Pathfinder 1E How to treat an Irish Blackthorn? (shillelagh)

[The Crimson Binome]

Um... you've given it the same stats as a battle-axe. There's no way a stick, no matter how fancy, would be that powerful.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It doubles as a walking stick, while being used in two hands I think it would be considerably lighter than a greatclub. Besides its cultural impact (why should a Katana be different than a bastard sword if they function the same), it should require separate feats than the club.

A katana should be a bastard sword and a shillelagh a club or quarterstaff. Stuff doesn't get better stats because it's got a different name and is iconic in a given culture.

D&D is a game of abstraction, not nitty-gritty detail. Making 10,000 minutely differentiated weapons just gives us the 1E polearms chart, and no one but EGG thought that was a good idea.

 

[Puxido]

Um... you've given it the same stats as a battle-axe. There's no way a stick, no matter how fancy, would be that powerful.

I myself would have been skeptical about the stats at first, but this is the video I used for reference http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NozXCgKpS24 .
And I've also seen battle-axe's used on realistic analogs for heads as well, I see this as fitting tbh in my opinion.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

If we're using YouTube videos as reference, then I'm pretty sure that I can argue a katana up to 2d8 at minimum. Critical 18-20 x3.

The weapon in that video is no more lethal than a baseball bat - which is to say, it's super lethal. There's nothing inherently dangerous about a blunt instrument, though, in contrast with a sharp one. Given all else equal, the axe will cause more damage. The important thing is that it lets you get more of your Strength behind it, since it's a two-handed weapon, and Pathfinder represents that particular quality with the 1.5x Strength bonus and the more beneficial Power Attack ratio.

It's a club.

 

[Puxido]

If we're using YouTube videos as reference, then I'm pretty sure that I can argue a katana up to 2d8 at minimum. Critical 18-20 x3.

The weapon in that video is no more lethal than a baseball bat - which is to say, it's super lethal. There's nothing inherently dangerous about a blunt instrument, though, in contrast with a sharp one. Given all else equal, the axe will cause more damage. The important thing is that it lets you get more of your Strength behind it, since it's a two-handed weapon, and Pathfinder represents that particular quality with the 1.5x Strength bonus and the more beneficial Power Attack ratio.

It's a club.

What if it were a 1d8 two handed martial weapon? The greatclub is 1d10, and I assume the Blackthorn would be lighter?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Another vote for club or- if its a big one- quarterstaff.

Also put me down as a vote for there is no way a wooden blunt weapon will out-damage a mace, Morningstar, flail, etc. of similar mass. Because of the increased density of the metal, it will be concentrating striking force into a smaller area...

 

[Puxido]

Another vote for club or- if its a big one- quarterstaff.

Also put me down as a vote for there is no way a wooden blunt weapon will out-damage a mace, Morningstar, flail, etc. of similar mass. Because of the increased density of the metal, it will be concentrating striking force into a smaller area...

But why is a greatclub a d10 then? And besides, I understand that blackthorns are usually filled with lead anyway.

 

[Kramodlog]

I'm not sure I understand why it is so important to make that cane better than so many very dangerous weapons. Sentimentalism? National pride?

If you are trying to get the blessing of the online community it won't happen.

 

[Puxido]

I'm not sure I understand why it is so important to make that cane better than so many very dangerous weapons. Sentimentalism? National pride?

If you are trying to get the blessing of the online community it won't happen.

It's not sentimentalism, I have never owned a cane or Blackthorn. National pride? I'm Greek my friend (with a little French and Polish who came to America right before ww2), my lineage does not share that with the shaillelagh. The reason I posted this and have kept the post so long was because I saw a weapon, and it seemed different than others I have seen in the past, too long to be a basic club but too light to be a greatclub. I felt there had to be something I could do with it that was unique, functional in a d20 system, balanced, but overall and most importantly fun. I still feel I have not yet unlocked the potential I feel from this idea, might need to brainstorm on it a little more on it, I'm sure it will come to me eventually. I posted this for ideas, not for anyone's blessing, nor do I expect it, it seems most people see this as no more than a club or greatclub, I can see how that could work, but personally from my point of view I cant see it as being either, but that is fine as well. Talking to others just helps me brainstorm.

 

[Puxido]

Ok, I slept on it. 1d6 two handed simple weapon that does 3X damage on a crit, can be used in one hand as a martial weapon for 1d4 damage. Gains a +5 to checks to conceal the weapon and on bluff rolls to convince others its just a walking stick or cane. Also provides trip.