Storing Backup Weapons

[orion90000]

I know swords, daggers, and other bladed weapons use sheaths, but how about battleaxes, flails, war hammers, etc.

Other than "stow it in the backpack", how would a PC keep a backup weapon other than a bladed weapon comfortably on their persons? I can see maybe a ring or loop that a battle axe could be slid into. What are some "IRL" ways to carry these other weapons?

 

[Empirate]

Anything that isn't outrageously large you can stick into your belt. You can also have a loop on the haft to just hang it on a ring fastened to your backpack or something. Strapping very large weapons to your back or your shoulder is the way to go for anything two-handed. Reach weapons must pretty much be held in your hand.
Note that if you have beasts of burden of some kind (i.e., the Druid wildshaped into a Triceratops), they can carry most of your stuff in more or less ready-to-use fashion.

 

[PolterGhost]

You would loop a strap or chain through the weapon's shaft, I would imagine. That, or keep special loops on the outside of your belt that you can drop the handle into.

For bows I do believe you can make a leather harness on the quiver to strap it into (or keep the quiver so tight that the bow can stay stuck between you and the quiver.) You might be able to do the same with certain polearms if they were strapped in diagonally, but otherwise you'd have to carry those by hand.

 

[orion90000]

I appreciate the input. Too many video games just show you sticking things in invisible pockets or having items hovering over your back, and pulling a weapon out of your pack would most likely involve other items falling out and breaking if you were in a hurry (such as in 6 seconds of combat while dodging incoming attacks). Just wanting to add some realism to the game.

 

[PolterGhost]

Funny thing is, there's a rule that pulling an item out of your pack provokes an Attack of Opportunity in 3e unless it is a Handy Haversack or has a similar effect (the item appears as the top object on the pack.)