Codex Martialis Weapons of the Ancient World

Transcription

1 Codex Martialis Weapons of the Ancient World 1

2 Codex Martialis: Weapons of the Ancient World Part 1, Melee Weapons Version 1.77FF Dec Credits Codex Martialis Weapons of the Ancient World: Jean Henri Chandler Artists: Jean Henri Chandler Broken Back Sax, Mainz Gladius: Ramon Esteves Pollaxe by Fabrice Cognot Keris, Kampilan and Balisong by Thom Jason Contributors: Fabrice Cognot of De Taille et d'estoc for Pollaxe and Burgundian Sax images, help with some other images and sporadic fact-checking Thom Jason various weapons of the Philippines Alina Boyden Help with weapons of the Islamic world and general technical assistance Andrew Winston Dha images and help with weapons of Southeast Asia James Marwood Information on bata and jogo do pau, corrections, advice. Kirk Lee Spencer Sax Typologies Special Thanks to: Ian Plumb for hosting the Codex Martialis website and continuing to provide advice and support without which I never would have published anything independently. Lenny Zimmermann for proofreading and being a fashion model Jake Norwood for continued inspiration and friendship. Bill Grandy for permission to use the image of his beautiful Schiavona HUhttp:// U Andrew Sutton for proofreading and providing valuable feedback Shane Alee from Iron Age Armory for permission to use La Tène double-fullered Spatha image HUhttp:// Nick Johnson for permission to use his Sax replicas HUhttp:// Karl Aksel Eide for help with Japanese weapons Matt Easton of Schola Gladiatoria for letting me use his clubs forum as a sounding board and various members of Schola Gladiatoria forum for divers forms of assistance and advice James Clark for Montante image and other helpful information. And to all the Codex Martialis fans and supporters who have contacted me from Boston, New Orleans, Miami, San Francisco, Austin, Madrid, Barcelona, Dijon, Sardinia, Galway, Gdansk, Prague, Pilsen, Tabor, Budapest, Bristol, London, Trondheim, Copenhagen, Gotheburg, Augsburg, Neu Ulm, Berne, Perth, South Korea, Japan and everywhere else around the world where they like a good gaming night with a few good friends and a few good beers. This book is dedicated to my friends Willy Rosencrans, Niels Miller, and Eric Gochnour with whom I spent many an hilarious enthralling evening in my misspent youth playing role playing games. 2

3 Seal of the Federfechter of Prague Table of Contents CREDITS... 2 INTRODUCTION... 9 WHAT THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR The Weapons of the Ancient World A note on weapon classification Weapon costs and the economy A note on the Eras of Time and weapons technology Weapons and the Law A Note on the Artwork The Weapon Stats Reach To Hit Bonus Speed To Hit Bonus Weapon Defense Bonus Damage Rating Armor Piercing Bonus Attack Types Primary Attack Grapple Bonus Hardness / Hit Points Subjective

4 GLOSSARY OF SOME TERMS NEW WEAPON RULES Weapon breakage Repairing Weapons Grappling from a distance Shield hook Reach and Measure Seizing weapons Disarm weapons Slash the Hand Twist the blade Fighting indoors Weapon Materials A Brief history of the metallurgy of weapons Bronze Iron Steel Pattern Welded Steel Tempered Steel Crucible Steel SIMPLE WEAPONS Razor Knuckleduster Sap Gloves Small Knife Misericorde / Poniard Large Knife Small Dagger Stiletto Sax knife Sword, Cutlass Sword, Pian Dao Sword, Dussack Mace, Light Sickle Heavy Stick Waihaka Club Hatchet Hand Axe Tomahawk, Stone Tomahawk Sword, Long Sax

5 Bauernwehr Woodman s Axe (HH) Mace, Heavy Mace, Flanged Bata Small Club War Club Protosword Bill, Farmers Mattock (TH) Wooden Mallet (TH) Iron Maul Sword, Messer Sword, Falchion Small Staff Kern Axe Pitch Fork Godendag Great Club Scythe Shovel / Spade Iron Bound Staff Quarterstaff Spear (TH) MARTIAL WEAPONS Jambiya Dagger Rondel Dagger Broad Dagger Large Dagger War Hammer War Pick Sword, Akinakes Sword, Short Sword, Gladius Sword, Cinquedea Sword, Katzbalger Sword, Leaf Blade Sword, Spatha Sword, Broad Sword, Arming Sword, Cut-Thrust Sword, Sidesword Sword, Backsword Sword, Schiavona / Palasz Morning Star Axe, Battle Sword, Hand and a Half Sword, Liuye Dao Sword, Yanmao Dao Sword, Saber Sword, Heavy Saber Sword, Shamshir Sword, Tulwar Sword, Killij Axe, Bearded

6 Axe, Great Sword, Bastard Sword, Greatsword Sword, Longsword KriegsMesser Poll Hammer Pollaxe Ahlspeiss (Awl Spear) Balanced Spear Hewing Spear Bill-Guisarme Light Lance Halberd Volgue EXOTIC WEAPONS Sap Katar (punch) Dagger Kukri Knife Main Gauche Keris / Kris Sword, Wakizashi Sword, Falcata Sword, Smallsword Sword, Colichemarde / Konigsmark Sword, Jian Sword, Kopis / Yatgaghan Flail, Heavy Flail, Heavy, Spiked The Saracens outside of Paris, 732 AD, Sword, Katana Sword, Niuweidao Trident (HH) Flail, Light (TH) Sword, Tachi Kampilan Sword, Rapier Sword, Estoc Sword, Claymore Sword, Claymore Sparth Axe / Bardiche Falx / Rhomphia (TH) Flegel True Two Handed Sword / Zweihander Sword, Flammard Sword, No Dachi Glaive - Guisarme Spetum / Ranseur /Partisan Pike Heavy Lance CODEX WEAPONS APPENDIX CHARTS Simple Weapons

7 Martial Weapons Exotic Weapons OPEN GAME LICENSE

8 Ritter unt landsknecht, Albrecht Durer, circa 1500 AD 8

9 Introduction It s a dangerous world out there. Today s adventurers have a dangerous job. Ransacking ancient tombs, defeating evil sorcerers, voyaging through the remote bandit-haunted wilderness, unveiling the sinister plots of semi-human cultists this is not a good line of work for the timid or the ill-prepared. Of course, the responsible adventurer always hopes to achieve their goals as peacefully as possible, while remaining fully aware of the sad reality that not all monsters, villains, or ravenous beasts of the gloomy forest glade are susceptible to reason and diplomacy. and most well suited. In fact, the kit found in these pages is incredibly effective for such applications, and will allow you the adventurer to puncture, pierce, smash, crush, slice, slash and hack to bits even the most formidable and intransigent malefactor with relative ease, making the rest of your duties such as collecting and sorting treasure, identifying ancient artifacts, reading and deciphering clues, and solving various dark mysteries that much easier and more pleasurable. This is made possible because the adventurer of fantasy role playing games has distant cousins in the real world who lived in many respects a similar life. The professional mercenaries of the Renaissance, the knights of the Middle Ages, the formidable barbarian warriors of the Iron Age, the Legionnaires and Hoplites of the Classical period, all had to contend with similar annoyances (not to mention each other). As did the pirates, vikings, bandits, rogues, brigands, steppe raiders, berserkers, cossacks, highwaymen, rebels, reivers and corsairs with whom they shared the real world. Some beasts of the gloomy forest glade can be surprisingly unreasonable In fact given how unreasonable they often are, there comes a point which can arrive with dramatic speed, when polite conversation has reached an impasse. Sometimes, you just have to let your spear do your talking for you. Also your halberd, your battle axe, your mace, your sword, your dagger, your war hammer, your flail and / or your brass knuckles. It is for this unfortunate but often inevitable stage of discourse that the equipment found in this book is most valuable As a result of the murderous brawling among these folks over the last two or three thousand years, and with those feral beasts of the real world such as ravenous wolf packs, crazed grizzly bears, tigers, enraged war elephants, hungry lions and the occasional angry cow* a marvelous array of highly effective equipment was created. Now, thanks to our efforts, the well fitted out adventurer can select several of the best from this very book, and ladies and gentlemen, these are the real deal. So if you have lost faith in your bat winged, fang encrusted dragon sword or your meter wide Hanna Barbarian axe blade, and are craving some thing a bit more real, fear not brave adventurer, for a very old arsenal awaits * see Auruchs 9

10 What this document is for Many other people have written weapon compendiums. Larger companies with better writers, better artists and a much bigger budget have taken their proverbial stab at this. But we believe this document represents a fresh approach that really hasn t been done before in an OGL game, or arguably for any RPG. Our goal with UWeapons of the Ancient World U is to place pre-industrial weapons into an historically based functional context. Though many weapon compendiums have been written for various RPGs, the real functional differences of ancient weapons have never been accurately differentiated leading to a variety of clichés such as the ludicrous idea that a twelve inch dagger is a nuisance weapon that can barely hurt you. Weapons are different not just in how they look, but how they work. Some are good at short range, some at long range, some are good at armor piercing, some are very good for defense, some specialize at carving up unarmored flesh. Some weapons are designed for skilled martial artists to face other skilled opponents, some are meant for the rough calloused hands of untrained militia or bandits. Some specialize in starting fights, some are meant for finishing them. The Codex Martialis system allows your character to chose their weapons as part of an overall fighting strategy, not just as cosmetic adornment. Whether a weapon is long or short, fast or slow, good for blocking or not, has two edges or one, cuts or pierces or crushes these factors matter to someone who has to fight for their life as your character does. The real world martial arts techniques in the Codex were designed to leverage the advantages of these different features, to give the skilled fighter that crucial edge that allows them to kill rather than being killed. This book will allow you to look at weapons as our ancestors did, as functional, albeit in some cases beautiful tools rather than merely part of a costume. You will learn that no part of the sword was made in vain. The second purpose of Weapons of the Ancient World is to provide a baseline of these functional characteristics that is relevant for any game at any level of abstraction, as a resource for any and all gamers. It doesn t really matter if you are into a grim and gritty historical simulation or classic High Fantasy, or even the most far out manga anime campaign imaginable; whether your system has three weapon types with one stat each or a hundred weapons with ten stats each; whether you play first level mooks or 30 th level gods. If you are a gamer, we believe the information in this book will be useful for you. Why? Because the historical weapons all fantasy RPGs are built around fit together and with the martial arts and armor of their times like a puzzle. If you have some idea how they actually functioned historically, how they were made, who used them and why, we believe many other pieces of the puzzle will fit together too. Then any game-play or game design experience can become more immersive, cinematic and more intuitively satisfying. The Weapons of the Ancient World is a comprehensive overview of historical weapons, focusing on the weaponry of the Fantasy Role Playing Game genre. It was written specifically for the Codex Martialis but was designed to be useful for anyone playing, running, or designing a fantasy or historical RPG or computer game. Focusing on the fantasy genre means we put an emphasis on Medieval European arms, but you will find a reasonable sampling of weapons from other places and periods, ranging from the Paleolithic through Early Modern times, and from Central America, Polynesia, Persia, India, the Philippines, China and Japan as well as both Western and Eastern Europe. Rather than a collection of the curiosities of exotic militaria or all the oddities of the Martial Arts around the world, these are the weapons we think were historically important on ancient battlefields and dueling squares and back alleys of the real world, and might be fun and interesting in a Fantasy or historical RPG game. Weapon stats are not written in stone, so feel free to adjust as you see fit. We have taken care with our research, but new information is always emerging and our interpretation of some data has changed over the years, and will probably change again. Certain weapons in particular have a lot of variation within the class, arming swords or spears for example. You should feel free to include variants of these in your game; longer spears with better reach and inferior speed, heavier swords with lower speed but better damage etc. 10

11 If you find errors or have feedback on the weapon information in this list, please chime in on our forums about it at: HUhttp:// U Today we can take advantage of the far greater resources available for understanding Historical Martial Arts and weaponry, but often we are still just making an educated guess. We tried here to point out a few specific examples where weapons overlap, where we are unsure, where there is conflicting information, or where the terms we used were arbitrary or of modern origin. The weapons in this book are categorized according to a representative type of a certain function and composition, and are not necessarily pegged to a specific place or time. A given weapon may appear in functionally similar form in several different regions around the globe over a period of centuries or eons. Female Knights wielding lances and arming swords, France 15 th Century A note on weapon classification RPG s have always by necessity turned terminology into taxonomy, applying modern ideas of 'models' to handmade, pre-industrial items. To some extent, we are trying to correct problems created by this approach in the past, but we aren t immune to the disease ourselves. We still do need to create some kind of taxonomy which causes some inevitable distortions, the very act of categorizing can be problematic. The original weapons research done by Gygax, Arneson et al was good, but incomplete, lacking in suitable context, an understanding of martial arts or a rule system which could take advantage of the functional differences between one weapon and another. It still could have been a great start, but unfortunately represented the highwater mark for successive RPGs and computer games which repeated most of the original errors and distorted them still further with each subsequent iteration. Designers and gamers tuned off by the cumbersome elements of realism tacked on to early RPGs consciously moved away from reality and invented a pseudo-history and a sort of cartoon physics which has bubbled up through the pop culture and has now created some of the oddest notions we generally hold today about ancient combat and the ancient world. A 16 th Century Landsknecht in the Alps Weapon costs and the economy The costs associated with the weapons in this document are a very rough estimate based on the standard 3.5 OGL money system. Historically, local currencies and economic conditions fluctuated too wildly from one place to another to make an accurate universal baseline really possible. Since we are comparing weapons here from not only different areas but also eras several centuries apart this makes estimating their relative value even more complex. So how do you compare the value of a 5 th Century sword with a 15 th? You really can t - what you see here is just a guess, so feel free to modify the prices here to fit your own game, they are there to give you a very rough idea of the relative cost of each item, nothing more. For something closer to the ballpark of real life, you could change the costs in gold pieces to silver 11

12 pieces and change silver to bronze (or copper or iron or shells or cows or whatever type currency you are using). relatively commonplace and steel was a superior exotic material, etc. To make things even more confusing, while people in one area were living in a particular technological period, a few hundred miles away people may be living in another age. For example, in 1700 BC people of the Unetice culture of Bohemia had already made triangular bronze daggers for nearly 600 years, while not too far away in Denmark they still made knives from knapped stone (albeit quite nice ones). Similarly the Scythians who roamed from Eastern Europe to Siberia had used iron weapons for 300 years before their neighbors in China entered the Iron Age circa 600 BC. 15 th Century drawing by Daniel Hopfer of the Imperial Jester Kunz Von der Rosen, note his gambeson and kriegsmeserr. This drawing was believed for a long time to represent the infamous Frisian pirate Stortebekker Eras: Neolithic (before 3000 BC) Pre-historic ( BC), Classical Bronze Age (1500 BC 1000 BC), Classical Iron Age (1000 BC 400 AD), Dark Ages / Migration Era (400 AD 800 AD), Medieval (800 AD 1350 AD), Renaissance (1350 AD 1550 AD), Enlightenment / Baroque (1550 AD 1700 AD), Early Modern (1700 AD 1800 AD) A note on the Eras of Time and weapons technology These weapons range from the Stone Age to the Industrial Age. As mentioned previously, the value of raw materials like metals and finished products like weapons varied dramatically from one cultural / technological epoch to another. A simple iron sword in the 5 th Century economy was worth far more than much better steel swords were worth in the 15 th. During the early Iron Age, most weapons were still being made with bronze, iron weapons were a superior exotic material. During the late Iron Age when steel weapons first began to appear, iron was The Renaissance was already in full swing in northern Italy for 120 years by the time it started in France in And of course when Cortez landed in Mexico in 1500, he was carrying Renaissance era steel swords, crossbows and firearms while the Aztecs, just starting to use copper, armed themselves with the wood and stone of the Neolithic (when the Conquistadors arrived in the Philippines however, they found the natives already using Iron swords ) But history wasn t always a simple matter of barbarians being backward and the civilized areas being advanced either, many key technological advances (like mail armor for example or Iron itself) came out of so called barbarian zones. So my advice is, in a fantasy campaign feel free to mix technology levels as you like, just think a little bit about how the different tech levels would interact, history gives us plenty of guidelines. Quarterstaves in use, from UOld English Sports, Pastimes and CustomsU,

13 Weapons and the Law If you want to include an historical context for weapons in your RPGs you may want to consider legal restrictions on their carry and open display. Most Medieval and Renaissance towns in Europe had some kind of rules on carrying large weapons within the town walls unless you were an aristocrat or in the militia. Some towns allowed swords to be carried in public but very few allowed people to carry around larger weapons like polearms or missile weapons like crossbows or firearms. When traveling in the countryside though most countries allowed travelers to go armed within reason. There were also always many lawless zones in Europe: the islands and coastal regions of the North and Baltic Seas such as Gotland and Frisia; many of the Mediterranean islands such as Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Cyprus, and Crete, certain regions of the Pyrenees and Carpathian mountains, and whole vast regions of the Ukrainian steeppe were the home of pirates and bandits going back centuries. There were also always local districts and neighborhoods; forests, deserts, bogs, hill country, which were de-facto no mans land where you could do as you wished, at your own risk. The proverbial Sherwood forest was not entirely a myth. In places with strict sumptuary laws, parts of Romania for example, or certain regions of Austria, France, Britain or English occupied Ireland, locals might not be able to carry anything other than a knife. On the other extreme, in pagan Iron Age tribes, in medieval Switzerland or Scandinavia or Mongolia common citizens or tribesmen (and in some cases women) were expected to carry arms. In most cantons of Medieval Switzerland for example you actually couldn t vote at the assembly unless you brought your sword with you (this very ancient custom is still practiced in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden today, most recently in a vote to ban nude hiking), and many of the Renaissance trading towns of Germany, Poland, Bohemia, Italy and Flanders were home to fencing fraternities, fencing salons and Fechtschulen (Martial Arts schools) whose members openly carried swords throughout the Renaissance period. Sumptuary laws (laws restricting the ownership of weapons and luxury items for common people) could be very complicated. In some regions of the world, many parts of China or Japan for example people of the lower classes were prohibited from owning weapons at all. In most regions of Europe even peasants typically carried at least a knife with them at all times, and blades such as a sax, a hauswehr or a messer were also ubiquitous. Travelers normally carried at least a staff for protection on the road, and traveling groups routinely included armed escorts. Hunting weapons such as crossbows and firearms were as common in rural areas then, as hunting rifles and shotguns are in the United States today, though explicitly military weapons could draw attention (think of an Ak-47). Similarly depending on the region anyone wearing armor could be considered suspicious, like someone today openly wearing body armor walking down your block (or strolling past the bank). Generally speaking, while weapons were fairly common in these periods, it was the wearing of armor that was really seen as an invitation to trouble. Something you may want to factor that in next time your party is strolling into the town pub in full plate harness Armed Peasants, Franconia Germany - Albrecht Durer The important thing to remember is that most societies had some kind of rules on carrying and owning weapons, there were usually free zones and more regulated zones. Meetings, feasts and assemblies usually mandated rules such as using peace knots, or carrying the sword facing up or on the wrong side to prevent a sudden flash of anger from leading to mayhem. The rules could range from total restriction to mandatory carrying of arms, it did vary greatly from place to place, sometimes from one 13

14 village to the next. This can be an interesting nuance to add to your fantasy or historical campaign world. A Note on the Artwork Throughout the document you will see some public domain images from various sources, mostly published long enough ago that their copyright is expired, as well as dozens of very realistic illustrations of historical weapons. The illustrations of the weapons in this document are the most accurate representations we could create, wherever possible based on photographs of actual antiques. Our intention is to convey an idea of what these weapons really looked like rather than some derivative or made up fantasy interpretation. In cases where we could not find antiques we based our illustrations on the best available modern replicas of the weapons in question, or where antiques were available but in poor (excavated) condition we created composite illustrations with a mix elements from modern and ancient sources. The quality and resolution of these images (both our own illustrations and the period artwork) might not be fantastic, but they do represent a pretty close approximation of the real thing in every case show weapons as we believe they really were, and we felt that that was our priority. Keep in mind the images you see here show you one or a few variations of a particular type of weapon, we can t show you every variation, and since these are pre-industrial weapons, variations are actually the rule, there is little uniformity within each type. After each illustration is an estimate of a date and time where this weapon would have been found. In some case this represents the actual find site of the weapon depicted, in others it is essentially an educated guess. Very roughly, the weapon illustrations in this document are to scale, at the scale of 1 foot = 1.1 The Weapon Stats The weapons in this document are assigned statistics for use with the Codex Martialis system. The Codex is a modified version of OGL, and is based on that system, so that each weapon causes a certain amount of damage, has certain attack types etc. The Codex however models many more features than standard OGL and even if you don t use this system, these can help you assess the characteristics of each weapon to better fit them into your own game. The characteristics of the weapon you wield play a significant role in the strategy you use in a fight. Large weapons have better reach, small weapons are faster. Piercing weapons are more effective against armor, while slashing weapons are better against unarmored opponents. This is based on the standard OGL size category, T for tiny, S for small, M for medium, L for long and VL for very long. In the Codex Rules any weapon with a size M or larger cannot be used to attack at Grapple range, except with certain Martial Feats or as otherwise specified in the weapon description (see the Tulwar / Shamshir for example). Reach To Hit Bonus Each melee weapon has a Reach To Hit Bonus (RTHB) which comes into play in all opening attacks. Longer weapons such as spears, staves, lances, and pikes all have excellent reach. Initial attacks use the RTHB. See Codex Martialis, Basic Combat, Attack. Very roughly the baseline for RTHB is based on the length of the weapon, 1 point per foot (maxed out at 9), but slower or more awkward weapons may have a lower bonus, while quicker or more effective weapons may have a better effective reach. Speed To Hit Bonus Each melee weapon has a Speed To Hit Bonus (STHB) which comes into play in all follow-up attacks. Daggers, hatchets, knives and short-swords have good speed. Weapons balanced by an iron pommel, such as broadswords or arming swords, have better speed than those which don t, such as a hatchet or a mace. With certain Martial Feats, double-edged weapons can have a speed advantage as well. Any time you attack for the second time in a given round, and any time you make a Counterattack or an Attack of Opportunity, you use the STHB of your weapon. See Codex Martialis, Basic Combat, Attack. The baseline for STHB is the speed for unarmed attacks by humans, which is 6. STHB goes down from there based on a variety of subjective factors. Weapon Defense Bonus Each melee weapon is rated for defense. Shields and weapons which are of a substantial size but well balanced have a good Weapon Defense Bonus (WDB). Most swords, maces, and certain daggers have good defensive characteristics, as do staves, spears, and 14

15 pole arms when used with two hands. Weapons with extra hand protection also have a higher WDB. See Codex Martialis, Basic Combat, Defense. Damage Rating The Damage Rating value represents the normal damage done for any attack. Armor Piercing Bonus Certain weapons are designed specifically to pierce armor. These weapons receive an Armor Piercing Bonus. This bonus lowers the Damage Reduction value from your opponent s Armor (see Codex Martialis, Armor). Attack Types Each weapon has one or more Attack Types. The different Attack Types are Chop, Slash, Bludgeon, and Pierce. Piercing and bludgeoning attacks are more effective against armor, chopping and slashing attacks cause more damage in critical hits. Primary Attack The Primary Attack is the Attack Type which is used for Critical Hits. For example a dagger may be able to Slash and Pierce but the Pierce Attack Type is considered the Primary Attack type as it is the one that may cause a Dynamic Critical (see Codex Martialis, Cricital Hit). Grapple Bonus This is a new stat added in this book, it reflects the ability to use the weapon for grappling from a distance. See New Rules, Grappling from a Distance, below. Hardness / Hit Points This reflects the relative strength or fragility of the weapon which comes into play during binds (see Codex Martialis, the Tie that Binds), when the weapon is attacked, and also when Dynamic Criticals are used (see New Rules, Weapon Breakage, below). Subjective At the end of some weapon descriptions there is an added subjective commentary. This is an authors commentary, more reflective of the opinion than hard facts. You Talkin to Me? 15

16 Glossary of Some Terms Basket hilt A type of hand protection on a sword developed during the Baroque period, consisting of a series of iron or steel bars connected in a web or basket to cover the hand. Very effective protection for the hand, which in turn makes the weapon more effective for defence. Bind A fencing term referring to when two weapons are in contact for a noticeable period of time. This could be anywhere from a half a second to thirty seconds or more. A bind can trigger special events within the Codex system. See Codex Martialis, Basic Combat, The Tie that Binds. C.O.G. The COG or center of gravity, also called the POB or point of balance, is the point in which a blade balances. C.O.G. closer to the hilt can mean a nimbler blade, C.O.G. further out can mean more authority in the cut. C.O.P. The COP or center of percussion is the sweet spot part of the blade where it cuts best, usually the area with the least vibration, typically somewhere from the middle to the tip of the blade. Complex hilt A combination of any number of different features designed to protect the hand on a sword, including but not limited to finger rings, siderings, knucklebow, basket hilt, etc. These features began to appear in the late Medieval Period and were developed in the Renaissance. See also Basket hilt. Cup hilt Similar to a Basket hilt but consisting of one solid piece of iron or steel, can also be a kind of hemispheric guard on a rapier (particularly Spanish rapiers). Appeared in the Baroque Era. Distal Taper Many swords particularly in Europe were made so that the thickness of the blade diminished very gradually toward the tip, this enhanced the strength of the blade in the Forte, decreased the weight, improved the balance and kept the center of gravity closer to the grip. False-Edge Has multiple meanings but usually the partially sharpened clipped part of the back of a sword or a knife. With twoedged weapons the false-edge is the side not initially lined up with your knuckles when you cut. Cutting with the false-edge (i.e. without turning the blade) can be very quick, and improves the speed of some weapons in combat, particularly two-handed weapons which can be used to cut trueedge to false-edge, see False edge cutting and Zucken (Twitch Cut) MF. Finger Ring Small ring at the base of the blade which protects the finger when in a fingered grip Forte The strong of the blade of a sword, the section closest to the grip, roughly the first 1/3 of the blade length depending on 16

17 the specific weapon class. In most fencing systems this is where you parry. Fuller The so called blood groove down the center of a sword or dagger blade. This has nothing to do with blood it is a design feature similar to the principle of an I-beam, which strengthens and lightens a blade, and usually makes it more flexible. Swords can have single or multiple fullers, down the whole blade (as in Oakeshott type X for example) or part way. Guard See Quillions Haft The staff or pole component of a spear, axe, mace, hammer or pole arm. Hafts are usually made of wood. Knucklebow A guard on the hilt of the sword which extends from the quillions to the pommel, designed to protect the hand. Sometimes also found on other weapons such as maces. Found on European swords and on late era (17 th Century and later) Indian swords. Langet Iron sheathing used to partially cover wooden hafts on spears, axes etc. to protect them from being cut or breaking, also adds weight and hardness to the haft. Long Edge See True Edge Nagel Literally nail. An iron spur mounted to the grip of a sword at the base of the blade, sometimes shaped like a clamshell, designed to protect the hand. Similar in function to a Sidering. Found on messers, cutlasses, and other short swords. Pommel An iron weight at the base of a sword or dagger used to counterbalance the blade, and secondarily as a bludgeoning or stabbing weapon. A feature of most swords made in Europe after the 7 th Century AD. Not as common on swords from other parts of the world. A wooden, bone, horn or otherwise organic knob at the end of a sword is not effectively a pommel since it usually does not act as a counterweight, but only to help the hand grip. Profile Taper This refers to a blade getting narrower in width toward the tip, i.e. in a triangular or pointy shape in profile. Quillions The cross-guard of a sword. Quillions can take many, many forms but the most common for European Medieval swords was usually a cruciform steel or iron bar extending horizontally from the base of the blade out somewhere from 1-6. These first began appearing in European swords crica 1000 AD. Swords from the Renaissance and later often featured quillions which bent up or bent downward into a knucklebow, and were augmented by Complex Hilts. Ricasso The unsharpened section on the forte of some swords used for fingering or grabbing the blade and often thickened for parrying. Usually the first inch or two past the qullions, on some two-handed swords the ricasso can extend a foot or more. Roundel An iron disk used to protect the hand, similar to the Tsuba found on Japanese swords. Roundels (or rondels) are found on roundel daggers and on many hafted weapons like maces, hammers, awlpikes, and many other pole-arms, as well as swords in India and Europe. Sidering Ring mounted on the hilt on a sword used to protect the knuckles and the hand, similar in function to a Nagel. Found on some longswords, bastard swords, messers, etc. as well as many rapiers and sideswords. Short Edge See False Edge True Edge Aka Long Edge. The primary cutting edge of a single-edged sword, or the initial cutting edge on a double-edged sword. See False Edge. Tsuba A small disk-like guard designed to protect the hand, found on many East Asian swords, similar to a roundel. Weak A fencing term meaning this is the part of the blade which has the least strength at the bind. Roughly the last third of the blade of a sword toward the tip was sometimes called the weak. 17

