Weapon Breakage

[luke]

when can we do rules for Weapon Breakage?!

Muahahahahhaahah!


My players have threatened to abandon me altogether if I go through with weapon breakage mechanics.

[Durgil]

when can we do rules for Weapon Breakage?!

From some of the research that I've seen on this subject and from people I know that have a lot of experience with medieval weapons, this is, at least historically, a lot less common than most gamers think. Swords would be passed down from father to son for many generations and servive countless skirmishes and battles. Even wooden hafted weapons such as axes and war hammers can survive a lot of punishment. I'm not sure how BW would handle it, but it was suggested by the game designer of TRoS that it should only be a possiblity when a player rolls a "botched" roll (two 1's with no successes). A botch, in and of itself, doesn't happen very often.

[eruditus]

lol...

although bowstrings are another story all together :) especially the fool who tries to pummel someone with their bow :lol:

Anyway, yeah, I have a steel, handforged broadsword that I have had over a decade and regularly fought with it "live-steel" and it has stood up well...

alternatively the sword-maker, Starfire, take their life-time guarentee very seriously and other weapons have not faired so well against it. I have been thinking of starting a low-grade engraving ticking off the weapons that have broken across the edge :)

[luke]

Modern weapons and modern combat simulation are not indicative of the conditions that medieval weapons fought under.

First off, the materials and forging techniques are far more advanced now. Even if they are hand forged, you are talking about better quality steel, hotter forges and better tools.

Secondly, you have never thrust that broadsword through chainmail into someone's ribs then pivoted, tried to yank the blade out --as the body sagged and shifted-- to deflect an oncoming blow. From what little research I've done, blades snapped at the "hilt" under such circumstances with a notable frequency. Admittedly, not something that happened in every fight, but it did occur.

Also, smashing weapons full force against metal armor is not the same as simulation/recreation combat. I know it can get really intense, but I just don't think it is the same thing.

Certainly some weapons become "heirloom" weapons. But I think the majority fell prey to bad circumstance.

I read a piece from a medieval martial arts manual that instructed a knight to bring every possible weapon he could, cause they're all gonna break.

-abzu

[Durgil]

Modern weapons and modern combat simulation are not indicative of the conditions that medieval weapons fought under.

First off, the materials and forging techniques are far more advanced now. Even if they are hand forged, you are talking about better quality steel, hotter forges and better tools.
In the late '60's and early '70's, Man went to the Moon several times, but this is currently not possible because of the industry required for such an under taking is no longer around. Modern metallurgist can't at this time recreate the swords of the middle ages, some of which are still with us in museums. I'm not saying that it is impossible to recreate either of these feats if we really wanted to, but modern society no longer puts any value on either of these tasks, therefore are best science isn't being applied to swordsmithing.

Secondly, you have never thrust that broadsword through chainmail into someone's ribs then pivoted, tried to yank the blade out --as the body sagged and shifted-- to deflect an oncoming blow. From what little research I've done, blades snapped at the "hilt" under such circumstances with a notable frequency. Admittedly, not something that happened in every fight, but it did occur.

Also, smashing weapons full force against metal armor is not the same as simulation/recreation combat. I know it can get really intense, but I just don't think it is the same thing.

Certainly some weapons become "heirloom" weapons. But I think the majority fell prey to bad circumstance.

I read a piece from a medieval martial arts manual that instructed a knight to bring every possible weapon he could, cause they're all gonna break.
This is quite interesting, and I'll have to look into it. As far as swords go though, I'm sure there was quite a difference between those of the early middle ages or mass produced for armies and the watered steel blades of a wealthy knight coming back from the crusades in the Holy Lands.

[Durgil]

although bowstrings are another story all together :) especially the fool who tries to pummel someone with their bow
Lets not forget what happens to the bow if it is never unstrung, or the effects of moisture on a bowstring. It seriously slows an archer down when they first have to string their bow before they can use it. If they always keep it strung, the bow will slowly loose its draw strength over time (at least the wooden ones will). Also, getting your bow very wet, like submerged in a river of used in the rain, will ruin the string, at least until it is allowed to dry thoroughly. :twisted:

[Kublai]

Well, it sounds like Durgil is touching upon what would logically be part of any breakage ( :x ) rules. Just as there are factor for Armor Loss according to quality, I believe there has to be factors for Weapon Breakage according to quality.

Thus, the footman's hastily-forged cleaver would certainly break more frequently than the knight's dwarf-made heirloom sword.

Perhaps, in the forth-coming Enchanting rules, there would be a purchasable trait called "Indestructable?"

BTW, I am very glad I play a martial artist who kicks people rather than relies on flimsy weapons of steel! :wink:

[eruditus]

Secondly, you have never thrust that broadsword through chainmail into someone's ribs then pivoted, tried to yank the blade out --as the body sagged and shifted-- to deflect an oncoming blow. From
-abzu

oh, now whose being presumptuous...

uh, oh... inner voice, Don, inner voice....

Doh! I said my name!

*looks around and slinks off*