Just how many weapons do you use anyway?

[Mirtek]

IMHO most players don't really want their PCs using many different weapons, they have an image of their character, which includes the weapon.

If a DM insists of throwing a flail on the treasure pile meant to be used character X, who so far only used longswords, he shouldn't be surprised if will be disenchanted/sold and the gain saved for buying the next longsword.

Even if character X actually can use each and every of bis bonuses/feats equally with a flail or longsword and the flail even has a higher plus.

Because character X only using longswords isn't a flaw in the system but how the player of character X likes his character

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Personal weapon usage as a 15th century foot knight

Polearm until opponent is too close or it breaks. Then draw close combat weapon, usually a hand and a half sword but I frequently use a long sword with an off hand parrying weapon. If I was actually trying to hurt my opponents I would choose a hammer/pick if they had armour or an axe if they had a shield. Finally, there's always a use for a dagger in the final clinch

Alternate timeline uses light javelins, heavy javelins then attack with shield. Finally draw and use short sword for coup de grace. This form of combat is a little too lethal to actually use on people you don't want to injure unless you allow non-historical equipment for your opponent.

It would be nice if you had weapon-specific feats or powers like Shield Smash (requires axe), Master Duelist (requires sword), Swinging Horse Stab (requires sword and mount, etc). But DnD is fantasy, and so not particularly realistic. Even so, there are a few "group" feats.

As a DM, I can make NPCs make "more sense" than PCs. For instance, there's no way I'm going to let an NPC fighter "crack someone upside the head" with a spear to immobilize them, but letting said NPC have a special armor-piercing attack makes a lot more sense, I think. (Never having seen a good description of spear combat, I have no real idea if spears are any good at armor-piercing.) PCs have to be more flexible and don't have that many feats.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Eh, I dunno. Logic pretty much says you're likely to be best at using one or two weapons. Most characters can and will use a couple weapons, and may even switch at some point to a new one. Your average low level fighter really doesn't have to worry that much about being more or less effective with most military weapons anyway.

As for rogues and the rapier... You know that the dagger is absolutely equally effective in the hands of a rogue, right?

 

[Quickleaf]

Personal weapon usage as a 15th century foot knight

Is this some sort of time travel thing like John Titor?

Yeah, that fighting style you described sounds very dangerous. The footman's pick is a vastly underestimated weapon in roleplaying.