reach as finessibility here warrants the exotic category just like the Elven Thincrap.

Greatmaul - 2d6 x4 (bludgeoning).

Exotic. It's a couple steps above the Scythe in damage.

Dire Maul - 2d4 x4 (bludgeoning). A Dire Maul can be wielded one-handed as an exotic weapon**.

Looks alright.

Longinus - 1d8 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon, can be Finessed.

It's an Elven Thincrap sword with reach. As long as when you say "Reach weapon" you don't include "may attack adjacent" you're okay.
savant_warlord13
02-13-07, 09:05 PM Greatmaul is overpowered. I can tell you that right now. Same damage as a greatsword/greataxe, with the scythe's crit modifier? Exotic, maybe. Martial, no.

Same with Dire Maul, same reasons (substitute bastard sword/dwarven waraxe for greatsword/greataxe and dire pick for scythe)
risner
02-13-07, 10:46 PM Light Exotic* Melee Weapon:
Clawbracer - 1d6 x3 (slashing). +1 dodge bonus to AC while fighting defensively or using the total defensive action. Due to the nature of wearing one, the wielder gains a +14 bonus vs. being disarmed of their clawbracer.

-25%-5%+15%+10%+5%+14/2*5% = 135%
Way not balanced. Do you feel bad?

One-Handed Exotic* Melee Weapon:
Clawbuckler - 1d8 x3 (slashing). A clawbuckler functions like a clawbracer in all respects, plus it grants a +1 shield bonus.

-30%-5%+20%+10%+5%+14/2*5%+10%= 145%
I see a trend/pattern.

Two-Handed Martial Melee Weapons:
Partisan - 1d10 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon. A Partisan can be used to trip.

-40%+25%+10%+5%+5% = 105%
9 out of 10 land at 100%, a handful land at 95% or 101% to 105%. This one at 105% is at the top end of the scale. It may be wise to make it an exotic which would make it land at exactly 100%.

Longneedle - 1d8 x3 (piercing). Reach Weapon. Can be Finessed.

-40%+20%+10%+5%+5% = 105%
Same as above, I advise you to make it Exotic.

Greatmaul - 2d6 x4 (bludgeoning).

-40%+30%+15% = 105%
Interesting pattern. I suggest you make it Exotic.

Dire Maul - 2d4 x4 (bludgeoning). A Dire Maul can be wielded one-handed as an exotic weapon**.

-40%+22%+15% = 97% as martial. -30%-5%+22%+15% = 102%
Seems fair.

Two-Handed Exotic Melee Weapon:
Longinus - 1d8 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon, can be Finessed.

-40%-5%+20%+10%+5%+5% = 95%
Your first that I might say could be improved.
I suggest taking it to 18-20x2 OR 1d8 to 2d4 or maybe 1d10.

I had Longinus as exotic since it's got both the 19-20 threat range and that it's finessable. If I drop it to Martial, it pretty much gives the Longneedle no reason to exist (except if players prefer x3 over 19-20x2, I guess...)

Hm. So what would be fair weapon damage for a one-handed exotic bludgeoning weapon with a x4 crit?

x3 is identical to 19-20x2, so if one is x3 and one is 19-20x2 then it does indeed come down to which do I like better? I wouldn't call that "no reason to exist."

-30%-5%+15% = 20% left
For 20% you can get 1d8
StruckingFuggle
02-13-07, 10:55 PM Huh.

Where are you getting your percentages?
risner
02-14-07, 08:43 AM Huh.

Where are you getting your percentages?

From every existing weapon as created by WotC:

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=694416
StruckingFuggle
02-14-07, 12:51 PM Hm. I wonder how the ClawXs would balance if they gave 5% or 10% ASF. Though I don't think that "free Somatic Weaponry feat" thing is necessarily such a big thing. How many wizards would blow a feat on proficiency? And then, what? Oh no, they have a small weapon they won't be very effective with that don't need to put away to cast a spell?
Mulkr
02-14-07, 01:58 PM The greatmaul is way too powerful for a martial weapon. Make it exotic only. Also, i like those claw weapons. I think i'll probably have to get an army of Skeletons with those... :devil:
risner
02-14-07, 02:31 PM Hm. I wonder how the ClawXs would balance if they gave 5% or 10% ASF. Though I don't think that "free Somatic Weaponry feat" thing is necessarily such a big thing. How many wizards would blow a feat on proficiency? And then, what? Oh no, they have a small weapon they won't be very effective with that don't need to put away to cast a spell?

