Swords. More swords.

[Frostmarrow]

I'd like more swords in Next. Most of the time I'm in favor of a streamlined weapon list. I'm not too keen on three pages of polearms. But when it comes to swords no little detail is too small. I want short swords, gladii, prangas, machetes, flamberges, zweihanders, katanas, broadswords, epees, you name it. At least three pages with pictures and rules for pommels, cross-guards, rain-guards, fullers et c. I want the anatomy of my sword on my character sheet.
–Those in favor raise your blade!

 

[Hassassin]

I wish short sword killed longsword and took its stuff. Longsword = bastard sword.

 

[trancejeremy]

As long as they all do 1-8 hit point of damage...

 

[ExploderWizard]

As long as they all do 1-8 hit point of damage...

Yeah I like weapon variety for flavor but when it comes to mechanical stats, a sword is a sword. The "I'm sorry but your broadsword proficiency doesn't cover that claymore or English backsword so those will be wielded at -1" is too fiddly and a pain in the arse to track.

 

[Grazzt]

Yeah I like weapon variety for flavor but when it comes to mechanical stats, a sword is a sword. The "I'm sorry but your broadsword proficiency doesn't cover that claymore or English backsword so those will be wielded at -1" is too fiddly and a pain in the arse to track.

Agree. I did like the weapon group feats from UA 3.x. Weapon Groups fix this (if all "long" swords are lumped into a Heavy Blades" category).

 

[Nebulous]

I don't mind variety, it's fluff and fun, but a big hunk of steel is still just a big hunk of steel. Damage should be about the same. That said, what might be a bigger factor, realistically, is the strength of the arm behind that hunk of steel.

 

[Salamandyr]

I would rather not have 47 names for what is essentially the same thing. 2 things I want.

Please don't separate swords into "heavy blades" and "light blades". It's annoying to require two feats to do what could be done with one if I had chosen, say, axes.

If you decide for 4e style weapon feats, please make sure the sword has something good other than situational benefits that require the opponent to make tactically stupid errors to trigger, at least assuming other weapons have work all the time benefits.

 

[the Jester]

Umm... I'm okay with three or four varieties of sword (at max, nine, as I list). Longsword, shortsword, broadsword, greatsword, bastard sword, scimitar, rapier, falchion, khopesh.... could be rolled into: longsword (includes broadsword), shortsword (includes rapier), greatsword, scimitar.

More than those eight and I'm all, "What's the point?" Is there really enough difference between a Roman gladius and a medieval shortsword to be worth differentiating mechanically?

Instead, I'd like to see a list of masterwork properties a weapon could have:

Keen: Double crit range (or something involving criticals).
Heavy: +1 damage.
Precise: +1 attacks.
Defensive: +1 AC.

...and so forth. So maybe a katana is a precise longsword.

 

[kitsune9]

I'm for differing weapons so long as there is a mechanical reason behind it aside from price or weight. If a longsword does 1d8 and a flamberge does 1d8 and the only difference is the price, then I wouldn't find it all that practical. As an example, if a longsword has a threat range of 19-20 / x2 and the flamberge has a crit x3, then that's a choice.

 

[boredgremlin]

Umm... I'm okay with three or four varieties of sword (at max, nine, as I list). Longsword, shortsword, broadsword, greatsword, bastard sword, scimitar, rapier, falchion, khopesh.... could be rolled into: longsword (includes broadsword), shortsword (includes rapier), greatsword, scimitar.

More than those eight and I'm all, "What's the point?" Is there really enough difference between a Roman gladius and a medieval shortsword to be worth differentiating mechanically?

Instead, I'd like to see a list of masterwork properties a weapon could have:

Keen: Double crit range (or something involving criticals).
Heavy: +1 damage.
Precise: +1 attacks.
Defensive: +1 AC.

...and so forth. So maybe a katana is a precise longsword.

This. Bring back masterworking and give it a list of options instead of just a +1. Its much more interesting that way.