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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ilbranteloth" data-source="post: 6791753" data-attributes="member: 6778044">I'm not sure the basket hilt has anything to do with how graceful the sword was. They were applied to broadswords (double-edged chop and thrust), back swords (similar but single edged), cutlasses (similar with a heavier curved blade), sabres (lighter curved backsword), and rapiers (thin thrusting swords). I have rules for disarming weapons, and the ones with basket hilts make it harder to disarm you. A basket hilt can be applied to any short sword or smaller.But a lot of the discussion here is on fluff or flavor, saying that a swashbuckler can't use a rapier or a pirate can't use a cutlass.The rules were designed simply and have to do more with game balance than historical accuracy.Light weapons all do 1d6 or less damage. This seems to be in part to limit the amount of damage that can be caused with two-weapon fighting without a feat.Finesse weapons are tied to sneak attack, but are also designated as such to allow for Dexterity-based fighters. The rapier is the only finesse weapon that does more than 1d6 damage. As a result most of my players have rapiers, which is a renaissance weapon designed for dress and dueling. They could carry edges and be used for cutting, but were primarily used by unarmored or lightly armored civilian duels and such, rather than the battlefield. They evolved into smallswords which were even less cumbersome. Their 'finesse' nature theoretically made them more effective than longswords and other larger swords, provided you weren't fighting an armored opponent. Or skeletons.If they wanted to simplify things more, they would have designated weapon types such as:Great Swords - any sword that must be wielded two-handed and cause 2d6 slashing damageLong Swords - any sword that can be wielded one- or two-handed that causes 1d8/1d10 slashing or piercing damage (that is, they have a longer hilt)Short Swords - any sword that can be wielded one-handed and cause 1d6 slashing or piercing damageSmall Swords/Daggers - any sword that can be wielded one-handed and cause 1d4 slashing or piercing damageD&D mixes weapons of many ages and cultures, all of which were originally developed largely based on the combat requirements of the weapon. The defining characteristics for combat are whether they are single-edged, double-edged, curved, and in the case of some rapiers and specialized daggers, carrying no edge and used entirely as a thrusting weapon. The exact length and weight would vary between specific types, but within a certain range to qualify for a given type. The reality is that we're missing a class of swords, that was marginalized by the long sword, that of the 'arming' sword, aka as a side-sword, norman sword, knights' sword, etc. These are swords with a blade between a short and long sword and wielded one-handed, increasingly on horseback. If we were to add these, then they should occupy the 1d8 damage slot, and longswords would be a 1d10/1d12 weapon. So-called broadswords could also fall in this slot, and would be capable of utilizing a basket hilt as well.All the rest is fluff. The difference between a short sword and scimitar is the appearance, weight, and cost.Now for the second issue, which is that of the rapier. It's currently statted as between a short sword and long sword (1d8, but not versatile). As far as I can tell, this was to provide an option for a 'finesse fighter.' If you add the arming (medium) sword category, then this would fall there. Light weapons would be based on weight. This has no impact on damage, so essentially all swords that cause 1d6 or less damage could be considered light.Finesse weapons are a bit trickier. Presumably they are weapons, like the rapier, that indicate they are quick and effective with the use of primarily thrusting attacks that are more precise and harder to parry. But if we look at the damage range, the rapier sets the limit at 1d8. In which case we can argue that it's the method of training that's as important, provided the weapon is light and agile enough. So they could be swords up to the medium size. The game has declared that finesse fighters (probably based off of eastern fighting techniques) should also have slashing and bludgeoning weapons available. So that works with the medium sword definition.I don't really see any reason why the swashbuckler or pirate couldn't use a scimitar (cutlass) or rapier. Even allowing it as the primary weapon with a dagger as the secondary as has been suggested works well, although it does bump up the sneak attack damage, which becomes an even bigger bump for the swashbuckler. However, as written, they granted a defensive bonus instead, and even called it out in a sidebar so folks wouldn't miss it. That ability to make two attacks per round and still avoid opportunity attacks is pretty big.The main issue is that you can't use the weapon labeled as a rapier. Well, I think the only reason a rapier is not light is because it is a 1d8 damage weapon, and was labeled as such for the finesse warriors. So make a broadsword/sidesword that has the stats of the rapier in the PHB, and add a rapier that has the stats of a shortsword.If you want a 1d8 damage for sneak attack, then you either do it single-handedly, or with a feat. I would also agree that the Dual-Wielder Feat should be changed to allow you to use one weapon that is not light, but the second still needs to be. The idea of wielding two longswords is a bit ludicrous.Ilbranteloth</blockquote>

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