So I remember back on the WotC forums for 4e, someone'd worked out a rough balance guide for creating weapons, based on the currently implemented ones.
I seek to do likewise, because it could be useful.
[sblock="Workings"]The maximum vanilla simple, one-handed weapon appears to be 1d6. Let's use that as the base.
The maximum vanilla martial, one-handed weapon is 1d8. It appears that martial adds a die size.
The maximum vanilla simple, two-handed weapon appears to be 1d8. So two-handed adds a die size?
But wait, the maximum (french) vanilla martial, two-handed weapon appears to be 1d12, which is two die sizes higher. Heavy must add a die size.
The maximum reach weapon appears to be one die size smaller than its non-reach cousin, so that must cost a die size.
With the exception of the Rapier (which I'm excluding because it's the only oddity), Finesse weapons are one die size smaller. Likewise with Light weapons.[/sblock]
From that I've formulated this simple (but not totally accurate, it leaves a few current weapons under-costed) procedure-thingy:
First, pick a base:
Base Melee One-Handed Weapon:
1d6
Base Ranged One-Handed Weapon:
1d4, Ammunition
Then apply the appropriate modifiers you want:
Alien: +2 die sizes.
Martial: +1 die size.
Two-Handed: +1 die size.
Heavy: +1 die size. Must be two-handed.
Loading: +1 die size. Ranged only.
Reach: -1 die size. Melee only.
Light: -1 die size.
Versatile: Excludes other costed effects. Melee only?
Thrown: Free.
Finesse: Free? Damn Dex/Str disparity.
The Alien tier comes from the Renaissance items in the DMG, and is described in further detail there (although I also recommend expanding the Weapon Master feat into it). Not going any further, because it seems likes ages beyond that just add a die (not a die size, a whole die, so 2d6 -> 3d6 rather than 2d8).
Thoughts?
I seek to do likewise, because it could be useful.
[sblock="Workings"]The maximum vanilla simple, one-handed weapon appears to be 1d6. Let's use that as the base.
The maximum vanilla martial, one-handed weapon is 1d8. It appears that martial adds a die size.
The maximum vanilla simple, two-handed weapon appears to be 1d8. So two-handed adds a die size?
But wait, the maximum (french) vanilla martial, two-handed weapon appears to be 1d12, which is two die sizes higher. Heavy must add a die size.
The maximum reach weapon appears to be one die size smaller than its non-reach cousin, so that must cost a die size.
With the exception of the Rapier (which I'm excluding because it's the only oddity), Finesse weapons are one die size smaller. Likewise with Light weapons.[/sblock]
From that I've formulated this simple (but not totally accurate, it leaves a few current weapons under-costed) procedure-thingy:
First, pick a base:
Base Melee One-Handed Weapon:
1d6
Base Ranged One-Handed Weapon:
1d4, Ammunition
Then apply the appropriate modifiers you want:
Alien: +2 die sizes.
Martial: +1 die size.
Two-Handed: +1 die size.
Heavy: +1 die size. Must be two-handed.
Loading: +1 die size. Ranged only.
Reach: -1 die size. Melee only.
Light: -1 die size.
Versatile: Excludes other costed effects. Melee only?
Thrown: Free.
Finesse: Free? Damn Dex/Str disparity.
The Alien tier comes from the Renaissance items in the DMG, and is described in further detail there (although I also recommend expanding the Weapon Master feat into it). Not going any further, because it seems likes ages beyond that just add a die (not a die size, a whole die, so 2d6 -> 3d6 rather than 2d8).
Thoughts?
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