Weapon Size Catagory Names - Please Help

[3catcircus]

Why Group Just by Size?

Why not combine size and type as a single characteristic?

It makes no sense that a light mace and a dagger are in the same category (Simple) and called a light melee weapon. More importantly, how can a light mace be a Simple, Light Melee Weapon, while a Light Hammer is considered a Martial, Light Melee Weapon? A Light Mace and a Light Hammer do essentially the same job. Additionally, why is a throwing axe (essentially a hand axe) considered a Martial weapon when any peasant would have had access to a hand axe for chopping wood?

 

[Gez]

The distinction between simple, martial, and exotic is sometimes unconsistent; but for the throwing axe it is not.

The throwing axe is more like a francisca than like a woodchopping axe. It must be well balanced to rotate on itself during "flight" so as to not deviate too much from its intended trajectory. Aiming one's throws with it is harder than with darts or throwing knives.