18 New Weapon Rules Weapon breakage Any weapon with a hardness of less than 8 takes damage when it makes a multi-dice critical hit, and any time a weapon with any hardness makes a multi-dice critical hit against armor with a higher DR than the weapons hardness (including natural armor) unless making a bypass attack. Damage is equal to the critical hit damage caused by the weapon. You may also want to degrade the effectiveness of a damaged weapon with a damage step-down (D6 becomes D4 etc.), up to the GM s discretion. Repairing Weapons A broken sword must be re-forged, requiring a swordsmith and costing about as much as making a new one. A broken spear, halberd or axe can be simply re-hafted which is a fairly simple process any blacksmith and most ordinary soldiers could do in theory provided suitable material and tools are available. It would still be advisable to get a professional woodworker to rehaft the weapon, Swiss arsenals had specialized woodsmiths to haft weapons. Intermediate levels of damage can be repaired at the GM s discretion, some damage to a sword blade can be ground away with a whetstone, more serious problems require a visit to the forge. Another alternative is that a broken sword can be somewhat more easily (less expensively) made into a smaller sword. Shield hook Another way you can use Grappling from a distance is the shield hook. This is a common tactic with polearms that you even see being used by modern re-enactors like the SCA. If you have a weapon with a grapple bonus like a halberd or a bill, you can make a grapple attack at your opponents shield (which they can resist with a normal Active Defense roll). If you hit, the shield doesn t count for their defense in your next attack. Reach and Measure Any time you are facing a known opponent with a shorter weapon and need to make an initiative roll, you gain a Free Dice for your initiative if your weapon is at least one sizecategory longer (M vs. S etc.) Seizing weapons Any time you are at grapple range, or get into a bind (tie die roll on Active Defense) you may attempt to seize your opponents weapon. If your opponent still has MP remaining they may interrupt you with an AoO when you try this, after the AoO, you simply roll a contested Grapple Check to grab the weapon, (or your Grapple vs. their Base Defense if they have no MP This is actually what apparently happened with many Scottish weapons, which started out as two-handed Claymores (claidheamh mòr) were later reforged (or reground) into single handed swords, with or without a baskethilt and also called claymores, then remade again into dirks (long daggers) and then finally into skein dubhs (knives) sometimes three or four hundred years later. No point in letting good steel go to waste even if you aren t Scottish. Grappling from a distance Each Weapon now has a Grapple Bonus which takes effect during any attempt to grapple using the weapon (either at short range or from a distance.) Any weapon with a Grapple Bonus may be used to Grapple from a distance, can make Grapple rolls including to make Trip or Sunder (disarm) attacks, or pulling someone off of a horse for example. remaining). Of course the Ringen MF gives you a free dice on any roll to initiate or avoid Grapple so that could apply here for either party. This also works for Natural weapons (grabbing a monsters paw or throat to keep them from biting etc.) 18

19 If you have grabbed a weapon it cannot be used against you either this round or the next round or thereafter until it has been freed (which will require another contested grapple check.) If your weapon is being held you can let it go yourself as a "free action" of course and do something else (like seize their weapon, or draw a dagger, or go to grapple or whatever). If you have grabbed your opponents weapon and are wielding a Hand and a Half (HH) Weapon you may still attack them in this round (only) with no penalty / adjustments for one-handed use, their own weapon will not apply to their defense. Disarm weapons Once you have seized a weapon, if you have any MP remaining, you may make a second contested Grapple check to take it away (Disarm). If your opponent has no MP remaining this is against their Base Defense per above. If neither of you have any MP remaining you can still hold on to their weapon and they will not be able to attack you with that weapon next round until they manage to free it... unless the weapon is a sword or a dagger (see below). Slash the Hand But if at the start of your round your weapon being held is a sword, knife or dagger of some kind with an S (Slashing) attack type, you may automatically cut them with a Slashing attack (you must expend at least one MP but no to-hit die roll is necessary - you automatically cut them for full Slashing damage). The only defense for this are mail-lined gloves (which is why mail lined gloves became very popular during the Renaissance.) This makes it dangerous to grab a sword and try to take it, but still quite tempting so long as you don't hold on too long! These rules make it considerably more tempting to grab any kind of hafted weapon if you are close enough or have the opportunity due to a bind. And this is the real advantage of a sword over an axe or a mace. Just like in real life. Twist the blade Any time you score a Piercing critical hit with a weapon capable of P primary attack type, you may throw one or more extra MP to cause one extra die of Crit damage for each MP you expend. This makes thrusting weapons a bit more dangerous! Fighting indoors Keep in mind cutting with an axe or a greatsword is not something easily done indoors, in a castle or a church, in a cave or a catacomb, in the forest, on a ship etc. where shorter weapons generally have a big advantage. To simulate this you can set a reach ceiling of a certain weapon size, and take one or more MP away from anyone wielding a weapon that size or larger. On the other hand, thrusting can work just fine in some circumstances, depending on the layout of a given space, a thrusting weapon with a reach advantage can dominate a tight spot like a corridor, you have to give some thought to when to apply the penalty and when not to (in a circumstance like that you might want to add an MP). Heavily armed Irish Gallowglass Mercenaries, Albrecht Durer 1525 AD. How many weapons can you spot? 19

20 Weapon Materials Special materials can change the stats of your weapons Material Hardness HP Speed Special AP Note Wood X1 Hardwood X2 1-1 A X5 Bronze X1 Harder than Iron Iron X1/2 This means wrought iron Steel X1 Much Harder than iron Tempered B +2 X10 More flexible and harder than Steel Pattern Welded Steel Damascus / Wootz Steel untempered steel B,C +2 X25 Potentially more flexible than Tempered steel B,C,D +2 X50 Harder and more flexible than Pattern Welded Steel If you have a weapon made of a superior material than the default listed in the weapon description, for example a Pattern Welded Sax or a Wootz steel Tulwar, consult the table above to apply modifications to Hardness, Hit Points, and Armor Piercing bonus (AP bonus applies even if the weapon normally doesn t have one), and see below for possible special enhanced features. This works in reverse for inferior materials (i.e. an Iron arming sword) A Hardwood wooden weapons cause one category better damage, i.e. 1-4 damage becomes 1-6 etc. B Weapons which have a Piercing attack but no Piercing Primary gain Piercing as a Primary attack. C Weapons which have a Slash attack but no Slash primary gain Slashing as a Primary attack D Weapons which have a Chopping attack but no Chop primary gain Chopping as a Primary attack A weapon which qualifies for B-D but already has the Primary attack listed gains the next Primary attack. A weapon which already has Chop, Slash, and Pierce primaries gains an increase in basic damage by one category instead, 1-4 becomes 1-6 etc. Feel free to extrapolate this table out to magical materials. Polish knights, arbalestiers and infantry, late 15 th Century 20

21 A Brief history of the metallurgy of weapons. Bronze Before the age of iron and steel, there was an age of bronze and brass. Bronze in particular was the metal which literally gave the edge to the mightiest civilizations the world had ever seen. The armies of Egypt, Persia, India, Babylon, China, Homers ancient Mycenae and Troy and the mysterious civilization of Crete all wielded bronze. The rams of the ancient Mediterranean war-galleys, the scythes of Mesopotamian battle chariots, the tips of a hundred thousand javelins and spears across Asia, and the armor of countless generations of warriors of the ancient world all shone with a brazen hue. salt water environments, and therefore bronze had an important niche it never entirely lost. Gold-hilted bronze akinakes type dagger or short-sword, Scythian or Saromatian, Ukraine, circa 12 th Century BC Bronze appeared in the Middle East by 3,300 BC, in India by 3,000 BC, in Europe by 2,300 BC, and in China by 2,000 BC. The term bronze actually refers to a wide variety of copper alloys, most of which contain various amounts of tin though many early forms of bronze were actually alloys of copper and arsenic. Bronze is also closely related to brass in antiquity, which was a copper zinc alloy (made by introducing calamide into the copper smelting process since zinc was not available in a natural state.) Bronze alloys ranged from soft to very strong, from fairly brittle to quite flexible, and those alloys specialized for making weapons actually made quite good ones, analogous to early steely iron swords except a bit heavier. Casseterite this tin stone is how tin was found in a natural state, it was one of the most valuable commodities of the ancient world. The name comes from a Greek term referring to the British Isles, the semi-mythical source of this precious ore. The trade routes for this mineral extended thousands of miles. Even centuries after iron came into its own and the secret of steel was understood, bronze remained in use for such weapons as mace heads, tridents, cannon and gun barrels, and some spears, axes and other hand weapons particularly those intended for use on ships. During the late Bronze Age very good quality bronze weapons were being made in the Middle East and around the Mediterranean basin, by the European Urnfield and Hallstadt (Celtic) cultures, in Central Asia by the Scythians and Persians, and by the Chinese using sophisticated techniques incorporating alloys with different properties in layers in different parts of the sword, strikingly similar to what was done centuries later with case-hardened and pattern welded iron. Bronze leaf blade sword, found in Ireland circa 18 th Century BC Unlike weapons made of iron or steel, which have to be heated and then beaten into shape in a highly laborious, unpredictable and often poorly understood process, bronze weapons were cast from a mold in which liquid bronze was poured, and virtually identical bronze weapons could be made in large batches like so many hot-cakes. As a result bronze weapons may not have had as much individual personality as later steel weapons did but could be of much more uniform quality. The best bronze alloys were actually stronger and generally better for making weapons than the earliest available types of iron. The principle benefit of iron, at least initially, was that it did not require exotic raw materials to create. Bronze was less brittle than iron and does not suffer from oxidation, especially in Antenna hilt Bronze sword, early Hallstadt Culture, Halstadt Austria circa 11 th Century BC While bronze required not just somewhat rare copper but also very rare tin which had to be imported from remote areas in the British Isles and the Atlantic Coast of the Iberian peninsula, iron on the other hand could be made from bog plants and river sand, and various other ores which were available basically everywhere. Iron Early iron used in weapons and armor was essentially wrought iron, much softer than the sophisticated bronze 21

22 alloys of the late Bronze Age. A large, thin piece of iron could not hold an edge well or even retain its shape under duress. This was reflected in the material culture of the early Iron Age where the beautiful leaf-blade swords of the late Bronze-Age Civilizations all but disappeared to be replaced by smaller iron daggers and spearheads. The Iron Age began in the Mesopotamia, Northern India and in certain parts of Sub-Saharan Africa (the Eastern Niger) around 1500 BC. The secret of Iron spread to the Eastern Mediterranean by 1300 BC (apparently contributing to what is known as the Bronze Age Collapse), to Central Europe (the Hallstadt Celtic culture) by 800 BC and to Iberian Spain around the same time, to China around 700 BC, to Scandinavia and Japan about 500 BC. The ubiquity of iron apparently contributed to major social disruptions. Bronze was the technology of highly organized, civilized power centers which had control of far-flung trade networks. It wasn t enough to have the knowhow to make bronze, one needed exotic raw materials namely tin. Iron on the other hand was available nearly everywhere. Anybody who knew the secret of smelting it and had the werewithal to make a primitive bloomery forge could make iron, and it wasn t long before that secret was out. Not that this was easy to master however. Smelting iron is a very tricky and difficult process. Iron does not begin to melt until the astonishing temperature of 2,500 degrees F is reached, but will actually burn at 2,750 degrees F. Contrary to what you may see on TV, this is not a temperature you can reach in a campfire while roasting marshmallows. To create the right conditions, you a way to force air into your fire (such as with a bellows), and your forge must be made of special materials (such as ceramics infused with asbestos) which can endure very high temperatures. A very rare iron dagger from the (Celtic) Hallstadt culture, Germany circa 700 BC Heating the iron was hard enough with ancient technology, but that was only the beginning of the process. Iron intended for weapons could not be simply poured into molds like bronze. It had to be beaten into shape with a hammer while in a semimalleable (red-hot) state. Furthermore, to make weapon-grade steely iron or steel, carbon had to be introduced into the iron, in just the right amount, and the value of this could not be realized without some form of heat treatment. Nevertheless, it seems 10,000 barbarian soldiers with crude iron daggers and iron-tipped spears were more effective than 1,000 professional soldiers armed with bronze swords on chariots, and the dawn of the Iron Age heralded an apocalypse for nearly all of the great civilizations of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Central Asia. Almost every city and fortified site excavated from Mycenae, Anatolia, Egypt, Syria, and Babylon shows evidence that it was burnt to the ground with the arrival of iron. The earliest iron artifacts and weapons actually pre-dated the bloomery forge, and were crafted from very pure iron ore found in meteorites. Meteorite iron remained a very popular source of the metal, valued for its consistency and rarity. But the reality is meteors were extremely rare and iron had to be smelted from more common materials in a laborious and difficult process. Steel From the earliest days of iron, smiths noticed that some pieces which came out of the bloomery were harder than others. It soon became clear that certain materials burned with the ore contributed to different properties in the iron. The Iron Age Scandinavians would insert bird dung as well as wolf and bear bones into their smelters, because they knew this helped to create harder iron, without knowing exactly why (this was adding carbon and phosphorous in just the right amounts to create steel or steely iron ). As often as not such practices were considered magic, the line between magic and science was blurred in pre-industrial times. Early bloomery forges created very small pieces of iron form the forging process. Some smiths learned to recognize the hard iron billets from the softer, and then sort the different types. Pieces of harder iron could be forge-welded together to create a blade or a blade edge that could stay sharp and bite better. This also led to early techniques of Pattern Welding (see below) when hard steel edges were forgewelded to softer iron cores, for swords and also for axe and spear blades. It also led to entire blades made with an overall steely iron or low carbon steel composition. Some smiths in certain areas got very good at this very early (as far back as 800 BC in Europe), but most were slow to master these subtle secrets. As iron became more commonplace in general, gradually larger bloomery forges were made, and more and more examples of case-hardened iron, 'steely iron' (very low carbon steel) and some early forms of heat treatment can be found in the archeological record, (though in many cases early steel weapons were not heat-treated). Only then did the first iron short swords begin to appear. Eventually as the techniques improved enough the longer (up to three feet) steel swords which were apparently pioneered by Celts or Illyrians who appear to be among the first to be using steel weapons, the other early centers being in Iberia (Spain), Tanzania Africa, India, Central Asia and Sri Lanka where the earliest forms of crucible steel were developed (see Wootz Steel, below). 22

23 Iron Age axe blade, Gotland, Sweden, circa 800 BC Iron was gradually replaced by steel for weapons but remained in use as the principle material for armor for more than a thousand years. In spite of its relative ubiquity compared to bronze, iron weapons, particularly iron (steel) swords remained relatively rare until the Medieval period when new technology, notably the overshot water wheel and the windmill led to increasingly widespread mass production of good quality iron in Europe around the 11 th - 12 th Century. The first well established center of steely iron in Europe was the Celtic / Illyrian kingdom (actually tribal federation) of Noricum, which was captured by the Romans in the 1 st Century BC and thereafter became the source of their famous Noric Steel (the Noricus ensis of Horace). Another early center was in the Iberian peninsula in what is now Spain where steel weapons dated as early as the 3 rd Century BC have been found, and in Tanzania Africa a multi-stage smelting process was invented by the Haya people which was recently carbon dated to as early as the 1 st Century BC. In China the blast furnace was mastered around this time leading to widespread production of cast iron, but steel did not become ubiquitous until centuries later. Steel is a compound of iron and carbon. For game purposes steel refers to both low-carbon steel and work-hardened or case-hardened iron (usually containing traces of phosphorous introduced by bird dung and at least some carbon), as well as primitive forge-welded weapons with combinations of wrought iron and small amounts of cast iron (the predecessor to Pattern Welding) and etc.. Both methods allowed weapons strong enough to make swords up to one meter long but not as strong as the weapons which would appear later after the production of good quality iron led to high-carbon steel becoming much more widespread (see Tempered Steel). The appearance of steel revolutionized warfare as much as bronze or iron did. Steel was not only harder than bronze but also potentially more flexible and resilient, and like iron could also be made from ore in river sand or bog plants that was found nearly everywhere. Steel was like iron on steroids, as a strategic technology it had but one weakness: Steel was the hardest of all metals to master. Smelting Iron in the Medieval Europe Steel is a metal which exists in a very narrow chemical range, somewhere between functionally marginal wrought iron (anything with a carbon content of under 0.2%) and functionally useless cast iron (anything with a carbon content of over 2.25%). Wrought iron is too malleable to hold an edge, while cast-iron is hard but far too brittle to be used for most weapons. Furthermore, tiny trace amounts of other elements such as silica and phosphorous are often necessary to produce certain desired effects in iron alloys, but anything over a few percentage points is useless slag. Of course once steel with a suitable carbon content is produced and beaten into the desired shape, it still has to be tempered and quenched- all difficult and subtle processes in their own right. Somehow this vital mystery metal had to be tamed and controlled by people who lacked such basic equipment as a thermometer, were rarely literate, and never aware of the actual chemistry or physics which lay behind the properties they sought. The poorly understood processes surrounding the creation of a steel or steely iron sword, the relative longevity and value of such weapons, and the wide potential variety in ultimate quality, lent the production of iron and steel weapons certain superstitious, even mystical overtones especially among the Barbarian tribes. Pattern Welded Steel Pattern welding is a technique in which iron of different qualities, essentially soft wrought iron on the one hand and hard but brittle cast iron on the other, were combined to make steel weapons with properties superior to the best materials normally available. Pattern welding was practiced in many parts of the world from Spain to Malaysia for more than a thousand years, but it remained a very difficult and time-consuming method of constructing a blade, and pattern welded weapons were always extremely rare. 23

24 Runic inscription on a 9 th Century Sax, found in the River Thames In Europe, this technique seems to have been pioneered by the Celts during the La Tene period, possibly as early as their first use of iron circa 800 BC, and may also have been known to the Scythians who apparently introduced Iron to China around the 6 th Century BC. This technique evolved from simpler casehardening and forge-welding methods (see Steel, above) which also existed side by side for nearly a thousand years. Many centuries later, Germanic and Norse blacksmiths took up where the best La Tene smiths left off, and ultimately mastered the process, raising it to a high art. The earliest forms of pattern welding consisted of essentially of forge-welding very hard but brittle cast iron edges to more flexible wrought iron cores. But gradually swords with a much more sophisticated composite structure began to emerge, in which the center of the blade was made into a kind of lattice blending high and low carbon steels, welded to carefully wrought edges wrought using sophisticated differential hardening techniques understood by very few people today. These weapons were remarkably hard and keen edged, while remaining unusually flexible. This pattern welding technique had largely disappeared in Europe by the 12th - 13th century but remained in practice in the Philippines, Malaysia and certain parts of Southeast Asia into present times. In Europe inventions such as the windmill and the overshot water-wheel, spread far and wide by the Cistercian monks, led to the creation of the blast furnace; automated bellows and automated trip hammers (the Barcelona hammer etc.). These technologies came together to vastly increase the production of iron in Europe making large billets of high quality homogeneous iron much cheaper and more widely available (and therefore by extension making the production of good quality steel much easier). The arduous process of pattern welding was no longer necessary for the creation of high quality sword blades, and it gradually faded away. But something special had been lost, and the Norse continued to seek out the older types of blades in ancient barrows and tombs, which they came to believe to be the home of Elves or Wights rather than their own ancestors. The central part of their blades, cunningly hollowed out, appears to be grained with tiny snakes, and here such varied shadows play that you would believe the shining metal to be interwoven with many colors. -Roman Senator Cassiodorus describing the weapons of the Germanic Warni tribe,, 5 th Century AD These weapons had a beautiful pattern on them similar to so called Damascus steel (see wootz steel, below). In most cases the pattern was visible only if the blade was etched with acid (as is often the case with modern Damascus steel reproductions) or when changing temperature rapidly, such as when thrust into the snow and then immediately warmed up by human breath. This was known to the Norse as the serpent in the steel or the wyrm. Pattern welding on a Moro Barong blade (see Barong) An automated bellows is used to smelt iron in a large bloomery forge, from the Mittelalterliches Hausbuch von_schloss Wolfegg, 1480 AD. Such devices could produce massive amounts of iron. Tempered Steel The next step in the development of the metallurgy of weapons was heat treatment. Without some form of heat treatment, the potential hardness of steel is not realized, (which is why untempered steel is in a different category here). The physical properties of a sword are affected as much by the heat treatment as by the chemical composition of the metal. Heat treatment can mean many different things but always involves heating up a steel weapon and then cooling it again. The simplest form of heat treatment is hardening. A weapon can be hardened by quenching: simply plunging the red-hot blade into a cooler medium such as water, oil, hot sand, or other substances. This freezes the molecular structure into a substance called martensite, almost like ice, making it 24

25 much harder and capable of holding a very fine edge, but also more brittle. The trickiest aspect of the quench is that the entire blade must enter the quenching medium all at once, if part is left out or enters too slowly the blade will only partly harden. Hardening is very good for arrowheads and spearpoints and small knives, but is problematic with a sword which must also be flexible. One solution to this dilemma was a sophisticated technique called differential hardening. This means to harden the edge of a sword while allowing the spine to remain comparatively soft, in many cases the spine may be of a lower carbon content steel or even wrought-iron which has been forge-welded to the high carbon edge. Needless to say differential hardening is very tricky. This is the fundamental technique used in forging katanas, the zone between the hardened edge and the softer spine of a katana is called the hamon. An equally sophisticated and ultimately more versatile process is called tempering. When a blade is tempered, it is first hardened, then slowly reheated to a lower temperature, either in the range of 350 F or 550 F, and kept at that heat for a fixed period of time, (usually under an hour). When a hardened sword is reheated, the carbon molecules diffuse through the iron creating the tough and flexible material that we think of as steel today, which is mostly a substance called ferrite. This is essentially what tempering means: controlled reheating, followed by a second quench (this sets the diffusion at just the right point). Tempering changes the crystalline structure of steel by transforming the brittle martensite into a more flexible combination of ferrite and cementite (or iron carbide). Higher carbon steels and some cast irons are made up of pearlite which is sort of a laminate of the two. Tempering doesn t merely make steel harder, it s really more accurate to say it makes steel tougher. Tempered steel is flexible and springy, returning to its original shape when bent. Some well-tempered sword blades can be bent almost 90 degrees and return to true. Tempered steel holds an edge much longer than untempered steel and is much stronger by volume, meaning it s much stronger at a lower weight, making it very useful for armor as well as weapons. The Ancients thought that the quenching part of the heat treatment was the secret to making a good sword, and experimented with many different quenching mediums, including water and oil as used today, as well as wine, rose water, beer, and various other substances. The Japanese used hot sand, the Romans thought the living body of a human slave was ideal. The obsession with tempering is understandable because a tempered weapon can be many times stronger than an untempered one, but only if the chemical composition of the metal is suitable (i.e. if there is the right amount of carbon and some other trace minerals). Hilts of three 11 th Century Viking Swords By the Medieval period, tempered steel had become a fairly common material for swords, but was still very rare for most other weapons and extremely rare for armor. For Game purposes tempered steel refers to steel of good carbon content which has also been given a sophisticated heat treatment. Steel of this quality did not became widespread until the Renaissance, though tempering was understood back into the Migration period. Tempering was a difficult process requiring considerable expertise, therefore tempered weapons and (especially) armor were rare and more expensive than ordinary iron or steel. One of the important effects of tempered steel was that it made the creation and use of very large swords more practical. This may have contributed directly to the rise of greatswords and longswords between 4 5 long, and eventually to even larger zweihanders up to 7 feet long. Another significant result of the increasing ubiquity of tempered steel in Western Europe beginning in the early Renaissance (14 th Century) is that tempered steel armor was made. This could be significantly thinner (as little as 1.5 mm) than ordinary iron armor, and especially when properly shaped, could be significantly stronger, making for far more effective protection. Centers where tempered steel armor were first being produced, notably Milan in Italy, quickly came to dominate the European armor market. Crucible Steel Wootz steel, also called ukku or Damascus steel, was a special type of crucible steel developed in India and Sri Lanka around 300 BC. Whereas European alchemy was devoted to turning lead into gold, Chinese alchemy was about the secret of eternal life, and Persian alchemy focused on creating artificial beings ( Takwin ), Indian alchemy explored the hidden secrets of ferrous metallurgy, and the Hindu civilizations created many remarkable artifacts such as the famous iron pillar of Delhi that are not fully understood today. They may possibly have been the greatest iron workers in the world. Wootz steel is something like a special steel composite alloy with a built-in pattern-welded structure. It consists of a matrix of iron and carbon in various carbon steel compounds called cementite, martensite and pearlite, as well as tiny traces of very rare metals such as vanadium and tungsten* which may play a role in the unique properties of this metal. What makes Wootz special was that it actually has a higher carbon 25

26 content than cast iron (as high as 2.5%) making it potentially extremely hard, but is simultaneously more ductile (and therefore potentially more flexible) than the softest wrought iron. The properties of wootz steel are often exaggerated (there are tales of cutting through stone etc.) but its superiority is no myth. The results of a study published in 2005 involving the destructive electron microscope analysis of a 17th century sword forged from Wootz steel revealed carbon nanotubes and nanowires, apparently created by the complex process of forging and annealing used to make this composite metal. These nano-scale structures may help give a wootz steel blade its unusual hardness and flexibility, as well as possibly enhancing its cutting ability especially for draw-cuts. Wootz steel quickly became a very popular export product which was made into small cakes or billets which were traded across Central Asia, East Asia, Scandinavia and the Middle East, and began to trickle into Western Europe in small amounts at the time of the Crusades. Wootz billets were used to make swords in China, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, by the Vikings in Sweden and Norway, in Burma, Thailand, Persia, in Syria (where it became known as Damascus steel) and throughout the Arab nations, and in Spain where it was imported to Toledo, and finally to the rest of Western Europe during the Baroque period. Eventually the very attractive appearance of this metal led it to be used to make gun barrels and numerous other personal luxury artifacts unrelated to weaponry (like tea kettles). The appearance of wootz steel was imitated in so called Damask fabrics and watered metals etc. Wootz steel billets would be very expensive and highly sought after, something players in your game might seek for the creation of a special weapon they had in mind Sidebar: the Iron Pillar of Delhi The famous Iron Pillar of Delhi, still rust free after 2300 years. The inscription reads : He, on whose arm fame was inscribed by the sword, when, in battle in the Vanga countries, he kneaded back the enemies who, uniting together, came against ;-he, by whom, having crossed in warfare the seven mouths of the Sindhu the Vahlikas were conquered;-he, by the breezes of whose prowess the southern ocean is even still perfumed;- He, the remnant of the great zeal of whose energy, which utterly destroyed enemies, like of a burned-out fire in a great forest, even now leaves not the earth; though he, the king, as if wearied, has quit this earth, and has gone to the other world, moving in from to the land won by actions, remaining on earth by fame; By him, the king,-who attained sole supreme sovereignty in the world, acquired by his own arm and for a very long time; who, having the name of Chandra, carried a beauty of countenance like the full-moon,-having in faith fixed his mind upon Vishnu this lofty standard of the divine Vishnu was set up on the hill Vishnupada. *The vanadium and tungsten apparently came from the clay used to make the crucibles for Wootz steel. 26

27 The Master in Repose Johannes Liechtenauer, from Von Danzig's Fechtbuch (1452) 27

28 Simple Weapons Hans Lützelburger, German Peasant uprising, 1520 Simple Weapons According to the Codex interpretation of the OGL, simple weapons mean the weapons which peasants, burghers, and common people were likely to have familiarity from everyday life and / or weapons which are inherently simple to use. By OGL rules any character can use all Simple Weapons normally without any restrictions, though some types (such as staves or spears) are much more effective with certain Martial Feats. 28

29 Razor ERA: All eras T Reach / Speed / Defense: 0/6/0 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-2/S/S Hardness / Hit points: 3/1 25 sp Primary Materials: Iron A small knife designed for personal use (for shaving!) Usually 3-6 long, with a very hard, thin, and brittle blade, and a correspondingly extremely sharp edge (when sharpened). Not the most effective weapon in a face to face fight, a razor can be devastating for surprise slashing attacks, and razors are sometimes used in this manner by thieves and assassins. Knuckleduster ERA: All eras T Reach / Speed / Defense: 0/6/0 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-3/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 10/3 5 gp Primary Materials: Bronze Your basic brass knuckles. Magnifies the striking power of your fists to the extent that they become fairly dangerous weapons. People using brass knuckles who already cause 1-3 or more damage with their fists gain a +1 to damage bonus instead of the normal damage on this weapon. A spiked variety cause more serious damage and allow a slashing attack (damage 1-4/ SB). This weapon is also analogous to the fairly common type of spiked half-gauntlets frequently used by soldiers in the Late Medieval and Renaissance periods. Sap Gloves Era: Classical and Enlightenment T Reach / Speed / Defense: 0/6/0 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 5/1 1 gp Primary Materials: Leather and sand (or shot) Gloves lined with lead shot or sand for use in knocking people unconscious without killing them. Appreciated by thieves, kidnappers, and thugs all around the world, this weapon functions like the sap (except a bit easier to use), it does little real damage, but poses the threat of a bludgeon critical and a K/O. Due to their enhanced ability to cause KO roll a second die of KO damage for any critical hit. As with a sap (see Sap), sap gloves are best used from surprise or ambush so that you can use all of your MP for attack. Saps filled with shot instead of sand cause 1-2 damage. Small Knife ERA: All eras T Reach / Speed / Defense: 0/6/0 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-2/SP/- Hardness / Hit points: 6/2 1 gp Primary Materials: Iron A single edged knife with a blade from 2-6. Normally a knife would be made of iron, though that would depend on the era, some are bronze some nice ones from the late medieval period or later might be steel. A knife is somewhat fragile and not normally designed for combat, and can easily break when used in violence, but can be lethal, especially with a slashing attack. Misericorde / Poniard ERA: Iron Age to Enlightenment T Reach / Speed / Defense: 0/6/0 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-4/P/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 7/3 1 gp Primary Materials: Iron This is a weapon derived from a common eating tool carried by most people around the world since the Iron Age, a sort of a spike something like a small ice-pick. Poniards were also made and used specifically as weapons, but similar spikes intended for use as tools can be put to the same use; namely to puncture through flesh and clothing or find the gaps in armour. The name Misericorde was derived from their traditional use to finish off armoured foes with a coup-de-grace. Large Knife ERA: All eras T Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/6/0 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-4/SP/P Hardness / Hit points: 5/3 2 gp Primary Materials: Iron A large knife is much more dangerous than a small one, mainly because it can pierce deeper with a thrust, and also has a longer cutting surface for slashing. Normally single-edged and 29

