D&D 3E/3.5 Bat’leth in 3.5 dnd?

abe ray · Sep 15, 2018

Bat’leth in 3.5 dnd?

What would be the weapon stats for the bat’leth in dnd 3.5? I figured that it would be to the Klingons what the double axe would be to orcs.
I’m asking mostly for curiosities sake though if it works out I might ask for the stats for the other Star Trek weapons/equipment as well. Thanks in advance.

Samloyal23 · Sep 17, 2018

It can for sure do blunt, piercing, and slashing damage. The design has a blunt back and blades with sharp points, so any type of damage. The shape of the front crescent makes catching or blocking weapons easy. Damage? I am not sure, maybe 1d8?

abe ray · Sep 17, 2018

Samloyal23 said:
It can for sure do blunt, piercing, and slashing damage. The design has a blunt back and blades with sharp points, so any type of damage. The shape of the front crescent makes catching or blocking weapons easy. Damage? I am not sure, maybe 1d8?

But would it be a racial weapon for Klingons though? As for damage, I was thinking 2d6 myself.

Peregry · Sep 17, 2018

Err... the best stating for a Bat'leth should probably reflect how it's used. As such, given it is typically treated as something akin to a staff in how its wielded, I'd actually say it's a double-weapon, likely doing 1d6/1d6 piercing and slashing damage. Yes, that's lower than the others, but it's also fairly short which prohibits much power being behind the blows due to lack of leverage.

However, when you look at the weapon, it's clearly meant to capture and disarm. It's actually a highly defensive weapon, not an offensive one. As such, I'd grant it a bonus on disarm attempts as well as perhaps even granting a shield bonus to AC in the +1 to +2 range.

Critical range should be small, it s hard to get a deep penetrating blow with the weapon as designed, it interferes with itself. However, when it DOES find that chink, it's going to be nasty, so give it a x3 critical.

So, long story short:

Batl'eth - Exotic Weapon
1d6/1d6 20x3, Wielder gets a +2 bonus on disarm attempts and a +2 shield bonus while wielding.

The other famous Klingon weapon, the shorter Mek'leth, is pretty much covered by the Scimitar, Short Sword, or Butterfly Sword. It's not really unique enough to earn its own stat block.

Samloyal23 · Sep 18, 2018

abe ray said:
But would it be a racial weapon for Klingons though? As for damage, I was thinking 2d6 myself.

I have not seen another race using a similar weapon, so making it a racial weapon for Klingons seems reasonable.

Greenfield · Sep 19, 2018

Hmmm...

Essentially a Bladestaff or double-axe. Exotic. Clearly intended to be used two handed, though TNG showed some one handed use in practice.

There were some scenes with Michael Dorn (Warf) doing katas where it was almost like a dance.

Mechanically it isn't that different in use from a great axe. Similar length and weight, similar grip. Maybe drop the damage to a D8. (When using an axe to cut wood, which I've done, it's common to start with the left hand at the base and the right one near the head, then slide the right hand down as you complete the swing. No way to slide that hand on the Bat'leth.) Same crit range would work.

So Exotic, like the Bastard Sword: Can be used two handed by anyone with battle axe proficiency, need Exotic weapon feat to use one handed.

Someone mentioned its use in parrying: I wouldn't give it the automatic AC bonus, but perhaps a +1 AC when used with Combat Expertise. (For those unfamiliar with this seldom used feat, it lets you shift from one to five BAB points to AC, sort of the counterpart to Power Attack.)

And yes, I'd give it a +1 to Disarm attempts.

Anything more would make it overpowered. Fewer advantages/options than the Spiked Chain, and comparable damage.