Versitile Weapon

BlackSeed_Vash

Explorer
I want to make a versitile weapon(s) without being broken. What I was thinking of was a series of parts, rods and heads, that can be locked together to form a single weapon. After looking at the images in the PH, I selected several none-exotic weapons that I felt could be build using this idea. Next, I estimated how many pieces each weapon would need and how many of those would be rods. A rod would have to be a consistant size and shape, which I figured would cost about 4gp. (I know this would make any weapon requiring 2+ rods cost more than its PH price, but it feels right.) The head, would not be exclusively the head piece of the weapon, but however much lenght of 'rod' required to make the fully assembled weapon the correct lenght.

The following is how I see these weapons costing:
Spear 9gp [2 rods- 8gp] [Spear head- 1gp]
Quarterstaff 12gp [3 rods- 12gp]
Ranseur 18gp [4 rods- 16gp] [Ranseur head- 2gp]
Guisarme 18gp [4 rods- 16gp] [Guisarme head- 2gp]
Glaive 18gp [4 rods- 16gp] [Glaive head- 2gp]
Longspear 18gp [4 rods- 16gp] [Spear head- 1gp]
Halberd 11gp [2 rods- 8gp] [Halberd head- 3gp]
Battleaxe 10gp [1 rod- 4gp] [Battleaxe head- 6gp]
Flail, Light/Heavy 8gp/15gp [1 rod- 4gp] [Flail, Light/Heavy- 4gp/11gp]
Morningstar 8gp [1 rod- 4gp] [Morningstar head- 5gp]
Mace, Light/Heavy 5gp/15gp [1 rod- 4gp] [Mace, Light/Heavy- 1gp/8gp]
Short Sword 10gp [1 rod- 4gp] [Short Sword head- 6gp]
Longsword 15gp [1 rod- 4gp] [Longsword head- 11gp]

The next part I felt that need to be done is provide some rules of adding/removing a rod or head. Something along the lines of, "Two hands are required to and or remove a rod or head. Preforming either prevokes and Attack of Opportunity. A move action is needed to remove a single rod or head from another piece. A standard is needed to add a single rod or head to another piece. As a full round action, a single rod or head may be exchanged for another rod or head. Also, any attempts to sunder two or more pieces recieves a +2 circumstance bonus."

What I would like to know is the following:
1) Would you use/allow this in your game?
2) What would you consider the craft check required to make a single piece?
3) Do you see any inherent flaws and/or sheer brokeness that I might have missed?

EDITED
 
Last edited:

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I might allow it, personally, but anything built this way would probably have a big weakness against sundering attacks.
 

The Morphing ability (first seen in Underdark and now updated in the Magic Item Compendium) is a +1 ability that can be added to any melee or thrown weapon. As a standard action, a morphing weapon can change into any other melee or thrown weapon of the same size and type (light, one-handed, or two-handed).
 

I like the idea. The book -Bug Wars- had a similar system for personal dueling weapons.

One thing though, a spear would be at least as long as a q-staff. A javelin would be shorter but not a spear...
 

Sukael, your right, I probably should add, "All sunder attempts against two or more pieces recieves a +2 circumstance bonus."

Rath the Brown, I knew about the Morphing ability, but didnt want to use magic if possible.

Tetsubo, it seems I should have fully explained my idea on heads. I intended the 'head' to make up any difference in lenght that the assembled rods would lack, therefore my spear would be about the same lenght as a quarterstaff.
 

Add also that the weapon sundered only loses one rod, so carrying extras would allow quick repair.

I would also require all components to be masterwork.

Here is a possible break down.

Rod = club
2x rod = staff
3x rod = long staff (d8 + reach)
weapon head = d4 damage of bludoning/slashing/piercing damage
weapon head + rod = d6 damage of bludoning/slashing/piercing damage
weapon head + 2x rod = d8 damage of bludoning/slashing/piercing damage OR reach
weapon head + 3x rod = d10 damage of bludoning/slashing/piercing damage + reach
2x weapon head + rod = d8 damage of bludoning/slashing/piercing damage (exotic)
2x weapon head + 2x rod = d10 damage of bludoning/slashing/piercing damage or reach (exotic)
 

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