Elvin thinblade: Cool racial weapon or Exploited Powergamer Ploy?

[cleavthorn]

Just curious.

 

[Crothian]

Cool racial weapon. I've been having them in my game ever since we first saw them in the Dragon M<agazine just after d20 came about.

 

[MDSnowman]

I'm with Crothian I think WeaponF amiliarty with the Elven Thinblade suits elves far better than flat out proficeincy with the "lesser" rapier. I also use it for Swashbuckler type characters, only the experienced ones use Elven Thinblades... it's way of showing that they're worldy enough to have found an option beyond the average rapier.

 

[Malin Genie]

It's a reasonable weapon - takes a Feat to learn to use, and when you consider that Improved Critical would give a 1d8 longsword 17-20 rather than 18-20, it doesn't seem overpowered to me (lower requirements, less benefit.) Even stacking the two doesn't seem too bad to me - after all, by the time you have Improved Critical or keen weapons, 1d8 rather than 1d6 base damage (compared to rapier or scimitar) doesn't account for a whole lot.

I actually quite like the idea of Weapon Familiarity, too - it allows for 'swashbuckling' type elven warriors, while not giving elven wizards longsword or rapier proficiency - works for me!

 

[Aust Diamondew]

A bastard sword wielder will generally average slightly more damage. So I voted cool racial weapon. In my games I give elves thinblades as martial weapons.

 

[IanArgent]

I've had a PC in my game with a +1 keen Thinblade almost since they were first previewed in Dragon magazine in sept 2000. Never had a problem with it (they spent the ExWeap proficiency on it).

From a mechanical balance pov, it's right in line with everything else. Compare it to a bastard sword (and realize that unlike a bastard sword, it cannot be used AT ALL without an ExWeap proficiency).

 

[Saeviomagy]

IMHO - total crap. Absolutely no explanation of why it's better than a rapier, beyond the fact that it's got the word 'elven' in front of it.

And no explanation of why it's 'elven' beyond the fact that... it's got the word elven in front of it.

Yay.

I think perhaps if it had been called the 'heavy rapier' or something similar, I'd have no problem with it.

 

[aurance]

Statistics wise, it's fine.

But what the hell is it? If it's a thin, long, piercing blade, it's a rapier. If it's a long cutting blade, it's a longsword. What sets this weird thing apart?

 

[FireLance]

IMHO - total crap. Absolutely no explanation of why it's better than a rapier, beyond the fact that it's got the word 'elven' in front of it.

And no explanation of why it's 'elven' beyond the fact that... it's got the word elven in front of it.

Yay.

I think perhaps if it had been called the 'heavy rapier' or something similar, I'd have no problem with it.

"Heavy" rapier would almost be an oxymoron, in my view .

Mechanically, an elven thinblade is nothing better than a rapier that has its damage dice bumped up one notch. As such, it is similar in effect to the bastard sword (improved longsword) and the dwarven waraxe (improved battleaxe).

As to why it's an "elven" thinblade, I look at it this way - of the common races, only two have a bonus to Dexterity: elves and halflings. As such, members of these races would have an incentive to improve finessable weapons such as the rapier. Between elves and halflings, halflings seem to be culturally inclined towards thrown weapons and slings while elves seem to be culturally inclined towards swords and bows. Hence, between the two races, the elves are more likely to develop an improved rapier.

That's the way I see it, anyway.

 

[Old Gumphrey]

I'm with Saveio...it's super cool and mystical because it says "elven" in front of it.