Adding Hooks to Swords

[Sindri]

Martial Arts says that "Any swung weapon, even a sword, can have a small hook to permite the use of the Hook technique". It doesn't include any PC relevant disadvantages which seems... odd. Can anyone show me what a sword that can do everything the Hook technique can without any downside in, say, thrusting looks like? Alternatively is there a reason it won't be added to literally every sword a PC purchases absent them being broke or matters of style in world?

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by Sindri

Martial Arts says that "Any swung weapon, even a sword, can have a small hook to permite the use of the Hook technique". It doesn't include any PC relevant disadvantages which seems... odd. Can anyone show me what a sword that can do everything the Hook technique can without any downside in, say, thrusting looks like? Alternatively is there a reason it won't be added to literally every sword a PC purchases absent them being broke or matters of style in world?

There are rules adding hooks to swung weapons In Low tech Companion 2.

I'm not sure a hook has to replace the tip of a weapon* but it does give the thrusting damage for it use. Thr -2 Cut for one handed, Thr -1 Cut for two handed, it also mentions non damaging blunt versions.

As it stands it's just +$25 extra cost


*the given example doesn't explicitly state where the hook is on Boris's 'swiss army' halberd, GM's discretion may be advised as it has to be somewhere where it can be brought into use.

[Sindri]

Originally Posted by Tomsdad

There are rules adding hooks to swung weapons In Low tech Companion 2.

I'm not sure a hook has to replaces the tip of a weapon* but it does give the thrusting damage for it use. Thr -2 Cut for one handed, Thr -1 Cut for two handed, it also mentions non damaging blunt versions.

As it stands it's just +$25 extra cost


*the given example doesn't explicitly state where the hook is on Boris's 'swiss army' halberd, GM's discretion may be advised as it has to be somewhere where it can be brought into use.

They are the same rules, just repeated. I'm not asking about the hook itself but how it impacts the weapon's normal thrusting mode (since RAW it doesn't).

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by Sindri

They are the same rules, just repeated. I'm not asking about the hook itself but how it impacts the weapon's normal thrusting mode (since RAW it doesn't).

Its going to depend on where on the weapon the hook is and if it interferes with or even replaces a thrusting point. Which as I said is probably a matter of GM discretion.

My general gut instinct is to say it will be more an issue for swords than hafted weapons, and it may interfere with normal swung attacks as well.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Tomsdad

I'm not sure a hook has to replace the tip of a weapon

That's the solution really. If you don't think Shaolin hook sword, but something more like basket hilt with ridiculously long hooked quillion, or Sai-like think with one of the side pieces with an angle bend in it, much the same thing, there's no reason to think it matters to thrust.

[Polydamas]

Originally Posted by Sindri

Martial Arts says that "Any swung weapon, even a sword, can have a small hook to permits the use of the Hook technique". It doesn't include any PC relevant disadvantages which seems... odd. Can anyone show me what a sword that can do everything the Hook technique can without any downside in, say, thrusting looks like? Alternatively is there a reason it won't be added to literally every sword a PC purchases absent them being broke or matters of style in world?

The scabbard for the sword with a hook will be much more difficult to make and probably heavier and slower to draw from. In a low-tech game, the GM is well in his rights to have smiths either refuse to make something strange or smile, nod, and make what they usually do with a token attempt at the novelty.

[Sindri]

Originally Posted by Polydamas

The scabbard for the sword with a hook will be much more difficult to make and probably heavier and slower to draw from. In a low-tech game, the GM is well in his rights to have smiths either refuse to make something strange or smile, nod, and make what they usually do with a token attempt at the novelty.

Most of that is just petty annoyances, not things that will actually impact anything. Affecting fast draw is significant though. On the other hand things like Hook Swords don't have a penalty and I can see scabbard constructions that don't feel like they should give a -1.

[Anthony]

Realistically, a hook is likely to get caught on all sorts of things you don't want it to get caught on. I'd probably give a bonus to disarm someone with a hooked weapon.

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Realistically, a hook is likely to get caught on all sorts of things you don't want it to get caught on. I'd probably give a bonus to disarm someone with a hooked weapon.

Yes that hook is going to work both ways after all, it will help to hook, but can in return be 'hooked' itself.

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by Sindri

Most of that is just petty annoyances, not things that will actually impact anything. Affecting fast draw is significant though. On the other hand things like Hook Swords don't have a penalty and I can see scabbard constructions that don't feel like they should give a -1.

TBH I think hook swords are more an esoteric oddity than a regular used weapon of war. I don't think they were ever really developed with the practicalities of scabbards in mind since I'm guessing they we're mainly on display or in hand, not attached to the body.

Hook weapons actually used in combat (i.e not police work) with more practical use are longer polearms, good at 'helping' rich chaps in armour dismount.

Don't get me wrong rule of cool says your shaolin adventurer should have one, and he should have one in a cool 'made by secret monks' quick release scabbard. But when I see a hu tou gou in action (in pairs no less) I tend to think of an accident waiting to happen..