Critique these updated 2e weapons please! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Critique these updated 2e weapons please! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tehril
05-27-06, 08:50 PM I was feeling a wee bit nostalgic the other day, so I looked at my old 2e PHB and threw together a list of weapons that didn't make the 3e cut... and I did my best to update them, put a new twist on them and balance them withh current weapons.

That said, I normally don't make weapons up so some critiques would be welcome! Thanks for any honest input :D

BROAD SWORD: Martial Weapon; One Handed Weapon; Size M; Slashing; DMG (med) 2d4, (sml) 1d6; Crit 19-20/x2; Wt. 5 lbs; Cost 55gp
This wide bladed weapon falls somewhere between a short sword and a long sword in length. It has a lengthened pommel, which effectively allows it to be wielded in both hands.

KHOPESH: Exotic Weapon; One Handed Weapon; Size M; Slashing; DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 19-20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 50gp
A khopesh has about six inches of handle and quillons. Its blade is then straight from the quillons for about two feet. The blade becomes sickle shaped at this point, adding about two additional feet to the blade but extending the overall length by only about 1 ½ feet. This makes the blade both heavy and unwieldy, difficult to employ properly and slow to recover after a badly missed blow. This weapon confers a +2 bonus on disarm attempts. You can use the sickle shaped blade end to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during your own attempt, you can drop the weapon to avoid being tripped.

VOULGE: Simple Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing; DMG (med) 1d6, (sml) 1d4; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 8gp
The voulge, like the bardiche, is a variation on the axe and cleaver. The voulge is little more than a cleaver mounted on the end of a seven to eight foot pole. Also known as the Lochaber Axe. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes.

SPETUM: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing; DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x3; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 20gp
The sspetum is a modification of the normal spear. The shaft increases to eight to ten feet and side blades are added. These blades are angled back so as to trap weapons or trip foes. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. This weapon confers a +2 bonus on disarm attempts. You can use the hook end to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during your own attempt, you can drop the weapon to avoid being tripped.

RANSEUR: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing; DMG (med) 1d6, (sml) 1d4; Crit 20/x3; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 8gp
Very much like the parisan, the ranseur differs in that the main blade is thinner and the projecting blades extend more like the tines of a fork. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. This weapon confers a +2 bonus on disarm attempts.

PARTISAN: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing; DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 9 lbs; Cost 8gp
Shorter than an awl pike but longer than a spear, the partisan is a broad spear head mounted on an eight foot long shaft. Two smaller blades project out from the base of the main blade, which helps to trap weapons. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. This weapon confers a +2 bonus on disarm attempts.

MILITRY FORK: Simple Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing; DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 8 lbs; Cost 18gp
This weapon is little more than a pitch fork with strengthened tines mounted on a shaft. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes.

LUCERNE HAMMER: Exotic Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing, Bludgeoning; Pick DMG (med) 1d6, (sml) 1d4; Crit 20/x2; Hammer DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x3; Awl Pike DMG (med) 1d6, (sml) 1d4; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 30gp
This weapon is similar to the bec de corbin and is is usually found in the hands of the common soldier. This weapon has a pick or beak designed to punch through plate, while the hammer side can be used to deal a stiff blow. The end is fitted with an awl pike. If you set to receive a charge, you deal double damage to a charging opponent on a successful hit.

HOOK FOUCHARD: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing; DMG (med) 2d4, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x4; Wt. 15 lbs; Cost 30gp
An attempt at improving the fouchard, a back hook is fitted to the back of the blade. You can use the hook end to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during your own attempt, you can drop the weapon to avoid being tripped. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes.

GUISARME VOULGE: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing, Piercing; Axe DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x3; Spear DMG (med) 1d6, (sml) 1d4; Crit 20/x2; Spike DMG (med) 1d4, (sml) 1d3; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 35gp
This weapon has a modified axe blade mounted on an eight foot long shaft. The end tapers to a point for thrusting and a back spike is fitted for punching through armor. Sometimes this spike is replaced by a hook (which allows a trip attack) This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. If you set to receive a charge, you deal double damage to a charging opponent on a successful hit. The wielder can make an extra attack with the back spike at a –5 penalty.