30 like the small knife, not designed for combat, but as anyone who has ever seen Halloween or Friday the 13 th will attest, a large butcher knife can most certainly kill you. Any knife with a 6 or longer blade can penetrate through the bone, fascia, and muscle to reach arteries and organs, meaning the difference between merely painful / dangerous vs maiming / life threatening wounds. A large knife is effective at both piercing and slashing attacks. Small Dagger ERA: All eras T Reach / Speed / Defense: 0/6/0 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SP/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 10/3 25 gp Primary Materials: Steel A dagger is a special heavy knife specifically designed for fighting or hunting. The dagger is one of the most ancient weapons in the world and one of the first metal weapons of any significance to be widely used. most European fighting daggers were double-edged, though hunting daggers could be singleedged. A dagger is strengthened for penetrating flesh, bone and even armour. Extremely lethal at close range, daggers in one form or another were the single most ubiquitous weapon on the Medieval battlefield. Due to its speed and penetrating ability a dagger is a very dangerous weapon at close range, and small daggers are sturdier than larger ones. For game purposes a small dagger has a blade between 5-9. Some small daggers had large quillions for blocking, treat these as 0/6/1 or even 0/6/2 weapons. Stiletto ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/5/1 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-4/P/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +4/- Hardness / Hit points: 9/3 15 gp Primary Materials: Steel The stiletto may be a logical progression of the poniard. This is a long, thin stabbing blade designed for quickly dispatching people who need to die. A favoured weapon of thieves and assassins, this is a weapon designed to kill, not to wound or maim, and it can do so while leaving behind only a small wound that can be hard to detect. Subjective A sudden movement in the crowd, a grunt, a sigh, and one person walks away briskly while another staggers, the realization of imminent death dawning in their eyes. The ultimate gentleman s precision killing tool, the stiletto was popular in Renaissance Italy among nobles and professional assassins alike (meaning in some cases, the same individual). A natural for the new twist the blade rule, this is a weapon ideal for surprise attacks, it won t be stopped by clothing or light armor, and is strong enough not to easily break in vigorous application. A must-have for any would be killer. Sax knife "A knifeless man is a lifeless man" -old Nordic proverb ERA: Iron Age to Medieval S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/5/1 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/SP Hardness / Hit points: 9/4 12 gp Primary Materials: Iron Also known as a seax, kurzseax, hadseax, sax, seaxe, scramaseax and scramsax. In a nutshell, the sax was the bowie knife of Iron Age Europe. This weapon was carried by the warriors who roamed the misty forests and mountains of the Northern European Iron Age. It was the sax for whom the Saxons were named, and this weapon was one of the reasons the men of Northern Europe were feared by their civilized and barbarian neighbors alike. An ancient type of multi-purpose utility knife with a fairly broad single-edged blade, made strong enough for use as a tool, a weapon, or for hunting, the sax could also be thought of as the Iron Age equivalent of the Medieval messer or hauswehr. This heavy knife can range from as small as a pocket knife to as long as 24 or more, but the weapon portrayed here is about For game purposes smaller saxes should be considered a large or small knife as appropriate, for larger saxes see Long Sax. The sax was usually carried horizontally on the belt in a large sheath which partially covers the grip. Not all saxes were simple iron, many which have been found were case-hardened iron / steel composites, and some were made with more sophisticated pattern welded steel. Keep in mind a pattern-welded Sax would cost 25 times as much, see the Weapon Materials section) 30

31 Subjective The sax was more than a sidearm. The eponymous weapon of the Saxon people, the sax is evocative of the European Iron age in the same way that the famous knife of Jim Bowie evokes the early American West. For the Saxons, the Burgundians, the Norse, the other Germanic and Baltic tribes, this weapon defined the status of a warrior upon coming of age. It was a sacred possession most would have felt naked without. There are parallels in many other cultures throughout the world, whose echoes have stubbornly persisted for thousands of years long after the old tribal traditions were pushed aside. The baselard of the Swiss, the hauswehr and messer of the Germans, the Scottish dirk, the kirpan of the Sikhs, the jambaiya of Yemen, are all reflections of the same kind of tradition. The ubiquity of the sax among the northern barbarians lingered in the minds of friend and foe alike. The Saxons were named for their weapon not because it was the only one in their arsenal, but because of what it said about them: these were people who finished their fights. The sax, like most daggers, is a fight-finisher. It s also a useful tool for everything from skinning an animal to cutting branches to make shelter, or to strike a flint to light the evening campfire to keep the wolves at bay. More than a weapon, the sax was a companion, and many surviving saxes were clearly made to reflect this status, with beautiful workmanship, expensive materials, and magical runes inscribed upon the blade itself. Many were kept as sacred heirlooms, some were recovered from ancient barrows to live a second life like the legendary sax Kársnautr, which, according to the 12 th Century USaga of Grettir The StrongU, the notorious Icelandic hero Grettir recovered from a grave mound after winning a battle with a the fearsome ghost of Kár the Old. Sword, Cutlass ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/3/4 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 10/6 32 gp Primary Materials: Iron A short, heavy, single-edged sword, with a broad, slightly curved blade, tapering away from the cutting edge. Probably derived from the saber and / or a variety of medieval European single edged swords such as the messer, the dussack, the Italian coletasso etc, unlike these earlier weapons the cutlass features a cup hilt or a knucklebow to protect the hand, considerably enhancing its defensive value. The cutlass was used by infantry as well as sailors, pirates, and marines, they could be wielded in tight spaces and were also useful on board ships for cutting ropes, canvas, wood etc. This is a simple chopping weapon primarily, with a secondary thrusting capability. Cutlasses from the Early Modern era (depicted here) featured cup-hilts and had excellent hand protection, earlier forms usually had some form of complex hilts (2/3/3) and even the Medieval dussack had a kind of built-in knucklebow (2/3/2). Sword, Pian Dao ERA: All eras S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/4/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/S Hardness / Hit points: 9/3 20 gp Primary Materials: Iron The short, simple version of the Chinese dao saber (see Liuye Dao) it was a kind of short, broad saber used as both a military and civilian weapon, particularly in the northern frontier of China. A slicing / slashing weapon primarily, it was very roughly analogous to a machete, cutlass or light falchion, suitable for conscripts and untrained militias. This is a simple weapon to use, rather like a machete, but can cause grievous wounds. Sword, Dussack ERA: Medieval to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/5/3 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/CSP/SC Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 25 gp Primary Materials: Steel The Dussack was a type of combination utility blade / weapon similar to a messer or a modern machete, with the exception that it had a pronounced saber-like curve and a special unique type of hand protection in the form of a knucklebow created by extending the tang and curving it up around the hand. A short, broad bladed weapon suitable for cutting and slicing, with good hand-protection making it pretty effective for defence in spite of its short size, the Dussack also has a partial false-edge and could be used with sophisticated martial-arts techniques. 31

32 59B58B 8 Small Knife A pair of very ancient Iron Age knives from the 7 th Century BC, Hallstadt Austria Large Knife Small Dagger: Basque Dagger, Spain circa 1350 AD Small Dagger: Blocking dagger, France, late 16 th or early 17 th Century Venetian Stiletto, Italy 1470 AD Norwegian Sax, late 9 th Century AD Sax, Wessex, Britain 9 th Century AD Sax, Estonia, 10 th Century AD Burgundian Sax, Dijon France, 6 th -7 th Century AD, Sidebar: Knife fighting 101: use your laundry One of the tricky things about a knife fight is that while such a quick weapon gives you 101 ways to stab or cut the other guy, it s very hard not to get stabbed or cut yourself, and that is really the important bit. One knife-fighting technique which was extremely common among experienced fighters in nearly all cultures around the world from Medieval times to this very day, is to use a blanket, cloak, shirt, or some other piece of cloth in the off-hand for defence. In the Codex rules, you can simulate this one of two ways: 1) as a piece of cloth armour with a low bypass (2 or 3) and stats equivalent to a light or heavy Gambeson (depending on the particular garment or piece of cloth being used) or 2) perhaps more accurately, use it as a shield with the same values and a defence rating of 1 or2. The cloak or blanket or pancho is usually used with part wrapped around the arm as armor and part hanging down as a further barrier both to sight and the weapon itself. This technique was taken seriously by the Renaissance Masters and appears in almost all rapier manuals from the 16 th Century onward. Some manuals recommended using a hat or even a glove rather than nothing at all 32

33 (Dussack, Continued from page 29) The dussack was a weapon indigenous to Bohemia and the North / Eastern reaches of the Holy Roman Empire in the Medieval period, and became better known in time for a sparring version made of leather and wood which became a very popular training simulator for the fechtchules (fencing schools) of the German fencing tradition. Dussack trainers were used to simulate basically every type of single-edged weapon from messers to hangers to sabers. The original dussack dates back to the Medieval period and was less ubiquitous by the Renaissance, but the non-lethal dussack trainer was used well into the Early Modern period as a favourite for training, fencing tournaments and contests of all types. Mace, Light ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/3/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 5/5 8 gp Primary Materials: Wood and Iron or Bronze A wooden haft with a small striking head of iron or bronze (or in some cases, even stone) frequently knobbed or shaped to enhance striking effectiveness. Light maces were a popular cavalry weapon going way back into antiquity, particularly on the Asian steppes. These were often wielded with a wrist thong to aid in weapon retention when striking someone during a rideby attack, and could be thrown at their targets as well. Sickle ERA: All eras S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/3/0 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-4/SP/- AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 5/3 25 sp Primary Materials: Wood and Iron or Bronze A sickle is a simple peasants tool meant for cutting grain. It is not a particularly efficient weapon but it can deliver a nasty slashing attack and pierce with the end as well. Due to its shape a sickle can be used to hook weapons, shield rims, legs etc. hence the grappling bonus. Sickles were often straightened out into swords, beaten into shape by a blacksmith during times of strife. Such weapons can be treated as a large knife. A Japanese rice sickle is called a Kama. The hooked blade of a sickle gives it some ability to hook weapons, shields etc. Heavy Stick ERA: All eras S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/2/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-3/B/- Hardness / Hit points: 2/4 1 cp Primary Materials: Wood This is just a random piece of firewood or tree branch, or something like a table leg or a torch, a hunk of wood with enough heft to cause at least some damage. An impromptu weapon not particularly effective except in the hands of a strong person, it has some defensive value and can cause serious injuries with repeated blows. Waihaka Club ERA: Neolithic S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/3/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 8/4 2 gp Primary Materials: Tropical Hardwood and / or stone A waihaka is one type of a special type of small, hardwood club used by Polynesian people in the Pacific Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, New Zealand etc., though similar weapons were also used in many other parts of the world. This is an effective short range weapon which can break skulls and bones causing devastating wounds and will not easily break in combat. What defines a Waihakia is that it is a short broad, disk-like club made of an exceptionally hard, heavy wood. Some were made of jade or other stone (treat such weapons as: 1/2/1, 1-8 damage Hardness 9 hit points 1). Waihaka were sometimes used to carry out Human sacrifice. Hatchet ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/3/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/C/C AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 5/3 15 sp Primary Materials: Wood, Iron A small axe designed for cutting wood, rope etc. with an iron or bronze blade. A hatchet is a tool which can also be used as a weapon. 33

34 Hand Axe ERA: Bronze age to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/4/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/CB/C AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 6/4 5 gp Primary Materials: Hardwood, Iron A hand axe is a small, simple axe or hatchet specifically designed for fighting. A Hand-axe usually has a smaller, thinner striking head than a hatchet, is more strongly made and sometimes features a steel edge forge-welded onto the iron blade. The blade itself is narrower and often longer, with a smaller striking edge than a hatchet. Most hand axes are also balanced for throwing as well as for cutting, the classic example being the famous francisca axe. Tomahawk, Stone ERA: Paleolithic to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/2/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/B/B AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +1/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 5/3 15 sp Primary Materials: Hardwood, Stone A war hammer with a striking head made of stone. This is essentially a stone war-hammer or a stone mace, a weapon which remained in use in much of the world both in the Stone Age and long after, even into the Iron Age or to Early Modern times in many places where Iron or Bronze were not available. Tomahawk ERA: Iron Age to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/4/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/CB/CB AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 7/4 25 gp Primary Materials: Hardwood, Iron A tomahawk is a type of hand axe, made with a hammer head on one side and a small, narrow cutting blade on the other. Weapons of this type were used in Europe from the Middle Ages through colonial times, where they found new life in the Americas, and great popularity with Native American tribes who already had a similar weapon (see Tomahawk, Stone). Tomahawk hafts tend to be long and slender, made of strong hickory, ash or oak, often at least partly protected by iron langets. Due to the narrow axe blade and hammer head, tomahawks are effective against light armour. Hawks are balanced for throwing as well as striking, and are useful in defence as well as offence, their hooked blades can be used for catching, tripping and disarming. They were commonly wielded as an off-hand weapon with a dagger or sword. Though designed as a weapon it is also a useful tool. Some were hollowed out and made into peace pipes for smoking tobacco. There is a very similar African weapon called a Nzappa zap. Sword, Long Sax ERA: Iron Age to Renaissance S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/4/1 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 8/4 30 gp Primary Material: Iron If the sax was the bowie knife of the Iron Age, this was its bigger, meaner brother; a sax of sword length (see Sax). Like the sax, these weapons could come in many shapes and sizes, but generally speaking they were single-edged short swords, widely used in Scandinavia during the Viking era, particularly in Norway. These are not tools but dedicated weapons. Most were simple, but some long-seaxes featured a full pommel, and were in most ways similar to the Viking broad-sword with a single cutting edge giving them a heavier blade geometry for very brutal cuts. Weapons of a very similar type continued to be used in Central Europe into medieval times and the Renaissance, during which they were called a Baurenwehr or a Hauswehr (see Bauerenwehr) Colltel ERA: Iron Age to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/4/0 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/CS/CS Hardness / Hit points: 9/3 25 gp Primary Materials: Steel Aka colatesa, coustella, coustille. This represents a class of large, very broad-bladed hewing knives which are apparently primarily hunting knives used for butchering animals in the field, but were also adopted for military use notably by the famous Almogavars of Spain. This blade is so broad its utility for thrusting is minimal, even for those variants which do have a point (some don t) but they are literally butchering knives and can take apart meat and bone very efficiently. The slogan of the Almogavars was Aur! Aur! Desperta Ferra! (Listen! Listen! The iron awakes!) 34

35 The Seax came in many forms throughout Northern Europe. These typology charts give some indication as to the complex variety of pre-industrial weapons. Long-seax typology by century and region, and seax blade typology by Kirk Lee Spencer, used with permission. 35

36 65B 8 Bauernwehr ERA: Medieval to Baroque S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/5/2 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/CP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +1/- Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 75 gp Primary Materials: Steel The Bauernwehr, also called a Hauswehr or a Rugger, was a type of knife used as the primary home protection for common rural people in the Holy Roman Empire and much of Central Europe from the Middle Ages into the Baroque period. The Bauernwehr probably evolved from the long sax (see Long Sax) with which it overlaps, but there is one key difference, these weapons almost always feature a nagel as added hand protection (and to keep the hand from running over the blade when stabbing), very similar to a messer. In fact this weapon is probably the ancestor of the Renaissance messer (see Messer). A very similar blade called a khyber knife was also used in Central Asia from roughly the same period until this very day, although it lacks the nagel. The khyber knife is a traditional weapon of Central Asia, found from Afghanistan to Tibet. Similar in function to a long sax or a messer, it is shaped something like a modern kitchen knife. Steel in this area is often particularly good, so these knives are often of good quality (tempered steel) but they do not feature the nagel (treat as 2/4/1 weapons). Protosword: Aztec Macihuitil, circa 1550 AD Small Club: Fijian club, 20 th Century Small Club: Masai ebony club, 19 th Century Irish Bata, 19 th Century War Club: Fijian war-club, 19 th Century War Club: Native American Gunstock War Club, 19 th Century Iowa Territory 36

37 Hand Axe, Tours, France circa 450 AD Half Spear: Zulu Iklwa Light mace, Russian 11 th Century AD Heavy Mace: Persian Mace (Bronze), 9 th Century BC Heavy Mace: Ottoman Mace, 17 th Century AD Flanged Mace: Mace, Solingen Germany, circa 1420 AD German Mace, 16 th Century Italian Mace, 15 th Century Czech Mace, 1550 AD 37

38 Woodman s Axe (HH) ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/-2/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/CB/BC AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 7/5 2 gp Primary Materials: Wood, Iron This is an axe designed for felling trees, with a heavy wedgelike iron blade. Not very well suited for combat, but it can do a great deal of damage if you can hit anything. An axe can also strike like a hammer with its blunt side, and it should be remembered, axes can also be used to thrust. A woodsman s axe will only cause bludgeoning damage this way but it can cause serious wounds. Mace, Heavy (HH) ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/1/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 12/20 30 gp Primary Materials: Iron or Bronze A heavy mace is essentially an iron (or bronze) club. Historically maces were a sign of high authority in numerous cultures, perhaps due to their effectiveness against armour. A kings scepter is essentially a fancy mace. Even a heavy mace is not extremely heavy (usually 3-4 lbs), and is balanced for fighting, relying on hardness and density to cause injuries rather than sheer weight. Though not a nimble weapon, a mace can knock out or stun armoured opponents fairly easily. The compact mass of a mace makes it useful in defence as well as offence. Mace, Flanged (HH) ERA: Medieval to Enlightenment M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/2/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/B/B AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 14/20 50 gp Primary Materials: Iron This is a more sophisticated type of mace designed so that shape and hardness cause injuries far beyond what the mass of the weapon could alone. These are very dangerous weapons, highly effective against both armoured and unarmoured opponents, typically a little lighter than a heavy mace and well balanced for combat. Better quality flanged maces were actually made of steel (modify hardness and price accordingly, damage 1-12). The flanges serve two purposes: they have the same striking area with less mass and their shape helps concentrate the force of the strike to crack open armour, shields, skulls etc. very efficiently. Mace, Stone ERA: Paleolithic to Bronze Age S Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/1/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 5/3 5 sp Primary Materials: Wood and Stone Similar to a heavy mace only with a stone striking head instead of iron or bronze. Bata / Sail-Éille (aka shillelagh ) ERA: All eras M Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/5/3 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-4/B/B AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 6/3 3 gp Primary Materials: Blackthorn wood A bata or alpeen is a special type of blackthorn cudgel carried by many in Ireland and certain other parts of Northwest Europe as a walking stick going back to at least the 7 th Century AD. It also functions well as a weapon. Batas are relatively light, but dense, and well balanced for fighting. Blackthorn is a relative of the rose bush, blackthorn clubs have the nubs of thorns down their shaft (the thorns themselves are removed) and are soaked in oil to prepare them for use as fighting sticks. One method used in the 19 th Century was to cover them in butter, wrap them in brown paper and put it up the chimney or bury it in a compost heap, the idea being to drive out some of the moisture and replace it with fat from the butter. Due to the shape, hardness, and (enhanced) density of the blackthorn wood a bata packs the same punch of an equivalent length hardwood club for half the weight. Bata are nimble weapons of considerable utility, and have the added advantage of appearing to be ordinary walking sticks to the uninitiated, thus legal to carry in most areas. Special martial arts techniques were developed for using bata, called bataireacht or trois-de-bata. Another variation using two-sticks still taught by the Doyle Family in Canada was called rince an bhata uisce bheatha ( whiskey stick dancing ), allegedly created by a man who 38

39 guarded illegal whiskey distillers. The faction-fighting associated with the bata garnered the weapon considerable notoriety in the 19 th Century. These ancient martial traditions are still taught by certain families in Ireland, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and some of the smaller British Isles today. Small Club ERA: All eras S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/4/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-4/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 6/2 5 sp Primary Materials: Hardwood A wooden weapon between 2-4 long designed for striking. A club is not just a piece of firewood or a random branch (see Heavy Stick), but a weapon intentionally made for warfare or hunting, hard and heavy enough to cause damage while also light and balanced enough to wield in combat. Clubs are usually made of relatively hard wood, and shaped to cause injuries, with mace-like striking heads, knobs or other protrusions, blade or flange-like striking surfaces, and etc. Think of something more like a modern axe-handle or maul handle at the very least. Clubs were widely used as primary weapons in all parts of the world, from Germany in the 2 nd Century AD to the Pacific islands in the 19 th. Smaller clubs tend to be heavier and stouter than longer clubs. A small club is a fairly light weapon usually designed for hunting or personal protection rather than explicitly for warfare, though they are also used in war. Clubs can also be thrown like axes or daggers can. War Club ERA: All eras M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/3/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 5/4 15 sp Primary Materials: Hardwood A War Club is a much more formidable type of club usually either made of hardwood or incorporating stone or other materials. War Clubs were used as principle weapons all over the world including in Europe through much of the Iron Age, particularly by Germanic tribes. A club is not necessarily as simple as a baseball bat let alone a random piece of firewood (see Heavy Stick), most are carefully shaped and balanced for use as a weapon. Shapes can range from paddle or even sword-like, to mace like, hammerlike or axe-like, to various odd shapes difficult to correlate to other more modern weapons (think of something like an axe handle, only more specifically designed to cause injuries). A longer club tends to be more lightly made than a shorter one. Clubs are often thrown as missile weapons in addition to being used for melee. Protosword ERA: Neolithic to Bronze Age M Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/3/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/S/- Hardness / Hit points: 4/2 5 gp Primary Materials: Wood, Obsidian or Sharks Teeth This is a war club, generally a single handed weapon not as heavy as a "gunstock" club or a Maori taiaha (see Taiaha), but fitted with sharks teeth or pieces of sharp obsidian to cause extra slashing damage with each attack. This type of weapon would be used in more sophisticated Neolithic cultures lacking knowledge of or access-to bronze or iron. In RPG's it is an ideal type of weapon for use by any human tribes which may be at a Paleolithic technology level as well as by many humanoid monsters. These weapons were called pacho, tbutje pacho, or macahuitil by the Aztecs. The Conquistadors considered these to be "swords" and described them as being very effective (though they seemed to lack the ability to penetrate iron armor). Roman sources describe similar weapons being used by the German tribes during the early Imperial period. Bill, Farmers (HH) ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/0/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/C/C AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 5/3 25 sp Primary Materials: Wood, Iron A tool used by farmers since the early Bronze Age. A bill has a hooked blade designed for pruning branches, which can when used as a weapon can be used to pull riders from horses, pull aside shields or weapons etc. Bills are not sophisticated but can be fairly effective especially in the hands of someone familiar with the tool. It was common during times of strife for peasants to remount bill blades on longer hafts, such weapons would have the following stats: L, reach 7, Speed -1, Defense 3, Damage 1-10 C/C 39

40 Mattock (TH) ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/-4/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/CPB/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 6/3 1 gp Primary Materials: Wood, Iron This is a digging tool most people today call a pick. This is often confused in RPG s for a military pick which is a totally different thing (see War Pick). A mattock is a very heavy, clumsy weapon but can cause serious damage and is fairly effective at piercing armor. It has a blade on one end and a pick on the other. Wooden Mallet (TH) ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/1/3 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-4/B/B AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 4/3 8 sp Primary Materials: Wood A large wooden hammer often found in the equipment of an army as they are used for hammering tent-stakes and the like. A mallet can be used to stun an armoured opponent without killing them or crushing the armour. English archers at Agincourt famously used these to subdue French knights so that they could be taken captive and ransomed after the battle. Unlike a sledge hammer (see Iron Maul, below) a mallet is in the ballpark of being light enough to actually use in a fight in a pinch, but it is an unwieldy weapon. Iron Maul (TH) ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/-6/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-12/B/B AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 6/3 5 gp Primary Materials: Wood, Iron A six to nine pound hammer mounted on a stout wooden haft. This specialized tool is used for breaking rocks, hammering iron spikes, or beating out iron in a forge. Though often confused for a war hammer in many RPG s (see War Hammer), this is not a weapon, it s far too heavy and poorly balanced to be effective in a fight, but will obviously cause devastating injuries if you can hit anything. A heavy iron maul is also very useful for knocking down doors, breaking holes in walls, breaking open chests etc. Sword, Messer ERA: Medieval to Baroque M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/4/3 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 50 gp Primary Materials: Steel Hey, you! Peasant! What are you doing with that sword? Vas, Herr Jaegermeister? I carry no sword! This is only my knife! For cutting mien cabbage unt mien bratwurst! I must have a knife to spread the butter on my brotchen you aren t going to try to take my knife are you? The Messer (aka Großmesser, Grossmesser, Hiebmesser, also related to the Dussack, Hauswehr and Baurenwehr) is a singleedged sword which was carried by farmers in Medieval Central Europe much like machetes are carried today by farmers in Latin America. Messer literally means knife in German, and the hilt of a Grossemesser resembles that of a knife handle, made of two wedges of wood riveted to a wide, flat tang. The lack of a pommel may have originally been due to legal restrictions (i.e. sumptuary laws) but the same balancing effect was achieved by a lengthened handle and a cunningly widened tang. The messer could be used as a tool or a weapon, though designed primarily as the latter. The messer probably evolved from the Sax, or traditional Baurenwehr. Compared to a machete a messer is stronger and a bit heavier, and usually featured a partial falseedge. Some messers were particularly well-made with differential hardening and a sophisticated heat treatment. The heavy tang and acute distal taper of these swords give them good balance, and the relatively long grip could also be used in fencing to hook wrists in disarms. Another unique feature of all messers is a special guard called a nagel which prevents the hand pushing over the blade when stabbing. Some messers also had full or partial cross-guards, and most had at least a partial false-edge, false edge cutting is a fundamental technique in messer fencing. Messers appear frequently in the Renaissance fencing manuals and some believe they were the basis for the Longsword system described by Johannes Liechtenauer. 40

41 Sword, Falchion (HH) ERA: Iron Age to Renaissance M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/1/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-12/SC/C Hardness / Hit points: 12/5 50 gp Primary Material: Steel "Sr Jo Conyers of Storkburn Knt who slew ye monstrous venoms and poysons wiverms Ask or worme which overthrew and Devourd many people in fight, for the scent of poyson was soo strong, that no person was able to abide it, yet he by the providence of god overthrew it and lyes buried at Storkburn before the Conquest. (From British Museum MS Harleian No. 2118, fo. 39, circa ) A falchion is another single edged cutting sword, with a very broad blade and an iron pommel for a counterweight and maybe a point on the end. The falchion is similar to a messer (the two weapon types do overlap somewhat) but there are a few key differences. Falchions tend to have a broader, thinner, heavier blade with a center of percussion nearer to the point (like a cleaver), making them devastating choppers but not quite as nimble for fencing. Most falchions have an iron pommel, and typically at least a partial cross-guard, though unlike messers, they do not feature a nagel. In medieval art one sees falchions typically used with shields or as a sidearm. They do not appear in the fencing manuals and may have been more of a military than a civilian weapon. This is not a hard and fast rule though, some falchions are surprisingly light. Over time falchions got smaller and acquired additional hand protection until they became nearly indistinguishable from a cutlass (see Cutlass). Subjective: Have you ever seen or handled a really large meat-cleaver? One of the big ones the butcher uses to cut apart a rack of ribs? A falchion is a slightly more streamlined version of that. A brutal chopping weapon with a powerful cut like a cleaver or an axe, they were associated with the slaying of beasts, wyverns or wyrms in many famous medieval legends. Small Staff (HH) ERA: All eras L Reach / Speed / Defense: 6/5/5 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-4/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 5/3 1 sp Primary Materials: Hardwood This is just a wooden stick like a bō or jō staff, between 4-6 long, made of relatively hard, sturdy wood such as oak or ash, designed at least nominally as a weapon. Staffs of this type were found all over the world from Paleolithic times into the present, and are especially useful for defense as well as attack. When used with skill a staff is effective thrusting, striking, and defending at all ranges from onset to grapple (see Half Staff MF). Kern Axe (HH) ERA: Iron Age to Enlightenment L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/1/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/CP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 6/3 25 gp Primary Materials: Wood, Iron Not really an axe, this small glaive-like pole arm is essentially a meat cleaver mounted on a stout three to four foot haft. Carried by the kern, the young rank-and-file warriors of the Irish tribes, a kern axe can cause horrific injuries. Due to the shape of the blade it can be used to hook shields, pull down weapons, snatch riders off of horses etc. The kern axe is equally dangerous for cutting or piercing. Very similar weapon existed in Renaissance Germany called a war scythe, so the Kern Axe can be considered representative of a fairly common type of small glaive. Pitch Fork (TH) ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/0/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/P/P Hardness / Hit points: 4/3 1 gp Primary Materials: Wood, Iron The simple, ubiquitous farmers tool used for pitching hay and mucking stalls. It makes for a fairly clumsy weapon but those with iron tines (represented here) have pretty good penetration and can cause serious injuries. Godendag (TH) ERA: Medieval to Renaissance L Reach / Speed / Defense: 5/0/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-12/BP/BP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 6/7 30 gp Primary Material: Hardwood, Iron The gudentag or godendag (which means good morning, in a similar ironic sense as the Morgenstern or morning star ) was a 41

