How does the Gauntlet Axe work?

[Mad Hamish]

From the Dark Sun Campaign Setting book

I'm not quite sure how this is meant to work.
It says that it functions as an axe but keeps the hand free.
It also states that it functions as a light shield.

the Tortoise Blade has a footnote in the table saying that it can function as a light shield, the Gauntlet Axe doesn't.
The Gauntlet Axe has the defensive property the Tortoise Blade doesn't.

Is the Gauntlet Axe meant to function as a light shield or is the defensive property meant to represent it's defensive function?

If it is usable as a shield can you use the Gauntlet Axe as a shield and wield another weapon in the hand seeing as it says that you have a free hand?

 

[DracoSuave]

Goooooood questions.

Okay, first off, when there is any discreprency between the table and the descriptive text of a game element, the descriptive text takes precedence.

The presence of the defensive trait would not be mentioned in the text for a weapon, so therefore there's no contradiction there. Therefore, the gauntlet axe has the defensive trait.

It has the text stating it can be used as a light shield, and enchanted like an arms-slot weapon, so therefore that applies regardless of what the table says.

It therefore has both.

The tortoise blade can be used as a light shield, but does not have the defensive trait, so does not have both. It's a light blade, however, and light blades tend to have smaller stats because of their greater utility for rogue powers.

Something to note, however: Proficiency in these weapons does not give you proficiency in a light shield, which means equipping them will not give you their shield bonus if you are not proficient in light shields.

As for what it means to leave your hand free: You can use that hand to carry an implement, or to execute a grapple or brawler fighter powers.


I won't say things will stay like this, however. I fully expect the axe to get errata'd... cause... dwarven tempest fighter with that kid on... dayam.

 

[Mentat55]

Actually, I had another question about the gauntlet axe. I was thinking of having my mul brawling fighter wear two of those. Since many of the brawling fighter powers require a hand free and start grabs, I was thinking that I could use a power, grab one target, and then use another power the next turn to grab another target, thus potentially tieing up two opponents at once.

Any reason this doesn't work?

 

[DracoSuave]

It's as legit as going unarmed and doing the exact same thing.

Do notice: While you'll legally have a hand free, you won't get the AC Bonus from brawler because you ARE wearing a shield.

 

[Aulirophile]

Badly.

 

[Obryn]

I won't say things will stay like this, however. I fully expect the axe to get errata'd... cause... dwarven tempest fighter with that kid on... dayam.

The Arena Fighter in my group is using the Gauntlet Axe as one of his arena weapons. Given the unclear rules, I let him snag both Tide of Iron and Dual Strike. It's working out well for him, and it's not overpowered so far that I can see.

-O

 

[Aulirophile]

Yeah... that really isn't the broken part of the potential here. ^.^

Something like 2d6 brutal 1 on a charge that averages a more then a hundred damage, pushes, prones, and dazes on something that has Defender defenses is closer to the reality (and that is scratching the surface). Shield support is powerful in 4e.

 

[Mentat55]

It's as legit as going unarmed and doing the exact same thing.

Do notice: While you'll legally have a hand free, you won't get the AC Bonus from brawler because you ARE wearing a shield.

I am unclear why this would be the case:

While you wield a weapon in your primary hand and your off hand is free or grabbing a creature, you gain a +1 bonus to AC and a +2 bonus to Fortitude.

It seems that, so long as my off-hand is free and my primary hand is wielding a weapon, I get the AC and Fortitude bonus. At least, that is how I read it.

 

[DracoSuave]

I am unclear why this would be the case:



It seems that, so long as my off-hand is free and my primary hand is wielding a weapon, I get the AC and Fortitude bonus. At least, that is how I read it.

It's from the FAQ for the Dark Sun Campaign Guide.

However looking at the sidebar... I'm not convinced it's right either. To be considered having a hand free, you must not be wearing a shield. But the item itself is both a shield AND gives you a hand free, which means its specific instance beats general.

The FAQ is right about Swordmage's Warding, tho.

 

[Aulirophile]

It's from the FAQ for the Dark Sun Campaign Guide.

However looking at the sidebar... I'm not convinced it's right either. To be considered having a hand free, you must not be wearing a shield. But the item itself is both a shield AND gives you a hand free, which means its specific instance beats general.

The FAQ is right about Swordmage's Warding, tho.

No it isn't.

SWORDMAGE WARDING
While you are conscious and wielding either a light blade or a heavy blade, you maintain a field of magical force around you.
This field provides a +1 bonus to AC, or a +3 bonus if you are wielding a blade in one hand and have your other hand free (not carrying a shield, an off-hand weapon, a two-handed weapon, or anything else).

You can use a Gauntlet Axe on a hand, and wield a blade in that same hand, leaving your other hand free. It just says you can't have a shield in the off-hand, not that you can't be wearing a shield.