Weapons Guidelines, Part 1

I remember posting a bit about this to rec.games.frp.dnd, but don’t remember if I included the bits about weapon reach.  This article is a first cut of recapturing that post, with some additional  information.  The rules are generally complete, but some of the weapon modeling needs some adjustment.

The model is not a perfect match to the existing weapons charts. Spears, for example, are unusually good by these guidelines (going from simple to martial use increases base damage, critical multiplier, and makes them throwable (unless they start off considered throwable, which already puts them better than other weapons), and I’m inclined to consider them ‘bastard’ weapons in that with proper proficiency they can be used one-handed instead of two-handed).

On the other hand, some weapons simply are better than others. Maybe I should just let it go and let them deviate from the model.

This article is concerned only with common melee weapons. Missile weapons will be discussed another time, as will some of the more unusual melee weapons (such as whips, shields, and spiked armor, all of which might be better treated as something other than weapons).

Weapon Proficiency

Weapons are no longer divided into ‘simple’, ‘martial’, and ‘exotic’ categories. In my own experience fencing and discussion with experienced martial artists, items of similar shape, nature, and size can be used more or less the same way, if in a limited manner, with the real differences coming about when specifically trained and skilled with the nuances of the various weapons. That is, swords weighing three pounds tend to be more or less interchangeable as long as they are not fundamentally different (such as having only a point and no edge, though I would consider that just an odd metal spear) – a rapier (yes, they have edges), sabre, and longsword can be used to limited effect more or less the same way. In the hands of someone actually and specifically trained they may be different, but at a basic level they are more or less equivalent.

What this amounts to is that weapons will still be categorized by size, but their characteristics are governed more by how they are used than what they are. The core weapon proficiency feats are replaced with the feats below. These feats have been backported from Echelon talents to suit D&D 3.x, and replace the Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization feats.

Basic Weapon Use

Benefit: You can use weapons with no proficiency penalty, in a simple manner as described below.

Note: This replaces the Simple Weapon Proficiency feat.

Martial Weapon Use

Benefit: Choose a weapon group such as swords, axes, or spears. You are trained in the nuances of each and can use them to their normal effect as described for each weapon.

Note: This replaces the Martial Weapon Proficiency feat.

Expert Combat Style

Prerequisite: BAB +1, Martial Weapon Use.

Benefit: Choose a combat style using weapons with which you are martially proficient. When fighting with this style you can apply the style’s benefits (such as increased damage, critical threat range, extended reach options, and so on) to attacks made with the style’s weapons with which you are martially proficient.

Note: You can take this feat more than once, choosing a different combat style each time.

Heroic Combat Style

Prerequisite: BAB +4, Expert Combat Style, Martial Weapon Use

Benefit: Choose a combat style you have focus with. You gain the second tier of benefits associated with the chosen combat style.

Note: You can take this feat more than once, choosing a different combat style each time.

Master Combat Style

Prerequisite: BAB +8, Heroic Combat Style, Martial Weapon Use

Benefit: Choose a combat style you have specialization with. You gain the third tier of benefits associated with the chosen combat style.

Note: You can take this feat more than once, choosing a different combat style each time.

Champion Combat Style

Prerequisite: BAB +12, Master Combat Style, Martial Weapon Use

Benefit: Choose a combat style you have specialization with. You gain the fourth tier of benefits associated with the chosen combat style.

Note: You can take this feat more than once, choosing a different combat style each time.

Legendary Combat Style

Prerequisite: BAB +16, Champion Combat Style, Martial Weapon Use

Benefit: Choose a combat style you have specialization with. You gain the fifth tier of benefits associated with the chosen combat style.

Note: You can take this feat more than once, choosing a different combat style each time.

Simple Weapon Use

Melee weapon use and effects are largely based on weapon size and weight and modified by user training (as represented by the feats above). Even with higher levels of proficiency, a character may choose to use a weapon as with lesser proficiency (such as using a short sword as a one-handed weapon rather than a light weapon) without penalty.

For medium creatures without natural reach, light weapons are usable only in the same square. They may be used defensively (as with Two-Weapon Defense) or after having closed with the opponent. Many may be thrown. Some blunt Light weapons do only nonlethal damage with basic weapon use.

Two-handed weapons often have reach. I’m treating this as a breakeven ability because it generally means it cannot be used against opponents in adjacent squares, nor opponents in the same square.

Double weapons count as two improvements.

Weapon Class	Base Damage	Str Mod to Damage	Attack Modifier Ability	Reach Adjustment
Light Weapons	d4	x1/2, one-handed only	Dexterity	-5 ft.
One-Handed Weapons	d6	x1	Strength	+0 ft.
Two-Handed Weapons	d8	x1.5	Strength	+0′

Martial Weapon Use

Martial weapon use gives you improvements to the effects of a weapon. These usually bring the weapon into line with the statistics presented in the RSRD. The specific effects vary by weapon, and will be shown in the table below. In most cases you get two improvements, I am inclined to give two-handed weapons three improvements.

Combat Style

Combat Styles often apply to only a single weapon type, or a group of related weapons. For the sake of simplicity, the same effects are generally applied to all weapons associated with the combat style.

Weapon Tables

Some of the weapons don’t quite align with the guidelines described above. They could stand a little adjustment, either up or down as indicated in the ‘Modifier’ column. Those weapons marked ‘Low’ could use an improvement, those marked ‘High’ might be better served by putting off one of their improvements (such as reducing the heavy pick to x3 critical multiplier until a suitable combat style is taken), possibly by raising their basic use characteristics (such as giving a heavy pick a x3 critical multiplier with simple use), or applying a penalty or restriction of some sort.

