Chapter V: Equipment
Elfbow: The Elfbow is similar to a longbow, but it is constructed of rare and flexible woods layered with bone. It’s lighter and less bulky than a standard bow, but its unusual construction prevents all but the most skilled archers from using it. Elves are the only craftsmen capable of producing Elfbows and so they are very rare in almost all places aside from Elven lands. If you do not have the Specialist Weapon Group (longbow), the Elfbow uses all the statistics of a normal shortbow in addition to Weapon Skill reduction. There are no differences of craftsmanship with the Elfbow; all are of Exceptional quality. Firearm: A firearm, also known as an arquebus, is the most basic form of gunpowder weapon available in the Old World. Craftsmanship varies with these weapons, ranging from the crude wooden firearms where the wielder must touch a burning match to the black powder to fire the weapon, to the sophisticated Dwarf weapons equipped with a variety wheel lock mechanisms and even a trigger. Firearm Shot: Firearm shot is available in small oiled cloth pouches of 10 shots each. Used as ammunition for any Engineer and Gunpowder weapons, they are more common than the weapons for which they are designed. Best Craftsmanship firearm balls are made of steel, while lower quality shot might be lead, ceramic, or even clay. Unlike other forms of ammunition, once the firearm ball is shot from a firearm, it is not reusable. Flail and Morning Star: A flail is a weapon consisting of two or more chains attached to a rod-like handle. Most flails affix a weight such as a spiked metal ball or a ring at the end of the chains to enhance the weapon’s potential damage. A flail with just one chain and ball is called a morning star, and is less encumbering and deals less damage than the flail. Foil: A foil, sometimes called an epee, is a slender square-section blade with a cup hilt. Primarily used for fencing, it has the benefit of being quick and accurate. In exchange for its speed, it gives up something of its potential to deal damage. Gauntlets and Knuckle-Dusters: Use gauntlets and knuckle-dusters to gain a slight improvement over using your fists in combat. Also included under this heading are mailed gloves and brass knuckles. Great Weapon: Like the hand weapon (see below), the great weapon is a broad category of weaponry. Any weapon you need two hands to wield falls into this group. Such weapons include double-handed swords, great hammers, or great axes. Gunpowder: Gunpowder, required to fire pistols and other firearms, is sold in small kegs or in horns, stopped with wax to prevent moisture from ruining the powder. There are no craftsmanship differences in gunpowder, though if exposed to water, the gunpowder is ruined. Each dose of gunpowder is good for one shot. Halberd: A halberd is a heavy blade mounted at the end of a sturdy wooden or metal pole. The blade features a sharp point at the top and a wide cutting edge like an axe, which allows it to be used two different ways. When you attack with a halberd, you can treat like a spear or a great weapon. This means it will either have the Fast quality or both the Impact and Slow qualities. There are many variations on the halberd, such as the size of the blade, the length of the point, and composition of the shaft. Furthermore, halberds can include just about any other pole arm such as the glaive and bill, all using the same statistics. Hand Weapon: Hand weapons encompass a broad category of weaponry, including any melee weapon one can wield in one hand. Thus, this category includes maces, hammers, swords,
picks, clubs, and axes. Most combatants in the Old World rely on these weapons over more difficult to use armaments. Hochland Long Rifle: In the Duchy of Hochland, a place famous for its hunters, engineers devised a firearm that has a range improved over the blunderbuss and the arquebus. While this weapon is superior to most other firearms in the Empire, it is rare, and those who have them almost never sell them. For now, knowledge of their construction is limited to Hochland. Like the Elfbow, there are no differences of craftsmanship with the Hochland long rifle; all are of Exceptional quality. account for large groups of weapons, improvised weapons include perhaps the largest, for anything you can pick up and potentially hurt someone with counts as an improvised weapon. This group includes tankards, hooks, candlesticks, or even chairs. You can throw improvised weapons as missile weapons. Because improvised weapons are so broadly conceived, the encumbrance value listed on Tables 5–3: Melee Weapons and 5–4: Missile Weapons is the base encumbrance. For larger items, like barstools, chairs, or doors, the encumbrance value increases, though statistically, the weapon deals the same amount of damage. There are no craftsmanship differences among improvised weapons. Javelin: A javelin is a short spear designed for throwing. Its design makes it unsuitable for use in melee combat. If so used, treat it as an improvised weapon. Lance: The lance is a heavy long spear, usually with an oak shaft, and a steel point. Capable of punching through armour and knocking foes to the ground, the lance would be popular if it were more common and affordable. Given its price, though by no means as expensive as a blunderbuss, and its availability, lances are relegated to use by knights and wealthy warriors throughout the Empire. Hard (–20% to WS) when on foot. Lasso: A lasso is nothing more than a length of rope tied one end to form a loop. On a successful attack, the loop catches the target, on the arm, leg or torso. Though the lasso deals no damage, it is useful for immobilizing foes, at least for a time. Longbow: A longbow is an improved version of a standard bow (see page 107), constructed of alternating layers of flexible wood like yew and elm. Though its performance is somewhat superior to a normal bow, its true strength lies in its ability to send arrows punching through armour. Main Gauche: The main gauche, or left-handed dagger, is a short- bladed weapon slightly longer than a normal dagger. Its construction is such that it is useful for defence, with a broader hilt and narrower blade than a normal knife. However, given its construction, it performs poorly when thrown, counting as an improvised weapon. Net: The net is a web of weighted cords or rope used to immobilize foes. Like the lasso, the net does not deal damage, so it is useful for capturing foes alive. However, these weapons are difficult to use properly and are reserved for the best-trained warriors and bounty hunters. Pistol: The pistol is a finely crafted firearm that fires using a spring mechanism. Essentially a pistol is a hollow metal tube fitted with a wooden stock. The firing mechanism is a little over halfway down the barrel. Pistols use firearm balls for ammunition. Quarter Staff: One of the most common weapons in the Old World is the quarter staff. Easy to manufacture, available just about anywhere, the quarter staff is a staple of most travellers’ Improvised: Where the hand weapon and the great weapon
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