[LT] What if a weapon is in several categories?

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

Isn't there an underlying logic behind the rules, one that can be dug out, analyzed, and then applied to such questions as the one the OP is asking?

I don't know. I was thinking in terms of the practical making of real objects, where (IME) trying to upgrade just one aspect is often quite hard, and doing the whole job better is more effective.

[Kalzazz]

A khopesh is an all metal sword like thing (as well as axe like thing) that already costs as much as a sword, making a Fine Khopesh should use sword costs

[Celti]

Originally Posted by Kalzazz

A khopesh is an all metal sword like thing (as well as axe like thing) that already costs as much as a sword, making a Fine Khopesh should use sword costs

I agree with Kalzazz here; the high cost factor of quality axes, polearms, and maces isn't so much because they're harder to make, but because the base weapons are so cheap. An axe or mace is $50; a halberd is $150; a broadsword is $600! The khopesh at $450 should use the sword CFs.

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by johndallman

I don't know. I was thinking in terms of the practical making of real objects, where (IME) trying to upgrade just one aspect is often quite hard, and doing the whole job better is more effective.

Anders may be onto something. It might be the case that GURPS has an implicit "UB-like" assumption about nobody historically made really awesome axes so therefore we'll give them a higher CF than for swords.

If so, that's a stupid rule and should be changed.

But it could be the case that it genuinely is a lot harder to make a Very Fine axe than a VF sword.

[Flyndaran]

Axes are naturally more forgiving of lower quality steel. But getting that super duper sharpness bonus requires proper sword quality steel, so I see why it should suffer a bump in price to that of expensive swords.

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by Anders

Low-Tech gives detailed rules for what categories of weapons cost when made Fine or Very Fine. Categories include thrown weapons, missile weapons, projectiles melee weapons in general, swords and others. Some weapons fall in more than one category - the Khopesh can be used with the Broadsword or Axe skill, the Spear can be a melee weapon, a thrown weapon or a missile, etc. What do I do when a weapon falls into more than category - what Cost Factor should I use? I suggest using the cheapest one, but I would like to know what the hive-mind (and the author) thinks.

One point is that a missile weapon would rarely be made Very Fine-it is expendable. There are exceptions of course like the Lone Ranger's silver bullets or the Black Arrow that killed Smaug. Most Very Fine weapons will be either hand weapons or the launch mechanism of a projectile weapon(I.E. a bow or a gun).

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

One point is that a missile weapon would rarely be made Very Fine-it is expendable. There are exceptions of course like the Lone Ranger's silver bullets or the Black Arrow that killed Smaug. Most Very Fine weapons will be either hand weapons or the launch mechanism of a projectile weapon(I.E. a bow or a gun).

I doubt a hypothetical very fine bow would perform properly unless it fires very fine arrows.
One can only perform up to the weakest link in the chain of required steps.

[jason taylor]

At the least a bow is more likely to be Stylized then an arrow