Umbrella as an Improvised Weapon

[acrosome]

Are there statistics anywhere for using an umbrella as an improvised weapon? Ideally I'm looking for something like the box on Martial Arts p.224, as I'd like to know the skill and improvised penalty, etc.

Also, while I'm asking questions, is there any sort of staff or baton that uses Rapier skill, in the same way that you can use Smallsword skill with a "Short Staff"?

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by acrosome

Also, while I'm asking questions, is there any sort of staff or baton that uses Rapier skill, in the same way that you can use Smallsword skill with a "Short Staff"?

Escrima sticks use Smallsword (whether that makes sense or not)..

[Anders]

I'd use the same stats as for a car antenna (p. MA224).

Although you can unfurl it - treat as a very flimsy shield (DB 1, ruined after 1 hit).

[The Colonel]

Did anyone stat Bartitsu? Seems like something someone around here might have done and Umbrella feels like something you could substitute for a walking cane as long as it was furled and bound.

Not considering a Bulgarian Umbrella of course, which is an entirely different beastie...

[Anaraxes]

Originally Posted by The Colonel

Not considering a Bulgarian Umbrella of course, which is an entirely different beastie...

Or a Kingsman Umbrella.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by The Colonel

Did anyone stat Bartitsu? .

It's in MA and includes Smallsword IIRC.

[Varyon]

The Jo should probably usable with Rapier, as it's essentially just a larger version of the Short Staff. I have no idea why the latter costs twice as much despite being half the weight of the former, however. For consistency, you may want to just follow the guidelines from LTC2 for making a stick or hafted weapon longer, give the Short Staff +1 to Reach (for 1,2), and say that because it's now too long for Smallsword it uses Rapier instead.

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

Or a Kingsman Umbrella.

Or Roberta's umbrella from Black Lagoon. The stats for it are already in High Tech on p. 104, under the name "Franchi SPAS-12".

[Donny Brook]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Escrima sticks use Smallsword (whether that makes sense or not)..

I always found that weird, since Smallsword was not a Swing weapon.

[Dalillama]

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

I always found that weird, since Smallsword was not a Swing weapon.

Smallsword is a Fencing skill and gets an improved Parry, Escrima is represented as having good defense techniques, Escrima gets a Fencing Parry. If it weren't a legacy build, it would probably be represented as a Style Perk in 4e.