Fantasy Action Hero Backup Weapons

[Kalzazz]

Could one feasibly fast draw a hatchet? That would seem an important consideration for a backup weapon, as if your main weapon goes flying away want to get another ready quickly

Also are they any potential backup weapons that make use of the polearm skill and/or can default from it?

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Kalzazz

Could one feasibly fast draw a hatchet? That would seem an important consideration for a backup weapon, as if your main weapon goes flying away want to get another ready quickly

*Shrug*

It doesn't hurt my SoD that if a two-handed sword can be Fast-Drawn, so can a hatchet.

Originally Posted by Kalzazz

Also are they any potential backup weapons that make use of the polearm skill and/or can default from it?

Not ones that are easily concealable or comfortable to carry, no. Polearm fighters should know Staff, as well, so there's that if the weapon breaks. Otherwise, though, it makes sense to have a secondary (tertiary, quartary, etc.) weapon skill as well as weapons.

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by Kalzazz

Could one feasibly fast draw a hatchet?

Yes. I've seen demos where men pulled four light throwing axes from an ordinary belt and chucked them in about four seconds. You'd need eight seconds if you had to Ready and then Attack, so I'd say that's Fast-Draw. I wouldn't allow it for anything but hatchets and smallish hurlbats – certainly not for full-sized throwing axes, maces, etc. – but I'd be fine with it for hatchets.

Originally Posted by Kalzazz

Also are they any potential backup weapons that make use of the polearm skill and/or can default from it?

No. Polearms are almost by definition main battle weapons. Even full-sized swords are "backup" weapons relative to them. There isn't a lot of polearm technique that's applicable to concealed weapons in close quarters.