The percentages I did above assumed some kind of ASF. Adding ASF wouldn't lower from the 135% and 145% I already calculated.

Basically you need to kill the disarm bonus from +14 to +2 (which is 5%) or +4 (which is 10%) instead of the current +14 which is 35%. Add in a ASF percent (5 or 10% is reasonable) and you may just be at 100% and balanced.
Killion
02-14-07, 03:47 PM For reference, here is a site which, while by no means canon, provides a few helpful guidelines in balancing weapons.

A Guideline for Making Custom Weapons in 3e D&D (http://www.ucalgary.ca/~ammaster/d_n_d/custom_weapons.html)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
StruckingFuggle 02-13-07, 02:23 PM	So, yeah. Tossing around some custom weapons for my campaign. Could use some input on if they're unbalanced or not (all weapon damages sized for medium creatures). Light Exotic* Melee Weapon: Clawbracer - 1d6 x3 (slashing). A clawbracer is strapped to the forearm, rather than held in the hand, leaving the wielder's hands free to hold or manipulate objects, though it prohibits the use of a shield. Furthermore, the wielder of a clawbracer gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC while fighting defensively or using the total defensive action. Due to the nature of wearing one, the wielder gains a +14 bonus vs. being disarmed of their clawbracer. One-Handed Exotic* Melee Weapon: Clawbuckler - 1d8 x3 (slashing). A clawbuckler functions like a clawbracer in all respects, plus it grants a +1 shield bonus. Two-Handed Martial Melee Weapons: Partisan - 1d10 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon. A Partisan can be used to trip. Longneedle - 1d8 x3 (piercing). Reach Weapon. Can be Finessed. Greatmaul - 2d6 x4 (bludgeoning). Dire Maul - 2d4 x4 (bludgeoning). A Dire Maul can be wielded one-handed as an exotic weapon*. Two-Handed Exotic Melee Weapon: Longinus - 1d8 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon, can be Finessed. Notes: starred becuase while exotic, they're also the racially familiar weapons of a race that uses a lot of 'em. **The Dire Maul is meant to give Exotic Weapon Masters a gigantic hammer for swinging around with Uncanny Blow. Anyway.. Anything that's sitting and waiting to horribly unbalance a game, or are they all fairly safe?
Grod_The_Giant 02-13-07, 02:25 PM	Greatmaul is overpowered. I can tell you that right now. Same damage as a greatsword/greataxe, with the scythe's crit modifier? Exotic, maybe. Martial, no.
RobbyPants 02-13-07, 02:34 PM	As Grod said, the greatmaul is too powerful for a martial weapon. It's pushing it for an exotic weapon. I'd consider the Longneedle fair for a martial weapon, but you have the Longinus as exotic, even though they're effectively the same weapon. Remember that 19-20 x2 is considered the same as 20 x3 (think swords and axes). Consider dropping the Longinus to martial. Other than that, nothing's really jumping out as too powerful.
draconic_swine 02-13-07, 02:39 PM	Clawbracer and clawbuckler seem fine, but I'd reduce the bonus against being disarmed to +10 - the same as a locked gauntlet. The partisan is too powerful for a martial weapon - it has reach and can trip like the guisarme, has an equivalent crit to the guisarme, yet does better damage. Longneedle is fine - it's a longspear that can be finessed. Greatmaul and dire maul both too powerful, as have been mentioned. Longinus is underpowered (since it's the equivalent to the longneedle), as has also been mentioned.
StruckingFuggle 02-13-07, 02:40 PM	As Grod said, the greatmaul is too powerful for a martial weapon. It's pushing it for an exotic weapon. I'd consider the Longneedle fair for a martial weapon, but you have the Longinus as exotic, even though they're effectively the same weapon. Remember that 19-20 x2 is considered the same as 20 x3 (think swords and axes). Consider dropping the Longinus to martial. Other than that, nothing's really jumping out as too powerful. I had Longinus as exotic since it's got both the 19-20 threat range and that it's finessable. If I drop it to Martial, it pretty much gives the Longneedle no reason to exist (except if players prefer x3 over 19-20x2, I guess...) Hm. So what would be fair weapon damage for a one-handed exotic bludgeoning weapon with a x4 crit?
