The Concept Is... he DOESN'T use a sword.

[HammerFist]

Use a HammerFist!

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

My wife's character, a female, past-her-prime fighter/inkeeper (yep), uses a Greathammer. I treat it just like a greataxe only with bludgeoning instead of slashing damage type. Always was curious why they never had this weapon in the original 3.0 rulebook (whether it's in 3.5 I don't know).

Nice. I like her character concept. How far past her prime is she? Into the attribute penalty range?

I'm just curious. I once played a sorcerer who was an old ma. He spent his youth and middle age as a slave to Zhentil Keep, and escaped when his powers manifested. It was entertaining playing a 60 year old 2nd level character. Quite a change of pace.


Patrick Y.

 

[garyh]

They have the Maul, introduced in FRCS, I believe. Large, 1d10, B, X3 Crit.

True, but why the Eric's Grandma is it 1d10?!?! If it could do something cool like disarm or trip, that'd make sense, but to have it be lower damage than a greataxe for no apparent reason is silly.

Yes, I know bludgeoning works better on undead, BUT if that's the reason then the Warhammer and Battleaxe are now unbalanced.

 

[Vaxalon]

I once played a sorcerer who was an old man.

I don't allow spellcaster characters to take age penalties at first level. It smacks too much of getting bonuses you can use for penalties that don't matter.

 

[HammerFist]

True, but why the Eric's Grandma is it 1d10?!?! If it could do something cool like disarm or trip, that'd make sense, but to have it be lower damage than a greataxe for no apparent reason is silly.

I think WotC took realism into account over balance here.

While I don't want to get hit with either one, I'd choose a sledgehammer over an axe.

Maybe the balancing factor is the Metal Domain, also introduced in FRCS. Metal grants Weapon Focus on a Warhammer or Maul (just like War), but it gives much better spells than the War Domain. (???)

 

[garyh]

I think WotC took realism into account over balance here.

While I don't want to get hit with either one, I'd choose a sledgehammer over an axe.

Maybe the balancing factor is the Metal Domain, also introduced in FRCS. Metal grants Weapon Focus on a Warhammer or Maul (just like War), but it gives much better spells than the War Domain. (???)

No offense to you, since it's actually not a bad suggestion as the maul came from the FRCS, but if they're using Domain abilities from a non-Core book to balance weapons, I'll have to stop typing before Eric's Grandma REALLY gets upset with me.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

I don't allow spellcaster characters to take age penalties at first level. It smacks too much of getting bonuses you can use for penalties that don't matter.

I can understand that.

Fortunately (well, I guess) we were playing in a 4d6 roll and keep campaign, and I rolled really poorly. The bonuses brought my character to just about standard array.

He was a fun character to play.


Patrick Y.

 

[King_Stannis]

Nice. I like her character concept. How far past her prime is she? Into the attribute penalty range?

I'm just curious. I once played a sorcerer who was an old ma. He spent his youth and middle age as a slave to Zhentil Keep, and escaped when his powers manifested. It was entertaining playing a 60 year old 2nd level character. Quite a change of pace.


Patrick Y.

She is in her late thirties, and has 4 kids. She's a little thick around the middle and the other characters call her "Mom" (proper name is Gertrude). One character in the party is her son, which leads to some pretty fun in-game conversations as you may guess.

I probably should dock her some penalties in her attributes, but I don't have the heart to yet.

Your sorceror sounds cool. Those are the types of character I am always willing to play when I go on the other side of the screen. 60 years old! Did anyone dare call your guy gramps?

 

[HammerFist]

No offense to you, since it's actually not a bad suggestion as the maul came from the FRCS, but if they're using Domain abilities from a non-Core book to balance weapons, I'll have to stop typing before Eric's Grandma REALLY gets upset with me.

Hey, as long as that anger is directed toward WotC, not me. I don't make the rules, I'm only reading them to ya!

 

[garyh]

Hey, as long as that anger is directed toward WotC, not me. I don't make the rules, I'm only reading them to ya!

No worries. I'm not one to shoot the messanger.