42 kind of two-handed spiked mace invented by the Flemish and famously used by Flemish burgher militias to literally crush the flower of French chivalry at the battle of golden spurs in 1302 AD. A godendag is a stout pole about 5-6 long, flaring gradually toward the end and featuring a heavy iron ring on the striking head, with a spike jutting out of the end of the haft. A very deadly, field-expedient type weapon, these are usually crude but strongly made, essentially a two-handed spiked mace, with a spike or spear-head on the end used for thrusting. The Godendag was useful against creepy looking demons, apparently Great Club (TH) ERA: Neolithic to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 5/0/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 6/5 5 gp Primary Material: Hardwood This is a large two-handed war club, similar to a Godendag but of all-wood construction without any metal ring or spike on the business end, which will be some kind of natural or artificial knout or swelling of the wood. Morgenstern (TH) ERA: Medieval to Enlightenment L Reach / Speed / Defense: 5/0/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-12/(BP)/- AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 6/5 25 gp Primary Material: Wood, Iron Similar to a Godendag but with lateral spikes and longer, Morgensterns were used by the Swiss, the Flemish, the Frisians, the Germans, the Czechs and various other people around Europe, particularly by militias and infantry armies. Morgensterns were used well into the Early Modern period and as a result many of these weapons dating to the 17 th and 18 th Century can still be found in auction houses having been retained by various armouries for centuries. Scythe (TH) ERA: All eras VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/-2/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/- AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 4/3 5 gp Primary Material: Wood, Iron The scythe is the standard farmers harvesting tool going back for ages. It is very awkward to wield in combat but a formidable blade mounted on a long haft can do some serious damage regardless of its configuration. Not infrequently these would be bent or remounted in a more militarily useful configuration, made into something like a glaive (see Glaive). Shovel / Spade (TH) ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/-2/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/CBP/C AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 5/3 1 gp Primary Materials: Wood, Iron A digging spade with an iron blade (depicted here) can cause serious injuries, though the weapon is very clumsy to use. Many spades were made with wood or wood with an iron tip, these stats represent a spade with an iron blade. Taiaha (TH) ERA: Neolithic / Paleolithic L Reach / Speed / Defense: 6/2/4 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 7/5 10 gp Primary Material: Tropical Hardwood These are deceptively sophisticated weapons developed in Neolithic societies which lacked access to bronze or iron for making weapons. A kind of a stone-age halberd, this is long, narrow club from 3 1/2 to 5' long, is made of dense hardwood, with a spear or oar shape overall, usually with a blade shaped end, sometimes incorporating a piece of hard stone. The tropical hardwoods which they are made of are much stronger and denser than ordinary wood. In combat, taiaha are generally used with two hands, to be employed defensively as well as offensively, and to attack from both sides. Some had obsidian or other stones incorporated. Many similar weapons were found around the world, such as the so called "gun stock" war clubs used by Iroquois and other North American indigenous tribes. These weapons very effective historically. Use: Like a staff. 42

43 German Hunting knife / rugger, 15 th Century AD Portuguese Cutlass, 17 th Century AD Messer, Czech, 1420 AD Dussack, Pilsen Czech Republic, 14 th Century AD Messer, Germany, Circa 1480 AD Long Sax: Broken back sax, River Thames, London, 9 th Century AD Messer, Germany, 15 th Century AD Replica of Long Sax by Nick Johnson Replica of Long Sax by Nick Johnson The infamous Conyers falchion, the original Vorpal blade. Dated to at least the 12 th Century, this was allegedly the weapon used to slay the Sockburn wyrm of Durham, England. It was the weapon Lewis Caroll saw at the ordination of a local Bishop in his childhood. Bauernwehr: Khyber knife, Pansheer valley Afghanistan 17 th Century AD Baurenwehr, Germany, 15 th Century AD Falchion, Flanders (Beligum), 14 th Century Almogavar Colltell Knife, 13thCentury Falchion, France, 16th Century. 43

44 Kieven Rus Chieftain Vladimir Monomakh, feasting with His Druzhina, 12 th Century AD. By Viktor Vasnetsov 44

45 Iron Bound Staff (TH) ERA: Medieval to Baroque VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 6/0/5 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 7/6 10 gp Primary Material: Hardwood, Iron This is simply a quarterstaff strengthened with iron bands and / or iron langets. Due to the extra weight it is a slower weapon than a regular quarterstaff but strikes with a more lethal impact. Quarterstaff (TH) ERA: All eras VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/2/5 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 5/5 1 gp Primary Material: Hardwood A quarterstaff is a stout fighting pole of ash, oak, or hickory or yew, between 6-8 long and fairly thick in cross-section: a formidable fighting staff made to be a weapon, not just a walking stick. Normally a quarterstaff would be held at the rear quarter and used like a spear at least initially to thrust and strike from onset range, then at closer ranges the wielder could shift to a half-staff guard (see Half Staff MF) to strike with both ends, or hook their opponents legs, shields etc. The quarterstaff is formidable weapon both in offence and defence. Subjective: Another underrated weapon, the staff is lethal in the right hands, and one of the best weapons available for defence. The staff also has the advantage that it is often underestimated as a weapon. A staff isn t just any old stick, to have any value as a weapon it must be made from a suitable hard and / or supple wood such as ash, waxwood, oak, hazel, hawthorne or hickory. In France this weapon was known as le bâton, in Portugal and the Canary Islands the ancient staff fighting Martial Art system of Jogo Do Pau (meaning Game of Sticks or stickplay, is still practiced in Portugal and in the Canary Islands. In Italy the staff is known as the bastone. The appropriate length for this weapon could vary by personal preference but in Europe the staff was typically a long weapon, six to eight feet in length, to better take advantage of reach, both for thrusting and striking. Methods for striking in a slinging manner would increase the effective reach further, making the quarterstaff especially useful for fending off numbers of enemies. Spear (TH) ERA: All eras VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/1/3 (8/0/2 one handed) Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 6/3 60 gp Primary Material: Wood, Steel Possibly the oldest weapon ever used by man, other than rocks and clubs. Spears come in staggering variety and in many sizes, for game purposes this represents a fairly common type of battle-spear with an overall length of 7-9. A spear is a dual purpose weapon, used for both throwing and thrusting or cutting. Spears specialized for thrusting from horseback are called lances, spears specialized for throwing are called javelins. Spears were widely used all over the world both for warfare and for hunting. Military spears may have iron langets to protect part of the haft near the tip (these would have better hardness and / or hit points) and some have a small crossguard just under the blade (these are often called boars spears though it s incorrect to assume they were only used for hunting this would boost defence by one point). Most spears also had a sharpened or capped butt, which could also be used to attack. Most spear blades could cut as well as pierce, some more than others (see Hewing Spear) and some were serrated or wavy for slashing (give a S Primary attack type to such weapons). Variations of the basic spear were common and modifications to the stats can be done accordingly (shorter spears have less reach, spears with bigger blades cut better, spears with smaller reinforced points better at armor-piercing etc.). When used two-handed a spear is wielded much like a staff. Subjective: The spear is one of the more underrated weapons in RPG s, but its value was well understood by ancient people. Swords are sidearms, spears are primary battlefield weapons. The Spear is a fight-starter and that is how most people used them, the reach of the weapon made it safer to use to initiate a fight, and it was used more often than not in a very simple manner stab the other guy first. But a spear is also a valuable weapon to a skilled martial artist, used two-handed more like a staff, it is extremely dangerous in one on one combat, effective in defence and extremely lethal in attack capable of cutting as well as piercing. It can also be used to fight at all ranges, not just at long distance. To fight this way with a spear with the Codex rules, one must have the appropriate Martial Feats. Spears also, can always be thrown, always a useful option for an opponent who is not cooperating by coming into fighting range 45

46 Farmers Bill Wooden Mallet Kern Axe, Ireland, circa 1520 AD Flemish Gudendag, Courtrai Belgium, 1302 AD Two German Morgensterns, 16 th Century, the upper example is very similar to a Godengag with some added spikes, the lower has a full spear-head. Swiss Morgenstern, 17 th Century Small Staff: Bo Staff Quarterstaff Iron Bound Staff 46

47 Spear: Qiang spear, China Ming Dynasty (circa 16 th Century AD) Spear: Masai Moran Spear, Tanzania Africa 16 th Century AD Spear: Pyrenees, Spain, probably Catalan, circa 9 th Century AD Spear: Belgium, circa 13 rd Century AD Spear: Bronze Hallstadt (Celtic) circa 6 th Century BC, Britain Spear: La Tene (Celtic) circa 1 st Century BC, Lucerne, Switzerland Spear: Provence, France, 14 th Century AD Two Maori men wielding Taiaha 47

48 Martial Weapons Bad War, Hans Holbein the Younger, Switzerland Circa 1520 Martial Weapons According to the Codex interpretation of the OGL, Martial Weapons mean those weapons with which soldiers and warriors were likely to have familiarity and / or weapons which are common in warfare. By OGL rules any character with the Martial Weapon Proficiency (which comes automatically with a level of Fighter or Warrior Class) can use all Martial Weapons normally without any restrictions, though some types (such as longswords) are much more effective with the addition of certain Martial Feats. 48

49 Jambiya Dagger ERA: Medieval to Early Modern T Reach / Speed / Defense: 0/6/0 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SP/S Hardness / Hit points: 8/3 30 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel A caravan arrives at dawn in a small trading town on the Silk Road near the ancient kingdom of Bactria on the Khyber Pass. A merchant alights from his camel to stretch and brush the dust of the trail from his khaftan, greeting the morning sun. He looks over the Souq and strolls past pistachio vendors and cages of exotic songbirds toward a stand selling fruit sherbet. While crossing the street he is jostled by a raucous group of pilgrims, and suspicious, reaches down to catch the hand of a thief in the act of cutting his purse with a cry of outrage he leaps back, reaching for the curved dagger on his belt The curved dagger of the Middle East, still carried today as part of traditional attire in places like Yemen, is called a jambiya. It looks similar to a curved Roman pugio, in its crudest form, it is a simply made double-edged, broadbladed curved dagger with a central ridge and a sharp point. Jambiyas are primarily for slashing but can thrust effectively as well. They were carried as a civilian weapon for personal protection (and an indication of status) and as a secondary battlefield sidearm in exactly the manner as a Roman pugio or a Medieval dagger. Similar weapons were used in various parts of the Middle East, Persia, India, north and east Africa and Central Asia. One of the most important variations of the jambiya is the Sikh kirpan, which is worn as a religious obligation by all baptized Sikhs (Khalsa) as part of their commitment, as saint soldiers, to protect the innocent. Some jambiyas were beautifully made of precious inlays, lapis, silver etc. and had exquisitely crafted wootz steel blades with hardened points for thrusting. Such weapons would also be of masterwork in quality. The slashing ability of a Jambiya makes it particularly effective against unarmored opponents, though some were made with reinforced points for thrusting (treat as SP weapons). Rondel Dagger ERA: Medieval to Renaissance S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/5/1 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/P/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +4/- Hardness / Hit points: 12/4 40 gp Primary Material: Steel A specialized thrusting dagger, very popular with the knightly class throughout the middle ages. It was characterized by a narrow, often triangular or diamond shaped blade, sometimes strengthened with a reinforcing rib, and parallel disk shaped guard and pommel called a rondel or roundel. Rondel daggers were very popular auxiliary sidearms for knights, soldiers, and men at arms in the Medieval to Renaissance period. Used to pierce through mail or the weaker joints between armor, this strongly made dagger is a very effective armor piercing weapon, being stiff and narrow for good penetration. The roundel dagger could also be used in the left hand for defensive purposes (see Main Gauche MF). Typical dimensions: Length 16", blade 12", Weight 1 lb Broad Dagger ERA: Bronze Age to Baroque S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/5/0 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/P Hardness / Hit points: 10/5 30 gp Primary Material: Steel A large dagger with an especially broad blade designed for inflicting maximum possible injury from a thrust or a cut. These weapons do not penetrate quite as easily as other daggers but do far more damage upon a successful thrust. Examples include the cinquedea (also made in short-sword sized variants see Sword, Cinquedea) and the ubiquitous Roman pugio. Large Dagger ERA: All eras S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/5/1 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/SP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 50 gp Primary Material: Steel 49

50 This is a large dagger with a double-edged blade with a blade length of 10"-16", and an overall length of 14"-20". Examples include the Swiss baselard (which was also made as a short-sword, treat as a spatha (see Spatha) the coustille dagger, the dagesse, and the Scottish dirk. Though capable of slashing and cutting a dagger of this size was still primarily designed for thrusting. These weapons could usually be worn in areas where swords were restricted, being still small enough to still be technically legal, but large and heavy enough to have some authority and defensive value in a fight. Some large daggers featured large quillions. Sometimes called blocking daggers these were more effective for defense (treat as 1/5/2 or even 1/5/3 weapons for those with complex hilt features). Often used in the off-hand with a sword, these were the precursor of the Main Gauche (see Main Gauche). War Hammer ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/3/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/BP/BP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +4/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 7/4 50 gp Primary Material: Wood and Iron Contrary to depictions in RPGs, computer games and fantasy films, real war hammers didn t look anything like sledge hammers, they actually had smaller (and harder) striking heads than hammers used as tools. Like most hand weapons intended for war, they weighed in the neighbourhood of 2-4 lbs. They almost always included both a striking (hammer) head and a reinforced back-spike at least a few inches long. These could be used against different types of targets but were designed to be armorpiercing weapons, especially useful for cavalry, with a hammer one could ride by and crush a helmeted head with a single blow. War Pick ERA: Medieval to Renaissance S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/2/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/BP/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +6/+4 Hardness / Hit points: 14/ gp Primary Material: Steel A war-pick is very similar to a war hammer and the twotypes overlap, both usually have hammer heads as well as back-spikes, a war-pick just has a longer spike which has better penetration, at the expense of being a somewhat less wieldy weapon. The pick is also effective as a hook against shield rims, knees, necks etc. Sword, Akinakes ERA: Classical Bronze Age S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/4/1 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/SP Hardness / Hit points: 6/2 20 gp Primary Material: Bronze An ancient type of short sword, used by the Persians during classical period, originally adopted from the Scythians, Sarmatians, and other steppe peoples of central Asia who used them well back into the bronze age. An akinakes has a fairly wide, double-edged, parallel blade with a rounded or spatulate tip, usually 14"-18" in length (the entire weapon would be from 20"-24" long), it was also characterized by a unique two-lobed pommel. The akinakes is primarily a thrusting weapon, but also useful for slashing (draw cutting) and to a lesser degree, hacking and cutting. Subjective: This specific weapon was found in kurgans, tombs and other archeological sites dating from thousands of years BC through the classical period, it s presence in a grave is used by archeologists to identify settlements or grave sites of these people. Sword, Short ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/4/2 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/SP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 9/3 50 gp Primary Material: Steel Short swords were common in the early Classical period because early iron weapons were not strong enough to be made longer than two feet or so, being too likely to bend upon contact with shield rims, helmets, or enemy weapons. As iron gave way to steel in the late Iron Age (circa 4 th- 3 rd Century BC) short swords were gradually eclipsed by longer weapons three feet or more in length (see Spatha). But short swords remained popular, and in the later middle-ages, even as longer and longer weapons were adopted by knights and professional infantrymen, short swords made a comeback as a popular sidearm, particularly for archers and marksmen. For game purposes a short sword means any non specific (i.e. not covered under another sword sub-type) double edged sword between 21"-29" in overall length, with little if any hand protection, a small grip and a sharp point suitable for thrusting. 50

51 Subjective: By the Renaissance period simpler short swords were replaced in Western Europe by slightly longer and more sophisticated weapons such as the cutlass or the katzbalger, although the basic short sword was retained as Russia and central Asia (as the kindjal), the Middle East (as the quoit) and in Africa and various other parts of the world (see Gladius). The short sword was even revived as a sidearm for artillery troops by Napoleon. In the Codex, a short sword may not have the reach of a larger weapon, but it handier in a close fight as it can be used at grapple range. Inside mines, caverns, catacombs or sewers, or even just inside a building, a short sword can give you an advantage. Sword, Gladius ERA: Classical Iron Age to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/4/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/CP Hardness / Hit points: 8/4 60 gp Primary Material: Iron A type of heavy short sword used in various forms as the primary sidearm of the Roman Legions for something like 4 centuries, during the military peak of both the Republic and the Empire. The gladius took a lot of different forms but was typically from 24"-32" in total length, and characterized by a bar-bell handle, featuring a spherical wooden pommel and a hemispherical wooden guard, with a grip normally made of bone or ivory. and Pompeii progressively lost the elegant curves and wasp-waist of the original Celtiberian design leading to the strait parallel edged blade with a shorter triangular point. Along the way the gladius was ultimately perfected as a brutally efficient, close combat killing tool. Sword, Cinquedea ERA: Classical Iron age to Renaissance S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/5/2 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/P Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 80 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel A cinquedea is a type of short sword originally based on an archaic Spanish (Celtiberian) design from the early Iron Age, and achieved high popularity in the European Mediterranean during the Renaissance primarily in Italy. The name cinquedea literally means five fingers which refers to the considerable width of the blade at the guard. The blade, triangular in shape rapidly tapers down to a point, sometimes very sharp, sometimes rounded off. Another unique feature of the cinquedea is a complex arrangement of multiple fullers going all the way down the blade, further lightening it. Between the sharp profile taper and the fullers, and a heavy pommel this is a very nimble close-combat weapon, capable of delivering horrific stab wounds. All varieties of the gladius performed similarly in combat. They were all heavy, stiff, broad -bladed double edged cutand-thrust swords featuring a diamond or lenticular blade cross-section, ending in a sharp point. With its vicious point and overall short size the gladius is perhaps most dangerous in the thrust, though it also cut well. In fact, according to classical eyewitnesses of the first reported use of the weapon in a battle against the Macedonians, the victorious Romans left the field littered with the severed limbs and heads of their enemies. Subjective: Generally speaking the gladius was one of the most versatile weapons of the classical period, tough, maneuverable, and lethal. Along with the scutum shield, the pilum (javelin), helmet, and body armor of the legionnaire, the gladius formed an integral part of the Roman military machine which crushed opposition from England to Egypt, from the pillars of Hercules to the deserts of Parthia. Though it was replaced in the 2nd century AD by the spatha (see Spatha) echoes of the gladius were still used for millennia in various forms all around the world. The Georgian kindjal, seen throughout Russia, the Ukraine and Central Asia, and the Arabic qama are just two examples of weapons which bear an uncanny resemblance to the Gladius. As with so much Roman military equipment, the gladius was originally copied from the Celts. It was based on a broad bladed short cut-andthrust design which the Romans first encountered in Spain which dates back well into the Bronze Age. The Romans called this type the gladius Hispaniensis, or Spanish sword. Gradually the weapon was Romanized, later forms found in Mainz Germany, Fulham England, A Roman Legionnaire armed with a gladius (now broken) vanquishes a Germanic barbarian, from the Grande Ludovisi sarcophagus, circa 251 A.D., photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen 51

52 Very ornate Persian Jambiya with wootz ( Damascus ) steel blade, 16 th Century AD Large Dagger: blocking dagger with sidering, Bolonga Italy 16 th Century AD Ottoman Jambiya with silver inlay and Lapis grip, 17 th Century AD Large Dagger: blocking dagger with sidering, Germany circa 1600 AD Roundel Dagger, Italy, circa 1350 AD French Roundel Dagger, circa 1500 AD Short Sword: La Tene (Celtic) anthropomorphic-ilt sword, Bohemia late Hallstatt period 5th Century BC Ottoman Dagger, 17th Century AD Large Dagger: Swiss Baselard circa 1650 AD Short Sword: Antnna hilt Sword of the Celetic Cogotas II culture, Salamanca Spain, circa 600 BC Broad Dagger: Roman Pugio, 1 st Century AD Gladius, Mainz Germany, circa 50 AD Broad Dagger: Cinquedea Dagger, Italy 15 th Century AD Gladius, Pompeii, Italy 2 nd Century AD Large Dagger: Swiss Baselard circa 1480 AD Large Dagger: Italian Baselard, circa 15 th Century AD Cinquedea sword, Barcelona Spain circa 1540 AD Large Dagger: Spanish blocking dagger 16 th Century AD Gladius: Russian Kindjal, 19 th Century 52

53 Subjective: This is a weapon designed for the confusing aftermath of pike skirmishes, very deadly in close combat, specialized for chopping. I ve test-cut a little with some katzbalger replicas and they cleave through meat and bone like nothing. This weapon is also well suited for defense with a close-to-the-hilt balance and an effective hand guard. A handy and reliable sidearm. Sword, Leaf Blade ERA: Classical Bronze Age Sword, Katzbalger ERA: Renaissance S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/3/3 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 12/4 100 gp Primary Material: Steel The Katzbalger is a special type of arming sword or broadsword developed during the Renaissance in Germany, it was the infamous signature weapon of the Landsknecht mercenaries. Katzbalger with gold plated hilt, 16 th Century AD Thurungia, Germany M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/1/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 8/4 70 gp Primary Material: Iron or Bronze An archaic sword design of very ancient lineage which existed in bronze form well before the Classical period. Both bronze and iron versions of this weapon were used by the Celts, the ancient Greeks, the early Romans, and by various other peoples around Central and Southern Europe. The Spartan xiphos was a leafbladed sword. Like many ancient sword types, these weapons did not have any hand protection to speak of. The shape of the blade, broader and heavier toward the end, moves the balance toward the point and makes it highly effective for chopping attacks, though it is also effective for thrusting. If the broad double-edged blade does successfully penetrate in a thrust it will do catastrophic damage. The sword does have a stiff, usually diamond cross sectioned blade making the sword strong enough for thrusting through tough targets. Sword, Spatha ERA: Classical Iron age to Dark Ages Katzbalger, 16 th Century AD Schwabia, Germany A sturdy, medium-length sword with a distinctive 'S' shaped guard, the blade itself is strait and parallel edged with a spatulate or rounded point, usually lightened by several short fullers in the forte. Katzbalgers were actually made in many different sizes, ranging from the short sword depicted here, to an arming sword size, and even hand and a half and very large twohanded versions. Most had a pretty distinctive shape and size as described above, with a heavy sometimes bronze or brass pommel and a heavy cutting blade. M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/2/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/CP Hardness / Hit points: 9/4 90 gp Primary Material: Steel For game purposes a spatha is any broad, single-handed strait sword about 3 long which lacks a true iron pommel. The Roman spatha is the archetype of a variety of similar swords used all around Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East from the last days of the Roman Republic through the first few centuries of the Dark Ages. A spatha is similar to the Viking broadsword in that is primarily a cutter with a long, broad blade, but the spatha 53

54 is fairly stiff, making it better for thrusting, and also more blade heavy. The spatha derives from the La Tene (Celtic) culture, and was adopted by the Romans initially as a sidearm for cavalry. During certain military reforms of the early Imperial period it was adopted by infantry in order to help Roman Legionnaires cope with the increasing numbers of Scandinavian and Germanic tribes they encountered such as Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Vandals, Burgundians and Franks who used these spatha type sword extensively. In the 1 st Century BC Rome experienced the first in a series of shocks as newly energized Barbarian confederations began to cross the Rhine, starting with the Cimbri and Teutons. More and more the Germanic and Celtic tribes carried spatha which had been wrought with sophisticated pattern welding techniques and were increasingly perceived as effective and dangerous weapons, causing the Romans to rethink their doctrine favoring the gladius as the sidearm for heavy infantry. By the 2 nd Century AD the Spatha had largely replaced the gladius as the standard sidearm for the Roman Legionnaire. The original Roman version has the same kind of guard as the gladius short sword. Spatha with a crossguard (like the Arab type) may rate as 3/2/2 weapons. Subjective: Many of the Spatha type swords recovered from archeological sites created by the Germanic and Scandinavian Barbarian cultures during the Migration Era featured pattern welded blades, and often elaborate goldwork as well. In 2009 more than 70 elaborately carved gold hilts were discovered in one horde alone in a Saxon or Norse site found at Staffordshire in Britain. Katzbalger, 16 th Century 54

55 Spatha: La Tène II (Celtic) Sword, Belgium, circa 250 BC (pattern welded blade) Spatha: La Tène III (Celtic) double-fullered Spatha, Circa 100 BC. The grip of this sword is similar to the Roman Type Spatha: Arab sword, Circa 1100 AD Spatha: Sudanese Kaskara, circa 1600 AD, Abyssinia, Africa Broad sword: Viking Sword, semi-excavated condition, Norway circa 900 AD Broad sword: Viking sword, Hebrides Islands, circa 800 AD (Pattern Welded blade) Broad sword: Viking Sword with silver hilt, Sweden, Circa 10 th Century AD Broad Sword: Sword with bronze hilt found in a woman s grave, Suontaka, Finland, circa 11 th Century AD Broad Sword: Viking Sword, Ireland, 11 th Century AD (excavated condition) 55

56 Sword, Broad ERA: Dark Ages to Medieval M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/4/2 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/SC Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 120 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The term "broadsword" isn't really historical (it was coined in the 18th century), but is defined here as the strait, doubleedged cutting and slashing swords which replaced the spatha in northern Europe between the 7 th and 11 th Century AD. For game purposes a broadsword is a single handed cutting sword with a small hand grip, heavy iron (as opposed to wood or bone) pommel, and broad deeply fullered blade with a rounded or spatulate point. First appearing in the late Migration period among the Franks and the Norse tribes, this evolutionary development of the spatha is better balanced and more specialized for cutting. It saw continuous use by Germanic and Norse peoples through the end of the Viking age (from the end of the 7 th through the 11th -12th century), and also spread to Ireland, the British Isles, Russia, the Baltic States, Poland, Bohemia, Spain, France, Italy, and parts of the Middle East and Central Asia. Detail of the pommel of a Viking sword circa 9 th Century AD, Haitabu Museum, Germany, photo by keeshu A broadsword is a cutting weapon with a total length of between 34"-39", and a short grip counterweighted by a heavy iron pommel. Most weighed between 2 to 3 pounds with a balance point 4-6 inches from the cross. The broadsword was of somewhat limited value in thrusting, usually having a rounded or spatulate (sometimes even squared off) point and a relatively flexible blade which would make it difficult to penetrate armor, though it could easily pierce soft tissue, the neck, the belly, the meat of a leg etc. with no problem. The hand is also somewhat exposed compared to later Medieval European swords, but the weapon was intended for use with a shield. Subjective: Far from being the clumsy crowbar of popular imagination, this is an elegant, well balanced, surprisingly nimble sword, with deep fullers down the entire length of the blade making it strong and supple. They were generally of good craftsmanship, like modern Scandinavian furniture or glassware: simple, elegant, ergonomic and efficient. In the early part of the Viking Age, due to the relative scarcity of good quality Iron, these weapons were often forged using special "pattern welding" techniques, this type was gradually replaced as good quality homogeneous steel blades became available from the Franks. Vikings of later generations still highly valued the older type however and sought them out in ancient barrows and gravesites. The pattern which they called 'the wyrm in the blade' or 'the serpent in the steel' marked such rare weapons as the work of Trolls or Giants. There are many references to such blades in the sagas, chronicles, and epic poems of the Viking era, perhaps most notably in Beowulf. Sword, Arming ERA: Medieval to Renaissance M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/3/3 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/CP Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 150 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel Aka single sword also sometimes called a riding sword or even a short sword (to distinguish it from a longsword). This is possibly the weapon called a long sword in most Role Playing Games and Computer Games. Historical Longswords were basically two-handed weapons (see Longsword). But it s worth remembering that in period swords of all types were most often referred to simply as swords without any further categorization. The arming sword was traditionally worn on the left side, which is why modern horseback riders always mount their horse from the left, though few remember the ancient reason. Oakshott types Xa, XI, XIa, XII, XIII, XIIIb, XIV, XIX, and XXa can all be examples of arming swords. The European arming sword is typically a single-handed, doubleedged sword about 3 to 3 1/2 feet long in overall length, with a blade somewhere between 29 and 35 inches. The blade is strait and normally parallel edged rather than sharply tapering. Most arming swords were well balanced, relatively light, and weighed between 2-4 pounds with a point of balance a few inches from the cross. Some meant for cavalry were longer and more bladeheavy (treat as 4/2/3 weapons damage 1-10). Subjective: A versatile and deadly weapon which was in use from as early as the 10th Century through the 16 th, it was ideally suited for use with a shield, to which it was arguably the ultimate counterpart. Effective both in attacking and defending, with excellent reach and agility, the arming sword is a tactically flexible weapon equally capable of chopping, slashing, and thrusting, and highly effective against both armored and unarmored opponents. This weapon was a high point of refinement of the basic Spatha design which had appeared more than 1,000 years before, the balance of a heavy pommel, the carefully wrought blade with a broad edge and a sharp point, and the substantial cross to protect the hand all made this weapon own a close in fight. The arming sword is the weapon which, along with the lance, won the reputation of the medieval European knight of the High Middle Ages. The arming sword or riding sword was worn on the knights person, on the hip, while the longsword was usually carried on the saddle (not across the back like in Conan). 56