draconic_swine 02-13-07, 02:47 PM	I had Longinus as exotic since it's got both the 19-20 threat range and that it's finessable. If I drop it to Martial, it pretty much gives the Longneedle no reason to exist (except if players prefer x3 over 19-20x2, I guess...) Hm. So what would be fair weapon damage for a one-handed exotic bludgeoning weapon with a x4 crit? The heavy pick is a 1d6 x4 one-handed martial weapon, so upping the damage to 1d8 would be a fair exotic weapon.
Vharuck 02-13-07, 02:50 PM	My comments are in red. So, yeah. Tossing around some custom weapons for my campaign. Could use some input on if they're unbalanced or not (all weapon damages sized for medium creatures). Light Exotic* Melee Weapon: Clawbracer - 1d6 x3 (slashing). A clawbracer is strapped to the forearm, rather than held in the hand, leaving the wielder's hands free to hold or manipulate objects, though it prohibits the use of a shield. Furthermore, the wielder of a clawbracer gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC while fighting defensively or using the total defensive action. Due to the nature of wearing one, the wielder gains a +14 bonus vs. being disarmed of their clawbracer. First off, slashing weapons are rarely x3 crit modifier unless they're chopping weapons, like an axe. So I'd make the crit modifier x2 but the range 19-20. Secondly, a dodge bonus makes no sense. I don't see how strapping claws to my forearms makes me dodge better. I think it would work better if it were a shield bonus. Disarming the clawbracer should be treated as though disarming a shield (however that works, I'm not entirely sure). One-Handed Exotic* Melee Weapon: Clawbuckler - 1d8 x3 (slashing). A clawbuckler functions like a clawbracer in all respects, plus it grants a +1 shield bonus. Once again, I think 19-20/x2 is a better fit. Also, you might want to note that precedent has been set with the buckler. If you use a weapon with the same arm you're using a buckler, you lose the buckler's AC bonus. Though this could be ignored, I just felt like I should point it out. Two-Handed Martial Melee Weapons: Partisan - 1d10 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon. A Partisan can be used to trip. After looking at pictures of partisans, I don't see how they could effectly trip somebody better than a normal longspear. In fact, it looks exactly like a ranseur, and I think should be treated as such. Longneedle - 1d8 x3 (piercing). Reach Weapon. Can be Finessed. I like this one, very good idea Greatmaul - 2d6 x4 (bludgeoning). Too powerful. 2d6 x3, like a greataxe. Dire Maul - 2d4 x4 (bludgeoning). A Dire Maul can be wielded one-handed as an exotic weapon*. No offense, but at this point I think you're putting desired weapons into game mechanics so much as desired game mechanics into weapons. In any case, could you describe this weapon to me? I'm thinking like a dire flail, which is two-headed, but I don't know what this would look like. Two-Handed Exotic Melee Weapon: Longinus - 1d8 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon, can be Finessed. Again, a physical description would help, as "Longinus" only turns up as the name of a soldier who used a lance when I Google it. Notes: starred becuase while exotic, they're also the racially familiar weapons of a race that uses a lot of 'em. **The Dire Maul is meant to give Exotic Weapon Masters a gigantic hammer for swinging around with Uncanny Blow. I think this is best served by taking the Monkey Grip feat and using a Large Greatmaul. Anyway.. Anything that's sitting and waiting to horribly unbalance a game, or are they all fairly safe?
