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

[squibbles]

Before you add any new weapons, give some consideration to the conceptual and mechanical redundancy already in the weapon chart.

The problem with spears and tridents being mechanically identical isn't a problem of lack of differentiation... it's that spears and tridents are very very similar weapons. The game doesn't need both, and it doesn't need anybody to add a yari, assegai, or qiang.

That said, longswords and battleaxes work a lot differently in combat, and it would be nice if D&D represented that. I would recommend reading some HEMA literature for inspiration before adding any crunchy mechanics.

Finally, I would advise against making all weapons viable. Some weapons are crappy and should be mechanically represented as being crappy. Anybody fighting with a club, maul, or whip against a rapier-wielding opponent of equal skill, is at a disadvantage. That doesn't mean crap weapons shouldn't remain in the game; bandits and goblins gotta use something after all.

 

[Satyrn]

I'd like to see the spear be a Martial weapon (and the equal of a longsword or battleaxe). My stupid inner min/maxer keeps stopping me from playing a spear-fighter.

 

[snickersnax]

From what I can tell everyone has their own ideas of what would be an " improvement" to the weapon system.

My personal short list is:

Great clubs are heavy.
Quarterstaff and spear are reach weapons when used two-handed.
Longsword is finesse when used two-handed.
Whip damage is 1 point (sorry... whips are not lethal weapons)

Other weapon problems are resolved indirectly and globally:

Rapier: finesse only gives the option for dexterity to hit (no dexterity for damage), this applies to all finesse weapons.

greatax/greatsword: Great Weapon Fighting = roll an extra weapon dice and take the highest (so great axe 2d12drop1, greatsword 3d6 drop1)

bonuses and penalties that apply to strength checks also apply to weapon damage rolls (disadvantage on strength checks = roll damage twice and take the lower number, advantage on strength checks means roll twice and take the higher number)

I wouldn't mind seeing hafted weapons (axes, picks and hammers) get a bonus to damage and a penalty to hit . They should be the weapon of choice when chopping wood, or breaking stone or when facing monsters made of those materials. (-1 to hit/+2 to damage or -2 to hit/+2 to damage feels about right)

Crossbow expert makes me cringe every time I think of a guy with a heavy crossbow bending over to crank the prod back with a windlass standing next to a guy who is trying to kill him and doing it 4 times in 6 seconds as a level 5 fighter with second wind and the other guy doesn't even get an attack of opportunity... It needs help, no solutions yet.

 

[jasper]

You are proficient in all weapons. But damage changes with class not weapon.
Arcana Casters and monks do a d4
Clerics, Rangers and those other fighter types with spells do a d6
Thieves do a d8
Fighters Barbarian included do a d10
If you mix classes you do the lesser damage. So A Figher 10 wizard 2 will do a d4. Any new or old cool looking weapon does a d2.

 

[snickersnax]

I'd like to see the spear be a Martial weapon (and the equal of a longsword or battleaxe). My stupid inner min/maxer keeps stopping me from playing a spear-fighter.

Go for the Hoplite build: spear and shield with dueling and polearm master.. your min/maxer will be satisfied...

 

[ccs]

Weapon speeds that modify initiative.

 

[Yunru]

Bigger damage dice, to bring balance to the Magical/Martial divide

 

[Satyrn]

Go for the Hoplite build: spear and shield with dueling and polearm master.. your min/maxer will be satisfied...

My PH doesn't mention the spear in Polearm Master. Was this errata'd?

Regardless, the one feature of that feat - the Opportunity Attack it grants - would be cool as a basic feature of a Martial spear (perhaps even lowering the spear's damage die down to a d4 if necessary), if the OP really wanted to make weapons significantly different from each other.

 

[Azzy]

MOAR POLEARMS!!!

Seriously, though, some more weapon choices would be groovy. Not to the point of 2e's Combat & Tactics weapon table, but a few here and there (especially for non-pseudo-medieval weapons that don't have an easy equivalent).

Also, I hate that the scimitar was reduced to 1d6 from 1d8 in ealier editions. Ad do something with the trident.

 

[5ekyu]

I'd like to see the spear be a Martial weapon (and the equal of a longsword or battleaxe). My stupid inner min/maxer keeps stopping me from playing a spear-fighter.

I just accept that a one die difference will come out in the wash especially with thrown thrown in.

But then, i just like spear fighters.