Fantasy Action Hero Backup Weapons

Blood Legend · 07-16-2009, 11:36 AM

Most of us have been down this road. A good action hero is only as good as his emergency weapon in any genre. The first one always gets knocked out of his hand and kicked across the floor somehow.

I've dabbled in Crossbows, Knives, Hatchets, and sometimes a whole 'nother sword. But I can't seem to find one I like.

Sometimes you need to help out a friend while you're engaged in your own fight. One such event happened to me in a recent game where I played a ranger.

Assassins broke into our room after poisoning us with room service. The cleric goes down, but the ward and I are up and rearing to defend. A woman and an old man (possibly wizardly) break in. I'm trying to rack up the kill count as fast as I can now. I'm going toe-to-toe with the femme and she's getting stomped. My friend is having less luck so I pull out a knife on my turn to even the odds. I give it a good toss and to cut things short: it does crap, against an old man, an old man who isn't wearing much better than cloth armor. The words uttered "What kind of a ranger are you?" In jest out-of-game at the proceeding moment got me thinking...

Knives suck. Whats a good off-hand ranged weapon suitable for aiding friends having bad luck with the dice? It needs to be small, capable of practical holdout rolls, legal in most typical fantasy settings (dont ask me 'well it depends on your setting.' Have some imagination will ya? Guy walks into the inn in full plate armor for god's sake) and easily useable indoors.

Bonus points if I can use Gizmo on it.

Johnny Angel · 07-16-2009, 12:00 PM

I can't vouch for the effectiveness of any of these ideas; they're just ideas.

Rocks
Boomerang
Sai
Shuriken
a wineskin full of lamp oil and a torch

sir_pudding · 07-16-2009, 12:04 PM

Long Knife FTW

B9anders · 07-19-2009, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Long Knife FTW

This. Never make a fighter without one.

sir_pudding · 07-19-2009, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B9anders

This. Never make a fighter without one.

Yes, but apparently not what the OP wants, since it's a not a ranged weapon.

Blood Legend · 07-19-2009, 12:43 PM

My GMs tend to ignore that not all knives can be thrown. He's got a long knife too, I've just never considered mentioning it since it's only real strong point is being available when I lose my primary. To be a tad more specific, I've got a Primary, a few Secondaries, and a Backup (since I cant think of a nifty word for 'third'). The backup is what I use when the playing field changes. I didn't bother to make the distinction since it wouldn't have added anything to the thread.

For instance; 2 guys rush me while third rushes the princess. Either I bola him or face-dust the two in front of me. For me, it's a backup in the sense that I wouldn't need to use it if I had backup.

If I had to get a even more specific, I'd say it's my panic button.

vicky_molokh · 07-16-2009, 12:09 PM

A katar? Decent damage and bonus against chinks.

ed_209a · 07-16-2009, 12:37 PM

Well, a melee weapon small enough to carry all the time, that won't get the city guard's attention just isn't going to be very effective.

I'd have to agree with sir_pudding, and suggest something in the knife family, depending largely on how much you want to be able to throw it.

DanHoward · 07-16-2009, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molokh

A katar? Decent damage and bonus against chinks.

If any rules say this then they do not reflect reality. The katar is no better at penetrating armor than any other blade with a similar geometry.

The Benj · 07-17-2009, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanHoward

If any rules say this then they do not reflect reality. The katar is no better at penetrating armor than any other blade with a similar geometry.

It gets the bonus to target chinks in armour because of its geometry.

07-16-2009, 11:36 AM	#1
Blood Legend Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Fine Line Between Black and White	Fantasy Action Hero Backup Weapons Most of us have been down this road. A good action hero is only as good as his emergency weapon in any genre. The first one always gets knocked out of his hand and kicked across the floor somehow. I've dabbled in Crossbows, Knives, Hatchets, and sometimes a whole 'nother sword. But I can't seem to find one I like. Sometimes you need to help out a friend while you're engaged in your own fight. One such event happened to me in a recent game where I played a ranger. Assassins broke into our room after poisoning us with room service. The cleric goes down, but the ward and I are up and rearing to defend. A woman and an old man (possibly wizardly) break in. I'm trying to rack up the kill count as fast as I can now. I'm going toe-to-toe with the femme and she's getting stomped. My friend is having less luck so I pull out a knife on my turn to even the odds. I give it a good toss and to cut things short: it does crap, against an old man, an old man who isn't wearing much better than cloth armor. The words uttered "What kind of a ranger are you?" In jest out-of-game at the proceeding moment got me thinking... Knives suck. Whats a good off-hand ranged weapon suitable for aiding friends having bad luck with the dice? It needs to be small, capable of practical holdout rolls, legal in most typical fantasy settings (dont ask me 'well it depends on your setting.' Have some imagination will ya? Guy walks into the inn in full plate armor for god's sake) and easily useable indoors. Bonus points if I can use Gizmo on it. __________________ . ( )( ) -This is The Overlord Bunny o(O.o)o -Master of Bunnies O('')('') -And Destroyer of the Hasenpfeffer "This is the sort of relatively small error that destroys planetary probes." ~Bruno Last edited by Blood Legend; 07-18-2009 at 01:14 PM.

07-16-2009, 12:00 PM	#2
Johnny Angel MIB Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Pennsylvania	Re: Fantasy Action Hero Backup Weapons I can't vouch for the effectiveness of any of these ideas; they're just ideas. Rocks Boomerang Sai Shuriken a wineskin full of lamp oil and a torch

07-16-2009, 12:04 PM	#3
sir_pudding Wielder of Smart Pants Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ventura CA	Re: Fantasy Action Hero Backup Weapons Long Knife FTW

07-19-2009, 12:43 PM	#6
Blood Legend Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Fine Line Between Black and White	Re: Fantasy Action Hero Backup Weapons My GMs tend to ignore that not all knives can be thrown. He's got a long knife too, I've just never considered mentioning it since it's only real strong point is being available when I lose my primary. To be a tad more specific, I've got a Primary, a few Secondaries, and a Backup (since I cant think of a nifty word for 'third'). The backup is what I use when the playing field changes. I didn't bother to make the distinction since it wouldn't have added anything to the thread. For instance; 2 guys rush me while third rushes the princess. Either I bola him or face-dust the two in front of me. For me, it's a backup in the sense that I wouldn't need to use it if I had backup. If I had to get a even more specific, I'd say it's my panic button. __________________ . ( )( ) -This is The Overlord Bunny o(O.o)o -Master of Bunnies O('')('') -And Destroyer of the Hasenpfeffer "This is the sort of relatively small error that destroys planetary probes." ~Bruno Last edited by Blood Legend; 07-19-2009 at 12:46 PM.

07-16-2009, 12:09 PM	#7
vicky_molokh GURPS FAQ Keeper Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kyïv, Ukraine	Re: Fantasy Action Hero Backup Weapons A katar? Decent damage and bonus against chinks. __________________ Vicky 'Molokh', GURPS FAQ and uFAQ Keeper

07-16-2009, 12:37 PM	#8
ed_209a Join Date: Sep 2004	Re: Fantasy Action Hero Backup Weapons Well, a melee weapon small enough to carry all the time, that won't get the city guard's attention just isn't going to be very effective. I'd have to agree with sir_pudding, and suggest something in the knife family, depending largely on how much you want to be able to throw it. __________________ “Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” - Robert E Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

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