D&D 5E Random Weapon Table

[CapnZapp]

Roll d1000 on this table each time you get a "Weapon +1, +2, +3" result and want to randomize.

Simple Martial Weapons
001-004 Club
005-039 Dagger
040-043 Greatclub
044-067 Handaxe
068-075 Javelin
076-079 Light hammer
080-149 Mace
150-172 Quarterstaff
173-176 Sickle
177-213 Spear
214-230 Unarmed (wraps, gauntlets, monk weapons etc)
Simple Ranged Weapons
231-271 Crossbow light
272-287 Dart
288-303 Shortbow
204-319 Sling
Martial Melee Weapons
320-404 Battleaxe
405-413 Flail
414-420 Glaive
421-498 Greataxe
499-576 Greatsword
577-581 Halberd
582-586 Lance
587-773 Longsword
773-773 Maul
774-778 Morningstar
778-778 Pike
779-809 Rapier
810-848 Scimitar
849-887 Shortsword
888-891 Trident
892-895 War pick
896-900 Warhammer
901-905 Whip
Martial Ranged Weapons
906-907 Blowgun
908-914 Crossbow hand
915-955 Crossbow heavy
956-996 Longbow
997-1000 Net

I extracted the 3.5 SRD probabilities into a spreadsheet, counted only the weapons with direct 5e counterparts, took into account the probabilities for common and uncommon weapons, and rounded/summed up into a single d1000 table.


Roll d100 on this table each time you get an "Ammunition +1, +2, +3" result and want to randomize.

Ammunition
01-50 Arrow
51-55 Blowgun needle
56-80 Crossbow bolt
81-100 Sling bullet

Unlike the weapons table, the frequency for ammunition doesn't correspond directly to the 3.5 SRD. In 3.5, ammunition is 10% of all common ranged weapons (2% of all finds overall). In 5E, ammunition is its own entries in the treasure tables. Also, I made the choice to replace repeating crossbow bolts with blowgun needles, preserving the relative frequency of arrows, bolts and bullets.


Zapp

PS. Credit to Psikerlord who provided the idea:

There used to be random weapon and armour tables in earlier DnD editions I believe... yep just checked my 3rd edition DMG - it has random armour and weapon tables you could use. So that is probably available in the SRD online.

 

[Phazonfish]

Thank you Cap'n, this table looks very useful, you are a credit to these boards.

Unfortunately this table gives out rapiers, hand crossbows, and halberds more than 0.1% of the time each, so I can't recommend this for DMs with groups of veteran players.

 

[CapnZapp]

The Rapier (779-809) is rolled 3.1% of the time.

In the 3.5 SRD its frequency amounts to 2,8% which I consider to be close enough

Any discrepancies are mostly due to d20 having many more weapons than 5e.

Zapp

PS. the frequencies for hand crossbows are 0.4% in 3.5 and 0.7% here. For halberds (specifically, as opposed to all Polearm Mastery capable weapons) it's 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Thank you Cap'n, this table looks very useful, you are a credit to these boards.

Unfortunately this table gives out rapiers, hand crossbows, and halberds more than 0.1% of the time each, so I can't recommend this for DMs with groups of veteran players.

None of those weapons are problematic. Certain feats combined with a lack of common sense and a spine may make them so.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[CapnZapp]

The statistic any minmaxer worth his salt needs is now "what's the combined percentage of the Polearm Mastery weapons" (for instance)

 

[Phazonfish]

None of those weapons are problematic. Certain feats combined with a lack of common sense and a spine may make them so.

It's a joke, I don't think those weapons are problematic under any conditions. An advantage for martial classes is always welcome.

 

[CapnZapp]

No worries, I got the joke.

At least now we can emulate the same weapon distribution as in d20.

It should really help some underutilized 5e weapons. Take the longsword for instance. In 5e it's not widely used because Strength builds go two-handed (and then there's better weapons for them) and Dexterity builds can't use 'em.

And there really isn't feat support for the "versatile build" where leaving one hand free brings something unique to the table for Strength builds.

But if you assume every fifth magic weapon you find is a Longsword, and you might *never* find a magical Greataxe or Hand Crossbow, this should help nuancing your build options...

(I am fully aware of the "give them what they're using" school of thought. I'm presenting an alternative school here, for those wanting Longswords to gain back an edge.)

Sent from my C6603 using EN World mobile app

 

[CapnZapp]

Edited initial post.

Added ammunition random table.