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

[Arcane Runes Press]

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?

The character came about in part because of the disconnect of the traditional mage in fantasy, and the rapid speed with which characters advance in D&D.

Popular fantasy imagery and literature is chock full of old wizards with pointy hats and long flowing beards, but the typical D&D adventuring spellcaster is usually in his mid 20's at the latest.

I wanted to play a character who really fit the standard image of the spellcaster, but it had to fit in a party of low level characters. Thus the slavery bit. It was a good hook for him, and ended up being well suited to the (unfortunately) short campaign.

And yes, the party swashbuckler did end up affectionately calling me gramps. Usually in the context of "Gramps, make haste with thy Lightning! We're outnumbered 5 to 1!"


Patrick Y.

 

[Greybar]

Firstly big props to King_Stannis' wife for a great character idea.

On Friday I was mulling over an NPC who will be appearing soon.

"With Camarus came Sebaldus Strongarm, a warrior-priest of Spragus who wields a massive two-handed warhammer when he wades into his foes bare-chested and laughing. He jests that he got his tough, hairy hide from his mother: a she- bear of the highlands."

I took the warhammer (medium, 1d8) and upped it one size category per PHB table 7-4. This results in a 2d6 dmg, 20/x3 weapon. In other words, the bludgeoning equivalent of the greatsword.

john

 

[garyh]

I took the warhammer (medium, 1d8) and upped it one size category per PHB table 7-4. This results in a 2d6 dmg, 20/x3 weapon. In other words, the bludgeoning equivalent of the greatsword.

john

That's how I'd do it, too, or at the least 1d12. That's why the FRCS maul - and lack of a core greathammer - is such an enigma to me.

I'm trying to get over it. Really.

 

[Valiantheart]

That's how I'd do it, too, or at the least 1d12. That's why the FRCS maul - and lack of a core greathammer - is such an enigma to me.

I'm trying to get over it. Really.

Maybe the Complete Warrior will have one.......but i really doubt it would have something so obvious and useful.

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

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.

Have to disagree with you there.

I would take the axe any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Have you ever seen what massive blunt trauma does to a body? The damage from an axe is much more likely to be survivable and at worst will give you a cleaner death.

 

[HammerFist]

Have to disagree with you there.

I would take the axe any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Have you ever seen what massive blunt trauma does to a body? The damage from an axe is much more likely to be survivable and at worst will give you a cleaner death.

I work in a trauma-center hospital as an X-Ray Technologist.

I've seen some nasty blunt traumas, as well as stabbing/piercing/gunshot traumas, and some "chopping" traumas too.

I've seen these injuries "fixed" (I use the term lightly -- there's only so much someone can do) in the Operating Room.

I'll still take a hit with a hammer over an axe, given the choice.

I'll still take the blunt trauma.

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

I work in a trauma-center hospital as an X-Ray Technologist.

I've seen some nasty blunt traumas, as well as stabbing/piercing/gunshot traumas, and some "chopping" traumas too.

I've seen these injuries "fixed" (I use the term lightly -- there's only so much someone can do) in the Operating Room.

I'll still take a hit with a hammer over an axe, given the choice.

I'll still take the blunt trauma.

OK. I guess you have seen it. You definitely have more experience with this kind of thing than I do. I'm basing this opinion on a pair of pretty bad situations I've seen.

Maybe I'm biased by those experiences, but I'd at least want to see who was doing the swinging before I decided.

EDIT: Also, just to clarify, I'm talking maul vs. battleaxe. If we were talking about smaller weapons (i.e. the kind of hammers and axes you tend to run across today), I totally agree with you.

 

[Magic Missile]

No swords...

I have a fun concept in my head I am dying to try out; a Thri-Kreen fighter with a polearm collection strapped to his back in a golf bag style carrier...

Can a Thri-Kreen fight with two polearms at once?

 

[Argus Decimus Mokira]

Hey

I'll jump on the warhammer bandwagon. My namesake, Argus, was a grizzled old veteran Fighter/Devoted Defender. He had seen enough bloodshed in his days with the army that he no longer wished to harm anyone, just protect those who couldn't protect themselves. Here enters Malleus Curatorius, a +2 merciful, sundering warhammer. I don't believe Argus ever killed a single person with it, but many a shield felt the wrath of the Malleus, generally a round or two before it's owner was knocked unconscious.

Thanks
-Matt

 

[Templetroll]

My first character in D&D, circa '79, was a dwarf, named Gimli (I've done better with names since then ) and on his first adventure with an established group they killed a wight! I hung back using a crossbow and trying to decide which way to run. they found a mace that was magical. No one in the group used a mace. I asked if my character could have it and they said okay. Never used another weapon for melee. It ended up being a +2 mace, which made it all the sweeter.

Another character was a half-orc fighter, Grizlak, with Glaive-guisarme, 1e, of course. We were on a mountain path when we got attacked by a Rehmoraz. Grizlak set versus charge, the thing hit, I must have gotten a 20 because the blade sunk into the critter, the hilt was rammed into the ground, Grizlak was stuck between the dead monster and the frozen ground. Man, that was great.

My anti-paladin, Casanova Ordracobane used an axe but that was pretty much the Molly Hatchet influence. He also had a saddle that kept him from being unhorsed by combat and a lance that wouldn't break but he couldn't hang on to it after he hit.

Typically, my fighters, especially paladins will have a sword or axe, a blunt weapon like a hammer or mace and a ranged weapon. I just think it makes sense for an organized group to train warriors that way.

My dwarf wizard, Xylarthan (he took the name from an ancient tome after he was banished by his clan for being a wizard. Do you recognize it? ) used a -1 to hit, +5 damage staff. It was described as being especially heavy and cumbersome. With Ambidexterity and TWF it was only -3/-3 with both attacks and against orcs and goblins was an awesome thing. He also likes the Thunderlance spell; a variety of weapons inone neat lil package!

I've always thought that D&D had some of the best daggers ever. Our current party paladin has a dagger of Law and another of Chaos; he uses which ever one will be most damaging against a particular opponent. The Dagger of Venom is an old favorite and works well with Holy water also. Kinda surprises the vamipres that way.