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The 5e Weapons Table

Started by RPGPundit, June 12, 2014, 12:35:35 PM

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Sacrosanct

#135
June 18, 2014, 10:02:05 AM
Quote from: Exploderwizard;759076Yup.  Balancing variable weapon damage is a PITA.

In my OD&D campaign small weapons do 1d6-1, medium weapons do 1d6, and two handed weapons do 1d6+1.

One thing I like about standard damage is that players are more apt to choose weapons based on what they like, rather than what damage they do.  In modern D&D (and most RPGs), how many dual dagger weilding PCs do you see?  Not many.  They're all with weapons to maximize damage.  The poor broad sword in D&D was always tossed aside for the long sword ;)
D&D is not an "everyone gets a ribbon" game.  If you\'re stupid, your PC will die.  If you\'re an asshole, your PC will die (probably from the other PCs).  If you\'re unlucky, your PC may die.  Point?  PC\'s die.  Get over it and roll up a new one.

Haffrung

#136
June 18, 2014, 12:10:15 PM
Quote from: S'mon;759035I think the general problem is that staffs are seen as vaguely cool, spears as uncool, so the more effective weapon gets nerfed and the less effective weapon gets boosted.

Is that true? I'm not disputing, but it seems strange to me. Is this a video-game thing?
 

Marleycat

#137
June 18, 2014, 12:19:12 PM
Quote from: Haffrung;759103Is that true? I'm not disputing, but it seems strange to me. Is this a video-game thing?

It's a factor, one among several.
Don\'t mess with cats we kill wizards in one blow.;)

Philotomy Jurament

#138
June 18, 2014, 06:33:04 PM
Quote from: Haffrung;759103Is that true? I'm not disputing, but it seems strange to me. Is this a video-game thing?
Seems weird to me, too.  If I were choosing a weapon for a hand-to-hand fight, some sort of spear would probably be at the top of the list.
The problem is not that power corrupts, but that the corruptible are irresistibly drawn to the pursuit of power. Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito.

Armchair Gamer

#139
June 18, 2014, 06:52:05 PM
Quote from: Haffrung;759103Is that true? I'm not disputing, but it seems strange to me. Is this a video-game thing?

  Staff fighters have a little bit of cultural cachet, from Little John to Donatello. I can't think of similar spear-wielders off hand; even the term 'spear carrier' is dismissive.

Larsdangly

#140
June 18, 2014, 07:06:35 PM
Totally bizarre. The spear is the primary combat weapon for infantry combat in countless nations and eras. The staff is a thing you use for walking, goofing around in martial arts class, and showing off in hollywood movies.

Philotomy Jurament

#141
June 18, 2014, 07:11:56 PM
Well, there's some conscript "spear carrier," and there's Cú Chulainn, or Hector, or Ajax, or Achilles.  From the Greeks, to the Romans, to the Celts, the Anglo-Saxons, the Norse and Danes, et cetera -- the spear was the primary weapon of the warrior (part of which is the inexpensive nature of the spear, but part of it is the spear's effectiveness), and ability to fight with a spear was lauded.  Even in religious myth you'll find a lot more gods and heroes with spears than wielding a staff.  

A staff can be an effective weapon, but I'd take a spear over a staff any day.
The problem is not that power corrupts, but that the corruptible are irresistibly drawn to the pursuit of power. Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito.

languagegeek

#142
June 18, 2014, 07:18:33 PM
I figure the staff's damage is high so that magic users can do good damage with a melee weapon, just like the high damage for the combat cantrips. Seriously, I don't think M-Us should be doing anything more than 1d6 in mundane combat to reflect their lack of training, especially if to hit numbers are the same compared with fighters.

And if staves do near the same damage as spears, why would our caveman ancestors bother knapping flint spearheads before their dinosaur hunts. They could have just bashed the t-rexes with sticks.

Gunslinger

#143
June 18, 2014, 07:32:38 PM
Quote from: Armchair Gamer;759198Staff fighters have a little bit of cultural cachet, from Little John to Donatello. I can't think of similar spear-wielders off hand; even the term 'spear carrier' is dismissive.

I can think of 300.
 

Natty Bodak

#144
June 18, 2014, 07:34:19 PM
Quote from: Armchair Gamer;759198Staff fighters have a little bit of cultural cachet, from Little John to Donatello. I can't think of similar spear-wielders off hand; even the term 'spear carrier' is dismissive.

I believe that connotation comes from drama/theater and doesn't have anything to do with actual spear fighting or warfare, but I can't think of a pop culture spear user either. Nobody thinks of Odin because of his spear.
Festering fumaroles vent vile vapors!

Necrozius

#145
June 18, 2014, 07:40:54 PM
Quote from: Natty Bodak;759207Nobody thinks of Odin because of his spear.

I do. And for his ravens and his missing eye. I like the whole package deal :(

Natty Bodak

#146
June 18, 2014, 07:43:49 PM
Quote from: Necrozius;759209I do. And for his ravens and his missing eye. I like the whole package deal :(

Ok. There's two of us. Odin has a posse!
Festering fumaroles vent vile vapors!

Gunslinger

#147
June 18, 2014, 07:47:30 PM
Quote from: Necrozius;759209I do. And for his ravens and his missing eye. I like the whole package deal :(

No love for his goats?
 

Rincewind1

#148
June 18, 2014, 07:48:32 PM
Thor had goats.
Furthermore, I consider that  This is Why We Don\'t Like You thread should be closed

Gunslinger

#149
June 18, 2014, 07:49:32 PM
Quote from: Rincewind1;759215Thor had goats.

D'oh.
 
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