The 5e Weapons Table

RPGPundit · June 12, 2014, 12:35:35 PM

Care to dissect? Criticize? Explain all of what's awful about this?

Or do you actually feel excited seeing it?

Emperor Norton · June 12, 2014, 12:45:20 PM

Wow. Do not get caught unarmed.

Sacrosanct · June 12, 2014, 12:53:34 PM

I like how strength negates armor movement penalties. Because let's be honest, in my games, we pretty much did that anyway

But from a mechanics perspective, I think I see where they are going with that. Helps mitigate the "I'm a level 1 fighter with 10 strength and 18 intelligence, and all the rest of my levels are mage so I can wear armor and cast spells."

Bill · June 12, 2014, 12:54:33 PM

Unarmed strike should probably be 'finesse' so you can use either str or dex.

But yea, without a high stat and any class ability that might add damage, being unarmed is rough.

Then again, that's why we love our weapons.

Any monks in 5E?

Armchair Gamer · June 12, 2014, 01:00:58 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;757673Care to dissect? Criticize? Explain all of what's awful about this?

Or do you actually feel excited seeing it?

Excited? Not really; I've seen this same basic list half a dozen times already in some form of another.

But it doesn't contain any real howlers that seem to cry out as system traps or as grievous punishments for people who want their character to use a certain type of weapon (although I'm not completely sure about that trident). Like most of what I've seen of 5E, it looks solid but not dramatic. Probably what we want out of the gateway system.

Tyndale · June 12, 2014, 01:24:55 PM

Quarterstaff's damage one handed is a d6 and two d8??? Am I reading this right? If so, that'll be the first house rule.

Marleycat · June 12, 2014, 01:26:08 PM

So why didn't they explain "versatile"?

Armchair Gamer · June 12, 2014, 01:28:19 PM

Quote from: Marleycat;757688So why didn't they explain "versatile"?

Probably because that text is on p. 18.

Bill · June 12, 2014, 01:30:29 PM

Quote from: Tyndale;757686Quarterstaff's damage one handed is a d6 and two d8??? Am I reading this right? If so, that'll be the first house rule.

Why is that a problem? Just curious.

Necrozius · June 12, 2014, 01:32:36 PM

I like some of the streamlined rules (compared to 3.X, I'm not familiar with Pathfinder or 4E). For example: instead of including small versions of every single weapon they seem to just give small characters a penalty with Heavy weapons.

I like the ammo rule too. Not a huge change, but removing a bit of extra book-keeping.

I can see there being a lot of Greatsword Fighters out there in the 5e-verse.

Bill · June 12, 2014, 01:35:03 PM

Quote from: Necrozius;757693I like some of the streamlined rules (compared to 3.X, I'm not familiar with Pathfinder or 4E). For example: instead of including small versions of every single weapon they seem to just give small characters a penalty with Heavy weapons.

I like the ammo rule too. Not a huge change, but removing a bit of extra book-keeping.

I can see there being a lot of Greatsword Fighters out there in the 5e-verse.

I would have had the great axe and the great sword reversed for the 1d12 and 2d6 damage values.

cranebump · June 12, 2014, 01:37:58 PM

Quote from: Tyndale;757686Quarterstaff's damage one handed is a d6 and two d8??? Am I reading this right? If so, that'll be the first house rule.

Versatile=damage if wielding 2H, so a staff does d8 when used 2H. Evidently, they expect some people to bash 1H with it (for d6).

cranebump · June 12, 2014, 01:39:52 PM

Quote from: Bill;757695I would have had the great axe and the great sword reversed for the 1d12 and 2d6 damage values.

The thing about the Axe and sword comparison I found interesting (as posted on the Wiz site by cyberdave), was that the 2d6 does greater consistent damage, while the d12 has a greater chance to spike at 12 points (8% to about 3%, if I remember right). Reversing the two might make sense, especially as the Axe tends to be a Dwarf weapon, and one could see them doing more damage, more consistently.

Bill · June 12, 2014, 01:40:39 PM

Quote from: cranebump;757696Versatile=damage if wielding 2H, so a staff does d8 when used 2H. Evidently, they expect some people to bash 1H with it (for d6).

It may seem strange at first, but soldiers have used 8' spears in one hand. A staff's damage one handed should probably be 1d4 though.

In practice, I doubt anyone will use a staff one handed, or with a shield.

Bill · June 12, 2014, 01:45:07 PM

Quote from: cranebump;757697The thing about the Axe and sword comparison I found interesting (as posted on the Wiz site by cyberdave), was that the 2d6 does greater consistent damage, while the d12 has a greater chance to spike at 12 points (8% to about 3%, if I remember right). Reversing the two might make sense, especially as the Axe tends to be a Dwarf weapon, and one could see them doing more damage, more consistently.

I really don't know which weapon is 'better' under various conditions.

I suspect the sword is harder to master.