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Old 07-15-2018, 06:14 AM   #25
AlexanderHowl
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Default Re: [DF] Maximizing Maces

Well, we would need to reexamine how effective cutting weapons are against armor (impaling weapons seem to be effective against armor in the archeological record). One way to model it would be to have armor possess double DR against cutting attacks (meaning that swinging cutting attacks like axes and swords would be best against unarmed portions of targets) but, unlike an attack with Armor Divisor (0.5), targets with bare skin would not receive DR 1 against cutting attacks. Maces would be more effective against most armored targets because they deal crushing damage and face only normal DR.

Now, the effectiveness of Cutting Attacks purchase with points would have to change to reflect the cost change, so I would suggest that Cutting Attacks receive +1 damage (costing 7 CP per 1d+1 rather than per 1d). Natural weapons (Cutting Strikers, Sharp Claws, Sharp Teeth, etc) would likewise receive +1 damage per die, which would be cumulative with any damage bonuses from Brawling, Karate, etc.

What would be the result? Well, an axe swung by a character with ST 12 would deal 2d+1 cutting damage, dealing an average of 8 points of cutting damage before multipliers. Against a target wearing DR 5 plate armor, it would only deal 0 damage, because it would be acting against an effective DR 10. The same character wielding a mace would deal 4 damage through the armor though, which would give a very good reason for characters to wield maces in combat.
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