The Point Always Beats the Edge Revisited and MA-compatible

Icelander · 10-20-2007, 10:46 PM

A few months ago, I posted a thread with various house-rules for a combat heavy Low-Tech campaign. With the arrival of Martial Arts, these rules are outdated and often obsolete. Nevertheless, some concerns were not addressed there and await the release of CCoI. Until that happy day, I present my MA-compatible house rules, starting with a simplified system for modifying armour protection versus differing attack types.

I divide each class of hand weapon damage into sub-categories and armour may have specific strength or weaknesses against each of these categories. Just find the weapon used and check the armour table to see if any notes apply.

Weapon Categories

Crushing weapons

Crushing (cr) ___Normal rules in all respects.

Backsword (hilt punch); Baton; Blackjack or Sap; Blunt Arrows; Blunt Teeth; Bokken; Bola Perdida; Bolas; Boomerang; Brass Knucles; Cestus; Chain Whip; Combat Fan; Discus; Dusack; Eku; Gada (round); Hook Sword; Jo; Jutte; Kick; Kick w/boots; Knobbed Club; Kusari; Kusarigama; Kusarijutte; Life Preserver; Light Club; Long Staff; Maul (square); Mensurschläger (hilt punch); Morningstar (round or spiked); Myrmex; Nunchaku; Quarterstaff; Punch; Rope Dart; Round Mace; Sai; Sap Glove; Shield Bash; Shield Bash w/spike; Short Baton; Short Staff; Small Round Mace; Soderagami; Tetsubo (round); Three-Part Staff; Throwing Stick; Tonfa; Urumi; Weighted Scarf; Whip.

In addition, any normally cut or imp weapon converted to crushing usually becomes cr, such as swords without sharp tips for stabbing. The same applies to hammer heads added to weapons if they are round or square.

Focused crushing (cr+) ___Enhanced armour penetration
Gada (flanged); Mace; Maul (beveled or flanged); Morningstar (flanged); Small Mace; Tetsubo (beveled or flanged).

In addition, any hammer head added to a weapon such as a polearm or axe/mace of some sort that is beveled or otherwise made to focus the force of the blow counts as cr+.

Cutting weapons

Slicing/Draw Cut (cut-) ___Inferior effects against armour
Balisong; Bill (hook); Bladed Hand; Bowel Raker Arrow; Cavalry Saber; Combat Fan; Deer Antlers; Duelling Bill (hook); Edged Rapier; Frog Crotch Arrow; Hook Sword (hilt punch or hook); Jian; Katana; Katar; Knife-Wheel; Large Katar; Large Knife; Late Katana; Light Edged Rapier; Long Knife; Main-Gauche; Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao (hilt punch); Sabre; Sharp Teeth (man-sized or smaller); Shortsword* (lighter); Shuriken; Sickle (hook); Slashing Wheel; Small Knife; Soderagami (hook); Straight Razor; Urumi; Willow Leaf.

In addition, Tip Slashes are always cut- attacks, except in the case of the Heavy Spear.

Cutting/Slashing (cut) ___Somewhat inferior against armour
Backsword; Bastard Sword; Broadsword; Cutlass; Dao; Falchion; Greatsword; Heavy Spear (tip slash); Hungamunga; Kukri; Kusarigama; Large Falchion; Large Hungamunga; Longsword; Mensurschläger; Naginata; Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao; Shortsword* (heavier); Sickle; Small Falchion; Thrusting Bastard Sword; Thrusting Broadsword; Thrusting Greatsword; Sharp Teeth (larger than man-sized).

Cutting (cut+) ___Standard cutting rules
Axe; Bill; Duelling Bill; Duelling Glaive; Duelling Halberd; Duelling Pollaxe; Greataxe; Glaive; Halberd; Hatchet; Heavy Horse-Cutter; Lajatang; Light Horse-Cutter; Monk's Spade; Poleaxe; Small Axe; Small Throwing Axe; Throwing Axe.

Impaling weapons

Weak Impaling (imp-) ___Armour Divisor (0.5)
Trident; Wooden Stake; Wood or Stone weapons.

