fantasy crafting

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

I don't think the use of "inches" in D&D was a typo. Rather, it was a result of its miniatures wargame heritage, where the "inch" on a tabletop battlefield was a common measure for distance, with varying scale factors depending on the mini rules in use.

Though the D&D usage is still a little weird, what with the way it implies characters represented with the more or less standard 25 mm miniatures are like 30 feet tall.

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

Now you tell me! After I've already ordered my Stonehenge megaliths!

I don't think the use of "inches" in D&D was a typo. Rather, it was a result of its miniatures wargame heritage, where the "inch" on a tabletop battlefield was a common measure for distance, with varying scale factors depending on the mini rules in use.

The instance with the NPCs using 6" sticks was a typo, the use of inches in the main rules was indeed a confusing hangover from the game's wargaming heritage.

[benz72]

Originally Posted by malloyd

This probably needs to go in the FAQ, this is the third or fourth thread on essentially this same topic. The definition of sticks that can't take the Fine (balanced) modifier is loosely specified in the original definition of the modifier, on Martial Arts p.216, and reads "Sticks – batons, clubs, quarterstaffs, wooden stakes, etc. – and improvised weapons can’t have fine balance."

When you add in possibilities like Essential Wood, Weapon Spirits, Dragon Bone Staffs, &c. a lot of these assumptions ought to be reconsidered.

[RyanW]

I second Armoury, with a Carpentry default (and I'd listen to Artist (Woodworking) if someone wanted to default to that).

And now I get what's bugging me about this thread. How, exactly, is making a quarterstaff "fantasy"? Sorry, it's just that "fantasy==low tech" is my irk button.

[brianfb]

It seems really dumb that a stick can be unbalanced, but not well balanced lol. I'm a big RAW guy though, just wish they always made sense.

[simply Nathan]

Originally Posted by brianfb

It seems really dumb that a stick can be unbalanced, but not well balanced lol. I'm a big RAW guy though, just wish they always made sense.

It's more "baseline level of balance for anything purpose-designed as a killing device is also the optimal balance for sticks purpose-shaped into killing devices; anything can be worse at hitting, but only some weapons can benefit from designs which will make them any better at hitting".