57 Arming Sword; Danish, Circa 1100 AD, Oakeshott Type X Arming Sword, German 13 th Century AD, Oakeshott Type XI Arming Sword, French, 1325 AD, Oakeshott type XVI Arming Sword; English, Sword of Henry V, Circa 1420 AD Oakeshott type XVIII Arming Sword: Sword with single finger ring, probably Maltese, from the Armory at Alexandria taken as tribute in the 16 th Century, Oakeshott type XIX Spanish Bilbo Sword, Mexico circa 1615 AD. This is essentially an arming sword with a cup-hilt (this would be a 3/3/5 weapon). 57

58 Sidebar: The Siege of Antioch One of the greatest victories of the First Crusade occurred in 1097 AD when the formidable Norman Knight Bohemond led the capture of the City of Antioch after a long and difficult siege. Allegedly, Bohemond paid off a disgruntled Christian tower-captain to sneak himself and a small group of knights past the walls, leading to the breaching of the gate and the capture of the city. Joy over their sudden victory was short-lived however when an enormous army of Turks arrived and the Crusaders found themselves besieged. Already badly depleted of both energy and resources, hope seemed lost when a large Byzantine army which had been sent to relieve them turned around, believing they were already doomed. Starvation and disease beset the troops, and their future looked grim. But a priest came to Bohemond and Raymond of Toulouse claiming to have seen a vision of St. Andrew, who revealed that that the Holy Lance was inside the city. The leaders were sceptical, since this relic was believed to be in Constantinople, but it did not dissuade the priest, who discovered a spear- point in a pit being dug near one of the walls. Gustave Doré ( ), Bohemond alone mounts the rampart of Antioch The spear was promptly mounted on a haft, word of the miracle spread, and preparations for a final desperate battle were made. Five days later the entire army sortied from the gate to attack the Turks. The Turks attempted a feigned retreat and ambush, made a flanking attack, and set the grass on fire, but Bohemond intercepted the army on their flanks with a hastily organized riposte, and the Crusaders reported later that they saw visions of St. George, St. Demitrious and St. Maurice in the sky. The starving knights smashed the Turkish army and scattered the survivors in a complete rout. Thus was created a new fiefdom for the ambitious Bohemond, who declared his personal vows to be fulfilled, and settled down to rule the prosperous town as the rest of the army proceeded to Jerusalem without him, much to the annoyance of the Byzantine Emperor and his rival Raymond. Bohemond, one of the most colourful Characters of the first Crusade, is also one of the very few knights of this period of whom we have a detailed physical description: Now [Bohemond] was such as, to put it briefly, had never before been seen in the land of the Romans [that is, Greeks], be he either of the barbarians or of the Greeks (for he was a marvel for the eyes to behold, and his reputation was terrifying). Let me describe the barbarian's appearance more particularly -- he was so tall in stature that he overtopped the tallest by nearly one cubit, narrow in the waist and loins, with broad shoulders and a deep chest and powerful arms. And in the whole build of the body he was neither too slender nor overweighted with flesh, but perfectly proportioned and, one might say, built in conformity with the canon of Polycleitus... His skin all over his body was very white, and in his face the white was tempered with red. His hair was yellowish, but did not hang down to his waist like that of the other barbarians; for the man was not inordinately vain of his hair, but had it cut short to the ears. Whether his beard was reddish, or any other colour I cannot say, for the razor had passed over it very closely and left a surface smoother than chalk... His blue eyes indicated both a high spirit and dignity; and his nose and nostrils breathed in the air freely; his chest corresponded to his nostrils and by his nostrils...the breadth of his chest. For by his nostrils nature had given free passage for the high spirit which bubbled up from his heart. A certain charm hung about this man but was partly marred by a general air of the horrible... He was so made in mind and body that both courage and passion reared their crests within him and both inclined to war. His wit was manifold and crafty and able to find a way of escape in every emergency. In conversation he was well informed, and the answers he gave were quite irrefutable. This man who was of such a size and such a character was inferior to the Emperor alone in fortune and eloquence and in other gifts of nature. -Ana Comnena, the A lexiad 1148 AD 58

59 Swords of this type are featured in fencing manuals, such as Achille Marozzos Opera Nova. Detail of the hilt of a Cut-Thrust sword, early 16 th Century Sword, Cut-Thrust ERA: Renaissance to Enlightenment M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/3/4 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 11/3 180 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel Also sometimes called 'transitional' swords, cut-thrust sword is a modern term used to describe a type of military weapon which had become somewhat more specialized than the original arming sword or single sword. In period all of these were typically just called swords. Typical cut-thrust sword are often Oakeshott types XV and XVIII. The blade is tapered rather than parallel edged, coming to an acute point, and of flattened diamond or hexagonal cross section, sometimes with a central ridge running down the center of each face to further stiffen the blade. Several historical weapons fall into this category, including the Spanish 'espada ropera', the French 'espadon', and the 'spada filo' of the Italian Renaissance masters. The 'spada da lato' (sidesword) was also considered a development of the cut-and-thrust sword (see Sidesword). Unlike the rapier, which was basically a civilian weapon, the cut-thrust sword was first and foremost a military sword. Cut-thrust swords often incorporated compound hilts with side rings, thumb rings and finger rings used to employ a "fingered" or over-theguard grip, which assisted in point control when thrusting. Detail of the hilt of a sidesword, late 15 th Century Sword, Sidesword ERA: Renaissance to Enlightenment M Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/4/4 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/SP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 10/3 200 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The term sidesword is a modern term used to refer to a certain class of civilian swords midway between an arming sword or cut-thrust sword and a rapier. There has been much debate over the definition or even use of this term, but for game purposes it means a double-edged civilian cut-and-thrust weapon derived from the cut-thrust sword (see Sword, Cut- Thrust) which is similar and overlaps considerably with this type. Some sideswords fall into the Oakeshott XIX category, others are outside the basic Oakeshott typology. The sidesword is characterized by a slim, strait or slightly tapering blade, and a guard featuring a 'complex hilt' of some kind, with such features as finger rings, a knucklebow, side rings, and / or thumb rings. 59

60 Whether you prefer to think of it as a transitional weapon midway between a cut-and-thrust sword and a rapier, or simply as a sword of this era, the blade of a sidesword was still wide enough to cut, while also being fairly stiff and tapering gently to an acute point, with very sharp blades making them suitable for both slicing and thrusting. The modern term 'sidesword' is derived from the Italian "spada da lato". This weapon was widely used in the late Renaissance until it was gradually supplanted by the longer and narrower true rapier, though both types existed concurrently for at least two centuries. Swords of this type are featured in several fencing manuals, including two of the most prominent of the 16 th Century Achille Marozzos UOpera Nova dell'arte delle Armi U of 1536 and Joachim Meyers UKunst des Fechten Uof false-edge. Used in the late Renaissance through the 19th century, primarily as a cavalry weapon. Backsword variants included the basket-hilt claymore, and the hanger. A basket hilt on any sword can be used to strike with, and may be treated as an extra-heavy knuckleduster (Damage 1-6 B/B) which is available for use at grapple range. The backswords hand protection, and the relatively heavy weight of the weapon made it efficient for defense, including against heavy weapons like lances and bayonets, as illustrated in this account of the use of a 1796 heavy infantry saber (a strait bladed backsword) by an English solider at the battle of Waterloo: It was in the charge I took the eagle off the enemy; he and I had a hard contest for it; he made a thrust at my groin I parried it off and cut him down through the head. After this a lancer came at me; I threw the lance off my right side, and cut him through the chin upwards through the teeth. Next, a foot soldier fired at me, then charged me with his bayonet, which I also had the good luck to parry, and I cut him down through the head; thus ended the contest. -Sgt. Charles Ewart, 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys) describing his capture of an Imperial Eagle at Waterloo: Hilt of a Mortuary-Hilt Backsword of the English Civil War era, 17 th Century Sword, Backsword ERA: Enlightenment to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/2/5 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 10/5 200 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel A heavy, strait bladed, usually single edged military cut-andthrust weapon, often with enhanced hand protection such as a basket or cage hilt. Used by cavalry, it was known as a 'backsword' because it was hung over the back by cavalry soldiers so that it wouldn't slap the thigh while galloping. Normally single-edged though sometimes featuring a partial Hilt of a 17 th Century Italian Schiavona The backsword was particularly popular in England and Scotland, where it took many forms, increasingly refined and sophisticated, typically with complex hilts. There were hunting hangers, mortuary hilt swords made popular during the English Civil War, the sinclair-hilt named after a Scottish mercenary, the Scottish claymores, and the classic English basket-hilt sword. The extra hand protection provided by the basket hilt allowed the weapon to be used more defensively and with more hands forward guards, and could also be used to smash peoples faces when at close (grapple) range. 60

61 Cut-Thrust sword, this is one of three attributed to Jeanne d'arc, Dijon France, early 15th Century AD, Oakeshott type XV (this weapon may have been rehilted at a later time) Sidesword: Spada Da Lato, Bologna, Italy, 1550 AD Sidesword: Espada Ropera, Barcelona, Spain 16th Century AD Sidesword: Spada Da Lato, Milan, Italy, 1570 AD (Oakeshott type XIX) Cut-Thrust Sword, Dordogne Valley, France, circa 1430 AD, Oakeshott Type XVIII Cut-Thrust sword, Portugal 15 th Century AD 61

62 Sword, Schiavona / Palasz ERA: Enlightenment to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/2/5 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 11/5 250 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel This is a class of very sturdy, long bladed basket-hilt swords both very popular with heavy cavalry in the Enlightenment period, typified by the Polish palasz and the Venetian schiavona. The schiavona is long singlehanded cutting sword characterized by a distinctive type of complex cage-hilt usually also featuring full or partial quillions, and a distinctive 'cats-head' pommel. The blade is fairly broad tapering to a stiff thrusting point, with single or multiple fullers in the forte, though it is primarily a cutting weapon. Some are fully double edged, while some have only half of the false edge sharpened. In the Middle Ages the Doge (mayor) of Venice hired the Schiavoni, a tribe of Slavonic mercenaries from the Dalmatian (Croatian) coast as bodyguards. The Schiavoni wielded a unique type of sword which was called the schiavonesca; a kind of a hybrid between a cut-and-thrust sword and an arming sword. The relatively crude schiavonesca gradually evolved into the more sophisticated Venetian schiavona which was eventually became a very popular weapon in the Baroque period, particularly for heavy cavalry. Schiavonas were one of the first swords to feature a full basket hilt, with a characteristic shape. Later cage hilt swords such as the Scottish basket-hilted "broadsword" are thought by some scholars to have evolved from the schiavona. The palasz (or pallash or palasc) was a similar weapon used in Poland by the famed Winged Hussars heavy cavalry, a very long, slim double-fullered blade (up to 46 ) designed primarily for cutting. These were also popular across Europe. There were more MarxBruder present than Federfechters and they were eager to Fight! With trumpeters in the Town Square, all the people had their seats with windows thrown open to see this spectacle. Through the streets went men with armfulls of swords, rappiers and staffs, there were two royal spears full of hanging dussacks, and what's a fechtschule without them!!!) All the Parties put their Capes and Swords in a pile. The Fechtmeister was holding onto a wooden Halberd. The trumpets blared, Just then the Old Prince Georgen zum Brigg, who is considered a father of the Fatherland*, marshaled in the event and together with the Bishops of Preslaw, a pair of reichs tallers (aka thaelers, a gold coin roughly equivalent to a Florin) were offered as the Prize to every winner, so long as Blood was drawn, the loser should live with his shoddyness in defeat. The youthful Dussack fencers got out of control at one point and had to be Halted by the Fechtmeister. So great was their thirst for 2 Gold Tallers (Thaelers, worth about 2 gulden or gold ducats each), but yet they brought little blood and so little Gold was awarded to the Dussack fencers. The Rappiers, Staffs and Longswords however, proved very bloody, and much Gold was awarded. The best was a Marxbruder, a Schlosser with his strong Handworks and his Stork from above, he landed strikes on their heads. He was awarded two gold tallers and was ready to go to the Pub, just then a short, little Hatmaker, from Nerlingen (Swabia) came at him with Longsword, and gave the Schlosser, the Spitze or point. the Fechmeister halted the fight instantly and said " Landsman, whats with this Reckless and wild Start? have you not seen, that he who is without Art only stabs at the Head. The reply was: Ich Lieg noch nitt or "Sorry, I don't lie still*". As no blood was drawn, the match continued with the little Hatmaker, splitting the Marxbruder's Nose in two! For all to see. So, off to the Pub He went!! Then there came an accidental retalliation, a Marxbruder, while Staff fighting, put out an eye of a Federfechter! And the sight of how high the clear, eye fluid went was horrible to behold. -Description of a Fechtschule tournament at Liegnitz, from Hans Ulrich Krafft Reisen und Gefangenschaf, 1583 AD *This response could be compared to the earliest known Handwritten German fencing history and is attributed to Liechtenauers statement in 1389: Wer do Liegt, der ist tot, wer sich Ruret, der lebt noch: Who stays still is dead, who moves still lives. 62

63 Backsword: English hanger, 17 th Century. This is a primitive type of weapon with a simple Knucklebow and no counterbalancing pommel, which would have a lower speed in followup attacks (3/2/3). Backsword: early 17 th Century Scottish Ribbon Hilt Claymore with a very broad blade. You could say this monster is the very definition of a broadsword Backsword: 17 th Century Scottish Claymore with a brass hilt Backsword: 18 th Century Scottish Claymore Schiavona, probably Venetian early 17 th Century AD. From the private collection of Bill Grandy. Schiavona / Pallash: Very early, very long 15 th Century Lithuanian Pallash sword Schiavona / Pallash: 17 th 18 th Century Polish Pallash sword with clamshell hilt Schiavona / Pallash: early 19 th Century Dutch Pallash sword 63

64 Morning Star (HH) ERA: All eras M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/1/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/(BP)/(BP) AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 16/15 70 gp Primary Material: Iron This is the knightly version of the original morning star, the morgenstern (see Morgenstern). This version is a singlehanded spiked mace suitable for cavalry, usually of all iron (or more rarely, all steel) construction. A very dangerous weapon capable of causing serious injuries even against armoured opponents, all hits count as both bludgeon and piercing damage. Axe, Battle (HH) ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/1/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-12/C/C AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 7/5 (steel hafted 15/5) 30 gp Primary Material: Wood, Steel An axe designed for cutting people as opposed to trees. Contrary to mythology, battle axes were relatively small and light like every other military weapon, and didn t have giant three foot wide, 10 kilo blades like in a Frank Frazetta* painting. Axes used for war or hunting were generally lighter and slimmer than axes used to fell trees, rather than the other way around. The typical battle axe was also a relatively small single-handed weapon (though there were two-handed axes, see Great Axe and Sparth Axe). Nevertheless, the battle axe was brutal, it could slice off limbs, split heads or hack shields to pieces with relative ease, and cut through shields or light armor without problems. Long after the battle axe began to be replaced by other more sophisticated weapons on the battlefields of the Renaissance, they remained in use with sappers through the Early Modern period, as well as with marines, sailors, and pirates on ships well into the 19 th Century as the boarding axe. Some battle-axes featured iron langets to protect the haft, or were made of all-steel construction, and / or had features like back-spikes, roundels or even knucklebows to protect the hand. All-steel axes would have hardness and hit points similar to a war-pick, a back spike would confer a P attack type. Roundels confer +1 to defence, knucklebows +2. * not that there is anything wrong with Frank Frazetta Sword, Hand and a Half (HH) ERA: Renaissance to Baroque M Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/4/3 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/CP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +1/- Hardness / Hit points: 10/3 180 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel This is basically a small bastard sword or longsword (see Bastard Sword, Longsword) designed for civilian or semicivilian use as a personal defense weapon or a riding sword. Thee swords usually feature a stiff, flattened diamond or diamond shaped blade and a sharp profile taper ending in a very sharp point. Oakeshott type XVa is a typical example of the type. This type of sword is much smaller than a longsword, in the neighbourhood of in total length. These are versatile, very quick weapons effective close in or at range, featuring both a very sharp edge and a lethal needle point. AP bonus applies to thrusts only. Antique 16th Century hand-and-a-half bastard sword, Ulm, Germany 64

65 War hammer, Germany, Circa 15 th Century AD (this is a special type of war hammer called a dagger mace used for judicial combat) War Pick, Austrian, 1570 AD Norwegian Battle Axe, 9 th Century AD Danish Battle Axe, 10 th Century AD Ottoman Battle Axe, 17 th Century AD Indian Antelope style Battle Axe, 17 th Century AD French Battle Axe, 16 th Century AD Bearded Axe, Ireland, Circa 10 th Century AD Great Axe: Danish Huskarl Axe, 12 th Century AD 65

66 Sword, Liuye Dao ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/4/2 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/S Hardness / Hit points: 9/3 40 gp Primary Material: Steel The willow leaf saber is the classic Chinese saber, an elegant, gently curved single-edged sword suitable for infantry or cavalry. One of the most ubiquitous weapons in the history of the world, the dao was arguably the basis for dozens of other weapons found from the Middle East and Europe to Japan, south Asia, and the pacific rim including the Hungarian saber, the Turkish kilij, the Indian tulwar, the Persian shamshir and the Arab saif, among others. The dao in various forms was the standard sidearm for cavalry and infantry in China going back to the Bronze Age. Relatively slender with a slight flaring near the tip, this is a well balanced weapon suitable for slashing, chopping or thrusting. Dao usually featured only minor hand protection in the form of a small disk or roundel, and frequently a canted grip to aid in weapon retention (particularly important for cavalry). The liuye dao is a versatile sword which can be effective in the hands of both the relatively untrained or the experienced martial artist. Some dao feature a partial false-edge allowing for false-edge cuts. While the dao was the weapon of the army rank and file, and the double-edged jian was the preferred weapon for high officials and aristocrats, many very special dao were also forged for the elite. These were made with incredible sophistication, wrought from excellent steel (tempered steel or wootz steel from India, which would increase the cost accordingly), using sophisticated differential hardening techniques and masterful heat treatments. Such weapons were often decorated with artistic inlays of gold, silver and other metals. One popular feature introduced during the Ming dynasty was to embed a silver bead (or rolling pearl ) inside a slot in the back edge of the sword, which would roll back and forth during a cut. A few of these remarkable weapons survive today. A weapon of this quality would be a +2 or +3 masterwork blade at minimum. Sword, Yanmao Dao ERA: All eras M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/3/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/SP Hardness / Hit points: 9/3 150 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel This is the goose-quill sabre, another variant of the dao (see Liuye Dao). The yanmao dao is a straighter sword with a curve appearing toward the center of percussion near the tip of the blade. This weapon can thrust effectively and has better reach than the other types of dao. Sword, Saber ERA: Medieval to Early Modern Aka: Scimitar M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/4/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/S Hardness / Hit points: 10/3 90 gp Primary Material: Steel A saber is technically any curved sword. For game purposes saber means any non-specific curved single edged sword of medium length. All sabers are specialized for draw-cutting, which is very useful in cavalry ride-by attacks (making it possible to deliver a lethal cut while riding at full speed getting the sword knocked out of your hand) and is a very quick weapon particularly at close range. 18 th Century Chinese soldier carrying a Dao The saber entered Europe through Hungary, where was known possibly as early as the 7 th century AD. In Slavic countries sabers were called szabla. Sabers made in the Early Modern 66

67 period incorporated knucklebows or complex hilts, treat as 3/4/3 or 3/4/4 weapons. Another common subtype of the European saber was the Ukranian shashka, a longer, very fast weapon with no crossguard. Treat this as a 4/5/1 weapon. Sabers were one of the most long lasting swords in the military arsenal, remaining in use for at least 1300 years. They were in wide use in WW I and continued to be used as cavalry weapons up to World War II. Ceremonial sabers are still carried by officers and non commissioned officers in modern armies, though they are no longer used for battle. Sword, Heavy Saber ERA: Medieval to Early Modern Aka: Scimitar M Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/3/4 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/SC Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 90 gp Primary Material: Steel Stating in the late 16 th Century, a different type of Saber began to emerge in Central Europe, rapidly spreading to the North and later to the West. A heavier weapon meant for sustained fighting as opposed to the ride-by slash. These were longer, broader-bladed, probably influenced by Hungarian sabers and possibly the Tulwar and / or the Killij, with a blade flaring out toward the tip for greater cutting power. Heavy sabers typically had greater hand protection. This design remained popular though the 19 th Century. A classic example is the British 1796 pattern light cavalry saber (not to be confused with the 1796 pattern heavy cavalry saber, which was actually a straight bladed Backsword). Sword, Shamshir ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/5/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/S Hardness / Hit points: 10/2 150 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel Aka Scimetar. The word "shamshir" means 'curved like a tigers tail', this was the name made for an acutely curved saber used in Persia, curving up to 15 degrees from cross to tip. Sabers were adopted fairly late in Central Asia and the Middle East, but were becoming widespread by the 16 th Century when this unique design began to appear. A typical Shamshir had a simple crossguard up to 2 wide on each side, and was carried horizontally with the hilt and tip pointing up. The shamshir has many cousins in the region, all of which appeared around the same time and all of which were probably copies of the Persian shamshir (or possibly the Chinese dao). The Arab saif, the Etheopian guardes, and the Turkish killij all closely resemble the shamshir. All of these weapons were similar: slim cavalry sabers with deeply curved slicing blades designed for draw-cutting, featuring a small, canted grip intended to aid in weapon retention.. These weapons overlapped a great deal and therefore are all currently included in the shamshir class, but there were some different design emphasis within the subtypes. The saif was often not as acutely curved as the shamshir and was more suitable for thrusting (treat as SP weapon). The guardes had a distinctive type of wooden hilt Though intended for cavalry, due to the pronounced curve and light weight the shamshir can be used in closer quarters than most medium length slashing weapons (treat as a size S weapon when fighting at grapple range). Tulwar with ferrengi (foreign) style hilt, Punjab India circa 1815, authors personal collection. Sword, Tulwar ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/5/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/SC Hardness / Hit points: 10/3 150 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel In India one finds a very similar weapon to the shamshir called a 'tulwar' or talwar, a saber with a similarly pronounced curve, but a broader blade than a shamshir and usually featuring less acute of a point. Tulwars have a small, tight handle, the grip itself is strait rather than canted like some other sabers, and typically consisting of minimal quillions with a roundel pommel which makes for a very snug grip. The tulwar also often has a sharpened false-edge. 67

68 Like all sabers, these are specialized slashing weapons originally designed for use from horseback. Historically these elegant swords were used by Persian, Hindu, Sikh, and Mughal cavalry. The tulwar in particular was popular with the Sikhs, though eclipsed by the Khanda and the Kirpan (see Jambayia) in Religious importance, the tulwar is the weapon of Rajput cavalry and is the basis of the martial sport Gatka which is still practiced today by Sikhs all around the world. Though intended for cavalry, the tulwar can be used on foot in closer quarters than most medium length slashing weapons (treat as a size S weapon when fighting at grapple range). Tulwars made after the 17 th Century often featured ferengi style hilts which included a knucklebow or even something like a cup-hilt. These weapons are superior for defense (treat as 3/5/3 weapons). Sword, Killij ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/3/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/SC AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +1/- Hardness / Hit points: 10/3 150 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The Turks created their own fearsome version of the saber, the killij or killic. This is a specialized cutting weapon, brutally effective, somewhat similar in design philosophy to the yataghan: let the shield do the blocking, this thing is for lopping off arms and heads as efficiently as possible. Has a partial false edge and a reinforced point for thrusting. The AP bonus is for thrusting only. Liuye Dao, Ming Dynasty China circa 15 th -16 th Century AD Yanmao Dao, 16 th Century AD Saber: An exquisite Turkish or Ukrainian shashka saber, probably early 17 th Century, Wootz steel, inlayed with lapis and silver and featuring a gold inscription on the blade. Tulwar, India 17 th Century AD Tulwar: Ethiopian guardes saber, 16 th Century AD Shamshir: Persian Shamshir 18 th Century AD 68

69 Killij: Ottoman Killic, Bulgaria 16 th Century AD Tulwar ferengi style with knucklebow, Punjab India early 19 th Century, from the authors personal collection Heavy Saber: Swedish heavy cavalry saber, circa 1650 AD Saber: Ukranian Szabla, circa 1650 AD Heavy Saber, Hungarian Szalba circa 1650 AD Cossacks of the Zaporozhian Sich write a mocking reply to the Sultan of Turkey, Circa 17 th Century, Ukraine. 69

70 Axe, Bearded ERA: Iron Age to Medieval L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/1/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/C/C AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 7/5 30 gp Primary Material: Wood, Iron Also called the Danish axe, a bearded axe is a longer subtype of battle axe (see Battle Axe) with a special L-shaped or bearded blade. Many types of axes were made with this design, which gives you a wide cutting surface with less weight in the blade, but for game purposes this also means a battle axe longer than the typical version, of 3-4 feet in length, with a slightly lighter bearded shaped blade. This type of axe was widely used by the Vikings in the 9 th -10 th Century, particularly by the Danes. It could be used as a hand and a half weapon but was more typically used one-handed in conjunction with a shield. A sub - type of the longsword (see Longsword), bastard swords were basically two-handed (or hand and a half) cut-and-thrust swords. They were similar to long swords but slightly shorter (average ) with stiff, sharply tapering blades usually of either hexagonal or diamond cross-section. The blade crosssection was designed to cut through light armor like a chisel, with the stiffness and sharp taper making it specialized for thrusting. Modern tests have revealed that swords of this type also cut surprisingly well against both soft and hard targets. Oakeshott types XVa and XVII may normally be considered bastard swords. There was also another civilian type of bastard sword characterized by a complex hilt including side rings and / or finger rings. These also usually had a flatter, wider blade and were used more for cutting (change to 4/3/5 primary attack type C, no AP bonus). These were less expensive (160 gp) and often appeared in town armories. Bastard swords were also used as sidearms by some Swiss Reislauffer which apparently gave them an advantage over other infantry such as Italian Condottieri and German Landsknechts with their shorter katzbalger type swords. Axe, Great (TH) ERA: Iron Age to Medieval L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/0/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-12/C/C AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 7/5 50 gp Primary Material: Wood, Steel This very large type of axe first began to appear in Scandinavia, Russia and the British Isles around the end of the 10 th Century. This weapon is associated with the Danish Saxon huskarl, usually Norse warriors in the service of Saxon kings as hirthmen. These were effective weapons which evolved from the battle axe and the bearded axe, but were eventually replaced by more specialized types such as the sparth axe (probably an evolutionary development of this weapon see Sparth Axe) the halberd, and the pollaxe (see Pollaxe). Sword, Bastard (HH) ERA: Renaissance to Baroque L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/3/4 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/CP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +1/- Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 220 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The acute point of the bastard sword made it more effective in a thrust. Bastard swords of both types also frequently featured a two stage, stepped grip, sometimes called a 'coke bottle' grip. Bastard swords sometimes feature a large ricasso for halfswording. Many martial techniques have been designed around the use of the longsword, bastard sword, and greatsword. As with the longsword, false-edge cutting is critical to making the most of this weapons speed (see False Edge Cutting MF and Zucken MF). The mastercuts (see Miesterhau MF) are fundamental techniques, and half-swording can be effectively employed to enhance it s effectiveness at short (i.e. grapple) range (see Half-Swording MF) as well as making the most of its armor-piercing benefits in the thrust. 70

