Atlatl

[Tetsubo]

Would an atlatl be a Simple or a Martial weapons launcher? It can be
used for darts and shortspears both of which are Simple. But it
increases range and should increase damage. Any thoughts?

 

[Aaron2]

Would an atlatl be a Simple or a Martial weapons launcher? It can be used for darts and shortspears both of which are Simple. But it increases range and should increase damage. Any thoughts?

I'd say Martial as it would take a bit of training. You wouldn't be able to use it for darts (too short AFAIKT) and you'd need two hands free.

I'd say increase Javelins to 1d8, range 50 ft. Shortspears to 1d8, range 30 ft. Maybe Spears to 1d10, range 30 ft.


Aaron

 

[DanMcS]

I'd say have it make the spear count as a fired weapon instead of a thrown weapon, so maximum 10 range increments instead of 5. It's still hard to be accurate at long distances with the thing.

Damage? Hmm. Maybe have it count as if you were throwing the spear with two hands, so 1.5x str bonus to damage, and power attacking gets you 2-for-1. The damage die shouldn't change.

 

[AuraSeer]

I think it needs to be an Exotic weapon. If it were martial, there would be no reason to use bare spears or javelins as missile weapons; they'd only ever be ammunition for the atlatl.

 

[Aaron2]

I think it needs to be an Exotic weapon. If it were martial, there would be no reason to use bare spears or javelins as missile weapons; they'd only ever be ammunition for the atlatl.

Except an Atlatl would require two hands to throw whereas a normal javelin does not. I can't see why, under the normal rules, that anyone would use a spear as a throwing weapon anyway since bows do the same damage.


Aaron

 

[DanMcS]

I can't see why, under the normal rules, that anyone would use a spear as a throwing weapon anyway since bows do the same damage.

The uber-range of a bow is rarely necessary in a dungeon, and spears allow you to add your strength bonus to damage by default, without having to buy the really expensive version.