Heavy crushing/smashing weapons: Why use them?

[Landwalker]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

warhammers at least do impaling damage.

So do Dueling Halberds—and they do just as much of it, and they do it every turn.

Good to hear that that wonderful panacea, the Duke Nukem Forever of GURPS 4E, Low-Tech will include this in its list of miracles...

But even so, the damage bump would have to be pretty significant to make THAMs worth taking over a Dueling Polearm, considering that anyone with less than godly ST can only attack every other turn while using one.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

That's a pretty vague reference.

No running gags for Ragitsu's, eh? Considering that the author has already said that they get a +1 damage bump in this very thread, I can't see it as terribly obscure.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by Landwalker

So do Dueling Halberds—and they do just as much of it,

So they do. That's interesting, I've seen a lot of Halberds without back spikes in real life. I had assumed that GURPS treated is as an optional add-on.

and they do it every turn.

Not if they get stuck, which they often will.

[lexington]

Originally Posted by Landwalker

So, the real question is: Why in the world, from a mechanical standpoint, would anybody pick a THAM over a Dueling Polearm?

From a mechanical stand point there's no reason. Weapons aren't always selected for mechanical reasons.

[Anders]

Perhaps a huge wooden club (i.e. maul) was the only thing available?

[Carlos]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Because they're cheap, heavy, and hard to break, and also good at smashing other guys weapons and shields to flinders. But mostly because they're cheap.

Maul:
Damage = sw+4
Cost = $80
Weight 12 lbs

Great Axe:
Damage = sw+3
Cost = $ 100
Weight = 8 lbs

As you can see, the difference is too small, but the cutting damage modifier of x1,5 is NOT a small difference, specially if you're very strong.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Because they're low TL, which is great for primitive barbarians (especially Ogg The Caveman types).

Ok, good argument. Ogg, The Caveman, with his TL 0 can start with a club, but someday he can realize that a edged weapon is deadlier than his club.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Because at ST 21, you often don't need any more bonus damage.

Why not? Extra damage is ALWAYS welcome, especially on a DF game.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Because it doesn't matter WHAT damage type you're doing if you're doing it to the brain. 4x wounding baby.

But the -7 penalty to hit the skull DOES MATTER! With Two-Handed Axe/Mace 17 (from the Barbarian template on DF I, page 4) , you'll need a 10 on the roll to hit a single attack.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Because blunt trauma is a fabulous rule.

But the blunt trauma is not that fabulous as the x1,5 cutting modifier is, which also deal some blunt trauma damage, just not as good as the crushing weapons.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Because large flails don't come in sharp versions (effective -1 to skill in exchange for a -2 to enemy defenses to Parry and Block, and forbidden parry for Fencers? Yes please).

Yes, flails seems to be the best crushing weapon, despite I personally think a maul is cooler than a flail.

http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/s...hao%20Kahn.png

And a flail gives -4 to parry and -2 to block, not -2.

I repeat: flails are really nasty weapons. They seens to be the best option in crushing weapons in GURPS.

Originally Posted by Bruno

After Low Tech comes out, there will be more reasons, but these are pretty good ones.

I really need this book.

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

That's a pretty vague reference.

I am not an authorised leaker of tease previews for the company, so it's the most you'll get from me. And that's only because one of the authors has already said so on these forums.

If you mean that it is not generally known that the fabled tome that will be marketed under the name GURPS Low Tech is usually refered to as Cabaret Chicks on Ice on these very forums, I disagree.

As for why this is, I direct you hence.

[Carlos]

Originally Posted by ADAXL

Well, first of all, any self-respecting barbarian would use a Greataxe or a huge club with nasty metal studs (treat as a Tetsubo from GURPS Martial Arts).

I can think of a few reasons apart from all the arguments Bruno and others brought:
- The weapon has great Reach plus massive damage.
- The mass makes it hard to Parry. Dodging is the only viable defense against this monster weapon.
- If your GM permits, you can take a Shtick Perk for Intimidation.

- Both Maul and Great Axe have 1-2 reach.
- Maul is a heavy weapon, it's 12 lbs, but a great axe is very heavy too, 8 lbs.
- Maybe...

[roguebfl]

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...al/cluebat.jpg

Do you really need any other reason 8)

[Anders]

Originally Posted by Icelander

If you mean that it is not generally known that the fabled tome that will be marketed under the name GURPS Low Tech is usually refered to as Cabaret Chicks on Ice on these very forums, I disagree.

*grumble* I fought for Infra-Tech...*grumble*

[Carlos]

Originally Posted by lexington

They can take advantage of great strength, they're cheap, they're hard to break, they can break weapons that try to parry them.

Did I mention that they're cheap? Really really cheap.

Maul: $ 80
Great Axe: $ 100

Maul: 12 lbs.
Great Axe: 8 lbs.

As you can seen, the difference is not that much.

And that's ok with the parry argument. But don't forget that weapons can also be blocked by a shield, which usually are heavy too.