tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post9072139725729085425..comments2024-03-28T00:41:13.514-07:00Comments on B/X BLACKRAZOR: Axe MeanderingsJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-77563752671705920852010-05-24T19:22:33.300-07:002010-05-24T19:22:33.300-07:00@ Father Dave: Man, I just have to say I would LOV...@ Father Dave: Man, I just have to say I would LOVE to play a game with you if your were playing a cleric...whatever weapon you want to wield is fine with me (cruciform sword or whatnot)! You just better be Lawful and act as the party conscience.<br />; )<br /><br />@ D30: I agree with the usefulness of a tool/weapon, but in my experience, few of my players have thought in these terms...it's a curious blind spot.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-22528636725624377072010-05-12T08:58:43.976-07:002010-05-12T08:58:43.976-07:00The eventual availability of magic items also mean...The eventual availability of magic items also means that swords are typically more desirable, as magic swords are more common and the best magic swords are more powerful than the best magic axes. <br /><br />Although there is a benefit to carrying a tool-like weapon (axe, hammer, pick, crowbar) during the adventure. In fact, I make it a point to arm any hirelings or henchmen with such weapons, telling them that they're not expected to fight but sneakily handing them a pretty effective weapon anyway. It's more an issue of saving inventory space, as you don't have to carry a weapon AND a tool. <br /><br />So you could encourage use of non-sword weapons by including a lot more non-sword magic items, especially items that amplify the use of the weapon (such as an analogue to Bracers of Archery, but for axes and hammers whether thrown or melee).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-13726655118716895622010-05-12T07:10:50.308-07:002010-05-12T07:10:50.308-07:00Back in the 1ed days, I was always the guy willing...Back in the 1ed days, I was always the guy willing to play the spell caster (especially the cleric), so I rarely got the chance to play a fighter. The one time I did get to play THE fighter, I did something unexpected by everyone, especially the DM — my weapon of choice was the <i>hand axe</i>. I took advantage of weapon specialization and the fact that the hand axe was a small weapon, allowing me to use two at the same time. This meant that I had multiple attacks every round with a high bonus to hit. Add in the fact that they can be thrown, and you have a truly formidable warrior who puts the sword and shield wielding fighter to shame.FrDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-65331855106689939842010-05-12T06:52:54.499-07:002010-05-12T06:52:54.499-07:00@ Lord B: We definitely have to do something about...@ Lord B: We definitely have to do something about that. Of course, I also think the spear is a highly under-appreciated weapon.<br /><br />@ Kelvin: You know how lazy we Colonials can be!<br /><br />@ Roger: I'm glad to know others feel my pain...D6 may be the simplest way to go (or use my Variable Weapon by Class charts...swords and axes do the same damage, leaving it a true matter of taste).<br /><br />@ Matt: Just finished reading it, thanks! I may have to do my own version of your chart (for B/X of course!).<br />: )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-39820339629310357992010-05-11T19:28:54.854-07:002010-05-11T19:28:54.854-07:00I spent a long time being irritated about King Swo...I spent a long time being irritated about King Sword in Ye Auld Game. I like swords as much as the next gamer, but it gets so boring. I never really could work through the weapon vs. AC modifiers in 1st ed and so, ignored them like 99% of any gamer I have ever met.<br /><br />I posted a analysis of various weapon matrices over the editions: [http://wheel-of-samsara.blogspot.com/2009/08/recreating-weapon-vs-armour-class-chart.html]. And building on that, I made a matrix that I'm really happy with now: it makes most weapons decent choices overall, but still distinct from each other. The key is the Weapon vs. AC thing; simply going by variable damage doesn't give enough scope.<br /><br />The chart is here: [http://wheel-of-samsara.blogspot.com/2010/02/melee-weapons-vs-armour-class-takeoh.html].Matthew Slepinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04056247825064943944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-44454373139607591422010-05-11T16:26:59.955-07:002010-05-11T16:26:59.955-07:00This is the point at which you have to take the wh...This is the point at which you have to take the whack-ass weapon stats from that version by the throat and shake them until they make sense.<br /><br />Two-handed AND strike last? Back to d6 damage, or forward to something that makes sense, I say.Roger G-Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-27391513509566633522010-05-11T16:12:12.269-07:002010-05-11T16:12:12.269-07:00Thank you for not spelling it "ax". I wi...Thank you for not spelling it "ax". I will forgive you Colonials much for what you've done to the mother tongue, but not that. ;)<br /><br />I've always favoured axes. In games, that is. I don't know why that is exactly, but I've always found them a more compelling weapon than the boring old sword.thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-24335803587111895742010-05-11T15:45:01.628-07:002010-05-11T15:45:01.628-07:00This has always chapped my ass as well. The one c...This has always chapped my ass as well. The one case one could make for handaxe is versatility (as it can be thrown) but even the lowly spear outshines it with the ability to be set against charge.<br /><br />Another great axe-man - Bran Mak Morn, shamefully rendered in most cover appearances with a wimpy Gladius.Lord Bodacioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06003604243855656963noreply@blogger.com