Blasphemous Polyhedral Weapons Table

[tbeard1999]

Originally Posted by Chris Rice

Whilst I'm not entirely against using polyhedrals for weapons, I do have to question some of the values. (I'm assuming you haven't changed the strength requirements.)

Off the top of my head, the battleaxe was 3d6 damage (3-18 range, average 10.5) but with the likely results strongly in the middle of the range (8-13). On your table the damage for the same weapon is 1d20 (1-20 range, average 10.5) but with any result being equally likely. The chance of rolling the top of the range on 3d6 is less than 0.5%. On 1d20 it's 5%, or 10 times more likely.

I don't like that. I find it too extreme and unpredictable for an individual blow.

I calibrated the damage based on the average TFT damage. For instance, a 2d6 broadsword averages 7 points of damage. With a d12, it averages 6.5 points of damage (close enough). ST requirements, cost and weight haven't changed.

Obviously your mileage may vary. However, some TFT weapons use a bell curve for damage; some don't. That has always bugged me (and apparently no one else on the planet).

Also, this table tries to address the problem you noted in another thread - high levels of armor protection. A bell curve will often exacerbate that problem, particularly where the average damage is less than the fixed protection level.

As noted in that thread, a 2d broadsword will damage a figure who stops 9 hits 1/6 of the time. A d12 will damage them 1/4 of the time. That seems to address your complaint, to some extent.

And as noted, you can calibrate the damage to be more or less variable. A d12 can be replaced with 1d10+1. Or 1d8 +2. Or 1d20-4. All average 6.5 points of damage per hit.

You could also decide that hafted weapons (for instance) are more variable than swords. Or vice versa. So a Battleaxe does 1d20, while a Greatsword does 1d12+5 and a 2 handed sword does 1d10+4, for instance.