Edged Impaling (imp) ___Normal imaling rules, slightly improved performance against some armour
Arrow; Backsword; Balisong; Bill; Bladed Hand; Cavalry Saber; Crossbow Bolt; Cutlass; Dagger; Dao; Dart; Dress Smallsword; Duelling Bill; Duelling Glaive; Duelling Halberd (thrust); Edged Rapier; Falchion; Fangs; Glaive; Halberd (thrust); Harpoon; Heavy Horse-Cutter; Heavy Spear; Javelin; Jian; Katana; Katar; Knife Wheel; Kukri; Lance; Large Falchion; Large Katar; Large Knife; Large Throwing Knife; Late Katana; Light Horse-Cutter; Light Edged Rapier; Light Rapier; Long Knife; Long Spear; Longsword; Main-Gauche; Naginata; Plumbata; Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao; Rapier; Rope Dart; Saber; Scythe; Short Spear; Shortsword; Sickle; Small Falchion; Small Knife; Smallsword; Small Throwing Knife; Spear; Thrusting Bastard Sword; Thrusting Broadsword; Thrusting Greatsword.

Narrow Impaling (imp+) ___Enhanced performance against armour, but only pi+ performance against flesh
Bodkin Arrow**; Duelling Halberd (swung); Estoc; Halberd (swung); Pick; Rondel Dagger; Sai; Stiletto; Warhammer.

At the GM's option, a cinematic campaign may include weapons of the above types which are so narrow-bladed as to have an Armour Divisor of 2 instead of using the rules for armour versus weapon type and behaves as a pi weapon against flesh.

Armour Table

Torso

Type
Notes

Thick Clothing***

[6]

Fur Loincloth

[6]

Fur Tunic

[6]

Bronze Breastplate

[5,7,9,12]

Bronze Corselet

[5,7,9,12]

Cloth Armour

[6,9]

Leather Armour

[7,9]

Leather Jacket

[6,9]

Light Scale Armour

[5,7,9,11,12]

Lorica Segmentata

[5,6,11,13]

Mail Hauberk

[7,9,12]

Mail Shirt

[7,9,12]

Scale Armour

[5,7,9,11,13]

Double Mail Hauberk

[8,10,12]

Heavy Steel Corselet

[5,8,10,13]

Steel Breastplate

[5,8,10,13]

Steel Corselet

[5,8,10,13]

Steel Laminate Plate

[5,8,10,13]

Buff Coat

[6,9,11]

Limb Armour

Type
Notes

Bronze Armbands

[5,6,12]

Bronze Greaves

[5,6,12]

Cloth Sleeves

[6,9]

Heavy Leather Leggings

[7,9]

Heavy Leather Sleeves

[7,9]

Leather Leggings

[6,9]

Leather Sleeves

[6,9]

Leather Pants

[6,9]

Studded Leather Skirt

[11,13]

Mail Leggings

[7,9,12]

Mail Sleeves

[7,9,12]

Scale Leggings

[5,7,9,11,13]

Scale Sleeves

[5,7,9,11,13]

Heavy Plate Arms

[5,8,10,13]

Heavy Plate Legs

[5,8,10,13]

Plate Arms

[5,8,10,13]

Plate Legs

[5,8,10,13]

Headgear

Type
Notes

Bronze Helmet

[5,6,12]

Bronze Pot-Helm

[5,6,12]

Cloth Cap

[6,9]

Leather Cap

[6,9]

Leather Helm

[7,9]

Legionary Helmet

[5,8,10,13]

Mail Coif

[7,9,13]

Barrel Helm

[5,8,10,13]

Face Mask

[5,8,10,13]

Greathelm

[5,8,10,13]

Pot-Helm

[5,8,10,13]

Gloves

Type
Notes

Cloth Gloves

[6,9]

Leather Gloves

[7,9]

Gauntlets

[5,8,10,13]

Heavy Gauntlets

[5,8,10,13]

Footwear

Type
Notes

Sandals

Shoes

[6,9]

Boots

[7,9]

Sollerets

[5,8,10,13]

Notes
[5] -1 to DR versus cr+
[6] +1 DR versus cut-
[7] +2 DR versus cut-
[8] +3 to DR versus cut-
[9] +1 to DR versus cut
[10] +2 to DR versus cut
[11] -1 to DR versus imp
[12] -1 to DR versus imp+
[13] -2 to DR versus imp+

Comments?

