I’ve got a few points re the new Weapons list.
I think the Estoc doing 2d8 is a bit on the heavy side. It’s not used at all like a rapier and more like a spear with one hand behind the hilt and the second on the blade, which isn’t sharp, and designed to punch through heavy armour. It’s basically a metal spike with a cross guard. I think at most it should do d10 as I can’t imagine it doing any more than a broadsword or anywhere near as much as a warsword, but could probably have a similar PV to a warhammer at 7. It was also used on horseback, lance fashion.
As far as I’m aware another name for the Pollaxe is Bec De Courbon, much like the blunt version, Pollhammer, is also know as the Bec De Faucon. So I’m not sure its necessary to include it separately. I think the picture is a little misleading.
I think the PV on the rapier is way to high at 4. It wasn’t designed to fight opponents in heavy armour. This was why it was mainly a civilian weapon while heavy armour was still being used. It would probably be served better by giving at “finesse bonus”. Say it reduces the opponents AV by 2 for determining whether a finesse attack defeats armour but only has a normal AV of 1. A killing strike with a rapier is indicated by a slight flex of the blade, strength of the attacker not really a factor.
Swords were best for parrying but I’m not sure that +1 parry is the best answer. The side bar on page 159 does say that its supposed to represent a more abstract definition of the defence involved.
I think the Axe should have a PV of 2 instead of 1. Chopping through armour was the big thing with axes. Obviously this isn’t a factor if the weapon is used for a finesse attack.
I think the AP for the mauls is too high at 6 and 9 respectively. They are primitive weapons. How about 4 and 6 but add a new combat maneuver of “pulverising blow”( or some such). Standard action. Say –2 to attack and –2 to DV for the rest of the round but the character may add double their ST bonus to the AP and damage (instead of 1½ times). Maybe it needs Weapon Focus. Or something like that.
As a side note even 6 is probably too high as it puts it up over the AP for two handed swords. As armour became heavier shields grew out of favour and heavy weapons, Swords, axes and poleams, became popular to counter the heavy armour.
Flails. Hmmmm. I like the spinning attack but in all ways aside from hardness and hit points the Great Flail is superior to a two handed sword. It also appears to be the perfect weapon for a 7th level barbarian. Penalty on barbarians parry, no problem his dodge is better anyway; exotic weapon, no problem versatile, best damage plus nearly twice the AP of the two handed sword and as an added bonus –4 to be parried. The perfect soldier killer. How often are flails mentioned in Howard’s stories? I’ve read a few and remember no mention. If they were this good Conan would surely have used them.
I don’t know much about flails and their effectiveness but the stats on these examples don’t seem balanced. –4 to Parry, well it depends on your definition of parrying. If you mean literally turning a blow aside with the flail then sure it deserves a huge penalty, but if you are talking steadfast defence swinging that heavy ball in front of you, feet firmly planted your opponent trying to get in past it to hit you. Well….Again I’m not a flail expert but I think you’d have to be real good to happily spin that flail and duck and dodge around at the same time.
Just thought I’d add my two cents worth!