71 Sword, Federschwert ERA: Renaissance to Baroque L Reach / Speed / Defense: 5/4/4 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-2/B/- Hardness / Hit points: 9/3 100 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel A federschwert or feather sword is a special type of training sword used in the Holy Roman Empire (greater Germany) during the Renaissance. These are blunt swords were designed to be relatively safe to fight with, the deeply fullered blades are relatively light and bend in a thrust like a modern foil. But they can still cause serious injuries with strikes without care. Renaissance Fencing fraternities like the marxbrüder ( marx brothers aka the brotherhood of St. Mark) of Frankfurt and the Friefechter (free fencers) of Prague used these weapons in tournaments and prize fights. To win, you had to cut your opponents scalp just enough that he bled, but not so badly that you broke his skull which could get you in legal trouble. To simulate this kind of fight in the game, make all attacks full bypass attempts (-10 TH), and the first person to receive 4 HP of damage loses the bout. Sword, Greatsword (HH) ERA: Medieval to Baroque L Reach / Speed / Defense: 5/1/4 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-12/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 10/6 180 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel A greatsword, also called a "war sword" or a "sword of war", is a subtype of the longsword (see Longsword) and an evolutionary two-handed descendant of the arming sword (see Arming Sword) specialized for cutting. These larger swords initially appeared in the late 12th century but were not frequently used in the 13th, after which they were largely replaced by longswords and bastard swords, but the type was revived in the 16th century as more unarmored infantry returned to the battlefields. Greatswords were capable of facing heavier weapons such as pole-arms and larger axes, had extraordinary reach, and were particularly devastating against opponents wearing light or no armor. Greatswords generally have a parallel edged, flat or lenticular cross-section blade suitable for cutting and chopping, less useful for thrusting than other long swords. The blade was wider and usually a few inches longer than other longswords, with longer grips as well. For game purposes, swords of Oakeshott types XIIa, XIIIa, and XX may generally be considered greatswords. Typical greatswords measured up to 4' - 4 1/2 in length and weighed 3-4 lbs, but are not to be confused with a "true" two-handed sword such as the zweihander which could measure over 6' (see Zweihander and Flammard). Greatswords were often made with a ricasso from 2 to as much as 10 long. Many martial techniques have been designed around the use of the longsword, bastard sword, and greatsword. As with the longsword, false-edge cutting is critical to making the most of this versatile cutting weapon (see False Edge Cutting MF and Zucken MF). The mastercuts (see Miesterhau MF) are also fundamental techniques for using the greatsword, and halfswording techniques can be effectively employed to enhance it s effectiveness at short (i.e. grapple) range (see Half-Swording MF). Sword, Longsword (HH) ERA: Medieval to Baroque L Reach / Speed / Defense: 5/2/4 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/CP Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 200 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel For the RPG long sword see Arming Sword Developed as early as the late 12th Century, longswords became the knightly weapon of choice by the 14th. The longsword is actually a two-handed or hand-and-a-half weapon which was developed as advances in armor increasingly obviated the need for a shield, allowing the second hand to be used. The weapon incorrectly described as a 'long sword' in most Role Playing Games and computer games is actually a 'single sword' or an 'arming sword' (see Arming Sword). Early longswords were little more than arming swords with extended grips, which allowed them to be used two handed. The blade was typically straight or slightly tapering, doubleedged, and the weapon normally had a simple cruciform hilt. As the weapon developed, examples with blades up to a foot longer than those of most arming swords were not rare, for an overall length of four to four and a half feet. They also began to feature more profile taper especially toward the end of the blade, and a stiffer more wedge-like cross-section (often flattened-diamond or hexagonal shaped) more suitable for cutting through light armor, sometimes featuring multiple fullers running partially down the length of the blade. Oakeshott types XVIa, XVIIIb, and XX may be considered longswords (type XX can be either a longsword or a great-sword) The longsword class overlaps with other two handed swords, including the bastard sword, a pointier, skinnier cut-and-thrust 71

72 variety (see Bastard Sword), and the great sword or war sword; broader and a bit longer and flatter, specialized for chopping (see Greatsword), as well as the larger claymore (see Claymore). Similar fighting techniques were used with all these swords. not just experience. Though difficult to master, the longsword is one of those rare weapons like the katana or the rapier which has almost unlimited potential for Martial Arts applications. The more training you have with the longsword the more versatile and effective it really becomes. In the hands of a skilled swordsman this weapon is both a fight starter and a fightfinisher, effective against polearms or daggers, axes or maces, shields or bucklers. Well balanced and surprisingly light (typically 2-4 lbs), the longsword is equally lethal on the battlefield or in a private duel or judicial combat. Which is perhaps for this reason that most of the Fechtbücher, the ancient fencing manuals of the Renaissance, start with the longsword as the foundational weapon from which all other weapons are taught. KriegsMesser (HH) ERA: Renaissance to Baroque L Reach / Speed / Defense: 5/2/4 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-12/SCP/SC Hardness / Hit points: 10/5 140 gp Hilt of a Czech Longsword with sidering, circa 1470 AD The longsword is a very sophisticated weapon, equally effective at both cutting and thrusting, swift and versatile in attack and reliable in defense. It is not an easy weapon to master but with proper training it is lethal and very fast, the False Edge cutting MF and Zucken MF will increase the speed of this weapon by 2 or 3 points respectively, making it very dangerous indeed. Subjective: The longsword was not the king of the beasts on the open European battlefield, that honour goes to the polearms such as halberds and glaives, the lance, and the spear, later to pikes and giant six foot infantry swords. But for most European warriors, the longsword remained perhaps the ultimate prestige sidearm for more than two centuries, because it was a contender in every situation, on the battlefield, in the ambush or duel, in the confused aftermath of a pitched battle, on horseback or on foot this weapon gave you (literally) an edge and a fighting chance in almost any situation. The longsword is not a beginners weapon, which is why common infantry soldiers more commonly carried short swords, messers or daggers as sidearms. Primary Material: Tempered Steel Also known as a langen messer. This is a messer (see Messer) made into a two-handed infantry saber, essentially a formidable single-edge sword designed as a primary battlefield weapon, up to four feet long, with a hand and a half grip, sometimes strait sometimes curved. These are devastating weapons which cause horrific injuries, but are usually made well balanced and relatively light to handle well in combat. This weapon overlaps with the schwiesersabel (see Schwiesersabel). The Grossabel saber and the similar Hungarian infantry saber are more curved versions (4/4/4 1-12/SCP/S) Subjective: This is the grossemessers mean, crazy alcoholic uncle. A brutal and highly effective weapon, it could be thought of as Europes answer to the katana, to which it bears some superficial similarity. This is both a scary chopper and a good fencing weapon balanced to be effective in a one on one fight. Both a fight starter and a fight finisher. Knights, men-at-arms, and elite professional infantry carried this much larger, bulkier weapon instead, because if you knew how to make the most of this weapon (which requires numerous MF in the Codex rules), it could keep you alive. Most of the more effective techniques for using a longsword are at least somewhat counter-intuitive, which makes this a weapon which really requires at least some real Martial Arts training and The combatant on the left is wielding a kriegsmesser, circa 1500 AD 72

73 Great sword: France, Circa 14 th Century, Oakeshott type XIIIa Great Sword: War sword with sidering, Prussian Confederacy or Teutonic Order, 16 th Century, Oakeshott Type XX Large Greatsword, Germany 15 th Century Longsword, German, 14 th Century, Oakeshott type XX Longsword, Germany, 15 th Century, Oakeshott type XVIIIc 73

74 Longsword with sidering, United Provinces (Dutch), 15 th Century, Oakeshott Type XIX Longsword Bohemian (Czech) with finger-ring and sidering, Prague 15 th Century, Oakeshott Type XVIa Executioners sword, Belgium 17 th Century Federsword, Strassbourg France, circa 1550 AD Hand and a Half sword, Flanders, 15 th Century Oakeshott Type XVa 74

75 Bastard Sword, Germany 1468, (Blued Steel Blade) Bastard Sword, circa 1500 Germany, Oakeshott type XVII Bastard Sword ( Spadona ), Italian, 15 th Century Brescia, Italy Oakeshott Type XVIa or XVIIIa Bastard Sword with complex hilt, Swiss, 1530 AD Kriegsmesser, Bavaria or Austria circa 1550 AD (this one is similar to the Hungarian infantry saber) 75

76 Kriegsmesser: Langen Messer, Dresden, Poland (Prussian Confederacy) late 15th Century Kriegsmesser: Langen messer, Austria, 16th Century, probably made for a professional soldier or a knight A real beast of a messer with a knucklebow and a finger ring, probably late 16 th Century. Schwiesersabel: Swiss Saber, Berne 1450 Schwiesersabel: Swiss Saber, Lucerne

77 Schwiesersabel (HH) ERA: Renaissance to Baroque L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/3/5 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/SC Hardness / Hit points: 11/3 250 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The schwiesersabel (literally swiss saber ) is a hand-and-ahalf or two-handed saber, probably a variation of the kriegsmesser or the very similar Hungarian infantry saber. Essentially this is a deluxe military or civilian version of the kriegsmeeser. It is slimmer, faster, of more sophisticated construction and perhaps most importantly features significantly more hand protection in the form of a complex hilt. Poll Hammer (TH) ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 6/1/5 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/BP/BP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +4/+3 Hardness / Hit points: 8/6 80 gp Primary Material: Wood, Steel The poll hammer was a variant of the pollaxe (see Pollaxe) which was configured with a spike on one side and a hammerhead or beak with one or more prongs on the other. Two famous types of poll-hammers included bec de corbin ( crows beak ), and the lucerne Hammer, featuring a doublebeak, still effectively hammer heads just designed to concentrate the force like a nut-cracker, to break open armor. Pollaxe (TH) ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 6/1/5 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-12/BCP/CP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 8/6 80 gp Primary Material: Wood, Steel The pollaxe (aka pole axe, poleaxe, poll axe, hache) is obviously quite similar to the halberd (see Halberd) with which it does overlap, (it is arguably a direct descendant) but there are some key differences. Pollaxes are typically much shorter than halberds, averaging around 6-7 long, tend to be a bit lighter as well. Their blades are riveted on to the haft in pieces in a specific type of modular design allowing different parts to be removed and swapped out, whereas halberds were usually forged of one piece. Some pollaxes were actually interchangeable with poll hammers (see Poll Hammer). Pollaxes also tended to also feature convex axelike blades whereas a halberd blade was more like a cleaver and evolved to be increasingly concave over time, ending in a point. Pollaxes were popular with knights and the urban middle class fencing fraternities, and are featured in several fencing manuals. One manual from France, called UJeu de La HacheU is exclusively devoted to fighting with these weapons. Ahlspeiss (Awl Spear) (TH) ERA: Renaissance to Enlightenment VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/0/3 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/P/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +4/- Hardness / Hit points: 10/9 80 gp Primary Material: Wood, Steel This is a specialized thrusting spear which appeared in Germany during the early Renaissance (circa 1400). Possibly a development of the Iron Age angon, which itself appears to be a dual purpose (melee / missile) offshoot of the Roman pilum, a specialized javelin. The long, narrow steel thrusting tip had the dual advantages of excellent penetration and being difficult to cut through. The Ahlspeiss is a two handed weapon which also features a roundel to protect the users hand. A very effective weapon particularly against armoured opponents. Balanced Spear (HH) ERA: Classical Bronze Age VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 6/2/4 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCBP/BP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 6/4 100 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel Herodotus wrote about the elite corps of Persian warriors he called the Athanatoi, the 'Immortals' who fought in the Persian Wars of 480 BC: a body of picked Persians under the leadership of Hydarnes the son of Hydarnes. This corps was known as the Immortals, because it was invariably kept up to strength; if a man was killed or fell sick, the vacancy he left was at once filled, so that the total strength of the corps was never less -and never more- than ten thousand -Herodotus, The Histories The historians of Alexander the Great described warriors called apple bearers carrying spears with counterweights at the end fashioned of silver or gold, shaped like an apple or a pomegranate. The Persians own surviving records do not 77

78 mention a corps called the Immortals, but we do have images of spears with metal counterweights clearly visible in ancient Persian artwork from this period. Photograph of an excavated Burgundian spearhead, circa 9 th AD. Courtesy of Fabrice Cognot. Century Lancers, detail from the archers' frieze in Darius' palace in Susa, Iran. circa 510 BC. The weapon represented here is a relatively short (six seven foot) spear with an iron counterweight that can be used for striking. Silver spear-butts can be had as well but cost extra! Hewing Spear (HH) ERA: Dark Ages to Renaissance VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/1/3 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/CP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 7/6 100 gp Primary Material: Wood, Steel This is a large bladed spear designed for either for hunting or for military purposes, specialized for one on one combat as a two-handed weapon, though it can also be used one-handed. It has long, broad spear blade rather than a mere point, suitable for cutting like a sword as well as piercing. European hewing spears, also often called boars spears, often also featured a T shaped cross guard which serves as a hook for grappling, as lugs for parrying, and to prevent an impaled victim (or a boar) from pushing themselves down the shaft to get at the wielder. Hewing Spears without these lugs such as those found outside of Europe should be considered 7/1/2 with no Grapple Bonus. Popular throughout Iron Age and Medieval Europe, this was a weapon closely associated with the Vikings. This type of spear usually also features langets to protect the haft. Bill-Guisarme (TH) ERA: Medieval to Early Modern VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/0/3 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/CP/CP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/+5 Hardness / Hit points: 8/5 100 gp Primary Material: Wood and Steel Another polearm, similar to the halberd but with a very pronounced back-hook based on the agricultural bill (see Farmers Bill) which is very efficient at pulling people off their feet. This weapon was particularly popular both in Italy and in England, where it was the standard armament of much infantry and most town guards well into the Colonial period. Some were used in battles against Native Americans in the New World. Light Lance ERA: All eras VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 8/-1/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/P/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2 Hardness / Hit points: 5/3 30 gp Primary Material: Wood, Steel A lance is just a specialized thrusting spear, one which can t be thrown very effectively and intended for cavalry. It has excellent reach being often as long as 9-12 feet, and good penetration. The lance could be wielded with one hand. 78

79 79 8

80 Lucerne Hammer, the favourite weapon of tough guys in Lucerne, Switzerland circa 16 th -17 th Century AD Pollaxe, Strassbourg France, circa 1500 AD Pollaxe, French, 15 th Century AD Ahlspeiss, Germany circa 1350 Bill Guisarme, Jamestown Colony, Virginia, 17 th Century 80

81 Hewing Spear: Illyrian Spear, Dubrovnic Croatia circa 3 rd Century BC Hewing Spear: Viking Spear, Norway, circa 850 AD Hewing Spear: Norman Spear, Palermo Sicily 1087 AD Hewing Spear: Almagovar Spear, Catalonia, circa 1350 AD Hewing Spear: Spear Philippines, circa 16 th Century AD Hewing Spear: Zulu Spear, Tanzania, Africa circa 18 th Century Hewing Spear: Masai Lion-Killing spear, Kenya, Africa circa 16 th Century 81

82 Halberd TH (TH) ERA: Medieval to Early Modern VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/0/3 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-12/CP/CP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 8/6 80 gp Primary Material: Wood and Steel The halberd was the first medieval polearm to achieve notoriety and was one of the most effective hand-to-hand weapons ever created. Pioneered by the Swiss, it became one of the most popular weapons in Europe and a key infantry weapon of nearly every European army from the 14 th -17 th Centuries. This heretofore unique weapon was essentially a big meat-cleaver mounted on a pole, with a pointy tip and a back-spike. The early form was really what came to be called a volgue (see Volgue). Gradually the shape of the blade changed to become smaller, pointier and somewhat more axe-like. The back-spike evolved into a kind of armor-piercing can opener and the tip of the blade itself evolved into a reinforced armor-piercing point like a spike. While most halberds made around Europe were iron, Swiss halberds had tempered steel blades, one of very few polearms to ever be made that way (tempered steel halberds have +1 AP). Volgue (TH) ERA: Medieval to Early Modern VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/-1/3 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-16/CP/C AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +1/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 8/6 30 gp Primary Material: Wood and Iron The volgue (also vogue) is an early primitive form of the halberd (see Halberd). The volgue doesn t have a sophisticated blade design as the later halberd, and may not the most elegant weapon ever made, but this heavy pole-cleaver can behead a horse with one stroke. Halberd, Swiss, Circa 15 th Century AD Halberd, Czech circa 1520 AD Halberd, German, 1475 AD Halberd, Swiss, 1480 AD Halberd, Italian, 1560 AD 82

83 Sidebar: The Battle of Morgarten In the Winter of 1314, in what is now eastern Switzerland the men and women of the tiny forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden were in a serious bind. They had provoked the enmity of the Hapsburgs, the most powerful family in Europe, an international clan who literally owned most of Spain, Austria, and Flanders and currently held the Imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire (greater Germany). Prince Frederick the Handsome, the Hapsburg Emperor, sought to annex this Swiss backwater in order to focus on Northern Italy, upon which he had designs. Frederick was not entirely surprised to be rebuffed, the Swiss had a well established tradition of local autonomy that had been certified by several previous Emperors. And having never had a Feudal Lord for the last few centuries they didn t feel like they needed one now, no matter how handsome. But tradition or not, rejecting the demands of a Hapsburg Prince was not something done lightly. The tribes of these three tiny Cantons hastily renewed their formal military alliance of 1291 and began to desperately prepare for Armageddon. Nobody challenged the aristocracy and lived to tell about it, let alone taking on the might of the Hapsburgs. Swords and spears were not sufficient to harm the iron clad knights who would be come in the spring, so the resourceful Swiss farmers invented a new weapon called a halberd, which would play a key role in their survival plan. The halberd was a powerful pole-cleaver which could be used like a spear with its sharp point, but it also had a back-spike that could pierce armour like a can-opener or pull knights off of their mounts, and a huge blade heavy enough to hack them to pieces once dismounted. One morning in 1315 the Hapsburgs came, and the Swiss sprang an ambush like a bear trap in a narrow pass at Morgarten. First rolling logs down the hillsides to block the Austrian retreat, the desperate Swiss charged into the trapped Imperial army with their new formidable weapon in hand. Fighting with a frenzy that took the knights aback, the Swiss peasants cut down horse and rider alike, and within a short time the battle became a rout. The rules of chivalry dictated knights should be ransomed, but the Swiss peasant militia were not part of that system, they killed all their prisoners, establishing a ruthless precedent they would follow in all future battles. As a result, a few thousand Austrian knights were hacked to pieces like sashimi, and a new political entity we now call The Old Swiss Confederacy was born, and with it the reputation of the mighty Swiss Reislauffer who remained essentially undefeated for the next 200 years. 83

84 St Hubert as a Swiss Reislauffer Cavalryman, from right wing of Paumgartner Altar Albrecht Durer 1503 Armed with a bastard sword, a lance, and a ballock dagger 84

85 Exotic Weapons German Landsknecht, circa 1520 AD Exotic Weapons According to the Codex interpretation of the OGL, Exotic weapons can mean either those weapons which were actually rare or exotic; or weapons which required advanced training to use. In some cases a weapon may be fairly common in a certain era (rapiers in Baroque Europe) but still require advanced training for even basic competence. By OGL rules any character can use an Exotic Weapon by acquiring the Exotic Weapon Proficiency for that weapon. Some weapons obviously overlap so that an Exotic Proficiency for example in Smallsword will also carry over to Colichemarde and Rapier and possibly to an estoc; an Exotic Proficiency in Katana will also apply to Wakizashe and Tachi. Use common sense for this and / or refer to the entry for Weapon Focus in Appendix VI of the Core Rules, page 63. In some cases where a weapon is common in a certain region or culture, (Kurkri in Nepal or Barong among the Moro for example) you may wish to reclassify a weapon as Simple or Martial for anyone within that culture. 85

86 Sap ERA: Classical to Early Modern T Reach / Speed / Defense: 0/5/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 2/2 10 gp Primary Material: Leather, Lead Shot (or Sand) A sap is simply a leather sack filled with lead shot or sand. Designed to knock people out without killing them, due to their enhanced ability to cause KO roll a second die of KO damage for any critical hit. Balisong (Butterfly Knife) ERA: Renaissance to Modern T Reach / Speed / Defense: 0/6/0 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-4/SP/- Hardness / Hit points: 9/3 5 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The Balisong or Butterfly knife is both the strongest folding knife and likely the flashiest of knives ever created. It consists of a single blade with two independent handles attached to the blade's tang. These handles swing back and forth both serving as a scabbard for the blade and a solid handle that has nearly the same strength as a full-tang knife. Made famous in Hollywood films in the 1980's such as Streets of Fire and the Outsiders, the Balisong can actually be traced back several hundred years. In Europe, historical texts place its origin in France during the 1500s. Another favored weapon of the Filipino martial arts, Filipino lore traces it back to about 800 AD, though no solid evidence supporting this can be found. Aficionados of the balisong routinely flip and juggle the knife in flashy patterns to show their prowess prior to entering or to avoid a fight (Weapon Focus with this weapon confers +1 Speed) making it potentially the fastest weapon in this book. While this is flashy (+1 on intimidation Skill Checks), true experts can also use these skills to strike with the same motion they use to withdraw the knife from a pocket or other concealed point on their bodies in much the same manner of a Japanese iaido master (see Nukitsuke MF). Tanto Dagger ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern T Reach / Speed / Defense: 0/5/0 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/SP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +1/- Hardness / Hit points: 10/2 100 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel This is the razor sharp, singled edged dagger of the Japanese samurai, like the katana these were made of good steel with sophisticated heat treatments and differential hardening techniques, making them very effective, extremely sharp knives. Katar (punch) Dagger ERA: Enlightenment to Early Modern T Reach / Speed / Defense: 0/7/0 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SP/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 80 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel A dagger integrated into a knuckle guard, held in the fist. These were used in India. They were used as armor piercing weapons specialized for penetrating mail armor. The broad blade confers a lethal wound. Kukri Knife ERA: Classical Iron Age to Early modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/5/1 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SC/C Hardness / Hit points: 10/3 100 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel A 'bent' bladed knife similar to the falcata (see Falcata) used throughout Nepal and some parts of India. The weapon may be an indigenous design or it may have been brought by the Greeks under Alexander, or possibly by later commercial links with the Roman Empire. This is every effective cutting weapon which won fame for the tough Gurkha people who still use it as a weapon today. Numerous eyewitness accounts describe Kurkri knives used to behead people and sever limbs in battle as late as WW II. 86

87 Main Gauche ERA: Enlightenment to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/5/4 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SP/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 12/3 180 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel A long bladed dagger with an enhanced guard, which is specialized for parrying, usually wielded in the left hand (hence the name) in conjunction with a second weapon held in the right, frequently a rapier, a cut-and-thrust sword, or an arming sword. Often lacking an edge (sometimes single edged), the narrow blade on the typical main gauche ensures that despite its principally defensive purpose, it is capable of lethal thrusting attacks. Held in left hand, used as blocking weapon in conjunction with a longer weapon such as a rapier or an arming sword (see Main Gauche MF). This weapon should not be confused for the Main Gauche MF, which is actually named after this weapon. Keris / Kris ERA: Medieval to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/5/1 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-4/SP/P Hardness / Hit points: 9/2 or 7/2 120 gp 1200 gp Primary Material: Pattern Welded Steel The two main types of Kris blades found in Southeast Asia are the keris and the kalis or Moro kris (Please note that the term Moro Kris is being used due to it being more familiar term to modern practitioners of the Filipino martial arts and is not meant as an ethnic slur or insult.) The keris is a traditional thrusting weapon used throughout SE Asia and while native to Indonesia and Malaysia is also found in Brunei, and the Philippines. The keris has been in use in various forms since about Light and fast, keris are primarily used for thrusting attacks, though slicing cuts are also quite vicious due to the serpentine edge. The blades for Keris are between inches in length and are usually asymmetrical with an odd number of curves or luk (an even number is considered to be unlucky). They are almost always made of pattern welded steel and the pattern in the blade is called a Pamor. Various pamor are attributed to have different properties, such as the ability to make one a leader, ensure that a person's crops will always be healthy, bring riches, etc. Most keris have a curved, often figural hilt that rotates freely around the blade's narrow tang. This lets the wielder rotate the blade the blade to slide between the ribs of their opponent. Keris are vicious weapons, but can be quite fragile. Often in order to enhance the patterns that appear in the pattern welded steel, the empu or smith will utilize softer metals than steel to enhance the pattern (often falsely stating that it is meteorite). Added to that, the view that inclusions, splits or other forging flaws can be auspicious or bring good luck to the owner means that often a keris is forged more as a good luck charm than designed primarily as a weapon. Keris forged primarily as a charm should be considered to have a hardness of 7. Keris forged as a weapon are usually made from steel and iron and often do not have an easily discernible pattern. While they are considerably more suited as a weapon these keris do share a durability issue in that they have the same weak tang construction and are maintained and cleaned with acid which rapidly degrades the health of the blade. The keris has a rich history and considerable lore associated with it. Wielders of the keris are said to posses supernatural powers such as the ability to stab someone's shadow and root them to the ground. Tales of a keris flying around and guarding its sleeping owner are also prevalent. The lore around the keris is as much a part of the blade as its physical structure. Any storyline featuring a keris as a main weapon should focus considerably on this lore whether it is actually true or not should be left up to game master. Moro Kris/Kalis ERA: Medieval to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/3/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SPC/SC Hardness / Hit points: 10/ gp Primary Material: Pattern Welded Steel The Moro Kris or Kalis is another trademark blade of the Muslim Moro Tribesman. Made in homage to their fellow Muslim tribesmen in Indonesian and Malaysia, the Moro keris is a heavy slashing weapon that can best be described as a keris on steroids. Made in almost the exact same manner as the keris although % larger in scale. The Moro kris has the same pressure-fit stick-tang formation that the smaller keris has, however the ingenious Moro added a clamping system called the bacabaca that strengthens the hilt and secures the blade turning it into a viable slashing weapon that is quite durable and overcomes these weaknesses. The Moro kris is rarely used for stabbing or thrusting, but is quite capable of removing a head with a single blow. 87

88 Barong ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/3/1 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SPC/C Hardness / Hit points: 12/3 80 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel or Pattern Welded Steel The barong (aka barung) is an attractive, leaf-bladed short sword used by the Muslim Moro tribesmen of Sabah in Borneo and in the Bangsamoro region of the Philippines. Subjective: This was a highly effective design famous for it s devastating cuts, there are even several legends of Moro warriors cutting through gun barrels, during battles against the Spanish in the 17 th Century such as at Fort Pilar and more recently allegedly against M-14s of the Philippine army. This somewhat unlikely story may be an analogy for the ability of the Moro tribesmen to hold out against far more technically advanced enemies, there are many far out legends about the Moro including a kind of berzerkergang similar to Norse berzerks dating back to the Spanish-American war. Whatever the truth about the incredible feats of the Moro, there is no doubt they are tough resourceful people who made a beautiful and deadly sword in the barong. Quite real, very effective techniques for the use of this weapon can be found in the escrima / arnis and silat martial arts systems, see Martial Feats from the Filipino Martial Arts, Codex Martialis. Sword, Wakizashi ERA: Medieval to Early Modern S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/5/1 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/SP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 11/2 150 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The single edged short saber or short sword of the Japanese samurai. Like the katana wakizashis were typically made of good well tempered steel and constructed with sophisticated pattern welding and differential hardening techniques. When carried in conjunction with a katana (see Katana) the panoply is called a daishō. Only members of the samurai class were permitted to wear the daishō. Wakizashi could be worn indoors and in other circumstances when the katana was more restricted. In wartime samurai would sometimes use a tanto as a sidearm instead of the wakizashi. Sword, Falcata ERA: Classical Iron Age to Dark Ages S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/2/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 80 gp Primary Material: Steel A short sword rather acutely curved inward (toward the cutting edge) like the infamous kukri knife of the gurkhas of Nepal (see Kukri). In fact historians believe that the kukri knife and many similar weapons may have been developments of the falcata and the larger kopis which were introduced to India by the Greek and Macedonian troops of Alexander the Great. The falcata was a later design developed by the Celtiberians of Spain, and known to the Romans as the makharia or macheria (possibly the Latin root for the word machete). The Romans first encountered this specific type of weapon around the time of the Second Punic War. They were carried by Celtiberian troops under Hannibal. The Romans later adopted them along with another more versatile CeltIberian weapon, the gladius hispaniensis. The Falcata eventually became popular all over the Mediterranean. Falcatas in the Iberian peninsula were typically being made of steel as early as the 3 rd Century BC, at a time when almost all swords in other parts of the world were still being made of Iron In use, these blade-heavy, inward-curving weapons are choppers extraordinaire, reportedly capable of severing heads and limbs with ease. Due to the weapons length, and to a lesser extent it's shape, it is probably most effective if used close-in, especially in conjunction with a shield. Essentially the falcata brings the cutting power of a large axe or longsword into the hand-to-hand arena. It's a good closequarters weapon, short, but it packs a lethal punch, in fact it is probably the most effective chopping / cutting weapon under 30" in length. Bokken ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern (Japanese context only) M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/3/2 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-4/B/- Hardness / Hit points: 7/6 30 gp Primary Material: Hardwood A bokken is a wooden training weapon used to simulate a sword in Japanese fencing. Though made for training, a bokken is dangerous and can kill a man with either a strike or a thrust. The great Samurai Musashi famously fought (and won) his last several duels using bokken against opponents wielding steel swords. 88