StruckingFuggle 02-13-07, 04:28 PM	Alright. Revisions: The Dire Maul is now a 1d8 x4 two-handed bludgeoning weapon... The Partisan gets downgraded to 1d8, as well, making it basically just a Guisarme with 19-20x2 instead of 20x3 crits. The "Longinus" is now 1d10, and either has a +2 bonus to disarms, or is throwable. Since I'm trying to do something newish and there's no throwable reach weapons. Either/or. But probably not both. The Greatmaul gets upgraded to Exotic, with 2d4 base damage; a +2 bonus on disarming but not for being disarmed; and a +1d4 bonus damage while sundering. The Dire Maul is now exotic, too, but is basically the same, except: it gains a +2 circumstance bonus to Strength checks and ignores the first 5 points of a nonmagical object's hardness (stacks with Adamantine). Basically, it's a big honkin' Warsledgehammer. Clawbracers get dropped from x3 to 19-20x2 just to go with the trend, I don't feel like pointlessly bucking a trend, but... Clawbucklers get kept x3, though, because hey ... the Predator gets x3 crits, dangit. :) But you lose the shield bonus if you attack with it now, like a buckler (but if you pick up two-weapon defense, this is not only waived, but the shield bonus stacks with that granted from TWD) And for some replies to Vharuck: Clawbracers/bucklers: Noted on the 19-20 vs. x3 crits. It's a dodge bonus, rather than a shield bonus, because it's the same as broadbladed shortswords. That way it stacks if you wield two of them, and it's not so much they help you dodge, I guess, as it is you use them to ... well I don't know. The mechanic is basically stolen from the BBSS, I don't know they they give you +1 dodge bonuses, either. The bonus is +14 because it's your standard locked gauntlet bonus, and then an equalizer for being a light weapon ... so hm, it should be +14 for the bracer, and +10 for the buckler. A Partisan by name isn't necessarily a Partisan by statistics. I didn't so much try to adapt a Partisan as I wanted my expanded-threat spear to be able to trip, and Partisan was the first currently unused spearname I could think of. Eh. Re the Dire Maul: "No offense, but at this point I think you're putting desired weapons into game mechanics so much as desired game mechanics into weapons." ... none take, and that was basically the intent from the beginning. "I would like to see weapons like this..." ... and then I just grabbed names because I needed something to call them other than Prototypical Weapon N, N+1, N+2, etc etc. :) Anyway. Not Dire like a Dire Flail, more Dire like a Dire Bear. Bigger. Meaner. Basically, "a big honkin' sledgehammer". The Longinus is somewhat like the Partisan, I needed a name and couldn't think up a nifty obviously fictional name like Longneedle (which I rather like), so I just grabbed another Spearyname... in this case, chopped "lance/spear of" off of "lance/spear of longinus".
DarkRhystar 02-13-07, 07:21 PM	Light Exotic* Melee Weapon: Clawbracer - 1d6 x3 (slashing). A clawbracer is strapped to the forearm, rather than held in the hand, leaving the wielder's hands free to hold or manipulate objects, though it prohibits the use of a shield. Furthermore, the wielder of a clawbracer gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC while fighting defensively or using the total defensive action. Due to the nature of wearing one, the wielder gains a +14 bonus vs. being disarmed of their clawbracer. Hand-axe damage (martial) Light (dual-wieldable with no penalties) Light (finessible) Free Somatic Weapon feat +1 Dodge AC No shield allowed +14 untyped bonus against Disarm Too powerful. One-Handed Exotic* Melee Weapon: Clawbuckler - 1d8 x3 (slashing). A clawbuckler functions like a clawbracer in all respects, plus it grants a +1 shield bonus. Battle-axe damage (martial) Free Somatic Weapon feat +1 Dodge AC +1 Shield AC No shield allowed +14 untyped bonus against Disarm Still too powerful. Two-Handed Martial Melee Weapons: Partisan - 1d10 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon. A Partisan can be used to trip. Looks alright. Longneedle - 1d8 x3 (piercing). Reach Weapon. Can be Finessed. One step above the battle axe in power even if you equate reach to non-reach as finessibility here warrants the exotic category just like the Elven Thincrap. Greatmaul - 2d6 x4 (bludgeoning). Exotic. It's a couple steps above the Scythe in damage. Dire Maul - 2d4 x4 (bludgeoning). A Dire Maul can be wielded one-handed as an exotic weapon**. Looks alright. Longinus - 1d8 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon, can be Finessed. It's an Elven Thincrap sword with reach. As long as when you say "Reach weapon" you don't include "may attack adjacent" you're okay.
