Quick question: does Weapon Master (Rapier) cover light rapiers?

[Michael Thayne]

Miao Miao's write-up in Delvers to Go takes for granted that Weapon Master (Rapier) covers edged rapiers. My question is: does it also cover light rapiers? Seems like a minor point but might matter to a starting delver who's reluctant to trade points for cash.

[GalaCollie77]

I can say with near certainty that it does include Light Rapier

[Michael Thayne]

Originally Posted by GalaCollie77

I can say with near certainty that it does include Light Rapier

That's nice but how do you know?

[Celjabba]

Same, it would definitively be the case in Gurps, and I see no reason it would be different in DFRPG.

They all have "Rapier" in the name.
They are all sorted together in the Weapon List under the "Rapier" skill.
The "all fencing weapon" category above is much larger : (any blade used with the Main-Gauche, Rapier, Saber, or Smallsword skill).

Relevant Kromm quote (written for Gurps, not DFRPG) : http://forums.sjgames.com/showpost.p...5&postcount=25

[Michael Thayne]

Originally Posted by Celjabba

Same, it would definitively be the case in Gurps, and I see no reason it would be different in DFRPG.

They all have "Rapier" in the name.
They are all sorted together in the Weapon List under the "Rapier" skill.
The "all fencing weapon" category above is much larger : (any blade used with the Main-Gauche, Rapier, Saber, or Smallsword skill).

Relevant Kromm quote (written for Gurps, not DFRPG) : http://forums.sjgames.com/showpost.p...5&postcount=25

Okay, cool, thanks for finding what Kromm has said about this. This is also relevant (I wound up finding it by searching the forum for discussion of katanas rather than rapiers—because in MA "late katana" is a thing).

[tbone]

Originally Posted by Michael Thayne

Okay, cool, thanks for finding what Kromm has said about this. This is also relevant (I wound up finding it by searching the forum for discussion of katanas rather than rapiers—because in MA "late katana" is a thing).

It's a useful link, with a useful clarification:

Weapon Master (Foo) encompasses anything with "foo" in the name. So Weapon Master (Broadsword) includes anything named "broadsword" for just 20 points. As a GM, I'd also include any balanced, Reach 1 weapon capable of swing cutting damage that's covered by the Broadsword skill: cavalry saber, backsword, etc.

What makes things a little confusing, though, is WM entries that seem overly specific. Like pre-gen Yvor Gryffyn with his Weapon Master (Longsword) [20]. I wondered myself: "Wait, is that any Broadsword weapon, or specifically longswords only?" Following the above advice, I think it'd be clearer to label his ability Weapon Master (Broadsword) [20].

Then again: The earlier linked quote from Kromm suggests that WM (All knives, i.e., anything used with Knife skill) is indeed broader and costlier than WM (Only knives that are conventional knives, and not oddities like katars). But on another hand, DFRPG suggests WM (Knives) [20] as covering everything used with Knife or Main-Gauche skill.

So maybe I'm missing something, but I find it all pretty fuzzy. So I've just always gone with WM (Specific Skill(s)), much like defining a Wildcard skill or Expert skill, rather than fiddling with specific weapons. Simple and worry-free, IMO.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by tbone

What makes things a little confusing, though, is WM entries that seem overly specific. Like pre-gen Yvor Gryffyn with his Weapon Master (Longsword) [20]. I wondered myself: "Wait, is that any Broadsword weapon, or specifically longswords only?" Following the above advice, I think it'd be clearer to label his ability Weapon Master (Broadsword) [20].

Weapon Master (Longsword) gives it's damage bonus regardless of what skill you are using to do damage with the longsword (which is at least three different possible skills).

[tbone]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Weapon Master (Longsword) gives it's damage bonus regardless of what skill you are using to do damage with the longsword (which is at least three different possible skills).

That seems sensible: A choice between WM (Longsword, i.e., this specific weapon, regardless of the skill), or WM (Broadsword, i.e., this specific skill, regardless of the weapon). And it makes sense that Yvor would choose the former, as he wants to use his sword with both Broadsword and Two-Handed Sword.


(Reading the books more closely, I gather that WM (Specific Skill(s), not specific weapon(s)) is a later Kromm suggestion, not the printed rule. Sounds good to me, as an option for some character concepts.)

[Kalzazz]

Since Longswords are not reach one and don't have Broadsword in the name they (and katana and light club) don't meet Kromm's definition of balanced reach 1 cutting one handed weapons used with Broadsword skill

[GnomesofZurich]

Originally Posted by tbone

That seems sensible: A choice between WM (Longsword, i.e., this specific weapon, regardless of the skill), or WM (Broadsword, i.e., this specific skill, regardless of the weapon). And it makes sense that Yvor would choose the former, as he wants to use his sword with both Broadsword and Two-Handed Sword.


(Reading the books more closely, I gather that WM (Specific Skill(s), not specific weapon(s)) is a later Kromm suggestion, not the printed rule. Sounds good to me, as an option for some character concepts.)

It's not DFRPG, but DF Denizens: Swashbucklers defines WM for all weapons within a single skill as [25].