GLAIVE GUISARME: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing (Piercing); Glaive DMG (med) 1d10, (sml) 1d8; Crit 20/x3; Spike DMG (med) 1d4, (sml) 1d3; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 25gp
This takes the basic glaive and adds a spike or a hook to the back of the blade (no cost difference). If the weapon has a blade, it is capable of thrusting attacks, while the hook allows the wielder to make a trip attack. If the wielder is tripped as a result of this attempt, he can drop the weapon and avoid being tripped. The wielder can make an extra attack with the back spike at a –5 penalty. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes.

FOUCHARD FORK: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing, Piercing; Blade DMG (med) 2d4, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x4; Spike/Fork DMG (med) 1d4, (sml) 1d3; Crit 20/x3; Wt. 15 lbs; Cost 30gp
This is an attempt at improving the Fouchard, adding a long spike or fork to the back of the blade. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. The wielder can make an extra attack with the back spike or fork at a –5 penalty.

FOUCHARD I: Simple Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing; DMG (med) 1d6, (sml) 1d4; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 5 lbs; Cost 8gp
An outgrowth of the sickle and scythe the fouchard is a long, inward curving blade mounted on a shaft six to eight feet long. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes.

FOUCHARD II: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing; DMG (med) 2d4, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x4; Wt. 15 lbs; Cost 25gp
An outgrowth of the sickle and scythe the fouchard is a long, inward curving blade mounted on a shaft six to eight feet long. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes.

BILL GUISARME: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing, Slashing; Cleaver DMG (med) 1d10, (sml) 1d8; Crit 20/x3; Spike DMG (med) 1d4, (sml) 1d3; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 20gp
An outgrowth of the common Bill Hook, mounted on a seven to eight foot long pole is a combination of a heavy cleaver blade, a jutting back spike and a hook or spike on the end. You can use the hook end to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during your own attempt, you can drop the weapon to avoid being tripped. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. The wielder can make an extra attack with the back spike at a –5 penalty.

BEC DE CORBIN: Exotic Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing, Bludgeoning; Pick DMG (med) 1d4, (sml) 1d3; Crit 20/x4; Hammer DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x3; Blade DMG (med) 1d4, (sml) 1d3; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 50gp
This weapon has a pick or beak designed to punch through plate, while the hammer side can be used to deal a stiff blow. The end is fitted with a short blade for dealing with unarmored or helpless foes. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. The wielder can make an extra attack with the blade with a –5 penalty.

BARDICHE: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing; DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x3; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 10gp
One of the simplest pole arms, the bardiche is an elongated battl axe. A large curving axe-head is mounted on thee end of a five to eight foot long shaft. This weapon has a 10 foot reach and requires a fair bit of swinging room. You can’t attack adjacent foes.

AWL PIKE: Simple Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing; DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x3; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 10gp
Essentially this is a long spear 12 to 20 feet long ending in a spike point of tapered spear head. This weapon has a 15 foot reach and is normally used in tightly packed formations to pose a dense thicket of spear heads against a cavalry charge. You can’t attack adjacent foes or those 10 feet away. If you set to receive a charge, you deal double damage to a charging opponent on a successful hit.
Tehril
05-27-06, 10:45 PM ok...um... is there a better forum for posting this stuff for comments? I had thought this to be th correct place, but if it isn't...
Dark Wizard
05-28-06, 01:06 AM Many of those weapons have appeared in other sourcebooks outside of the Core rules, and also in Dragon magazine.
Waterhammer
05-28-06, 01:53 AM You should either combine the bec de corbin, and lucerne hammer into one or make one of them a non reach weapon, similar to how a halbeard is dealt with.
Tehril
05-28-06, 02:06 AM >> Switched the Lucerne Hammer to non reach.

As for dragon magazine and other non core resources, I'm afraid I don't have access to those... other than spending copious amounts of cash to find specific issues or various hard cover books... which I'm not inclined to do.