89 Sword, Smallsword ERA: Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/6/2 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/P/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 6/3 160 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel Often gets confused for a rapier in RPG s Sometimes known as a "court-sword" (épée de cour), a "walking-sword", or "town-sword", this is a gentleman's weapon historically developed in the late 16th century, and popular through the 18th. A medium length (26"-32") thrusting sword with a very narrow blade and generally, no edge, this is the weapon which eventually evolved into the foil and epee of modern sport fencing. The smallsword has certain advantages over other weapons in the civilian arsenal: it is discrete enough to wear upon ones person without attracting undue attention, not nearly as bulky or cumbersome as a rapier, and yet it is far more lethal than say, a walking stick. It also does not require brutish physical strength to wield, relying instead upon finesse and precision which can be acquired by even the most delicate of aristocrats with sufficient training from quality instructors. The smallsword is indeed not a military weapon at all but rather a civilian's side arm, suitable for carrying around the city and in the more civilized rural areas. The design philosophy is grounded in the school of the primacy of the thrust, based on the idea that a sword need only pierce a few inches into a vital area to kill, while a cutting sword must be used with much greater force. The smallsword is quite a nimble weapon, though it lacks significant reach and is not strong enough to be used in active defense against any sort of heavy instrument, nor is the blade sufficiently sturdy to penetrate heavy armor. That said the smallsword can quickly dispatch a human opponent, and has saved many a dandy's purse from the calloused hands of the uncouth and poorly armed ruffian. Fairly easily concealed, with a well penetrating blade rather like an oversized stiletto, the smallsword is also sometimes favored by better dressed thieves and assassins. Sword, Colichemarde / Konigsmark ERA: Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/5/2 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/P/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 9/4 150 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The colichemarde was a 17th century cousin of the smallsword, designed to have more defensive capability, especially against heavier weapons. It had a unique two-stage blade featuring a "carps tongue" shape, characterized by a wide and strong 'forte' for parrying, which then abruptly tapered to a much narrower point. These weapons were strong and extremely quick. The colichemarde has a very stiff blade with a triangular cross section, making it a thrusting weapon par excellence, while the strong forte allows the weapon to be used against adversaries with more robust equipment which could too easily break a smallsword. A similar German weapon existed which was called a konigsmarke. The Colichemarde was very popular in New Orleans during the 19 th Century and widely used in the many dueling schools there, including by the famous duelist and fencing Master Pepe Llulla, who was also a recognized master of the saber, backsword, pistol, and bowie knife. There is a legend that Lulla killed so many people in duels that he had to buy his own Cemetary to house all of their bodies (it s mostly just a legend though). The Colichemarde was above all other weapons the most likely to be found in the hands of young gentlemen who kept a dawn appointment at the Dueling Oaks. Sword, Jian (HH) ERA: Classical Iron Age to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/4/3 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/S Hardness / Hit points: 9/4 240 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The jian is the most ancient type of sword in China, dating back more than 2,500 years to the beginning of the Chinese Iron Age, circa 500 BC. Bronze versions of the jian also existed much further back though these were functionally different weapons. The jian is a double-edged hand and a half sword featuring a supple, flexible blade normally made with sophisticated forge welding and differential hardening techniques. Functionally the jian is somewhat similar to a hand-and a half version of the Viking sword (see Broadsword) though the blade geometry is quite different, the blade of a Jian is typically lenticular or of flattened diamond cross section rather than being fullered, but they achieve a similar degree of flexibility. Most jian have a hand and a half grip normally, though some were true two handed swords nearly two meters long and some were single swords. The jian was outlawed for normal civilians and relegated to the ownership of aristocrats, 89

90 104B 8 government officials (Mandarins) and high ranking officers during the Ming Dynasty, where the dao became the standard weapon for the army (see Liuye Dao). The fencing system associated with the wen jian or scholars sword (in taji et al) became a gentleman s duelling art analogous in social significance if not technique to art of rapier fencing in Renaissance Europe. Sword, Kopis / Yatgaghan ERA: Classical to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/1/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-12/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 10/4 140 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel This is a fairly long, single-handed, single-edged chopping sword similar to the falcata (see Falcata) and the kurkri (see Kurkri), only larger. The kopis has an inward bent blade (with the cutting edge on the inside) making it a truly fearsome chopper, reportedly capable of easily severing limbs in a single stroke. This weapon was used by the Greeks in the classical period, and was a favorite of Alexander's troops. It was believed to be a development of the ancient Egyptian khopesh, a militarized sickle shaped like a question mark. It is also a close relative of the smaller Spanish falcata, which appears to be a later derivation though both the falcata and kopis were in use concurrently. Primary Material: Iron The heavy single handed horsemans version of the Czech flail (see Flegel), quite a rare weapon but used throughout Europe by heavy cavalry and infantry. Dangerous to use especially for the untrained. Any time you roll a fumble (natural 1) using a heavy flail you have hit yourself with the weapon and take full damage (so it s wise to use multi-dice attacks with this weapon). 1Flail, Heavy, Spiked ERA: Renaissance to Baroque M Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/2/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-12/(BP)/- AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 10/2 130 gp Primary Material: Iron Similar to the heavy flail (see Heavy Flail) except with spikes. All attacks to combined Bludgeon and Piercing damage. Dangerous to use especially for the untrained. Any time you roll a fumble (natural 1) using a heavy flail you have hit yourself with the weapon. Both share a unique type of canted grip, reminiscent of later cavalry swords. The grip shape is supposed to aid in weapon retention when delivering hard, jarring blows. This weapon is a very effective close-quarters chopper. It was not normally used for thrusting. The yataghan was a Turkish development of the Greek kopis. Like the kopis it is a fairly long single handed weapon with a downward (toward the edge) curve which made it a chopping specialist. All blades with this downward curving feature are notorious choppers, including the kurkri, the falcatta, and the kopis. Compared to the kopis, the yataghan is slimmer, normally slightly less acutely curved, and is usually characterized by a unique 'eared' pommel. Another similar weapon is the Renaissance era sosun pata of India, very similar to the yataghan except featuring the roundels of the tulwar in lieux of the eared guard. Flail, Heavy ERA: Renaissance to Baroque M Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/4/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-12/B/B AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 10/2 120 gp Images of yataghans from Sir Richard Burtons Book of the Sword 90

91 The Saracens outside of Paris, 732 AD, Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld 91

92 Sword, Katana (HH) ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern M Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/4/2 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-12/SCP/S Hardness / Hit points: 10/2 200 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The katana is without a doubt the most famous sword in the world, and not without justification. A hand-and a half saber descended from the tachi, the katana evolved during the Muromachi period ( ) from a cavalry weapon into a lethal military sidearm and ultimately the civilian weapon of choice for armed military class (samurai) and the aristocracy. Through the centuries in various political periods quality varied somewhat, for the most part the katana was of an exceptionally high standard of metallurgy and swordsmithing technology, being made of carefully constructed forge welded steel (essentially a unique type of pattern welding invented to overcome the poor quality of local iron, similar to the Vikings) heat treated with very sophisticated differential hardening techniques, with the very hard steel blade mounted into a softer and more springy iron spine. Katanas were as a result some of the sharpest swords ever made, their curvature makes them very fast in followup attacks and particularly lethal in draw-cuts (slashing attacks). Sword, Executioners (HH) ERA: Medieval to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/-1/3 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-16/SC/C Hardness / Hit points: 12/7 300 gp Bhuj / Kutthi ERA: Baroque L Reach / Speed / Defense: 6/-1/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-12/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 12/3 50 gp Primary Material: Wood, Steel This is a type of short glaive like weapon used in India and South Asia. In China there was a similar weapon called guandao. A truly vicious chopper similar to the European glaive, and the Irish kern axe (see Glaive, Kern Axe) but featuring an inwardcurving blade like the Kurkri / Falcata/ Kopis family of swords. This lethal pole cleaver delivers horrific cuts powerful enough to kill a horse or even an elephant with a single blow. The Indian type has a metal haft. Sword, Niuweidao (HH) ERA: Medieval to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/0/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 9/5 60 gp Primary Material: Steel This is a heavy version of a Dao specialized for chopping, similar though not identical to a falchion (see Falchion). Typically 3-4 feet in total length, they often had hand-and-a-half hilts. Their use was associated with peasants, civilian militias, and revolutionaries rather than serious martial artists or professional soldiers, though some were made for military use. They were used by elements of the Chinese Army as late as WW II against the Japanese. Primary Material: Tempered Steel There are certain crimes for which a fine, a lecture, or slap on the wrist are simply not sufficient punishment. Some people need to have their heads cut off, and this was the tool for that particular job. It was the last thing many criminals and miscreants saw: the executioners sword. These swords were not made for fighting, but for efficiently lopping off the heads of condemned criminals. They are clumsy to wield but of course cause very serious damage. Dutch Fishermen using tridents, Jan Collaert 16 th Century Holland 92

93 Trident (HH) ERA: All eras L Reach / Speed / Defense: 6/0/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-8/P/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 7/4 40 gp Primary Material: Wood, Bronze A trident is a three pronged spear used both as a weapon and a tool for fishing. These were popular for both uses in Ancient times, often being made of bronze well into the Iron Age and even in Medieval times, because bronze doesn t rust. Military versions of this weapon (military fork) which remained popular for thousands of years, were more commonly made of iron or even steel, and were found all over the world from Greece to Burma. Flail, Light (TH) ERA: All eras L Reach / Speed / Defense: 5/6/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/B/B Hardness / Hit points: 5/2 10 gp Primary Material: Wood, Leather This is the light agricultural tool for threshing grain, it can be an effective weapon in a pinch, packing quite a wallop. Sword, Tachi (HH) ERA: Medieval to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/3/2 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-12/SCP/SC Hardness / Hit points: 11/4 200 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The tachi is the military version of the katana (see Katana). Somewhat more curved, longer, heavier and more durable. Tachi were worn hung from the belt with the cutting-edge down, unlike the traditional manner of carrying the katana with the cutting edge up. Tachi were considered more suitable for fighting on horseback, while the katana was preferred for combat on the ground. Rajput princess with a tulwar faces a footsoldier with a khanda, From a wall painting at the Bundi Fort-Palace Sword Khanda (HH) ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/2/3 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 12/5 180 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel Heavy Indian broadsword, sacred sword of Sikhs. The khanda was to the military classes of the Sikhs and the other warriors of the Kshatriya warrior class of India what the katana was to the Samurai of Japan. The khanda was a strait doubled edged sword with a broad blade flaring somewhat toward the tip, making it a lethal chopper. The 17 th Century version incorporated a knucklebow and a kind of spike below the pommel for a second hand grip. The gatka martial arts system of the Sikhs includes various techniques for use of the khanda. Kampilan (HH) ERA: Renaissance to Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/1/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 9/4 100 gp Primary Material: Pattern Welded Steel The Kampilan is longest of the blades traditionally affiliated with the Filipino Martial Arts. The Kampilan is a weapon of the southern Moro tribesmen and is noted as the weapon allegedly used to kill the famed explorer Ferdinand Magellan by the Moro Chieftain Lapu Lapu in The blade is associated with tribal warfare and is used for headhunting. Kampilan have a unique seax shaped single-edged straight 93

94 blade of approximately 3 feet that is narrow but thick at the base that gets broad but thin at the point. Additionally, the kampilan has a spike that extends out of the back of its truncated point. The crossguard and hilt of the kampilan is usually made from ironwood or other hardwoods and is typically 2-handed in length. The hilt has an organic pattern with a wide, chunky crossguard, and a pommel carved in the shape of a crocodile or monitor lizard with its mouth open. The hilt is often decorated with horse or human hair giving the crocodile the appearance of having a beard. A nagel is often added to the side of the cross to further protect the hand. The kampilan is a devastating slashing and chopping weapon, but even more insidious is that a small spike on the false edge of the blade is usually coated with a poison or bacterial agent designed to weaken or finish off an opponent. If the wielder has poisoned their blade and wishes to attack with the poison burr they must announce their attention to do so and take a damage step-down in their attack. Sword, Rapier ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 5/3/2 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SP/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 8/3 250 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel In role playing games, the rapier is often confused for the smallsword, which was a very different weapon from a later era, see Smallsword. As the formal judicial combat of the high middle-ages began to give way to the unregulated private duels in the mid-16th century, the rapier evolved from older cut-andthrust types as the weapon of choice for dueling. The rapier was a very long, double-edged, slender, single-hand thrusting sword, usually featuring a complex hilt. It is unknown whether it developed first in Italy or Spain, but it soon became popular all over the Mediterranean and then across Europe (England was one of the last countries to adopt the deadly new weapon). It seems to have evolved from earlier military cut-and-thrust types such as the espada ropera (see Sidesword) which continued to exist along side the rapier for decades if not centuries. Not designed for combat against heavily armored opponents, the rapier was basically a civilian weapon specialized for dueling. This is not the flimsy car-arial you see on TV however, rapiers were long and fairly heavy and most rapiers could cut pretty well. This sword remained very popular until well into the 17th century when it began to be supplanted by the more specialized smallsword. The rapier was a serious weapon meant for the unregulated duel or street encounter as much as the formal meeting of gentlemen. Almost always designed with complex guards to protect the hand, the rapier was usually held with a finger-overthe guard grip to assist in point control. With its incredible reach and speed, the rapier was a truly lethal killing instrument, and could deliver a fatal wound virtually with the flick of a wrist. The rapier had three weaknesses: it was quite difficult to learn how to use, it was relatively ineffective at close (i.e. grapple) range, and of somewhat limited value for defense. For the latter two reasons rapiers were typically used with another weapon in the off-hand - if possible. The most popular off-hand weapon was a blocking dagger of some kind conferring both extra defense, (see the Main Gauche MF, see also Main Gauche), as well as a lethal close-range attack option. Bucklers were also popular, as was a second rapier (see the Case of Rapiers MF) for those who knew how to wield two at a time. Most rapier fencing manuals of the Bolognese school also had instructions for using a cloak in the off hand, or even a hat, a candlestick, a chair, or some other weapon of opportunity (see the Improvised Weapon MF). Many other fighting techniques were designed for or emphasized in rapier combat, including the Martial Feats Sidestep, Lunge, Riposte, Point Control, Advanced Point Control, Bind and Batter, Contra Tempo, Mezzo Tempo, Distance Fighting, Improved Distance Fighting, and Reach and Measure. Sword, Estoc (HH) ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 5/2/3 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/BP/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +4/- Hardness / Hit points: 14/6 150 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel A long sword with a sharp point but no edge, having instead a diamond cross section 'blade' suitable for thrusting with no cutting edge, its secondary attack caused blunt trauma. It was used by European knights for penetrating plate armor. Similar weapons were also used in Russia where it was called a kanzer. The Italians called this weapon 'stocco' and the English called it a 'tuck'. In some manuals these also have a lethal spike on the pommel, or a pommel like a mace. Intended for use against heavy armor, this weapon was used almost exclusively for thrusting. A finger-over-the guard grip can be used to assist in point control (many examples of this weapon type have finger rings to protect the hand when using this method), and halfswording techniques were particularly appropriate and popular for this weapon. 94

95 Detail of the hilt of an early 16 th Century Rapier 95

96 Balisong Kukri knife French Main Gauche, 17 th Century AD Keris Barong, Philippines, circa 1700 AD 96

97 Kopis / Yataghan: Sosun Pata, India 17 th Century Kopis / Yataghan: Ottoman Yataghan, 16 th Century Khanda, Sikh Khalsa, Punjab India 16 th Century. This is a single-handed type. Note gold-work on the hilt. Khanda, Northern India 18 th Century. Gold inlayed, hand-and-a-half type with pommel spike for second hand grip. Khanda, Ferengi (foreign) style with a knucklebow and an extender for a hand-and-a-half grip. India early 19 th Century. This type became very common in India from the 18 th Century onward. Kampilan, Philippines 17 th Century. This was the type of weapon Lapu Lapu famously used to slay Magellan. 97

98 Sword, Claymore (TH) ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 6/0/4 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-14/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 12/5 250 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel *To determine damage roll a D6 plus a D8. This is a large two-handed great-sword (4 1/2-5'), various examples of this type of weapon were seen primarily throughout the Gaelic regions of the British Isles but also in Continental Europe. The highland Scottish claymore was also called claidheamh de laimh (sword of two hands) in Gaelic (claidheamh-mor refers both to the earlier two handed swords and to later era basket-hilt swords, see Backsword) used in the highlands of Scotland during the early Renaissance. It is a specialized chopping weapon, longer than a typical greatsword but still a foot or so shorter than a 'true' two-hander (see Zweihander, Flammard). The quillions of the highland type are usually canted upward at a 45 degree angle ending with open quatrefoil terminals resembling four leaf clovers. Lowland Scottish great-swords were similar in size and blade shape to the late claymores (the early claymores were a bit smaller), but had generally strait guards. The Gaelic / Norse 'Gallowglass' mercenaries also wielded weapons similar to the lowland Scottish greatsword, notable for an open ring-hilt, revealing an exposedtang. All of three similar types of swords were sometimes made with a ricasso for half sword fighting. The Scottish weapons remained in use until the 17th century. It is believed introduced to the British Isles by gallowglass mercenaries who fought on the continent, and became proficient with greatswords and zweihanders (see Greatsword). Sparth Axe / Bardiche (TH) ERA: Dark Ages to Enlightenment L Reach / Speed / Defense: 6/-1/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 3-18/CP/C Hardness / Hit points: 10/5 80 gp Primary Material: Wood, Steel The sparth axe was probably a development of the Danish axe and the huskarl axe (see Great Axe) used throughout the British Isles, particularly Ireland, Scotland and the Hebrides. Both the blade and the haft were made longer and pointier so that the weapon could be used for thrusting. Blades were sometimes as much as two feet long, and were fixed to the haft at two points. These weapons were also very popular in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and were widely used by the Poles, Russians, Lithuanians, Turks, and Mongols. In the east this weapon was known as the berdyche or bardiche. Both the Eastern European and Scottish version probably have the same Scandinavian origin. Though not particularly subtle or graceful, this weapon could kill very efficiently. Falx / Rhomphia (TH) ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 5/0/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-12/SC/SC Hardness / Hit points: 9/5 100 gp Primary Material: Iron The falx, also known as 'falces' to the Romans was a type of pole arm which was used by the ancient Dacians of Central Europe. Similar weapons were used in other time periods by many other cultures, the falx resembles the Japanese yari and was thought to be a derivative of the earlier Thracian romphia (which is mentioned in the Bible). It also appears to be related to the dha of Southeast Asia, though that could be a parallel evolution of weapon design. The falx in it s various incarnations is essentially a curved sword on a very long handle, frequently featuring a double-eged blade so the weapon can cut either like a saber (slashing) or on the concave side like a falcata or a kopis (see Falcata, Kopis). The size of the falx varied but a common falx had a 3' blade on a 4' handle, for an overall length of 7'. This devastating weapon was so feared by the Romans that they had to manufacture new types of armor to prevent legionaries from having their arms severed. It is large but with suitable training (see Poll Axe fighting MF) it can be relatively nimble. Dha (TH) ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 4/3/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SC/SC Hardness / Hit points: 12/5 250 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The dha of Thailand and Burma were sword-like or saber-like weapons which came in a bewildering number of variations. Some were essentially two handed sabers very similar to a miao dao or a no dachi (see No Dachi). Others were larger still, very similar to a Dacian falx (see Falx). They ranged from dagger sized to spear sized, but most were a unique kind of longhandled saber of medium length. Most dha were single-edged, some had a partial false-edge, some strait, some curved, some 98

99 had pointed blades suitable for thrusting, while others were rounded or squared off at the end. Most dha lacked a crossguard or any other hand protection, though some had small roundels similar to a tsuba. The dha depicted here is a common type: an elegantly curved single-handed saber, with a long hilt and a broad, flat blade gently flaring out to rounded point. This type has a partial false-edge, so that it can be used on the concave side as a chopper like a falcata or a kopis, and on the convex side like a saber for better slicing, making it an extremely versatile weapon. The blades of dha are often inscribed and / or inlayed in silver, bronze, or gold with a makers mark or religious slogan, and their grips can be made of ivory, silver, or other precious substances, sheaths can be made of silver and / or wood inlayed with beautiful scrollwork. Dha were one of the few full sized weapons to be used in pairs, along with the rapier (see Rapier). They were used in Southeast Asia continuously until recent times. Flegel (TH) ERA: Renaissance to Baroque L Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/4/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-12/(B)P/(BP) AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 8/3 75 gp Primary Material: Hardwood, Iron This was a two-handed flail, actually the most famous and widely used type of flail found in Europe, and the only type of flail that seems to have played a significant role in European history. Invented by the Czechs, this design became widely popular due to the spectacular military success of the Bohemian Hussite rebellion of Before this period relatively few flails show up in the European archaeological record or in Medieval art. The classic ball and chain type flail of innumerable fantasy films and RPG s seems to be at least partly a Victorian (19 th Century) invention, but to the extent that it did exist was apparently a refinement of this Czech infantry flail for cavalry (single handed) use. Some single-handed examples remain in public and private collections, in both primitive and expensively / well made variants (see Flail, Heavy). the smaller striking club and the sturdy haft were typically reinforced with iron bands, rings, and / or langets, and the business end was usually mounted with heavy-duty iron spikes. Flails of this type are extremely effective weapons capable of killing even heavily armoured knights, capable of delivering a blow of stupendous force while also piercing and tearing flesh with the spikes. This weapon was clearly inspired by (but typically not a direct modification of) the very similar but lighter agricultural flail used widely in Europe and Asia for centuries as a tool to thresh grain (see Flail, Light). Bullwhip (TH) ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/3/0 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-2/SB/SB AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 7/3 5 gp Primary Material: Leather A bullwhip is primarily designed as a tool for motivating horses or moving cows around. It does have a secondary value however as a weapon and was studied as such in many parts of the world historically, in Southern Europe and Latin America, and perhaps most notably in the Filipino martial arts systems such as Kali, Arnis, and Escrima. A bullwhip takes some getting used to, but when mastered it can be a dangerous weapon. Lashing a bullwhip makes a very intimidating sound which frightens animals and people. Gain +2 on intimidation skill checks when using this weapon. Grappling with a whip means striking and causing the weapon to wrap around an enemies limb, weapon, leg, neck, etc. The bullwhip can also be used to grapple inanimate objects such as balustrades, awnings, rafters, tree limbs etc., to perform swashbuckling moves, to aid in climbing, to seize items etc. To game this simply assign an appropriate Passive Defense to the object in question. At close range, the handle of the bullwhip can be treated as a sap (see Sap). The weapon depicted here features a metal spur on the tip to cause serious wounds, for an ordinary whip damage is 0-1. Strikes from a bullwhip are very painful and can cause limbs to go numb. Whips can also be used to cut or to stun. A critical hit can be a slashing hit (though for only 1d6 damage) or a Bludgeon crit for KO / nonlethal damage. The Hussite type flail widely used by infantry militias in the 15 th -16 th Centuries, (particularly in Germany and the Slavic countries) and during the German peasant uprising of the 16 th Century, though only the Bohemians seemed to be able to truly master the weapon. It consisted of a stout hardwood pole 4 or 5 feet long connected to a smaller 1 to 2 foot long club by a short chain of two or three heavy iron links. Both 99

100 . Bullwhip Smallsword, France, late 17 th Century Colichmarde, New Orleans, 1815 AD Rapier, Bologna Italy, 16 th Century Rapier, Germany, 17 th century Estoc, Catalonia, Spain, 16 th Century 100

101 Claymore: Gallowglass Sword, Ireland 1520 AD, Oakeshott Type XIIa Montante: spada a due mani, Italy early 16 6h Century Montante: Spanish, probably late 16th Century Zweihander: Two handed sword, Germany 16 th Century Flammard: Two handed sword, Switzerland 16 th Century 101

102 The Dha: One of the coolest weapons you ve never seen in any RPG: Dha-lwe. Myanmar (Burma). Early-mid 19th Century. From the private collection of Andrew Winston. Dha-Iwe, Myanmar (Burma) early 20 th Century. From the private collection of Andrew Winston. Daab. Northern Thailand/Laos (Lanna region). Early 19th Century. From the private collection of Andrew Winston Jian, China Ming Dynasty, 16 th Century 102

103 Tachi, 16 th Century Zhanmadao, Ming Dynasty, China, 17 th Century Real 19 th Century Samurai with katanas 103

104 Sword, Montante (TH) ERA: Renaissance to Early Modern L Reach / Speed / Defense: 6/0/5 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-16/SCP/C Hardness / Hit points: 12/5 250 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel Another in the family of extraordinarily large greatswords was typified by the Iberian montante. These were greatswords or swords of war about five and a half feet long, and they appear in several Italian, German, Spanish and Portuguese fencing manuals mainly from the 16 th Century but they remained in use well into the 17th. In Italy these were called spada a due mani. These weapons are typified by extra hand protection including parrying lugs (such are also seen on the Zweihander) but also complex hilt features like siderings. Use: A slashing and cutting weapon, requires a considerable amount of space to wield under normal circumstances, though special Montante martial Feats can allow them to be used in tighter spots. Manuals specify the role of this weapon, as being in situations when few must fight against many this weapon was specialized for crowd control and intimidation, and specific techniques were created to contend with multiple opponents (as well as to fight on gang-planks, in alleys, and against a variety of other specific weapons). On the battlefield the montante fulfilled a similar role to the slightly larger zweihander protection of VIP s, company banners, cannons etc., for catastrophes such as when the friendly pike square has collapsed. They were also used by shock forces who exploited such setbacks among the enemy ranks. In civilian life they were used by bodyguards as a way to even the odds when one might be attacked by large numbers of enemies. True Two Handed Sword / Zweihander (TH) ERA: Baroque VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/0/4 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 3-18/CP/C AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 14/6 350 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel The famous Swiss and German mercenary infantry companies which began to dominate European battlefields in the late Renaissance primarily consisted of pikemen, halberdiers, and arbalestiers (crossbowmen) or arquebusiers (gunners). There was a special class of elite troops, called "dopplesoldner" (for their double pay), some of whom specialized in the use of increasingly formidable greatswords. These eventually evolved into the so-called 'true' two-hand swords. The true two handed sword had an overall length of 6 feet or more, and a typical weight between 4-5 pounds (some were a little less, a few as much as 6 or 7 pounds). There was typically an enormous and often complex guard, a long ricasso frequently sheathed in leather of 12 inches or more, often protected with a pair of spikes or parrying lugs, and a grip as long as 16 inches even more. The zweihander was introduced in the 16th Century and used through the 17th. It is a specialized chopping weapon needless to say, which should be considered a reach weapon. The zweihander could be used with modified longsword techniques, half-swording (see Halfswording MF) especially allowed these monster blades to be wielded with considerable agility even at close range, and rather amazingly, these immense weapons eventually gained some popularity for duels and judicial combat. In battle these weapons were often used to snap the heads off of pikes, as well as to defend the standard, and were often carried by elite skirmishers, bodyguards of captains and other officers. Sword, Flammard (TH) ERA: Baroque VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 6/0/4 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-16/SCP/SC AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+1 Hardness / Hit points: 14/6 450 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel Note, the term "flamberge" Actually refers to a type of wave bladed rapier (see Rapier) depiction of a Zweihänder used against pikes in the Battle of Kappel A flammard is a zweihander (see Zweihander) with a serpentine blade specialized for chopping and slashing. This type of weapon was used by German landsknechts and Swiss 104

105 reislauffer mercenaries allegedly for snapping pikes. Also known as a "flammbard", this type of weapon was typically a little shorter than a full-fledged zweihander. The scalloped or wave bladed flammard variant of the zweihander seemed to become very popular and many if not most surviving zweihanders are actually of this type. It is not known for sure what the purpose of the scalloping was but we have taken the position proposed by some researchers that the wave shaped blade enhanced slicing or draw-cutting, especially useful at close range where a chop is not possible. This is a Reach Weapon. Typical Dimensions: Length six feet, weight 4.5 lbs A glaive is a large single-edged meat-cleaver type knife mounted on the end of a stout pole. Some are shaped in a rounded off form somewhat like a question mark, wheras some are very much a huge pointy knife (up to two feet long) mounted on the end of a pole. It s similar in function to a volgue but has a larger, pointier blade. (Having seen a few of these in real life, the blades on them are huge, extremely intimidating). A glaiveguisarme is a glaive with a back-spike and / or back-hook. A glaive is normally a reach weapon. (although shorter close combat versions also existed) Sword, No Dachi (TH) ERA: Baroque L Reach / Speed / Defense: 5/1/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 2-16/SCP/SC Hardness / Hit points: 10/3 550 gp Primary Material: Tempered Steel This is a class of anti-cavalry or horse-killing swords used throughout Eastern China, Japan, and Korea in various periods. This class of weapons, theoretically designed to kill a horse and his rider with one blow, included the Japanese zanbatō, nodachi and ōdachi, as well as the Chinese miao dao, changdao, and zhanmadao. Their last reported use was during the beginning of World War II by troops of the Chinese Republic. Sadaki Kojiro (16 th Century) was one of the few Samurai known to have wielded this fairly rare weapon. It was also said to be popular with Japanese and Chinese pirates, but it was very much a specialist sword, expensive to make and difficult to wield, not necessarily highly superior to a much simpler yari in combat (see Yari) unless you were very skilled with this type of weapon. This is a Reach Weapon. Glaive - Guisarme (TH) ERA: Baroque VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 8/0/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 3-18/CP/C AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+2 Hardness / Hit points: 9/6 50 gp Primary Material: Wood, Iron Spetum / Ranseur /Partisan (TH) ERA: Baroque VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/1/4 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/CP/CP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/+3 Hardness / Hit points: 9/6 80 gp Primary Material: Wood, Iron Many game designers have foundered on the shoals of this particular complex class of polearms, few military historians even truly understand them. The most heroic effort at polearm classification was a well researched article Gary Gygax published in 1985 describing the different types and providing good illustrations of each. but Gygax failed to differentiate one from another in any significant way, with the single exception of conferring a rather astonishing ability to disarm on this particular class (few remember a little known rule - a spetum could disarm with a To Hit AC 8!). Ultimately gamers were left somewhat bemused by all of the non-functional variety. Rather than get bogged down in detail, the three subclasses of spetum, partisan and ranseur are all roughly similar in their fundamental design feature (being spears with wings or spikes 105

