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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Crothian" data-source="post: 2011950" data-attributes="member: 232">Arsenal Two Bladed Sword    There are some weapons that I never see in play.  Long swords, hand axes, bows, and crossbows are all weapons that I see being used in my own games and the games of others.  The two bladed sword is a weapon I have yet to see used in a game.  In fact I have yet to even hear a player think about using the weapon.  So, I wonder why EN Publishing has decided to devote a full book to the subject.  In fact of the four books in this series they have published (the others being the Whip, the Spiked Chain, and the Hooked Hammer) I wonder why they choose these weapons instead of more common and useful ones?  It is a rhetorical question, just one of the things that I tend to wonder when reading through these books.    EN Arsenal is a series of books that tackles one weapon and gives new variations, feats, and prestige classes that will greatly enhance the versatility and usefulness of the weapon.  The book is written by Alex Jacobs.  The PDF is twenty two pages in length and comes nicely book marked.  However the art and layout I have a problem with.  There are only a few pieces of art in the book but they are used multiple times.  I do not mind few books with little art, and I prefer that to seeing the same pieces over and over.  Also, in the layout they have some pieces of art designed to be under the text.  I really do not like that.  The art used is a busy piece and it distracts from the text making the document difficult to read.  I know there are lots of really neat things one can do with a layout, but I honestly believe that less is more.      The book starts with a little discussion on the weapon and how it never existed in history.  So, the author goes on to invent a possible scenario on how it was created in a fantasy type world, but really gives no concrete answers just speculation.  One thing that the author does that is really interesting is to take the Drow race and alter it to be a master of one of these weapons.  Now, I would have preferred any race other then the Drow to be used here but I like the presentation of a race a bit different from standard showing different training and abilities reflecting a different up bringing.      There are nine variations of the two bladed sword in the book.  There is the bokken like one to be used in training and dealing non lethal damage, and a scimitar one that has the weapons stats of that weapon.  The oddest of them is the triple bladed sword.  It is dot a double weapon like all the others but has a neat visual of the weapon spinning around while someone is attacking with it.  The weapon has the advantage of being effective while making attacks of opportunity.  There is also a small table of the normal two bladed sword as different sizes.    There are feats and styles to be used with the weapons.  Styles are additional abilities gained outside of the normal class and feat abilities.  They have prerequisites that can pretty stiff and cost experience points to gain.  There are five levels to each of two styles presented here.  They are similar in respect to the fighting styles of Quintessential Fighter.  There are less then a dozen new feats presented in the book.  Some like armor specialization really do not fit the theme of this weapon book.  Others like Double Weapon Power that allows one to use full strength bonus with the off hand and make power attacks with it as a one handed weapon are very much in the theme of the book.  There is one epic feat that allows both sides of the weapon to be considered two handed weapons thus giving a greater strength bonus for damage and a much better use of power attack.      There are three new prestige classes presented.  One is for Drow only, another requires psionic ability, and the third is a really good class for someone devoted to the two bladed sword.  There are also some magical spells and magic weapons and items presented here.  They seem interesting and can really help a character devoted to this style and weapon.    EN Arsenal Two Bladed Sword takes a very uncommon weapon and gives it some interesting abilities and options.  It takes advantage of the psionic and epic rules which it is good to see being built upon.  But in the end I have a headache from reading the book.  The pictures under the words create an eye strain and make the book just not fun to read.</blockquote>

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