Cutlass Crit Threat Range?

[BASHMAN]

According to the Dragonlance, Age of Mortals book, the Cutlass is a light slashing weapon that does d6 dmg with a 18-20 Crit threat range, and a +2 vs being disarmed from the basket hilt.

According to Stormwrack, also produced by WOTC, the Cutlass has a Crit threat range of 19-20 in the weapons table, but in all of the writeups for various characters who have cutlasses, the threat range is always written as 18-20.

Which is right? Having it be 19-20 is more balanced (making it equivilent to a shortsword that does slashing instead of piercing). Having it be 18-20 is a way of saying "Scimitars don't exist in this setting because a there is a light weapon that has all the same stats"

Should I assume the threat range is 19-20-- the fair and balanced assumption, or should I be a munchkin, and, as the evidence is suggesting, go with 18-20?

 

[Sejs]

I'd actually just say that they ARE scimitars.

1d6, one handed martial slashing weapons, 18-20/x2.

If you want the basket hilt to have a special effect (bonus vs being disarmed, being able to punch someone with it as if you were wearing a gauntlet, etc) be aware that a basket hilt can be added to a good many weapons, not just a cutlass.

 

[delericho]

For balance reasons, the cutlass should either be a one-handed martial melee weapon doing 1d6/18-20, or it should be a light martial melee weapon doing 1d6/19-20. (Or, it could be a light exotic melee weapon doing 1d6/18-20, but I don't really see the cutlass as being exotic.)

The basket hilt thing should add to the cost, and you might want to consider allowing users of other weapons to get the same added to their weapons for the same effect. Obviously, not every weapon can take a basket hilt, but most swords could.

 

[Sithobi1]

There ARE benefits to having a one-handed weapon, though, namely Power Attack, Disarming, Sundering...

 

[Sejs]

That and a cutlass seems a tad big to be able to swing around in a grapple. I have a bit of a hard time seeing them as light weapons, honestly.

 

[Darklone]

Another vote for one-handed melee with the scimitar stats.

 

[Klaus]

What if they use battleaxe stats (1d8, 20/x3), to account for the cutlass' blade heavy end?

 

[Vegepygmy]

I'd actually just say that they ARE scimitars.

1d6, one handed martial slashing weapons, 18-20/x2.

If you want the basket hilt to have a special effect (bonus vs being disarmed, being able to punch someone with it as if you were wearing a gauntlet, etc) be aware that a basket hilt can be added to a good many weapons, not just a cutlass.

Same here.

 

[RigaMortus2]

According to the Dragonlance, Age of Mortals book, the Cutlass is a light slashing weapon that does d6 dmg with a 18-20 Crit threat range, and a +2 vs being disarmed from the basket hilt.

According to Stormwrack, also produced by WOTC, the Cutlass has a Crit threat range of 19-20 in the weapons table, but in all of the writeups for various characters who have cutlasses, the threat range is always written as 18-20.

Which is right?

The answer on this depends if you are playing "standard" D&D (w/ Stormwrack) or if you are playing Dragonlance: Age of Mortals.

It's kinda like asking, "What is right, the Minotaur in the Monster Manual or the Minotaur race from Dragonlance?"

 

[saucercrab]

It's kinda like asking, "What is right, the Minotaur in the Monster Manual or the Minotaur race from Dragonlance?"

I don't see how that applies. Each one fills a different niche, & has different origins. The DL minotaur is a full-fledged PC race, with a specific place in the setting. The MM minotaur is just another bestial monster.