106 protruding from the base of the blade), so we are lumping them all together into this one class in terms of function. If you know more about these weapons than we do and wish to further differentiate them, by all means do so (and feel free to chime in on our forum to tell us about it). Though difficult or even annoying to the modern gamer, even sub-genius Codex Martialis game designers, this specialized class of polearms were very popular in period and were apparently highly effective. The battlefields of the late Medieval and Renaissance periods were swarming with ranseurs, partisans, spetums etc., and they remained popular for ceremonial use for centuries. The precise configuration of central spear blade and horizontal sideblades varied quite a bit, but they probably all evolved from the same basic boar spear configuration with its parrying lugs (see Hewing Spear). These lugs could then be sharpened, bent upward, bent downward, curved or hooked, made into axe blades or spikes etc. Functionally, all these weapons are similar if not identical, they are fundamentally spears with the extra sharp-bits enhancing their defensive and grappling ability. Weapons in this category can be considered Reach weapons depending on the specific length. The spetum featured a sharp central blade and two sharp side blades pointing forward at close to a 45 degree angle. These were useful for grappling at a distance, as well as parrying and disarming. Weapon of this type were also called corseques or korsekes, some approach the shape of a military fork (see trident). Pike (TH) ERA: Baroque VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 9/-4/0 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/P/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 9/5 50 gp Primary Material: Wood, Iron A pike is a very long spear. Somewhere between to be exact. Needless to say, you need a lot of space for a weapon like this, and preferably a lot of friends (though there are some techniques in the Fechtbuchs for individual combat using pikes or very long staves ) This is the reach weapon par-excellence, and their typical use includes formations where fighters three or four rows back can attack simultaneously. The first pikes were arguably the Macedonian sarissa, which largely disappeared from battlefields after the Romans broke the Macedonian phalanxes. The idea was still around though because this weapon was revived in the 14 th Century in such diverse locations as Scotland and Switzerland, where it was used to achieve decisive victories against heavy cavalry. This is quite literally the weapon which stopped the knight in his tracks, and shifted the emphasis of European warfare from heavy cavalry to infantry for good (or bad, depending on your perspective). A pike is a reach weapon. The ranseur (also called chauve, souris, rhonca, ronchia, ronica and runka) was a slightly more complex version of the spetum, featuring downward pointing side-blades (or sometimes both down and up) making it easier to hook opponents weapons or grapple from a distance and also forming scary axe-like cutting implements (treat as CP/CP weapon). The partisan (also sometimes called a roncha or a ronchia) is a simpler design arguably closer to the original boarspear, with the exception that the main spear-blade itself is widened to an ox-tongue shape, making it more useful for cutting especially against unarmoured opponents, and more dangerous in the thrust (though with somewhat inferior penetration). The side blades go strait out horizontally, shaped either like a pair of small axe-heads or spikes (the infamously silly sounding bohemian ear-spoon is an example of the latter type). Later partisans began to feature upward (spetum like) or downward (ranseur like) projections off of the main blade. 106

107 Two knights on foot at a tournament, carrying heavy lances. Hans_Burgkmair circa 1520 AD Heavy Lance ERA: Medieval to Baroque VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 9/-2/0 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/P/P AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +4/- Hardness / Hit points: 5/3 30 gp Primary Material: Wood, Steel A lance is a spear specialized for thrusting only (i.e. not for throwing) a heavy lance is even more specialized for use from horseback, although they were also used on foot sometimes like pikes. Lances, being very long and made of wood, and needing to be handy enough to be wielded onehanded, were relatively lightly made and counterbalanced. They were broken so frequently in combat that it was common to bring at least three lances into battle, these would be carried by a squire or a page. Therefore any time you roll a natural 20 with a lance it automatically breaks. Note the Lance causes double damage in a Charge according to OGL rules, with the Spirited Charge Feat this goes up to triple damage, making it one of the most dangerous weapons in this book. There is a reason this was the weapon of choice for the toughest armoured cavalry in the world The reason you see feathers and / or a pennant often attached near the tip of a lance was to absorb the blood. A heavy lance is a reach weapon. St. George is about to finish off this Dragon with his longsword in this 15 th Century Painting by Carlos Crivelli, but it was clearly his (now broken) lance that already did the hard work... which is typical. Swords get the glory, but the lance did most of the killing. 107

108 Spetum, France, 17 th Century AD Simple partisan, Italy, 15 th Century AD Partisan, Spain, 17 th Century AD Glaive-Guisarme or Fauchard Fork, Italy, 16 th Century AD Glaive Flanders, 16 th Century AD (Full size) (Closeup) 17 th Century Pike, part of a lot finally decommissioned by the armoury of Berne, Switzerland and sold on Ebay in

109 Yari ERA: Medieval to Early Modern VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/1/2 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/SP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Hardness / Hit points: 10/3 90 gp Primary Material: Wood, Tempered Steel Yari means Spear, it is essentially the Japanese polearm, being similar in it s basic form to a hewing spear, fashioned with a high quality double-edged blade using the same differential hardening techniques found in katanas and made with a full tang which was embedded in the haft, which was of hardwood covered in lacquered bamboo strips, making them exceptionally strong polearms. Yari came in two general forms, su yari were basic spear type weapons (depicted here) which could be from half-spear length (treat as half-spear) to pike length (treat as a pike) and the kama yari which were more complex polearms nearly identical in form to the Spetum / Partisan / Ranseur family of European weapons (see Spetum / Partisan / Ranseur). The yari became popular in Japan both with Samurai and ashigaru (footsoldiers) after the 13 th Century Mongol Invasions provided a sobering reality check which strongly influenced Japanese warfare for the next several hundred years. A yari can be a reach weapon, depending on the size of the individual weapon. *Naginata ERA: Medieval to Early Modern VL Reach / Speed / Defense: 7/2/4 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/S AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/+4 Hardness / Hit points: 7/3 30 gp Primary Material: Wood, Steel This is another Japanese polearm of ancient vintage, essentially a militarized pruning hook or bill, see Farmers Bill) with the outside of the blade sharpened for deadly slicing attacks, specialized for warfare like the European bill guisarme (see Bill Guisarme) except lacking the forward facing spear-point. It may have been based on the Chinese guan-dao which is a type of glaive (see Glaive, Bhuj / Khutti). In Japan today the naginata is closely associated with women, and women practice the naginatajutsu martial sport associated with the weapon, but this ancient polearm saw wide battlefield use in Japan dating back to the 8 th Century AD. Like the bill, the naginata proved effective at dismounting cavalry and dispatching riders. Women from the samurai class were considered capable of mounting a defense of their homes if there were no men present, and were expected to do so if necessary. The naginata was believed to be an ideal weapon for a woman, good at keeping an opponent at a distance and capable of using leverage to enhance grappling abilities even against a stronger opponent. Some najinatas are reach weapons. Samurai using yari against mongols Hakata bay, 13 th Century AD. Moko Shurai Ekotoba, 109

110 Sparth Axe / Bardiche Scotland circa 14 th Century Sparth Axe / Bardiche, Berdyche Poland, 17 th Century Sparth Axe / Bardiche: Russian Berdyche, 19 th Century Two Bhuj Elephant Knives, India circa 18 th Century Flegel: Czech Flail, Prague, Bohemia 1420 AD Flail, Germany Circa 17 th Century Flail Italy, 16 th Century Light Flail: Agricultural flail, this type could be found anywhere from Okinawa to Italy 110

111 Codex Weapons Appendix Charts Simple Weapons Weapon Reach / Speed / Defence Base Damage Attack Types / Primary AP Bonus Grapple Bonus Hardness / Hit Points Razor T 0/6/0 F 1-2 S/S - - 3/1 25 SP Knuckleduster T 0/6/0 F 1-2 B/B* /3 5 GP Sap Gloves T 0/6/0 F 1 B/B** - - 5/1 1 GP Small Knife T 0/6/0 F 1-2 SP/ /2 1 GP Misericorde / Poniard T 0/6/0 F 1-4 P/P +2-7/3 1 GP Large Knife T 1/6/0 F 1-4 SP/P - - 5/3 2 GP Small Dagger T 0/6/0 F 1-6 SP/P +2-10/3 25 GP Stiletto S 1/5/1 F 1-4 P/P +4-9/3 15 GP Mace, Light S 2/3/2 1-6 B/B - - 5/5 8 GP Sickle S 1/3/1 F 1-4 SP/ /3 25 SP Sax Knife S 1/5/1 F 1-6 SCP/SC - - 9/4 12 GP Cutlass S 2/3/4 1-6 SCP/C /6 32 GP Sword, Pian Dao S 2/4/2 1-6 SCP/S - - 9/3 20 GP Stick, Heavy S 2/2/1 1-2 B/ /4 1 CP Small Club S 2/4/2 1-4 B/B - - 4/2 5 SP Waihaka Club S 1/3/1 1-6 B/B - - 8/4 2 GP Hatchet S 1/3/1 1-6 C/C /3 15 SP Hand Axe S 1/4/1 1-6 C/C /4 5 GP Tomahawk S 2/4/2 1-6 CB/CB /4 25 GP Tomahawk, Stone S 2/2/1 1-8 B/B /3 15 SP Woodsman s Axe (HH) S 2/-2/1 1-8 CB/C /5 2 GP Half Spear S 4/2/1 F 1-6 SCP/CP +2-6/3 15 GP Sword, Long Sax S 2/4/1 F 1-8 SCP/C - - 9/4 30 GP Colltel S 1/4/0 1-8 CP/C - - 9/3 25 GP Bauernwehr S 2/5/2 F 1-6 SCP/SP /4 75 GP Mace, Heavy M 3/1/ B/B /20 30 GP Mace, Flanged M 3/2/ B/B +2-14/20 50 GP Mace, Stone M 3/1/ B/B - - 5/3 5 SP Bata / Sail-Éille M 4/5/3 F 1-4 B/B /3 3 GP War Club M 3/3/2 1-6 B/B - - 5/4 15 SP Protosword M 4/3/2 1-6 S/ /3 5 GP Bill M 2/0/2 1-8 C/C /3 25 SP Mattock M 2/-4/1 1-6 CPB/P /3 1 GP Wooden Mallet M 2/1/3 1-4 B/B /3 8 SP Iron Maul M 2/-6/ B/B +2-6/3 5 GP (HH) indicates Hand and a Half weapon (TH) indicates Two Handed weapon F indicates a Finesse weapon * Or +1 Damage for anyone capable of causing unarmed damage D3 or greater ** Roll an extra D6 for Bludgeon Crit Damage 111

112 Codex Weapons Appendix Charts Simple weapons, continued Weapon Siz e Reach / Speed / Defence Base Damage Attack Types / Primary AP Bonus Grapple Bonus Hardness / Hit Points Sword, Dussack S 2/5/3 1-6 CSP/SC /4 25 GP Sword, Messer M 3/4/3 F 1-8 SCP/C /4 50 GP Falchion M 3/1/ SCP/C /5 50 GP Pitch Fork L 4/0/2 1-6 P/P - - 4/3 1 GP Shovel / Spade L 3/-2/2 1-6 CBP/C /3 1 GP Small Staff L 6/5/5 F 1-4 B/B - - 5/3 1 SP Kern Axe L 4/1/ SCP/CP /3 25 GP Godendag (TH) L 5/0/ BP/BP +2-6/7 30 GP Morgenstern (TH) L 5/0/ (BP)/- +2-6/5 25 GP Scythe (TH) L 3/-2/1 1-8 SCP/ /3 5 GP Great Club (TH) L 5/0/1 1-8 B/B - - 6/5 5 GP Taiaha L 6/2/4 1-6 B/B - - 7/5 10 GP Quarterstaff (TH) VL 7/2/5 1-6 B/B - - 5/5 1 GP Iron Bound Staff (TH) VL 6/0/5 1-8 B/B - - 7/6 10 GP Spear (TH) VL 7/1/3 1-8 SCP/P +2-6/3 60 GP Spear VL 8/0/2 1-8 SCP/P +2-6/3 60 GP (HH) indicates Hand and a Half weapon (TH) indicates Two Handed weapon F indicates a Finesse weapon * Or +1 Damage for anyone capable of causing unarmed damage D3 or greater ** Roll an extra D6 for Bludgeon Crit Damage 112

113 Codex Weapons Appendix Charts Martial Weapons Weapon Reach / Speed / Defence Base Damage Attack Types / Primary AP Bonus Grapple Bonus Hardness / Hit Points Jambiya T 0/5/0 F 1-6 SP/S - - 8/3 30 GP Rondel Dagger S 1/5/1 F 1-6 P/P +4-12/4 40 GP Broad Dagger S 1/5/0 F 1-8 SCP/P /5 30 GP Long Dagger S 1/5/2 F 1-6 SCP/SP +2-10/4 50 GP War Hammer S 2/3/2 1-8 BP/P /4 50 GP War Pick S 2/3/2 1-8 BP/P / GP Sword, Akinakes S 2/4/1 F 1-6 SCP/SP - - 6/2 20 GP Sword, Short S 2/4/2 F 1-6 SCP/P +2-9/3 50 GP Sword, Gladius S 2/3/1 1-8 SCP/CP - - 8/5 60 GP Sword, Cinquedea S 2/5/2 F 1-8 SCP/P - - 9/3 60 GP Sword, Katzbalger S 2/3/3 1-8 SCP/C /4 100 GP Sword, Leaf Blade M 3/1/ SCP/C - - 8/4 70 GP Sword, Spatha M 3/2/1 1-8 SCP/CP - - 9/4 90 GP Sword, Broad M 3/4/2 F 1-8 SCP/C /4 120 GP Sword, Arming M 3/3/3 F 1-8 SCP/CP /4 150 GP Sword, Cut-Thrust M 3/3/4 F 1-8 SCP/P /3 150 GP Sword, Sidesword M 4/4/4 F 1-6 SCP/SP /3 200 GP Sword, Backsword M 3/3/ SCP/C /5 200 GP Sword, Schiavona / Palasz L 4/2/5 1-8 SCP/C /5 250 GP Sword, Liuye dao M 3/4/2 F 1-8 SCP/S - - 9/3 40 GP Sword, Yanmao Dao M 3/3/2 1-8 SCP/SP - - 9/3 150 GP Sword, Saber M 3/4/2 1-6 SCP/SC /3 110 GP Sword, Shamshir / Tulwar M 2/5/2 1-8 SCP/S /3 150 GP Sword, Tulwar M 2/5/2 1-8 SCP/SC /3 180 GP Sword, Killij M 2/3/ SCP/SC +1* - 10/3 150 GP Sword, Heavy Saber M 4/3/4 1-8 SCP/SC /4 150 GP Morning Star (HH) M 3/1/ (BP)/(BP) +2-16/15 70 GP Axe, Battle (HH) M 3/1/ C/C /5 30 GP Sword, Hand & Half (HH) M 4/4/3 F 1-8 SCP/CP +1-10/3 180 GP Axe, Bearded L 4/1/ C/C /5 30 GP Axe, Great (TH) L 4/0/ C/C /5 50 GP Poll Hammer (TH) L 6/1/ BP/BP /6 80 GP Pollaxe (TH) L 6/1/ BCP/CP /6 80 GP Sword, Longsword (HH) L 5/2/4 F 1-10 SCP/CP /4 200 GP Sword, Federschwert (HH) L 5/4/4 F 1-2 B/ /3 100 GP Sword, Bastard (HH) L 4/3/4 F 1-10 SCP/CP +1-10/4 220 GP Kriegsmesser (HH) L 5/2/4 F 1-12 SCP/SC /5 140 GP Schwiesersabel (HH) L 4/3/5 F 1-10 SCP/SC /3 250 GP Sword, Greatsword, (HH) L 5/1/4 F 2-12 SCP/C /6 180 GP 113

114 Codex Weapons Appendix Charts Martial Weapons continued Weapon Reach / Speed / Defence Base Damage Attack Types / Primary AP Bonus Grapple Bonus Hardness / Hit Points Light Lance VL 8/-1/1 1-6 P/P +2-5/3 30 GP Ahlespiess (TH) VL 7/0/3 1-8 P/P +4-10/9 80 GP Balanced Spear (TH) VL 6/2/4 1-8 BP/BP /4 100 GP Hewing Spear (TH) VL 7/1/ CP/CP /6 100 GP Halberd (TH) VL 7/0/ CP/CP /6 80 GP Volgue (TH) VL 7/-1/ CP/C /6 30 GP Bill-Guisarme (TH) VL 7/0/ CP/C /5 100 GP 114

115 Codex Weapons Appendix Charts Exotic Weapons Weapon Reach / Speed / Defence Base Damage Attack Types / Primary AP Bonus Grapple Bonus Hardness / Hit Points Sap T 0/5/1 1-2 B/B - - 5/2 10 GP Balisong T 0/6/0 F 1-4 SP/ /3 5 GP Tanto Dagger T 0/5/0 F 1-6 SCP/SP +1-10/2 100 GP Katar Dagger T 0/7/0 F 1-6 SP/P +2-10/3 50 GP Kurkri Knife S 1/5/1 F 1-8 SC/C /3 50 GP Main Gauche S 1/5/4 F 1-6 SP/P +2-12/3 180 GP Keris S 1/5/1 F 1-4 SP/P - - 9/2 or 7/2 120 GP Moro Kris / Kalis S 3/3/1 1-6 SPC/SC /3 140 GP Barong S 2/3/1 F 1-8 SPC/C /3 80 GP Sword, Wakizashe S 2/5/1 F 1-8 SCP/SP /2 150 GP Sword, Falcata S 2/2/ SCP/C /4 80 GP Bokken M 3/3/2 F 1-4 B/ /6 30 GP Sword, Smallsword M 3/6/2 F 1-6 P/P +2-6/3 160 GP Sword, Colichemarde M 3/5/3 F 1-6 P/P +2-9/4 150 GP Sword, Jian (HH) M 4/4/3 F 1-8 SCP/S - - 9/4 240 GP Sword, Kopis M 3/1/ SCP/C /4 140 GP Flail, Heavy M 4/4/ B/B /2 120 GP Flail, Heavy, Spiked M 4/4/ (BP)/ /2 130 GP Sword, Katana (HH) M 3/4/2 F 1-12 SCP/S /2 200 GP Sword, Executioners (TH) L 4/-1/3 F 2-16 SC/C /7 300 GP Sword, Niuweidao (HH) L 4/0/ SPC/C - - 9/5 60 GP Trident (HH) L 6/0/1 2-8 P/P /4 40 GP Flail, Light (TH) L 5/6/1 1-6 B/B - - 5/2 10 GP Sword, Tachi L 4/3/2 F 2-12 SCP/SC /4 200 GP Sword, Khanda L 4/2/ SCP/C /5 180 GP Kampilan L 4/1/ SCP/C - - 9/4 100 GP Sword, Rapier L 5/3/2 F 1-6 SP +2-8/3 250 GP Sword, Estoc L 5/2/3 1-8 BP/P +4-14/6 150 GP Sword, Claymore (TH) L 6/0/ SCP/C /5 250 GP Sparth Axe (TH) L 6/-1/ CP/C /5 80 GP Falx (TH) L 5/0/ SC/SC - - 9/5 100 GP Dha (HH) L 4/3/ SC/SC /5 250 GP Bhuj L 5/-1/ SCP/C /3 50 GP Flegel (TH) L 7/4/ (BP)/(BP) /3 75 GP 115

116 Exotic weapons, continued Weapon Reach / Speed / Base Damage Attack Types / AP Bonus Grapple Bonus Hardness / Hit Defence Primary Points Bullwhip VL 7/4/0 1-2 BS/BS /3 5 GP Sword, Montante (TH) L 6/0/ SCP/C /5 250 GP Sword, Zweihander (TH) VL 7/0/ CP/C /6 350 GP Sword, Flammard (TH) VL 6/0/ SCP/SC /6 450 GP Glaive VL 8/0/ CP/C /6 50 GP Spetum / Ranseur VL 7/1/ CP/CP /6 80 GP Pike VL 9/-4/0 1-6 P/P +2-9/5 50 GP Heavy Lance VL 9/-2/0 1-8 P/P +4-5/3 30 GP Yari VL 7/1/ SCP/SC +2-10/3 90 GP Najinata VL 7/2/4 1-8 SCP/S /3 30 GP Using weapons two handed vs one handed (table) Used Type 1H wepaon HH weapon TH weapon Used One-handed - +1 reach -1 Speed -1-2 Speed, -2 Defense, - Defense 1 Damage Used Two-handed -1 reach +1 damage - - Base speed for animals by size Very Small 10 Small 8 Medium 6 Large 4 Very Large 2 Pikes did not always trump lances: A Polish Hussar takes on a pikeman, circa 17 th Century 116

117 Knight, the Devil, and Death, Albrecht Durer

118 OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc ( Wizards ). All Rights Reserved. 1. Definitions: (a) Contributors means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b) Derivative Material means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) Distribute means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d) Open Game Content means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) Product Identity means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts, creatures, characters, stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f ) Trademark means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) Use, Used or Using means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) You or Your means the licensee in terms of this agreement. 2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License. 3. Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License. 4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content. 5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License. 6. Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder s name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute. 7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity. 8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content. 118

119 9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License. 10. Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You distribute. 11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so. 12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected. 13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License. 14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable. 15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. System Reference Document. Copyright Wizards of the Coast, Inc; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Codex Martialis. Copyright 2008, 2009 Jean Chandler; Author: Jean Chandler. NOTICE OF OGC and PRODUCT IDENTITY This entire document is considered OGC 119

120 Bibliography: Modern Academic Publications: Records of the Medieval Sword, Ewart Oakshott, Boydell Press (May 24, 2007) ISBN: The World of the Gallowglass: Kings, Warlords and Warriors in Ireland and Scotland, Sean Duffy (Editor) Four Courts press, (October 10, 2007) ISBN: Swords of the Viking Age Ian Pierce ISBN: A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration, and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in All Times, George Cameron Stone Arms and Armour of the Medieval Knight by David Edge and John Miles Paddock The Complete Encyclopedia of Arms & Weapons, edited by Leonid Tarassuk and Claude Blair Academic Journals and Articles Ballistic Resistance of Personal Body Armor, National Institute of Justice, Law enforcement and Corrections Standards and Testing Program, # , (June 2001) Stab Resistance of Personal Body Armor, National Institute of Justice. Law Enforcement and Corrections Standards and Testing program, # , (September 2000) Metalurgy Fundamentals: Ferrus and Non-Ferrous Daniel A. Brandt., Goodheart-Willcox Co; 5th edition (January 15, 2009), ISBN: Women in the military: Scholastic Arguments and Medieval Images of Female Warriors, James M. Blythe, University of Memphis 2004 The Birka Warrior: The Material Culture of a Martial Society, Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson, Stockholm University 2006 Violence and Local Society in Late Medieval Bavaria: A look at the Evidence Clif Hubby, 2004 Bullet Penetration: For Show or Safety? Arms and Armor Volume 3, No. 2, 2006, Sylvia Leever, Delft University of Technology 2006 Primary Sources, HEMA and Martial Arts: The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe, Sydney Anglo, Yale University Press (2000) ISBN The Art of Combat: A German Martial Arts Treatise of 1570, Joachim Meyer (Jeffery Forgeng, Translator), Palgrave Macmillan (2006), ISBN: The Medieval Art of Swordsmanship: A Facsimile & Translation of Europe s Oldest Personal Combat Treatise, Royal Armouries MS I.33 (Royal Armouries Monograph), Jeffery Forgeng, Translator, Chivalry bookshelf 2002, ISBN: Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi, Shambhala (1994) ISBN: Primary Sources, Medieval / Renaissance The Saga of Grettir the Strong, Anonymous, Bernard Scudder (Translator), Penguin Classics (November 2009) ISBN: Njals Saga, Anonymous, Penguin Classics, ISBN: An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades: Memoirs of Usamah Ibn-Munqidh, Usamah Ibn-Munqidh, ISBN: The Alexiad, Ana Comnena, Penguin Classics, ISBN: The Saga of Cormac the Skald, Forgotten Books 2008, IBSN: The Anglo Saxon Chronicle, Various authors, Red and Black Publishers, ISBN: The Story of the Mongols Whom We Call the Tartars, Friar Giovanni DiPlano Carpini, Brandon Publishing Company 1996, ISBN: Chronicles of the Crusades, Jean de Joinville, Digireads.com publishing 2010, ISBN: Medieval Russias Epics, Chronicles, and Tales (includes substantial excerpts from the Russian Primary Chronicle), Meridian Books, 1974 ISBN: Chinese Military Texts: The Art of War, Thirty-Six Stratagems, Huolongjing, Wujing Zongyao, Seven Military Classics, Ji Xiao Xin Shu (Paperback), Books LLC 2010, ISBN: The Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus, 2008 Forgotten Books ISBN

121 Primary Sources-Classical The Histories Herodotus Anabasis / The 10,000 Xenophon Peloponnesian Wars Thucydides Gallic Wars Julius Caesar History of the Wars (aka The Wars of Justinian) Procopius, Cosimo Classics, ISBN: The Secret History, Procopius, Penguin Classics, ISBN: The Jewish War Josephus, Penguin Classics, ISBN: The Germania Tacitus The Agricola Tacitus The 12 Caesars Suetonius De Re Militari Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus Primary Sources-Victorian The Book of the Sword, Sir Richard Burton, Dover Publications (July 1, 1987) ISBN: The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy, Joseph Burkhardt Waffen: Ein Beitrag zur hustorischen Waffenkunde vom Beginn des Mittelalters bis gegen Ende des siebzehnten Jarhunderts, Verlag Von Heinrich keller, 1903, Reprinted 2004 Dover Pictorial Archive as Medieval Arms and Armor ISBN: X Military History Sources Medieval Warfare: History of the Art of War, Volume III (History of the Art of War, Vol 3), Hans Delbruck, University of Nebraska Press (1990) ISBN: Medieval Warfare Source Book: Warfare in Western Christendom David Nicolle Hindu Arms and Ritual: Arms and Armour from India , Robert Elgood, (Jan 15, 2005) Eburon Publishers, ISBN: Arms and Armor: Traditional Weapons of India, E Jaiwant Paul (Nov 1, 2005) Roli Books or India Crest, ISBN: Arms and Armor from Iran: The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Peroid Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani Legat Verlag (November 3, 2006) ISBN: Warfare in the Classical World, John Gibson Wary, University of Oklahoma Press, (October 1995) ISBN: The Hammer and the Cross: A new history of the Vikings, Robert Ferguson, Penguin Books 2009, ISBN: The Northern Crusades (New Edition), Eric Christiansen, Penguin Books 1997, ISBN: Osprey Military Books The Swiss at War (Men-At-Arms Series, 94) Douglas Miller, Ospery Press, (November 1979) ISBN: Landsknechts (Men-At-Arms Series, 58), Douglas Miller, Osprey Press, (March 31, 1994) ISBN: Viking Hersir AD, Mike Harrison, Osprey Press, (July 29, 1993), ISBN: The Hussite Wars , Stephen Turnbull, Osprey Press, 2004, ISBN: Tetutonic Knight, , David Nicolle, Osprey Press (2007) ISBN: Recommended Films The Deluge (Potop), (2004) based on the novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz With Fire and Sword, (1999) Jerzy Hoffman, based on the novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz Colonel Wolodyjowski, (1969) Jerzy Hoffman, based on the novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz The Old Fairy Tale: When the Sun Was a god (aka Stara Basn) (2003) Pathfinder (Ofelas) (1987) (the original Finnish version, not the Hollywood remake) Krzyzacy NTSC "Knights of the Teutonic Order" (1960) Alexander Ford Yojimbo, (1961) Akira Kirosawa The Seven Samurai, (1954) Akira Kirosawa The Name of the Rose (1986) The Duelists (1977) 121

122 The Vikings, (1958) Flesh and Blood (1985) The Last Valley (1970) Beowulf and Grendel (2005) Recommended Fiction: Fantasy Novels The Dying Earth, Jack Vance Lyonesse, Jack Vance The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian: The Original Adventures of the Greatest Sword and Sorcery Hero of All Time!, Robert E Howard Bard Kieth Taylor The Swords of Lankhmar, 1968 Fritz Leiber Recommended Fiction: Historical Novels The Name of the Rose Umberto Eco The Walking Drum Louis L Amour The Deluge, Henryk Sienkiewicz With Fire and Sword, Henryk Sienkiewicz Colonel Wolodyjowski, Henryk Sienkiewicz Hammer and Cross, Harry Harrison Niccolo Rising, Dorothy Dunnett 122

123 123 8

124 124 8

125 125 8

126 Codex Martialis Weapons of the Ancient World Part 1, Melee Weapons 126