Chingachgook's Weapon

[driver8]

I recently saw Last of the Mohicans on television. I was impressed by the lethality of Chingachgook's weapon, blunt and sharp, heavy and rather impressive.

Anyways, research informs me this is a gunstock tomahawk (or club) depending in the source. They oftern had an edged side, with sharpened anther or bone, or with a pointed axe head sticking out on one end.

In the movie the weapon looked more clubby, but sharp edged almost like an oddly shaped sword- and at first glance I thought it was stone. Examples:

Heres a Fiji Island version:http://www.peabody.harvard.edu/sahlins/F3841.html

And a version with a pronounced axe head: http://www.monticello.org/press/imagegallery/lewisandclark/newimages/gunstockclubth.jpg

Anyways, any ideas on how to make this an interesting weapon stat wise? Is it just a two handed club or axe? Any ideas?

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

I'd make it either a battle-axe or greataxe depending on the size.

 

[JimAde]

I'd make it either a battle-axe or greataxe depending on the size.

With the difference being that it can do slashing and/or piercing and/or bludgeoning damage depending on the exact design. Helps alleviate that "golf bag" effect for overcoming DR. For that alone, I'd probably require an exotic weapon proficiency.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

I'd say it'd be piercing, and allow the bludgeoning surface to be used as normal, but with a x2 crit (with the main head's enhancements and all).

 

[knastymike]

Oh, man, I had forgotten all about that wicked thing. I have got to find some way of including it in one of my campaigns.

 

[driver8]

So hows this-

1d10 damage, bludgeoning/piercing x2 crit, exotic weapon proficiency. Although you could debate whether it should be slashing instead of piercing.

I went with greatclub type damage and just x2 since you get 2 types of damage.

 

[Dracomeander]

So hows this-

1d10 damage, bludgeoning/piercing x2 crit, exotic weapon proficiency. Although you could debate whether it should be slashing instead of piercing.

I went with greatclub type damage and just x2 since you get 2 types of damage.

That doesn't look too bad, but I would say it would be a martial or exotic weapon depending on the culture the user comes from.

When I used it for a pattern for a weapon for a character, I gave it the same stats as a morningstar. I forgot to factor in a possible die increase for being a larger weapon requiring two hands.

 

[silentspace]

Seems like it should be able to trip and disarm too.

 

[Dracomeander]

Nearly any weapon can be used to trip or disarm. That was one of the more common uses for a fighting hand axe, but the hand axe doesn't receive any additional bonuses for those maneuvers.

Game mechanic-wise, it would require some exceptionally specialized design to provide the bonus.

 

[Tetsubo]

Here's a version that I came up with...