If you have copies of these items, I'd be grateful if you posted them for me to compare balance issues with. Thanks!
WhiteHarness
05-28-06, 02:22 AM Twelve pounds for a broadsword??? :OMG!
Tehril
05-28-06, 02:43 AM oops... knew I went and missed something heh... was way too tired to be doing this last night...
Shadowfax7
05-28-06, 09:44 AM A Broadsword should be slashing, not piercing.

Also, 2d4 for medium and 1d8 for small is not the correct damage ratio between medium and small weapons. It should be 2d4 for medium and 1d6 for small.

The weight is still too high . . . try 5 lbs, which is only 1 lb more than a Longsword. Weapon weights have been reduced greatly (which was appropriate) since 2nd ed.

The Khopesh was never a 2h weapon. Use Longsword stats for it, except for a weight of 12 lb.
Tehril
05-28-06, 10:59 AM duly noted...
cmrscorpio
05-28-06, 11:19 AM I think that the voulge, fouchard and military fork should all be martial weapons. The other weapons commonly categorized as polearms are all under martial weapons. None of these weapons are as simple to use as, say, a spear (hold near blunt end and use the pointy end to make holes).
Shadowfax7
05-28-06, 12:25 PM Forgot to mention that both the Broadsword and Khopesh should be Martial Weapons.

According to it's stats, the Broadsword has no reason to be exotic.

The Khopesh has been statted in 3.0/3.5 both as a Martial Weapon and as an Exoitic Weapon.

Ther Martial Weapon is statted as a Longsword w/weight of 12 lbs abd cost of 20 gp.

The Exotic Weapon adds a +2 to disarm. However, IMO a Khopesh shouldn't have a bonus to disarm as it's curved point wasn't used for disarming, but for inflicting damage as an axe does (chopping).

Also it was the Martial Weapon of the Egyptian armies !!! Every Eqyptian soldier would need to expend a feat for Exotic Weeapon proficiency.
Tehril
05-28-06, 02:27 PM The reason for the Voulge, Fouchard (type I) and military fork being Simple weapons is that in their descriptions (that I have), each and every one is associated with being in the hands of peasants... easily fabricated and easy to use. The fouchard (type I) is basically a sickle on a stick, thus a simple weapon stays a simple weapon. The voulge is closer to an axe, but a meat cleaver on a stick is still probably a simple weapon... and the military fork, well, it's a pitchfork on a bigger stick...poke poke poke... the way I see it, all these weapons are fairly basic in their application, there is little skill required to wield them... just strong arms. Hack & poke. The martial weapons, to me, require more style and skill in wielding them.

Broad Sword - oops, you're right. I forgot that anything larger than a light weapon has 1.5xstr and double power attack applied when using it it two hands.... will fix that.

Khopesh (my reasoning) - the descriptive text I have states that the curved blade could trap weapons (disarm) and trip opponents. If it had only 1 ability, then perhaps it would be martial... but both abilities make it Exotic. The Egyptian army (egyptian race by default) would have weapon familiarity with the Khopesh, thus adding it to their martial weapon list by default.
cmrscorpio
05-29-06, 12:38 AM Dragon issue 331 is the one with all the polearms in it.
GhostStepper
05-29-06, 12:57 AM The reason for the Voulge, Fouchard (type I) and military fork being Simple weapons is that in their descriptions (that I have), each and every one is associated with being in the hands of peasants... easily fabricated and easy to use. The fouchard (type I) is basically a sickle on a stick, thus a simple weapon stays a simple weapon. The voulge is closer to an axe, but a meat cleaver on a stick is still probably a simple weapon... and the military fork, well, it's a pitchfork on a bigger stick...poke poke poke... the way I see it, all these weapons are fairly basic in their application, there is little skill required to wield them... just strong arms. Hack & poke. The martial weapons, to me, require more style and skill in wielding them.

Remember that just because peasants have access to a weapon it doesnt mean it fits into the simple category. Look at the scythe for example. Basic peasant fare, but its tripping ability and x4 crit make it too good to be simple. The voulge might be a sickle on a longer pole but reach and two-handedness make it agruably better than a sickle. Perhaps it might be reasonable to add a tripping ability and make it martial.

There are other examples of peasant weapons that are even exotic... the kama, nunchaku and sai (thought the practical application of the sai is debateable). Keep in mind that availabilty is not necessarily the basis on which weapon classes are decided in D&D.

