what would you want to see in a revised Weapon Chart?

[GlassJaw]

While 5E is my favorite edition of D&D since I started playing the Red Box, no system is perfect. So aside the feat system, the weapon chart is the other major weakness of 5E in my view. I've started to do some work on a major redesign that is sort of a hybrid of 3E and 5E.

Design Goals:

• Make choice of weapon more interesting
• Create more differentiation between the weapons
• Add more weapons
• Add more weapon properties
• Fix the damage discrepancy between weapons (like Greatsword and Greataxe)
• Address other balance issues (rapier, quarterstaff, etc)
• Make the system as plug-and-play as possible, so keep the changes to the core rules as minimal as possible.
• Stay as close as possible to the "spirit" of D&D.

If you think the weapon chart is fine, this thread isn't for you.

But if you have issues with it as well, what else would you like to see in an expanded/revised weapon chart?

 

[KarinsDad]

One thing I wouldn't do is add more weapons. As is, only about 6 or 8 weapons or so are used the vast majority of time. Making each weapon desirable for some type of PC is more important than adding more.

 

[coldermoss]

I agree with the above. Making your choice of weapon matter should definitely be priority 1. If accomplishing that opens up design space for other weapons, that's gravy.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I have the idea to put ''shields'' in the weapon table instead of armors. I would give shields (buckler, parrying dagger, parrying gauntlet, shield, tower shield) different small damage die, so they are considered possible weapons to dual-wield. I'd give them the special trait (Defensive +1 AC, Shielding +2 AC or Warding +2 AC/ranged attack disadvantage) to them.

I think I'll change crossbows to attack with a special action giving them only 1 attack against AC 10, to represent the slow rate of fire but the possibility to breach armors which is a common trope with them.

 

[Guest 6801328]

No weapon table. Instead, a flowchart/rules for creating your own weapons. Call them whatever you want. You start with simple or martial, which determines die size. Then you add tags, each of which either raise or lower the damage die by one step.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[5ekyu]

Actually I want a chart of about half as many "weapon types" with a list within each of how they can apply to different "weapons" and damage types from that.

To me, having battleaxe, longblade and warhammer take up three slots all being d8 melee versatile with a different damage type is a waste *and* troubling because it feeds a sense of mechanics over flavor/style/narrative.

So, boil down the mechanics to their essential underpinning (skeleton and muscle) and then let the "skin" be cosmetic choices.

 

[Xeviat]

I'd really like a return to 3E style weapons, with things like crit ranges and crit multipliers. It made weapons feel different. It would be a solid power increase for weapon users, but maybe they need it.

 

[Nevvur]

I would go the other way.

Reduce the weapon chart to a 2x2 matrix of heavy/light-melee/ranged to produce 2-hand weapons, 1-hand weapons, projectile weapons, and thrown weapons. Give them base stats. Now push the modifiers to classes.

You have 4 weapons that can be anything.

 

[akr71]

I feel that the 5e weapons table is a great streamline approach and helps new and younger players get into the game.

However, I would like some reason over flavor or cosmetic reason to choose longsword, battleaxe or warhammer. The hammer does bludgeoning, but the other two are basically identical, mechanically - 1d8/1d10 versatile, slashing weapons. I don't have a solution that doesn't interfere with the simplicity of the 5e rule-set though. Also, I don't think my players think there is a problem, so I would be doing a lot of work for nothing.

Weapon specific or weapon group specific feats might help. There was a UA a while back that attempted this, but it needs some polish, I think.

Edit:
Now that I have thought about it for a bit, I would introduce a third tier of weapon proficiency. Call it 'Militia Weapons'

Simple Weapons do 1d4 damage, Milita Weapons do 1d6 damage and Martial Weapons do 1d8 damage.
Heavy weapons bump up by one dice size
2 handed bumps up by one dice size
Versatile stays the same - when used 2 handed, bump up 1 dice size (but no shield bonus)
Lump light and finesse in as one
Give crossbows a 'mechanical' property. You can add Dex modifier to hit, but no bonus to damage.