Converting Monsters from Polyhedron Magazine

[Cleon]

Bo-ring.

Not necessarily. The double scythe deals damage equal to a scythe on both ends.

That weapon's not OGL and is even more of an abomination than the SRD double weapons.

If we have to reduce the damage (i.e., I'm outvoted ), I suppose this at least makes it somewhat more interesting than a dwarven urgrosh.

Well if I get outvoted on the "glaive damage" reduction I would still want to make the lance-end nastier so it's a good option for the primary attack. After all, it's called an "Impaler" so should be best at impaling!

It'd help if the original writeup said how much damage the Impaler did!

How about 2d4/x3 piercing for the "javelin end" (like a Ranseur) and 2d4/19-20 slashing for the "glaive end"? That's pretty close to a Double Scythe. If we want to match a Scythe's 2d4/x4 it could be 2d4/x4 plus 2d4/18-20 (like a falchion).

 

[Shade]

Well if I get outvoted on the "glaive damage" reduction I would still want to make the lance-end nastier so it's a good option for the primary attack. After all, it's called an "Impaler" so should be best at impaling!

As such, it should be able to set for a charge. What better way to achieve impalement?

It'd help if the original writeup said how much damage the Impaler did!

It sure would!

How about 2d4/x3 piercing for the "javelin end" (like a Ranseur) and 2d4/19-20 slashing for the "glaive end"? That's pretty close to a Double Scythe. If we want to match a Scythe's 2d4/x4 it could be 2d4/x4 plus 2d4/18-20 (like a falchion).

Most (if not all) polearms are x3, so I'd like to stick to that for the glave end. I can live with 2d4 for both ends, though. 2d4x3 slashing (glaive end)/2d4x3 piercing (javelin end) and can be used with reach (glaive end) and set to receive a charge (javelin end)?

 

[Cleon]

As such, it should be able to set for a charge. What better way to achieve impalement?

It sure would!

Most (if not all) polearms are x3, so I'd like to stick to that for the glave end. I can live with 2d4 for both ends, though. 2d4x3 slashing (glaive end)/2d4x3 piercing (javelin end) and can be used with reach (glaive end) and set to receive a charge (javelin end)?

Well I can live with x3 for both, I preferred an 18-20 on the other end to give it more variety, but it's not a big deal for me.

I'm having second thoughts on the Reach. Wouldn't that imply it's too long to easily wield both ends against the same opponent? Furthermore, I can't think of any double weapons with Reach.

Would you be satisfied with just double damage vs charging opponent for the pokey-end.

 

[Shade]

That's fine. I'm not sure where I got the idea that double weapons existed that could be used as reach weapons if wielded two-handed.

Bringing it all together:

Impaler: The impaler consists of a long spear with a halberd-like blade mounted on the opposite end. An impaler is an exotic double weapon. You can fight with it as if fighting with two weapons, but if you do, you incur all the normal attack penalties associated with fighting with two weapons, just as if you were using a one-handed weapon and a light weapon. If you use a ready action to set the spear end of an impaler against a charge, you deal double damage on a successful hit against a charging character.

The spear end of an impaler deals 2d4 points of piercing damage and deals triple damage on a critical hit. The halberd end of an impaler deals 2d4 points of slashing damage and deals triple damage on a critical hit.
Cost: x gp; Weight: x lb.


Weapon Familiarity: Gerans may treat impalers as martial weapons, rather than exotic weapons.

 

[freyar]

Looks pretty good to me! 12 lb roughly like a halberd? 60 gp, which is a bit better than a dwarven urgrosh?

 

[Shade]

Looking at the picture upthread, I think it far more closely resembles a glaive than a halberd. While the damage can remain the same, that would better explain why the polearm end can't be used to set for a charge (like a halberd) or be better for trip attacks (like a halberd).

In other words, change the text to "glaive end" rather than "halberd end", and leave everything else the same. Is that acceptable?

 

[freyar]

That works for me. Want to reduce weight to 10lb, like a glaive?

 

[Cleon]

That's fine. I'm not sure where I got the idea that double weapons existed that could be used as reach weapons if wielded two-handed.

Bringing it all together:

Impaler: The impaler consists of a long spear with a halberd-like blade mounted on the opposite end. An impaler is an exotic double weapon. You can fight with it as if fighting with two weapons, but if you do, you incur all the normal attack penalties associated with fighting with two weapons, just as if you were using a one-handed weapon and a light weapon. If you use a ready action to set the spear end of an impaler against a charge, you deal double damage on a successful hit against a charging character.

The spear end of an impaler deals 2d4 points of piercing damage and deals triple damage on a critical hit. The halberd end of an impaler deals 2d4 points of slashing damage and deals triple damage on a critical hit.
Cost: x gp; Weight: x lb.


Weapon Familiarity: Gerans may treat impalers as martial weapons, rather than exotic weapons.

I'd cut the "long" from that "long spear" to avoid confusion with a longspear.

Looking at the picture upthread, I think it far more closely resembles a glaive than a halberd. While the damage can remain the same, that would better explain why the polearm end can't be used to set for a charge (like a halberd) or be better for trip attacks (like a halberd).

In other words, change the text to "glaive end" rather than "halberd end", and leave everything else the same. Is that acceptable?

That works for me. Want to reduce weight to 10lb, like a glaive?

I think it should be heavier. An orc double ax (15 lb) is more than twice as heavy as a battleaxe (6 lb) as is a two-bladed sword (10 lb) compared to a longsword (4 lb). A dire flail (10 lb) is twice as heavy as a flail (5 lb).

12 pounds seems a minimum, being the combined weight of a battleaxe (6 lb) and a spear (6 lb).

I'd rather increase it to 15 pounds, since it does more damage than either of those weapons.

 

[freyar]

Even 15 lb is ok by me. Can't say I'm fussed by it.

 

[Shade]

Sounds good.

Updated.

Time to tackle the psionics.

Psionics Summary:
Level: 5
Dis/Sci/Dev: 2/4/10
Attack/Defense: EW,II/IF,M-,MB,TW
Score: 15
PSPs: 95
Psychokinesis: Sciences-telekinesis, detonate; Devotions-ballistic attack, inertial barrier, molecular agitation, molecular manipulation
Telepathy: Sciences-mind link, tower of iron will; Devotions-ego whip, contact, id insinuation, intellect fortress, mind bar, mind blank

Psi-like abilities or inherent manifester levels?