Khopesh (my reasoning) - the descriptive text I have states that the curved blade could trap weapons (disarm) and trip opponents. If it had only 1 ability, then perhaps it would be martial... but both abilities make it Exotic. The Egyptian army (egyptian race by default) would have weapon familiarity with the Khopesh, thus adding it to their martial weapon list by default.

I really like the style of the khopesh. I read your description first, before the stats, and expected that the "heavy and unwieldy" description ment it would have a small crit range and higher crit modifier. I figured being harder to use it would hit the right spots less often but when it did it would hurt that much more. I could see it having a small crit range than a longsword but higher modifier.
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht
05-29-06, 03:46 PM By the way, your description of a hook fauchard is incorrect. The is attached to the sharpened side of the blade, not the unsharpened. There's a reason why it's considered to be the worst weapon in the history of forever.

The ranseur already exists, in the PHB.

There is no such weapon as a broad sword. It simply refers to any sword broader than a rapier.

The Bardiche is underpowered. The Fauchard I is underpowered. The Fauchard II is overpowered. The Voulge is underpowered. The Partisan is underpowered. The Military Fork is underpowered. The Lucerne Hammer is underpowered. The Guisarme-Voulge is underpowered. The Glaive-Guisarme is overpowered. The Hook Fauchard is overpowered. The Fauchard Fork is overpowered. The Bill-Guisarme is overpowered. The Bec de Corbin is underpowered. The Awl Pike is overpowered.

The Khopesh is unrealistically heavy. It'd be impossible to swing a 12 pound sword. 3 or 4 pounds would be accurate.
2nd Ed Paladin
05-29-06, 06:20 PM khopesh picture (http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=24280&highlight=khopesh+weight)

fyi, this link shows an actual khopesh. It is replica but looks like other I saw an various websites searching for the weight.

This site lists it at 2lbs, 10 oz although a reader below said was heavier than that. I doubt it 12 lbs though.
Tehril
05-29-06, 10:55 PM hmmm....