*Most shortswords are cut-, while unusually long or heavy versions, such as the Katzbalger and sica are considered cut weapons.
**Historical bodkin arrows are best simulated by a -2 (or -1/die) to basic damage, an Armour Divisor (2) and pi+ damage.
***DR 0, but enjoys a bonus against cut-

10-20-2007, 10:46 PM	#1
Icelander Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Iceland*	The Point Always Beats the Edge Revisited and MA-compatible A few months ago, I posted a thread with various house-rules for a combat heavy Low-Tech campaign. With the arrival of Martial Arts, these rules are outdated and often obsolete. Nevertheless, some concerns were not addressed there and await the release of *CCoI. Until that happy day, I present my MA-compatible house rules, starting with a simplified system for modifying armour protection versus differing attack types. I divide each class of hand weapon damage into sub-categories and armour may have specific strength or weaknesses against each of these categories. Just find the weapon used and check the armour table to see if any notes apply. Weapon Categories* Crushing weapons Crushing (cr) ___Normal rules in all respects. Backsword (hilt punch); Baton; Blackjack or Sap; Blunt Arrows; Blunt Teeth; Bokken; Bola Perdida; Bolas; Boomerang; Brass Knucles; Cestus; Chain Whip; Combat Fan; Discus; Dusack; Eku; Gada (round); Hook Sword; Jo; Jutte; Kick; Kick w/boots; Knobbed Club; Kusari; Kusarigama; Kusarijutte; Life Preserver; Light Club; Long Staff; Maul (square); Mensurschläger (hilt punch); Morningstar (round or spiked); Myrmex; Nunchaku; Quarterstaff; Punch; Rope Dart; Round Mace; Sai; Sap Glove; Shield Bash; Shield Bash w/spike; Short Baton; Short Staff; Small Round Mace; Soderagami; Tetsubo (round); Three-Part Staff; Throwing Stick; Tonfa; Urumi; Weighted Scarf; Whip. In addition, any normally cut or imp weapon converted to crushing usually becomes cr, such as swords without sharp tips for stabbing. The same applies to hammer heads added to weapons if they are round or square. Focused crushing (cr+) ___Enhanced armour penetration Gada (flanged); Mace; Maul (beveled or flanged); Morningstar (flanged); Small Mace; Tetsubo (beveled or flanged). In addition, any hammer head added to a weapon such as a polearm or axe/mace of some sort that is beveled or otherwise made to focus the force of the blow counts as cr+. Cutting weapons Slicing/Draw Cut (cut-) ___Inferior effects against armour Balisong; Bill (hook); Bladed Hand; Bowel Raker Arrow; Cavalry Saber; Combat Fan; Deer Antlers; Duelling Bill (hook); Edged Rapier; Frog Crotch Arrow; Hook Sword (hilt punch or hook); Jian; Katana; Katar; Knife-Wheel; Large Katar; Large Knife; Late Katana; Light Edged Rapier; Long Knife; Main-Gauche; Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao (hilt punch); Sabre; Sharp Teeth (man-sized or smaller); Shortsword* (lighter); Shuriken; Sickle (hook); Slashing Wheel; Small Knife; Soderagami (hook); Straight Razor; Urumi; Willow Leaf. In addition, Tip Slashes are always cut- attacks, except in the case of the Heavy Spear. Cutting/Slashing (cut) ___Somewhat inferior against armour Backsword; Bastard Sword; Broadsword; Cutlass; Dao; Falchion; Greatsword; Heavy Spear (tip slash); Hungamunga; Kukri; Kusarigama; Large Falchion; Large Hungamunga; Longsword; Mensurschläger; Naginata; Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao; Shortsword* (heavier); Sickle; Small Falchion; Thrusting Bastard Sword; Thrusting Broadsword; Thrusting Greatsword; Sharp Teeth (larger than man-sized). Cutting (cut+) ___Standard cutting rules Axe; Bill; Duelling Bill; Duelling Glaive; Duelling