Swords. More swords.

[TwinBahamut]

Ignoring variation based off of size, there are pretty much four kinds of swords, I think.

1) Straight, broad swords, typically with two edges and a good stabbing point. The classic longsword is the archetypical example.

2) Narrow straight swords designed to stab things. Daggers, rapiers, estocs, and smallswords define this set.

3) Swords that curve backwards to facilitate smooth cutting. Sabers, scimitars, and katanas all fit this mold.

4) Swords that curve forwards to focus the blow like an axe chop. Kukris, falchions, and falcatas fill this category.

If you combine these four shape types with a general range of sizes (going from small knives to large two-handed weapons), you can pretty much cover any kind of sword or blade. Any finer level of distinction won't be too useful...

 

[BobTheNob]

I want all weapons to do d6 and go by the name "weapon".

 

[Plane Sailing]

I'd like more swords in Next. Most of the time I'm in favor of a streamlined weapon list. I'm not too keen on three pages of polearms. But when it comes to swords no little detail is too small. I want short swords, gladii, prangas, machetes, flamberges, zweihanders, katanas, broadswords, epees, you name it. At least three pages with pictures and rules for pommels, cross-guards, rain-guards, fullers et c. I want the anatomy of my sword on my character sheet.
–Those in favor raise your blade!

Why?

I'm impressed that you can name so many different kinds of sword, but I'm not sure why it makes a difference to you.

Care to elucidate?

Cheers

 

[TarionzCousin]

Okay, but no swords named "Twinkle."

 

[Savage Wombat]

It seems to me that sword aficionados could probably debate the relative merits of a zweihander vs. a claymore for hours, in much the same way that gun fanciers can explain to you why a glock is better/worse than a beretta.

Considering the number of games I've seen that stat out different guns in excruciating detail, I can see where someone might want a gladius to have different abilities from a wakizashi.

I'm wondering if there isn't a strong support here in ENWorld for a "weapons matter" mechanic. Like the Fighter powers in 4e that only work for blades, but with more detail. Is a poll in order?

 

[Frostmarrow]

Why?

I'm impressed that you can name so many different kinds of sword, but I'm not sure why it makes a difference to you.

Care to elucidate?

Cheers

Are you impressed I can find a thesaurus online?

Swords are cool. D&D is not tapping the full awesomeness of swords. It's a shame, really. Swords could be for Next what dragons were for Dragonlance.

 

[Juomari Veren]

Are you impressed I can find a thesaurus online?

Swords are cool. D&D is not tapping the full awesomeness of swords. It's a shame, really. Swords could be for Next what dragons were for Dragonlance.

Something in my gut tells me that "Dungeons and Swords" just didn't roll off the tongue well enough when they were coming up with a name some 40 years ago.

I actually enjoy the idea of the sword having a variety of uses, and each part of the sword doing something different(perhaps using a specific part of the sword to aid you in the most miniscule of tasks could grant a bonus, like using the hilt to smash a guy's kneecap in). Being able to take the most out of a weapon sounds appealing to me.

I just don't think we need as many swords as there are people in the world. I can name a bunch of swords, but the only real difference is the region they come from and the shape otherwise, a wakizashi is a short sword is a falx(which is true in 3e).

I think if maybe we had just Sword, Greatsword, and Dagger for sword-like weapons and then from there you were able to literally customize the weapon within reasonable limits into whatever variety of sword you were trying to emulate. You could pay to have it forged with add-ons or with a specific shape that changes the weapon into something new for a few extra gold and then there you go, you turned your Dagger into a húdié shuāng dāo. Or whatever. Saves some space in the Weapons and Armor chapter, at the very least.

 

[avin]

Ok, I'm swimming in the opposite way here... I think there is a difference among a katana, a claymore and a gladius and that should somewhat be reflected in game therms.

I understand that this implies in more stuff to control but I can handle that, is not hard at all.

Just my opinion, carry on.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Instead, I'd like to see a list of masterwork properties a weapon could have:

Keen: Double crit range (or something involving criticals).
Heavy: +1 damage.
Precise: +1 attacks.
Defensive: +1 AC.

...and so forth. So maybe a katana is a precise longsword.

I like the principle but am going to argue the case. Katanas were sharp and edge only weapons, making them significantly worse at dealing with heavy armour than the textbook western longsword. On the other hand they can scythe through unprotected flesh and bone much more easily. +1 vs AC is absolutely the opposite of their effect.

That said, we're at almost exactly the 3.x situation of build-your-own-weapons. Steps with each property being worth a step for almost all weapons.

 

[Hassassin]

I like the principle but am going to argue the case. Katanas were sharp and edge only weapons, making them significantly worse at dealing with heavy armour than the textbook western longsword. On the other hand they can scythe through unprotected flesh and bone much more easily. +1 vs AC is absolutely the opposite of their effect.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDkoj932YFo]Japanese Katana VS European Longsword - Samurai sword VS Knight Broadsword - YouTube[/ame]