[Low-Tech/Basic] Pick: War Club or Pickaxe

[Anthony]

Hand tool versions of the pick, both one and two handed, have existed since prehistory and have probably been intermittently used as weapons for at least as long. If I had to guess why Basic calls the pick TL 3, it's because making a pick that will survive the rigors of combat is kinda hard.

[Dalillama]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Hand tool versions of the pick, both one and two handed, have existed since prehistory and have probably been intermittently used as weapons for at least as long. If I had to guess why Basic calls the pick TL 3, it's because making a pick that will survive the rigors of combat is kinda hard.

Nah, it's a matter of the armor vs weapons race. TL 3 is the first time there was armor tough enough that picks were needed to reliably pierce it, so that was the first time anybody made picks specifically for military purposes.