Dungeon Fantasy/Monster Hunter Powers in Standard Games

[panton41]

Originally Posted by RyanW

It's not really a tech issue. Impaling and piercing damage have been the primary combat threats since it occurred to someone to start sharpening the sticks. Swords are just over represented compared to spears and arrows in most fantasy than is probably historically accurate.

Swords were often a king or noble's weapon and legends and stories built up around them. Spears, axes and clubs not so much. Fast forward 500 years when the gun has taken over and all that's left of warfare in those days in the public eye are those legends and then ask people what weapons they used back then. Ask 100 people what Excalibur (or maybe Durandal for French people) was and they'll say a sword. Ask them about Gungnir and you'll be lucky they even knew you said a word.

Personally I like giving my fantasy characters axes, spears, maces, hammers, polearms, etc. Not only does it make them seem more real, it also makes them different from a generic "sword and board" concept.