Halberd; Duelling Pollaxe; Greataxe; Glaive; Halberd; Hatchet; Heavy Horse-Cutter; Lajatang; Light Horse-Cutter; Monk's Spade; Poleaxe; Small Axe; Small Throwing Axe; Throwing Axe. Impaling weapons Weak Impaling (imp-) ___Armour Divisor (0.5) Trident; Wooden Stake; Wood or Stone weapons. Edged Impaling (imp) ___Normal imaling rules, slightly improved performance against some armour Arrow; Backsword; Balisong; Bill; Bladed Hand; Cavalry Saber; Crossbow Bolt; Cutlass; Dagger; Dao; Dart; Dress Smallsword; Duelling Bill; Duelling Glaive; Duelling Halberd (thrust); Edged Rapier; Falchion; Fangs; Glaive; Halberd (thrust); Harpoon; Heavy Horse-Cutter; Heavy Spear; Javelin; Jian; Katana; Katar; Knife Wheel; Kukri; Lance; Large Falchion; Large Katar; Large Knife; Large Throwing Knife; Late Katana; Light Horse-Cutter; Light Edged Rapier; Light Rapier; Long Knife; Long Spear; Longsword; Main-Gauche; Naginata; Plumbata; Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao; Rapier; Rope Dart; Saber; Scythe; Short Spear; Shortsword; Sickle; Small Falchion; Small Knife; Smallsword; Small Throwing Knife; Spear; Thrusting Bastard Sword; Thrusting Broadsword; Thrusting Greatsword. Narrow Impaling (imp+) ___Enhanced performance against armour, but only pi+ performance against flesh Bodkin Arrow; Duelling Halberd (swung); Estoc; Halberd (swung); Pick; Rondel Dagger; Sai; Stiletto; Warhammer. At the GM's option, a cinematic campaign may include weapons of the above types which are so narrow-bladed as to have an Armour Divisor of 2 instead of using the rules for armour versus weapon type and behaves as a pi weapon against flesh. Armour Table Torso Type Notes Thick Clothing* [6] Fur Loincloth [6] Fur Tunic [6] Bronze Breastplate [5,7,9,12] Bronze Corselet [5,7,9,12] Cloth Armour [6,9] Leather Armour [7,9] Leather Jacket [6,9] Light Scale Armour [5,7,9,11,12] Lorica Segmentata [5,6,11,13] Mail Hauberk [7,9,12] Mail Shirt [7,9,12] Scale Armour [5,7,9,11,13] Double Mail Hauberk [8,10,12] Heavy Steel Corselet [5,8,10,13] Steel Breastplate [5,8,10,13] Steel Corselet [5,8,10,13] Steel Laminate Plate [5,8,10,13] Buff Coat [6,9,11] Limb Armour Type Notes Bronze Armbands [5,6,12] Bronze Greaves [5,6,12] Cloth Sleeves [6,9] Heavy Leather Leggings [7,9] Heavy Leather Sleeves [7,9] Leather Leggings [6,9] Leather Sleeves [6,9] Leather Pants [6,9] Studded Leather Skirt [11,13] Mail Leggings [7,9,12] Mail Sleeves [7,9,12] Scale Leggings [5,7,9,11,13] Scale Sleeves [5,7,9,11,13] Heavy Plate Arms [5,8,10,13] Heavy Plate Legs [5,8,10,13] Plate Arms [5,8,10,13] Plate Legs [5,8,10,13] Headgear Type Notes Bronze Helmet [5,6,12] Bronze Pot-Helm [5,6,12] Cloth Cap [6,9] Leather Cap [6,9] Leather Helm [7,9] Legionary Helmet [5,8,10,13] Mail Coif [7,9,13] Barrel Helm [5,8,10,13] Face Mask [5,8,10,13] Greathelm [5,8,10,13] Pot-Helm [5,8,10,13] Gloves Type Notes Cloth Gloves [6,9] Leather Gloves [7,9] Gauntlets [5,8,10,13] Heavy Gauntlets [5,8,10,13] Footwear Type Notes Sandals Shoes [6,9] Boots [7,9] Sollerets [5,8,10,13] Notes [5] -1 to DR versus cr+ [6] +1 DR versus cut- [7] +2 DR versus cut- [8] +3 to DR versus cut- [9] +1 to DR versus cut [10] +2 to DR versus cut [11] -1 to DR versus imp [12] -1 to DR versus imp+ [13] -2 to DR versus imp+ Comments? Most shortswords are cut-, while unusually long or heavy versions, such as the Katzbalger and sica are considered cut weapons. Historical bodkin arrows are best simulated by a -2 (or -1/die) to basic damage, an Armour Divisor (2) and pi+ damage. *DR 0, but enjoys a bonus against cut- __________________ Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela! Last edited by Icelander; 11-26-2008 at 09:56 AM.*