D&D 5E Weapon oddities

[Kobold Stew]

You cant make Quarterstaff finesse and two-handed. Because then people will multiclass figher/rogue and get GWF. Can you imagine 10d6 sneak attack re-roll 1s and 2s?

No weapon currently has two-handed melee and finesse for a reason.

It is trivial to exclude sneak attack damage from the effect of GWF.

 

[Mouseferatu]

It's a truly minor nitpick, it's not unique to 5E, and one of the easiest things in the world to houserule, but...

I have always found it truly bizarre that dwarves in D&D are associated--and often get bonuses--with hammers and axes, but not picks. Leaving aside that the overwhelming majority of war hammers, historically, were basically hammers and picks BOTH, I'd think that a race that lives in stone and mines as a cultural pastime would be more comfortable with picks than axes.

Not a big deal, just a mental glitch I have to get past now and again.

(Not sure this really counts as a weapon oddity, but there you go.)

 

[Savage Wombat]

It's because of their never-ending war with their hated enemies, the trees. You need a slashing weapon for those.

 

[Raduin711]

I am hoping there will be feats to help make the different weapons distinct. For example, making tridents better suited for aquatic combat and synergy with the net.

 

[thalmin]

First, I would hate for WotC to come up with errata for the PHB just to satisfy people who want certain weapons to be more similar or more different than they are.
Second, what's wrong with allowing sub-optimal choices? If you think something is sub-optimal, don't take it if it bothers you.
Third, specifically the spear/trident issue. Tridents would be an unusual choice for a character, unless picking up loot from fallen lizardfolk (or similar foe).

 

[Xodis]

I'm just sad my Bastard sword is missing....

 

[Stalker0]

Second, what's wrong with allowing sub-optimal choices?

Because to many...a sub-optimal choice isn't really a choice at all.


Now to be clear, there is a difference between weak "in the eye of the beholder" and weak "it just is".

For example, someone might argue that raising a Fighter's charisma over his strength is "sub-optimal". But the bottom line is, the fighter gets something for his charisma, and for his character that may be what matters. Optimized in this case depends on player preference.

However, when between two weapons, one is stronger, and the other offers no benefit at all....that is a problem. The only reason to take the weaker weapon is because it fits your character, but why should that force a player into an obviously bad choice?


At that point, I would just take the stronger weapon and reskin it...but then at that point why have different weapons at all?

 

[doctorhook]

Because to many...a sub-optimal choice isn't really a choice at all.


Now to be clear, there is a difference between weak "in the eye of the beholder" and weak "it just is".

For example, someone might argue that raising a Fighter's charisma over his strength is "sub-optimal". But the bottom line is, the fighter gets something for his charisma, and for his character that may be what matters. Optimized in this case depends on player preference.

However, when between two weapons, one is stronger, and the other offers no benefit at all....that is a problem. The only reason to take the weaker weapon is because it fits your character, but why should that force a player into an obviously bad choice?


At that point, I would just take the stronger weapon and reskin it...but then at that point why have different weapons at all?

Stalker0, you made some excellent homebrew replacement systems for 4E (linked in your sig), including Obsidian, which I used heavily over the course of two years in my 4E game. You've got a level of statistical know-how well beyond the average forum-goer. Given your expertise, what would you create if you were to revise the 5E weapon list?

 

[Remathilis]

I am hoping there will be feats to help make the different weapons distinct. For example, making tridents better suited for aquatic combat and synergy with the net.

Already kinda is...

When making a melee weapon attack, a creature that doesn’t have a swimming speed (either natural or granted by magic) has disadvantage on the attack roll unless the weapon is a dagger, javelin, shortsword, spear, or trident.

[...]Even against a target within normal range, the attack roll has disadvantage unless the weapon is a crossbow, a net, or a weapon that is thrown like a javelin (including a spear, trident, or dart).

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I'm just sad my Bastard sword is missing....

It's not -- it's just that the longsword killed it and took its stuff.