Weird weapon weights - has this been updated?

[WhosDaDungeonMaster]

Just checking in, but I noticed many of the weapon weights are unrealistic, often roughly half of their actual weight or less. A greatsword weighing only 6 pounds? Seriously?

Does anyone know if these have ever been updated to be more realistic?

 

[Azzy]

Just checking in, but I noticed many of the weapon weights are unrealistic, often roughly half of their actual weight or less. A greatsword weighing only 6 pounds? Seriously?

Does anyone know if these have ever been updated to be more realistic?

The weights in 5e are more realistic than they have been in previous editions. Still needs some work, but they actually tried.

As for 6 lb. not being realistic for a greatsword read this.

 

[Oofta]

A quick lookup on the weight of a claymore (typical 2-handed weapon) states that it weighs on average 6.2 pounds. Are you disappointed they don't include fractional pounds?

I didn't double check the weight of anything else, but as an example there were several styles and weights of "long sword" over the centuries, and who knows what a rapier would be represented by. So the weights may not be accurate ... it depends on what you use as a model.

Or are you assuming a greatsword looks like this:

 

[Coroc]

A greatsword is between 6 and 8 pounds, most of them rather 6 pounds. A rapier if you interpret it reasonably as a renaissance rapier and not a 19th century smallsword is about up to 3 pounds that is more than many bastard 1 hand and half aka d&d longswords.

 

[Horwath]

Just checking in, but I noticed many of the weapon weights are unrealistic, often roughly half of their actual weight or less. A greatsword weighing only 6 pounds? Seriously?

Does anyone know if these have ever been updated to be more realistic?

If anything, they are still too heavy but atleast it is better than older editions.

They still have some issues.

Also 6lb for greatsword is on a heavy side a little.

I have 140cm sword for HEMA and it is under 4lb(1700g),


this would be typical greatsword:
https://www.paulchenhanweiswords.com/antiqued-claymore-sword.aspx

Longsword?? or better sidesword, one-handed sword is around 2lb, same as warhammer, axes are even lighter.

Any weapon that is more than 10lb is almost useless in battle.

For me a sword of 2,5kg is borderline that I can use in training with any reasonable speed.

 

[Horwath]

A quick lookup on the weight of a claymore (typical 2-handed weapon) states that it weighs on average 6.2 pounds. Are you disappointed they don't include fractional pounds?

I didn't double check the weight of anything else, but as an example there were several styles and weights of "long sword" over the centuries, and who knows what a rapier would be represented by. So the weights may not be accurate ... it depends on what you use as a model.

Or are you assuming a greatsword looks like this:View attachment 103582

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xogheZdAO18

at 4min mark it shows how stupid this weapon is

And how weight in older editions were off sometimes by factor of 10

 

[WhosDaDungeonMaster]

Yeah, I saw the wiki page on claymores before posting this, but still wanted feedback. I suppose in 5E the greatsword is really more akin to a bastard sword, than a true two-handed only weapon, which typically weighs at least 8-10 pounds, and can be even heavier. I guess since the argument for the "model" of the weapon is part of it, you could argue they went with the kindest (i.e. lightest) versions they found in researching the weapons.

 

[Azzy]

a true two-handed only weapon, which typically weighs at least 8-10 pounds, and can be even heavier.

No. Wrong.

 

[Horwath]

Yeah, I saw the wiki page on claymores before posting this, but still wanted feedback. I suppose in 5E the greatsword is really more akin to a bastard sword, than a true two-handed only weapon, which typically weighs at least 8-10 pounds, and can be even heavier. I guess since the argument for the "model" of the weapon is part of it, you could argue they went with the kindest (i.e. lightest) versions they found in researching the weapons.

No.

10lb is upper limit for some pikes or other huge reach weapons.


THis would be a "real" greatsword:
https://www.paulchenhanweiswords.com/antiqued-lowlander-sword.aspx

and it over 6lb. And that is more or less upper limit of swords.

Speed is far better than mass for swords.

Unless you are competing for "world strongest man" you cannot use 10lb sword with any respectable speed and would be killed by a guy with a normal 4lb sword.

 

[ccs]

Why are you particularly worried about it?
The D&D world, though resembling it in many ways, isn't Earth & isn't meant to be. So why would you be concerned that the weapons weigh less there than they have throughout our own histories?

And if you think they should be heavier? Then just change them. I personally think that'd be a waste of time, but if it somehow improves your game....