What Best Approximates a Maul?

[TarionzCousin]

"What Best Approximates a Maul?"
I think it's the "Rend" action after hitting with two claw attacks.

I had actually planned to do that with a Bugbear Cleric in a Planescape game once -- Giant Spiky Mace, Spiked Plate mail and all -- but never got to.

It's not too late! You still can!

 

[Enforcer]

Just copy the greataxe and change the damage type. There's no good reason why a 2-handed Bludgeoning weapon should do less damage than its Slashing counterparts. After all, the warhammer is identical to the battleaxe other than damage type.

So we'd get the Maul: 2-handed only, 1d12/x3, Bludgeoning. Have it weigh 10 lbs. and cost 30gp (or whatever). Done.

 

[fw190a8]

The word "maul" originates from the old English word "mealle" which used to mean "mace, wooden club, or hammer." (Source.) In general a maul is not a very specific term, and could apply to a wide range of heavy blunt weapons. It might be possible to get a bit more information from the context in which the word is used.

 

[Particle_Man]

Iron Heroes has one: 2d6, x3 crit, 8 gp, 12 lbs, Bludgeoning. I suppose if you want a spiked one you could make it piercing and bludgeoning.

 

[LordVyreth]

Wow it looks like I have more options than I expected. I'll go over this part of my adventure some time tomorrow, giving me a little time to make a decision on the subject.

 

[eamon]

Just copy the greataxe and change the damage type. There's no good reason why a 2-handed Bludgeoning weapon should do less damage than its Slashing counterparts. After all, the warhammer is identical to the battleaxe other than damage type.

So we'd get the Maul: 2-handed only, 1d12/x3, Bludgeoning. Have it weigh 10 lbs. and cost 30gp (or whatever). Done.

Playing devil's advocate here, but you can also see it the other way around: there's no reason that all damage types should be equivalent either. The way it's now, almost all serious ranged damage is piercing, and serious melee damage is slashing (since the "big" damage dealers are two handed weapon wielders). That means that there's a difference between the different damage reduction types, and there's nothing wrong with that, right? More variety, no extra rule complexity, means more fun in my book ;-). I'd leave the "best" two handed melee damage in slashing hands, therefore.

 

[Enforcer]

Alternatively, for those interested in having their character's weapon match both their stylistic choice and not having to pay for that choice with less effectiveness, having equal damage between maul and greataxe is a fine way to go. And since the one-handed versions (warhammer and battleaxe) are already identical for damage and crits, using 1d12/x3 for the maul is actually more consistent with the rules we already have. All my opinion, of course, and LordVyreth will do whatever he wants.