Weapon: Atlatl Harpoon (Mortal Kombat Scorpion)

[Der Wanderer]

Cobra Whip

History: Its origin lies in the arena of Ishna-I where one of the gladiators started using a rope dart one handed and later added an rigid, atlatl like, handle to it. For this exotic weapon the gladiator soon was known as Szaric (meaning Cobra). In time, the design of his trademark weapon grew more and more sophisticated and his technique more refined.
The Cobra Whip is not well known outside of Ishna-I and even there its not widely used as it is a tricky weapon. However, it is very popular among young noblemen who carry highly ornamented pieces, each claiming to have Szaric’s original whip.

Description: The cobra whip strongly resembles a whip with a rigid handle and a dart attached to its tip. The secret lies in the notch at the end of the handle where the dart can be fitted, only to be slung at the foe with deadly ferocity. It is a long range melee weapon, a cross between atlatl, whip and rope dart. Commonly, the cobra whip is used in the off-hand, mostly in combination with a fencing weapon.

Skill: Cobra Whip (DX/Hard)
Defaults to Kusari -4 / Spear Thrower -2

Weapon Stats:
Parry: -2U
Reach: 1 + 1-7 (choose length of the string)
Weight: 1 + length x 1 + weight of the dart
ST: 5 + length x 1
Price: 50 + length x 20 + cost of the dart in $
Straight dart: smooth bullet shaped, like rope dart (doesn’t get stuck). sw imp-1 / 0.5lb / 25$
Barbed dart: like a harpoon it has to be pulled out (ST roll, deals half damage). sw imp / 1lb / 85$
Grappling dart: lodges in enemy (use rules for harpoon LT125). sw imp / 1lb / 85$
Blunt dart: sw cr / 0.5lb / 15$
Note: Attempts to parry the Cobra Whip are at -4; fencing weapons can’t parry at all! Blocks are at -2.

Upgrades:
Removable Dart (15$) – You can easily remove the dart and replace it (or use it as regular, light whip).
Removable String (25$) – You can remove the string from your handle, leaving you with a ‘regular’ atlatl.
Dart sheath (25$ / +0.5lb) – You can fix the dart to the handle (useful if you want to use your cobra whip as an atlatl).
Rope hook (25$) – You can fix the string to the handle (useful if you want to use your cobra whip as an atlatl).

Example – Szarics Whip
While he used several weapons, this is the weapon in the final design, which he used in his last 5 duels, all of which he won. He never used it two handed or as a whip.
Szarics whip is of fine quality that is capable of piercing armor. The whip is braided from cobra leather with a barbed dart. The dart can easily be removed and replaced.
Quality: Fine, piercing (2)
Damage: sw imp (2)
Parry: -2U
Reach: 2-5 yard
Weight: 6lb
ST: 9
Price: 2000$ (In Ishna-I you could get 100 times this if you can prove its origin)

Technique - One-Handed ready (Hard):
Defaults to Cobra Whip
Only to counteract penalty for reading scorpion dart one-handed.
You can whip the dart back, catch and ready the weapon all one handed (you get +1 if you are good at kendama ;)).

+ According to MA this would fall under "special benefit" as it only needs one hand instead of 2 to ready.
+ A hand is worth 10 CP.
=> Penalty to ready Cobra Whip one handed is 1 + length of flexible part (= 2-8)

Using Whip Skill:
When using the whip skill use damage for regular whip. Entangling and related techniques are at an additional -4 for the long rigid tip.

Using Kusari skill:
Depending on the dart it can mimic many techniques used by kusari.

Using Atlatl skill:
In order to use the Cobra Dart as an atlatl you need to organize the rope and dart. To do so takes 2 ready maneuvers. As the Cobra Dart is a clumsy atlatl it gives a penalty of -2 or -1/die to damage. Additionally, you get -2 because you have to hold the dart (unless you have a dart sheath) and -3 because you have to hold the string/rope (unless you have a rope hook).

[Blood Legend]

I think I've found my next character's weapon.

[vicky_molokh]

Something like that should've been in Fantasy-Tech!

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Something like that should've been in Fantasy-Tech!

Something like that should be in Fantasy-Tech 2! (I desperately want a Fantasy-Tech 2)

[Der Wanderer]

Modified first post:
- expanded options on weapon (including a blunt dart)
- rules for using the scorpion dart as atlatl

[Der Wanderer]

Updated First Post (moved everything that was there here)

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Description: Its a stick with a notch used to fit in a heavy dart. The dart is attached to the stick with a rope. Various dart forms can be used. The idea is to use it as off hand weapon for lots of reach and damage.

Weapon - Scorpion Dart
Damage: sw imp*
Parry: -2U
Reach: 1 + 1-7 (choose length of rope)
Weight: 3 + 1 x length** (lb)
Cost: 25 + 25 x length + Dart ($)
ST: 5 + length

Straight dart: smooth bullet shaped, like rope dart (doesn't get stuck) (25$)
Barbed dart: like harpoon this has to be pulled out (st roll, deals half the damage) (85$)
Grappling dart: Lodges in enemy (use rules for harpoon LT125) (85$)
Blunt dart: Deals cr instead of imp damage (15$)

For parrying see Kusari rules (which do apply to rope dart and so should they here).
* Blunt darts deal cr damage instead
**Barbs/Grappling: +0.5lb

Options
Removable Dart (15$) - You can easily remove the dart and replace it with another dart (or use it as a whip).
Removable String (15$) - You can easily remove the string from the handle leaving you with a 'regular' atlatl
Dart sheath (25$ / +0.5lb) - You can fix the dart to the handle (usefull if you want to use your scorpion dart as an atlalt)
Rope hook (25$) - You can fix the string to the handle (usefull if you want to use your scorpion dart as an atlalt with no limitations)

Skill - Scorpion Dart
Defaults: Kusari-3 / Spear Thrower -2

Technique - One-Handed ready (Hard):
Defaults to Scorpion Dart
Only to counteract penalty for reading scorpion dart one-handed.
You can whip the dart back, catch and ready the weapon all one handed (you get +1 if you are good at kendama ;)).

- According to MA this would fall under "special benefit" as it only needs one hand instead of 2 to ready.
- A hand is worth 10 CP.
=> Penalty to ready scorpion dart one handed is 1 + length of flexible part (= 2-8)

Using Scorpion Dart as Atlatl
The Scorpion Dart is a full atlatl and it should therefore be possible to use it as atlatl, albeit with severe penalties.
-2 because you have to hold the dart (unless you have a dart sheath).
-3 because you have to hold the string/rope (unless you have a rope hook).
Either way, using the Scorpion Dart as atlatl gives you -2 or -1/die damage (whichever is worse).
It takes 2 ready maneuvers to order the rope and dart, so you can use it as atlatl.


Any input is welcome...