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tehril 05-27-06, 08:50 PM	I was feeling a wee bit nostalgic the other day, so I looked at my old 2e PHB and threw together a list of weapons that didn't make the 3e cut... and I did my best to update them, put a new twist on them and balance them withh current weapons. That said, I normally don't make weapons up so some critiques would be welcome! Thanks for any honest input :D BROAD SWORD: Martial Weapon; One Handed Weapon; Size M; Slashing; DMG (med) 2d4, (sml) 1d6; Crit 19-20/x2; Wt. 5 lbs; Cost 55gp This wide bladed weapon falls somewhere between a short sword and a long sword in length. It has a lengthened pommel, which effectively allows it to be wielded in both hands. KHOPESH: Exotic Weapon; One Handed Weapon; Size M; Slashing; DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 19-20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 50gp A khopesh has about six inches of handle and quillons. Its blade is then straight from the quillons for about two feet. The blade becomes sickle shaped at this point, adding about two additional feet to the blade but extending the overall length by only about 1 ½ feet. This makes the blade both heavy and unwieldy, difficult to employ properly and slow to recover after a badly missed blow. This weapon confers a +2 bonus on disarm attempts. You can use the sickle shaped blade end to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during your own attempt, you can drop the weapon to avoid being tripped. VOULGE: Simple Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing; DMG (med) 1d6, (sml) 1d4; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 8gp The voulge, like the bardiche, is a variation on the axe and cleaver. The voulge is little more than a cleaver mounted on the end of a seven to eight foot pole. Also known as the Lochaber Axe. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. SPETUM: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing; DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x3; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 20gp The sspetum is a modification of the normal spear. The shaft increases to eight to ten feet and side blades are added. These blades are angled back so as to trap weapons or trip foes. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. This weapon confers a +2 bonus on disarm attempts. You can use the hook end to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during your own attempt, you can drop the weapon to avoid being tripped. RANSEUR: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing; DMG (med) 1d6, (sml) 1d4; Crit 20/x3; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 8gp Very much like the parisan, the ranseur differs in that the main blade is thinner and the projecting blades extend more like the tines of a fork. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. This weapon confers a +2 bonus on disarm attempts. PARTISAN: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing; DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 9 lbs; Cost 8gp Shorter than an awl pike but longer than a spear, the partisan is a broad spear head mounted on an eight foot long shaft. Two smaller blades project out from the base of the main blade, which helps to trap weapons. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. This weapon confers a +2 bonus on disarm attempts. MILITRY FORK: Simple Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing; DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 8 lbs; Cost 18gp This weapon is little more than a pitch fork with strengthened tines mounted on a shaft. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. LUCERNE HAMMER: Exotic Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing, Bludgeoning; Pick DMG (med) 1d6, (sml) 1d4; Crit 20/x2; Hammer DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x3; Awl Pike DMG (med) 1d6, (sml) 1d4; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 30gp This weapon is similar to the bec de corbin and is is usually found in the hands of the common soldier. This weapon has a pick or beak designed to punch through plate, while the hammer side can be used to deal a stiff blow. The end is fitted with an awl pike. If you set to receive a charge, you deal double damage to a charging opponent on a successful hit. HOOK FOUCHARD: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing; DMG (med) 2d4, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x4; Wt. 15 lbs; Cost 30gp An attempt at improving the fouchard, a back hook is fitted to the back of the blade. You can use the hook end to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during your own attempt, you can drop the weapon to avoid being tripped. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. GUISARME VOULGE: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing, Piercing; Axe DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x3; Spear DMG (med) 1d6, (sml) 1d4; Crit 20/x2; Spike DMG (med) 1d4, (sml) 1d3; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 35gp This weapon has a modified axe blade mounted on an eight foot long shaft. The end tapers to a point for thrusting and a back spike is fitted for punching through armor. Sometimes this spike is replaced by a hook (which allows a trip attack) This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. If you set to receive a charge, you deal double damage to a charging opponent on a successful hit. The wielder can make an extra attack with the back spike at a –5 penalty. GLAIVE GUISARME: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing (Piercing); Glaive DMG (med) 1d10, (sml) 1d8; Crit 20/x3; Spike DMG (med) 1d4, (sml) 1d3; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 25gp This takes the basic glaive and adds a spike or a hook to the back of the blade (no cost difference). If the weapon has a blade, it is capable of thrusting attacks, while the hook allows the wielder to make a trip attack. If the wielder is tripped as a result of this attempt, he can drop the weapon and avoid being tripped. The wielder can make an extra attack with the back spike at a –5 penalty. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. FOUCHARD FORK: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing, Piercing; Blade DMG (med) 2d4, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x4; Spike/Fork DMG (med) 1d4, (sml) 1d3; Crit 20/x3; Wt. 15 lbs; Cost 30gp This is an attempt at improving the Fouchard, adding a long spike or fork to the back of the blade. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. The wielder can make an extra attack with the back spike or fork at a –5 penalty. FOUCHARD I: Simple Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing; DMG (med) 1d6, (sml) 1d4; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 5 lbs; Cost 8gp An outgrowth of the sickle and scythe the fouchard is a long, inward curving blade mounted on a shaft six to eight feet long. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. FOUCHARD II: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing; DMG (med) 2d4, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x4; Wt. 15 lbs; Cost 25gp An outgrowth of the sickle and scythe the fouchard is a long, inward curving blade mounted on a shaft six to eight feet long. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. BILL GUISARME: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing, Slashing; Cleaver DMG (med) 1d10, (sml) 1d8; Crit 20/x3; Spike DMG (med) 1d4, (sml) 1d3; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 20gp An outgrowth of the common Bill Hook, mounted on a seven to eight foot long pole is a combination of a heavy cleaver blade, a jutting back spike and a hook or spike on the end. You can use the hook end to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during your own attempt, you can drop the weapon to avoid being tripped. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. The wielder can make an extra attack with the back spike at a –5 penalty. BEC DE CORBIN: Exotic Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing, Bludgeoning; Pick DMG (med) 1d4, (sml) 1d3; Crit 20/x4; Hammer DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x3; Blade DMG (med) 1d4, (sml) 1d3; Crit 20/x2; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 50gp This weapon has a pick or beak designed to punch through plate, while the hammer side can be used to deal a stiff blow. The end is fitted with a short blade for dealing with unarmored or helpless foes. This weapon has a 10 foot reach. You can’t attack adjacent foes. The wielder can make an extra attack with the blade with a –5 penalty. BARDICHE: Martial Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Slashing; DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x3; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 10gp One of the simplest pole arms, the bardiche is an elongated battl axe. A large curving axe-head is mounted on thee end of a five to eight foot long shaft. This weapon has a 10 foot reach and requires a fair bit of swinging room. You can’t attack adjacent foes. AWL PIKE: Simple Weapon; Two Handed Weapon; Size L; Piercing; DMG (med) 1d8, (sml) 1d6; Crit 20/x3; Wt. 12 lbs; Cost 10gp Essentially this is a long spear 12 to 20 feet long ending in a spike point of tapered spear head. This weapon has a 15 foot reach and is normally used in tightly packed formations to pose a dense thicket of spear heads against a cavalry charge. You can’t attack adjacent foes or those 10 feet away. If you set to receive a charge, you deal double damage to a charging opponent on a successful hit.
Tehril 05-27-06, 10:45 PM	ok...um... is there a better forum for posting this stuff for comments? I had thought this to be th correct place, but if it isn't...
Dark Wizard 05-28-06, 01:06 AM	Many of those weapons have appeared in other sourcebooks outside of the Core rules, and also in Dragon magazine.
Waterhammer 05-28-06, 01:53 AM	You should either combine the bec de corbin, and lucerne hammer into one or make one of them a non reach weapon, similar to how a halbeard is dealt with.
Tehril 05-28-06, 02:06 AM	>> Switched the Lucerne Hammer to non reach. As for dragon magazine and other non core resources, I'm afraid I don't have access to those... other than spending copious amounts of cash to find specific issues or various hard cover books... which I'm not inclined to do. If you have copies of these items, I'd be grateful if you posted them for me to compare balance issues with. Thanks!
WhiteHarness 05-28-06, 02:22 AM	Twelve pounds for a broadsword??? :OMG!
Tehril 05-28-06, 02:43 AM	oops... knew I went and missed something heh... was way too tired to be doing this last night...
Shadowfax7 05-28-06, 09:44 AM	A Broadsword should be slashing, not piercing. Also, 2d4 for medium and 1d8 for small is not the correct damage ratio between medium and small weapons. It should be 2d4 for medium and 1d6 for small. The weight is still too high . . . try 5 lbs, which is only 1 lb more than a Longsword. Weapon weights have been reduced greatly (which was appropriate) since 2nd ed. The Khopesh was never a 2h weapon. Use Longsword stats for it, except for a weight of 12 lb.
Tehril 05-28-06, 10:59 AM	duly noted...
cmrscorpio 05-28-06, 11:19 AM	I think that the voulge, fouchard and military fork should all be martial weapons. The other weapons commonly categorized as polearms are all under martial weapons. None of these weapons are as simple to use as, say, a spear (hold near blunt end and use the pointy end to make holes).