Light Weapons

Weapon	Simple Damage	Simple Critical	Martial Damage	Martial Critical	Notes	Modifier
Axe, throwing	1d4	20/x2	1d6	20/x2	Throwable 10′ RI
Dagger	1d4	20/x2	1d4	19-20/x2	Throwable 10′ RI
Dagger, punching	1d4	20/x2	1d4	20/x3		Low
Flail, light	1d4	20/x2	1d6	20/x2	Disarming, aka ‘Nunchaku’
Hammer, light	1d4	20/x2	1d4	20/x2	Throwable 20′ RI
Handaxe	1d4	20/x2	1d6	20/x3
Kukri	1d4	20/x2	1d4	18-20/x2
Mace, light	1d4	20/x2	1d6	20/x2		Low
Pick, light	1d4	20/x2	1d4	20/x4		High
Sai	1d4	20/x2	1d4	20/x2	Throwable 10′ RI, Disarming +4	High
Sap	1d4	20/x2	1d6	20/x2	Nonlethal
Siangham	1d4	20/x2	1d6	20/x2		Low
Sickle	1d4	20/x2	1d6	20/x2	Tripping, aka ‘Kama’

One-handed Weapons

Weapon	Simple Damage	Simple Critical	Martial Damage	Martial Critical	Notes	Modifier
Battleaxe	1d6	20/x2	1d8	20/x3
Club	1d6	20/x2	1d6	20/x2	Throwable 10′ RI	Low
Flail	1d6	20/x2	1d8	20/x2	Disarming, tripping	High
Longsword	1d6	20/x2	1d8	19-20/x2
Mace, heavy	1d6	20/x2	1d8	20/x2		Low
Morningstar	1d6	20/x2	1d8	20/x2		Low
Pick, heavy	1d6	20/x2	1d6	20/x4		High
Rapier	1d6	20/x2	1d6	18-20/x2	Finesse, Flimsy
Scimitar	1d6	20/x2	1d6	18-20/x2
Shortspear	1d6	20/x2	1d6	20/x2	Throwable 20′ RI
Sword, Short	1d6	20/x2	1d6	19-20/x2	Semi-light
Trident	1d6	20/x2	1d8	20/x3	Ready, Throwable 10′ RI	Very High
Warhammer	1d6	20/x2	1d8	20/x3

Two-handed Weapons

Weapon	Simple Damage	Simple Critical	Martial Damage	Martial Critical	Notes	Modifier
Axe, orc double	1d8	20/x2	1d8/1d8	20/x3	Double weapon
Chain, spiked	1d8	20/x2	1d8/1d8	20/x2	Reach, Close, Double weapon, Tripping, Finesse	Very High
Falchion	1d8	20/x2	1d8	18-20/x2		Low
Flail, Dire	1d8	20/x2	1d8/1d8	20/x2	Double weapon, Disarming, Tripping	High
Flail, heavy	1d8	20/x2	1d10	19-20/x2	Disarming, tripping	High
Glaive	1d8	20/x2	1d10	20/x3	Reach
Greataxe	1d8	20/x2	1d12	20/x3
Greatclub	1d8	20/x2	1d10	20/x2		Very Low
Greatsword	1d8	20/x2	1d12	19-20/x2
Guisarme	1d8	20/x2	1d8	20/x3	Reach, tripping	Low
Halberd	1d8	20/x2	1d10	20/x3	Ready, Tripping	High
Hammer, gnome hooked	1d8	20/x2	1d8/1d6	x3/x4	Double weapon, Tripping	High
Lance	1d8	20/x2	1d8	20/x3	Reach, Charging, Bastard
Longspear	1d8	20/x2	1d10	20/x3	Reach, Ready
Quarterstaff	1d6	20/x2	1d6/1d6	20/x2	Close, Double weapon, Tripping, Low Base Damage
Ranseur	1d8	20/x2	1d8	20/x3	Reach, Disarming	Low
Scythe	1d8	20/x2	1d8	20/x4	Tripping	High
Spear	1d8	20/x2	1d8	20/x3	Ready, Throwable 10′ RI, bastard	High
Sword, bastard	1d8	20/x2	1d10	19-20/x2	Bastard
Sword, two-bladed	1d8	20/x2	1d8/1d8	19-20/x2	Double weapon
Urgrosh, dwarven	1d8	20/x2	1d8/1d6	20/x3	Double weapon, Ready	High
Waraxe, dwarven	1d8	20/x2	1d10	20/x3	Bastard

Weapon Qualities

The tables above note a number of weapon qualities. These weapon qualities are described below.

Quality	Description
Bastard	Two-handed weapon usable one-handed with proper training.
Close	May be used against targets closer than normal. Most reach weapons may not be used against adjacent targets. Some non-light weapons may be used against immediate (same square) opponents without penalty.
Disarming	+2 bonus to disarm checks.
Disarming +4	+4 bonus to disarm checks. Counts as two improvements.
Double weapon	Both ends may be used. Counts as two qualities
Finesse	May use Dexterity instead of Strength for attack bonus.
Flimsy	May not use two hands for additional damage. This counts as a negative improvement.
Low Base Damage	The weapon does lower than normal base damage. This counts as a negative improvement.
Nonlethal	Weapon does nonlethal damage. Breakeven ability since such weapons are usually chosen for this quality, despite being weaker.
Reach	Can attack opponents 10′ away, rather than just adjacent opponents. Usually cannot attack adjacent opponents.
Ready	Can ready an attack against a charging opponent. If successful, does double damage.
Semi-light	(Needs a better name) One-handed weapon usable as a light weapon if desired, with normal limitation (reduced Str modifier to damage, etc.).
Throwable	May be thrown, not just used in melee. Costs one slot per 10′ of range increment.
Throwable only	May be thrown, not just used in melee. Costs one slot per 10′ of range increment, less one for not being usable in melee.
Tripping	+2 bonus to trip checks.