savant_warlord13 02-13-07, 09:05 PM	Greatmaul is overpowered. I can tell you that right now. Same damage as a greatsword/greataxe, with the scythe's crit modifier? Exotic, maybe. Martial, no. Same with Dire Maul, same reasons (substitute bastard sword/dwarven waraxe for greatsword/greataxe and dire pick for scythe)
risner 02-13-07, 10:46 PM	Light Exotic* Melee Weapon: Clawbracer - 1d6 x3 (slashing). +1 dodge bonus to AC while fighting defensively or using the total defensive action. Due to the nature of wearing one, the wielder gains a +14 bonus vs. being disarmed of their clawbracer. -25%-5%+15%+10%+5%+14/25% = 135% Way not balanced. Do you feel bad? One-Handed Exotic Melee Weapon: Clawbuckler - 1d8 x3 (slashing). A clawbuckler functions like a clawbracer in all respects, plus it grants a +1 shield bonus. -30%-5%+20%+10%+5%+14/25%+10%= 145% I see a trend/pattern. Two-Handed Martial Melee Weapons: Partisan - 1d10 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon. A Partisan can be used to trip. -40%+25%+10%+5%+5% = 105% 9 out of 10 land at 100%, a handful land at 95% or 101% to 105%. This one at 105% is at the top end of the scale. It may be wise to make it an exotic which would make it land at exactly 100%. Longneedle - 1d8 x3 (piercing). Reach Weapon. Can be Finessed. -40%+20%+10%+5%+5% = 105% Same as above, I advise you to make it Exotic. Greatmaul - 2d6 x4 (bludgeoning). -40%+30%+15% = 105% Interesting pattern. I suggest you make it Exotic. Dire Maul - 2d4 x4 (bludgeoning). A Dire Maul can be wielded one-handed as an exotic weapon*. -40%+22%+15% = 97% as martial. -30%-5%+22%+15% = 102% Seems fair. Two-Handed Exotic Melee Weapon: Longinus - 1d8 19-20/x2 (slashing). Reach weapon, can be Finessed. -40%-5%+20%+10%+5%+5% = 95% Your first that I might say could be improved. I suggest taking it to 18-20x2 OR 1d8 to 2d4 or maybe 1d10. I had Longinus as exotic since it's got both the 19-20 threat range and that it's finessable. If I drop it to Martial, it pretty much gives the Longneedle no reason to exist (except if players prefer x3 over 19-20x2, I guess...) Hm. So what would be fair weapon damage for a one-handed exotic bludgeoning weapon with a x4 crit? x3 is identical to 19-20x2, so if one is x3 and one is 19-20x2 then it does indeed come down to which do I like better? I wouldn't call that "no reason to exist." -30%-5%+15% = 20% left For 20% you can get 1d8
StruckingFuggle 02-13-07, 10:55 PM	Huh. Where are you getting your percentages?
risner 02-14-07, 08:43 AM	Huh. Where are you getting your percentages? From every existing weapon as created by WotC: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=694416
StruckingFuggle 02-14-07, 12:51 PM	Hm. I wonder how the ClawXs would balance if they gave 5% or 10% ASF. Though I don't think that "free Somatic Weaponry feat" thing is necessarily such a big thing. How many wizards would blow a feat on proficiency? And then, what? Oh no, they have a small weapon they won't be very effective with that don't need to put away to cast a spell?
Mulkr 02-14-07, 01:58 PM	The greatmaul is way too powerful for a martial weapon. Make it exotic only. Also, i like those claw weapons. I think i'll probably have to get an army of Skeletons with those... :devil:
risner 02-14-07, 02:31 PM	Hm. I wonder how the ClawXs would balance if they gave 5% or 10% ASF. Though I don't think that "free Somatic Weaponry feat" thing is necessarily such a big thing. How many wizards would blow a feat on proficiency? And then, what? Oh no, they have a small weapon they won't be very effective with that don't need to put away to cast a spell? The percentages I did above assumed some kind of ASF. Adding ASF wouldn't lower from the 135% and 145% I already calculated. Basically you need to kill the disarm bonus from +14 to +2 (which is 5%) or +4 (which is 10%) instead of the current +14 which is 35%. Add in a ASF percent (5 or 10% is reasonable) and you may just be at 100% and balanced.
Killion 02-14-07, 03:47 PM	For reference, here is a site which, while by no means canon, provides a few helpful guidelines in balancing weapons. A Guideline for Making Custom Weapons in 3e D&D (http://www.ucalgary.ca/~ammaster/d_n_d/custom_weapons.html)