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General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
Is the rapier "necessary"?
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<blockquote data-quote="Cap'n Kobold" data-source="post: 6848507" data-attributes="member: 6802951"><p>No, the historical longsword (note: <em>not</em> D&D longsword) is a two-handed weapon that would be covered by the 5th ed Greatsword description. The Zweihander is also covered by the greatsword description. Their actual usage can vary quite a bit, but in D&D terms they both boil down to "<em>2d6 Slashing*, heavy, 2-handed</em>."</p><p></p><p>Bastard swords and arming swords (D&D "longswords") are often also used in different ways and feel fairly different in the hand, but both boil down to: "<em>1d8 Slashing*, Versatile</em>"</p><p></p><p> What you do in your game is your business. I've had bows be finesse weapons as a houserule pretty much since I started. I personally wouldn't make arming swords finessable though: I can sort of see the argument for rapiers: in a fencing style emphasising ripostes and footwork there is an argument for you being able to use your reflexes and balance. I see arming swords as more dependent upon your capability to move the blade and change its direction rapidly, as well as the force you can apply with it. </p><p>I'm not however going to tell you off if you decide that you do want to add finesse to stuff, or add lots more weapons with special rules to the weapons table. Your game, your call.</p><p>*I've also had a houserule that most swords can choose to deal Slashing or Piercing damage at the users discretion.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Cap'n Kobold, post: 6848507, member: 6802951"] No, the historical longsword (note: [I]not[/I] D&D longsword) is a two-handed weapon that would be covered by the 5th ed Greatsword description. The Zweihander is also covered by the greatsword description. Their actual usage can vary quite a bit, but in D&D terms they both boil down to "[I]2d6 Slashing*, heavy, 2-handed[/I]." Bastard swords and arming swords (D&D "longswords") are often also used in different ways and feel fairly different in the hand, but both boil down to: "[I]1d8 Slashing*, Versatile[/I]" What you do in your game is your business. I've had bows be finesse weapons as a houserule pretty much since I started. I personally wouldn't make arming swords finessable though: I can sort of see the argument for rapiers: in a fencing style emphasising ripostes and footwork there is an argument for you being able to use your reflexes and balance. I see arming swords as more dependent upon your capability to move the blade and change its direction rapidly, as well as the force you can apply with it. I'm not however going to tell you off if you decide that you do want to add finesse to stuff, or add lots more weapons with special rules to the weapons table. Your game, your call. *I've also had a houserule that most swords can choose to deal Slashing or Piercing damage at the users discretion. [/QUOTE]
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