Stuck low tech missile and thrown projectiles

[pzmcgwire]

Has having arrows or thrown weapons getting stuck in a character or on their armor been covered?

It seems that Romans used thrown javelins (pilum) to force opponents to drop their shields as the stuck javelins encumbered the shields and were difficult to remove during a battle.

Similarly, arrows would tend to stick to the target if they do damage.

Of course, sometimes arrows and thrown weapons would bounce off, but more likely it seems that low-tech projectiles would get stuck on shields or armor if not stuck in the struck character.

[hcobb]

See removing arrows from flesh at ITL 167.

For more advanced stuck in rules see GURPS.

[Shostak]

I don’t worry about embedded arrows and such, except in the case of cursed ones that, by RAW, are stuck. Event then, the projectile itself has no effect—only the magic in it does.

Every additional combat detail—combat fatigue, bleeding wounds, etc.—slows a melee down and should therefore be very carefully considered. There are all kinds of ways to add nuance to TFT combat, but, after just a few additions, it won’t be TFT combat anymore.

[pzmcgwire]

For archers and javelineers axe throwers, dagger, and shuriken tossers, pin-cushioning their opponents and causing some disadvantage would help these weapons.

As it is, heavy armor seems to easily negate bow and thrown weapons.

Guess this is a free action then in TFT.

https://tenor.com/view/300-leonidas-...ta-gif-5494184

[hcobb]

Armor is not useless in TFT, but your main mundane missile defense is Shield Expertise.

[Axly Suregrip]

I have a suggestion.

All current TFT thrown weapons remains the same. Add a new weapon: Pilum.

The pilum a heavy 6.5' javelin that is designed to disable shields and pierce armor. A trait of the pilum is the narrow shank (top half of shaft) that bends easy preventing extracting the pilum from a shield, but still iron so not easily chopped of like arrows. This also prevents its reuse once in a shield.

Pilum: (one handed, pole weapon, may be thrown)
Damage: 1d
ST: 11
Cost: $60
Wt (lbs.): 5.0
Notes: about 2 yards long but may not jab with it (pilum balance required holding it forward of center). If thrown & it pierced a shield (damage exceeded the shield's protection), then both the shield and the pilum are broken. After the battle both the shield and pilum may be recovered and repaired by an armourer at half the item's cost.

Game Balance:
- Similar to a spear but costs more & weighs less. Same damage as 1 handed spear, but it may not be used 2 handed. 1-handed spear may jab but pilum disable shields.
- Similar to trident but requires more ST, heavier, and costs more in order to gain shield disables. And does not require its own talent.

[pzmcgwire]

The pilum could be a special weapon requiring no new skill to use other than pole weapons.

I'm guessing that a lot of RPG combat systems are based on experience with SCA, which typically doesn't allow a lot of missile weapon or thrown weapon fire and typically those weapons are not designed to stick in a target during SCA combat as would happen in real combat.

[Axly Suregrip]

I'd like to add to my update and suggest two talents are required:
- Pole Weapons
- Thrown Weapons