Where are the rapiers?

[Steely Dan]

Actually it was one of the 4e design tenets that D&D is based in medieval european fantasy

And the recent design/development chaps have mentioned trying to distance D&D from real world cultures/history.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

1E did that, as an optional rule. It was annoying as all hell, and I never met a single person who used it more than once.

Lol, alrighty scratch that then

 

[mach1.9pants]

(Though actually, if we're talking plate armor, give me a crossbow, not a bow.)

Go the whole hog, go for an A-10!

 

[AZRogue]

Just to add another option out there (because I'm bored and why not), what if the Superior Weapons category in that picture isn't really a category of weapons at all?

What if it is merely a GRAPHICAL category to represent weapons made out of strange material? Or magical weapons who glitter (I don't know). We're talking about an option on the DDI, here, and I see Rapier mentioned several times. Maybe each one is a separate looking Rapier with different qualities? It would explain why the Shortsword is on that list. Weapons would be either Simple or Military and Superior is for the masterworked silver ... whatevers.

Just a theory.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Go the whole hog, go for an A-10!

"Phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range."

"Hey, just what you see, pal..."

 

[ThirdWizard]

I thought rapiers might finally be out. I know, I know, a fool's dream. *sigh*

 

[D.Shaffer]

They were in both. Several kits got repeated, like Peasant Hero and whatnot.

The Swashbuckler kit showed up in both, but I think it's important to note that the actual abilities they granted were different.

 

[Jhaelen]

The best sword for use against plate armor remains the bastard sword or hand-and-a-half sword or longsword, IMO and from what I've read (our D&D longsword is just a sword, or a "war sword", actually ). Long enough to give reach while gripping the hilt with one hand and the blade with the other for quick, strong, accurate stabs at the weak points and joints.

Well, I'm certainly no expert on this, but there was also a sword type called 'Panzerstecher' in German (~ 'armor piercing sword') for use against heavily armored foes. IIRC, it looked a bit like the elven thinblade from Complete Warrior.

 

[Klaus]

The Swashbuckler kit showed up in both, but I think it's important to note that the actual abilities they granted were different.

Indeed they were.

 

[JVisgaitis]

1E did that, as an optional rule. It was annoying as all hell, and I never met a single person who used it more than once.

Wasn't that 2e? The whole slashing, piercing, bludgeoning chart of evil? We used it once too and never looked back.