Can a ‘normally’ wood hafted weapon be made with a metal haft?

[frankthedm]

Can a ‘normally’ wood hafted weapon be made with a metal haft?

Looking at this table it looks like any wood hafted weapon is at a big disadvantage when push comes to sunder.

So I got to thinking, having seen real life axes with metal handles and remembering the initial 3E pitch that choosing long sword or battle axe was supposed to be a choice of style rather than necessity, should a metal haft be an option on axes, hammers and maybe pole arms? Or is it Game Over for hafted weapons when the opposition can afford adamantine?

Now I can understand metal hafts as thick as a mace’s could be viewed as too unwieldy for most weapons, though I could picture a metal axe haft just being thinner, having the HP of a same sized blade.

As far as what has a metal or wooden handle, since the SRD has no “description” here are the PHB weapon Illo’s
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ph35_gallery/PHB35_PG115_WEB.jpg
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ph35_gallery/PHB35_PG118_WEB.jpg
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ph35_gallery/PHB35_PG119_WEB.jpg
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ph35_gallery/PHB35_PG120_WEB.jpg

On a related note

The handles of military axes were often reinforced with metal bands so that an enemy warrior could not cut the wooden handle. Some axes even had all-metal handles.

 

[Sejs]

Sure. Nominal increase in the weapon's weight, but other than that I don't see why not.

 

[penance]

I would have to say option #2 in the above poll. However, it shouldnt be a hugely disabling negative (although that depends upon the level/ abilities of your PCs). a small -2 would be my recomendation, with the option to take a feat: proficency (metal hafted battle axes) or something like that for no penalty. If you take that route, you might want to make the negitave a more severe -4 to make it so they would actually consider the feat.

My other thought is that it should be an option, for sure w/ pros and cons but i know for a fact that that happened in RL.

 

[werk]

I don't know. The more I think on it, the less I think it works out. I was going to agree with Sejs, but I think that just changing the material of the handle would mess up the balancing.

Then I thought, the weapon manufacturer would definitely correct for that, but how? Probably by using less metal, so now you've replaced a 2" diameter wooden handle with a 3/4" steel haft with a grip...and the net result is the same problem you were trying to fix.

So, I've concluded that I think it should change the hardness but not the hitpoints, but that's obviously contrary to the examples in the table.

 

[Bad Paper]

I've been wondering exactly this, and I was going to discuss this with my DM when my cleric got around to being able to afford commissioning an adamantine longspear. Unfortunately, the campaign is on a few months' hiatus, so I haven't been able to ask.

I mean, three thousand bucks for something that can be sundered in one shot?

So I have been toying with the idea of an adamantine tang running down the haft from the head, just a thin spike, almost a fat wire, running the entire length of the weapon. The spear should still have a wooden handle, though, encasing the tang, for a good grip. Perhaps the extra weight of the tang should mandate darkwood for the handle. Fancy weapon, but hey, them's the breaks.

I can easily imagine this, but what should be the hardness and hit points of such a dual-constructed haft? Would you first sunder the darkwood and then the adamantine? If the wood were sundered, would the weapon then be more difficult to wield, like... -2 to attacks?

 

[frankthedm]

Probably by using less metal, so now you've replaced a 2" diameter wooden handle with a 3/4" steel haft with a grip...and the net result is the same problem you were trying to fix.

So, I've concluded that I think it should change the hardness but not the hitpoints, but that's obviously contrary to the examples in the table.

That would make axes and swords about dead even, something 3E claimed it did back in 2000.

 

[Legildur]

I think that to maintain the weapon balance and feel (diameter of haft etc), that you would need to use mithral. Metal is typically denser (and therefore heavier) than wood, and mithral seems to the the best way to redress that.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Sure. Nominal increase in the weapon's weight, but other than that I don't see why not.

I agree - and voted to treat it like a blade for harness and hitpoints.

 

[howandwhy99]

I would put a penalty on the MAB. If you're talking ranged weapons, I'd be hard pressed to allow it at all. Steel arrows just don't travel well.

Understandably, 10' long polearms made of iron can be held with a 10 Strength. They're just lousy when it comes to using them in combat.

I'm going to say something that seems very unpopular:
Decide every weapon on a case-by-case basis.

And use the rules as "guidelines" from the published books and your own judgement. That's what judges do right?

 

[Thurbane]

Don't know about game-mechanics wise, but IRL weapons there are many examples of weapons with traditionally wooden hafts being made with metal (often hollow) hafts instead.

Indian battle axes aften were cast with a haft of hollow steel, for instance.

Might become a little far-fetched in terms of things like long spears, though.