Shadowfax7 05-28-06, 12:25 PM	Forgot to mention that both the Broadsword and Khopesh should be Martial Weapons. According to it's stats, the Broadsword has no reason to be exotic. The Khopesh has been statted in 3.0/3.5 both as a Martial Weapon and as an Exoitic Weapon. Ther Martial Weapon is statted as a Longsword w/weight of 12 lbs abd cost of 20 gp. The Exotic Weapon adds a +2 to disarm. However, IMO a Khopesh shouldn't have a bonus to disarm as it's curved point wasn't used for disarming, but for inflicting damage as an axe does (chopping). Also it was the Martial Weapon of the Egyptian armies !!! Every Eqyptian soldier would need to expend a feat for Exotic Weeapon proficiency.
Tehril 05-28-06, 02:27 PM	The reason for the Voulge, Fouchard (type I) and military fork being Simple weapons is that in their descriptions (that I have), each and every one is associated with being in the hands of peasants... easily fabricated and easy to use. The fouchard (type I) is basically a sickle on a stick, thus a simple weapon stays a simple weapon. The voulge is closer to an axe, but a meat cleaver on a stick is still probably a simple weapon... and the military fork, well, it's a pitchfork on a bigger stick...poke poke poke... the way I see it, all these weapons are fairly basic in their application, there is little skill required to wield them... just strong arms. Hack & poke. The martial weapons, to me, require more style and skill in wielding them. Broad Sword - oops, you're right. I forgot that anything larger than a light weapon has 1.5xstr and double power attack applied when using it it two hands.... will fix that. Khopesh (my reasoning) - the descriptive text I have states that the curved blade could trap weapons (disarm) and trip opponents. If it had only 1 ability, then perhaps it would be martial... but both abilities make it Exotic. The Egyptian army (egyptian race by default) would have weapon familiarity with the Khopesh, thus adding it to their martial weapon list by default.
cmrscorpio 05-29-06, 12:38 AM	Dragon issue 331 is the one with all the polearms in it.
GhostStepper 05-29-06, 12:57 AM	The reason for the Voulge, Fouchard (type I) and military fork being Simple weapons is that in their descriptions (that I have), each and every one is associated with being in the hands of peasants... easily fabricated and easy to use. The fouchard (type I) is basically a sickle on a stick, thus a simple weapon stays a simple weapon. The voulge is closer to an axe, but a meat cleaver on a stick is still probably a simple weapon... and the military fork, well, it's a pitchfork on a bigger stick...poke poke poke... the way I see it, all these weapons are fairly basic in their application, there is little skill required to wield them... just strong arms. Hack & poke. The martial weapons, to me, require more style and skill in wielding them. Remember that just because peasants have access to a weapon it doesnt mean it fits into the simple category. Look at the scythe for example. Basic peasant fare, but its tripping ability and x4 crit make it too good to be simple. The voulge might be a sickle on a longer pole but reach and two-handedness make it agruably better than a sickle. Perhaps it might be reasonable to add a tripping ability and make it martial. There are other examples of peasant weapons that are even exotic... the kama, nunchaku and sai (thought the practical application of the sai is debateable). Keep in mind that availabilty is not necessarily the basis on which weapon classes are decided in D&D. Khopesh (my reasoning) - the descriptive text I have states that the curved blade could trap weapons (disarm) and trip opponents. If it had only 1 ability, then perhaps it would be martial... but both abilities make it Exotic. The Egyptian army (egyptian race by default) would have weapon familiarity with the Khopesh, thus adding it to their martial weapon list by default. I really like the style of the khopesh. I read your description first, before the stats, and expected that the "heavy and unwieldy" description ment it would have a small crit range and higher crit modifier. I figured being harder to use it would hit the right spots less often but when it did it would hurt that much more. I could see it having a small crit range than a longsword but higher modifier.
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht 05-29-06, 03:46 PM	By the way, your description of a hook fauchard is incorrect. The is attached to the sharpened side of the blade, not the unsharpened. There's a reason why it's considered to be the worst weapon in the history of forever. The ranseur already exists, in the PHB. There is no such weapon as a broad sword. It simply refers to any sword broader than a rapier. The Bardiche is underpowered. The Fauchard I is underpowered. The Fauchard II is overpowered. The Voulge is underpowered. The Partisan is underpowered. The Military Fork is underpowered. The Lucerne Hammer is underpowered. The Guisarme-Voulge is underpowered. The Glaive-Guisarme is overpowered. The Hook Fauchard is overpowered. The Fauchard Fork is overpowered. The Bill-Guisarme is overpowered. The Bec de Corbin is underpowered. The Awl Pike is overpowered. The Khopesh is unrealistically heavy. It'd be impossible to swing a 12 pound sword. 3 or 4 pounds would be accurate.
2nd Ed Paladin 05-29-06, 06:20 PM	khopesh picture (http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=24280&highlight=khopesh+weight) fyi, this link shows an actual khopesh. It is replica but looks like other I saw an various websites searching for the weight. This site lists it at 2lbs, 10 oz although a reader below said was heavier than that. I doubt it 12 lbs though.
Tehril 05-29-06, 10:55 PM	hmmm....