Armed to the Teeth

(White Dwarf #65)

More weapons, finally a two-handed axe, a pavise, a flaming oil alternative and soft-soap?

What’s it about?

M J Bourne introduces new weapons and unconventional tools, including the misericorde and poniard—grappling daggers with favorable WvAC outcomes in surprise situations or grapples. Since the two are nearly identical, only one feels necessary.  We finally get a two-handed axe, though it underperforms compared to the two-handed sword, making it a suboptimal choice. The sword-breaker, a one-handed weapon with a spring mechanism, is more suited to a Renaissance setting and offers a harder disarm attempt than the ranseur (requiring you hit AC 6 instead of 8). Other additions, like blowguns, boomerangs, and the Gallic angon spear, are thematic but mechanically weak.

Then things turn interesting as the article introduces chemical warfare with Quicklime. Similar to an oil flask, those hit must save vs. poison or be stunned for 2–5 rounds. Splash damage is unclear, but I’d rule it out. Soft-Soap, a historical tool used to repel boarders, creates a slippery area where foes must save vs. dragon breath (with modifiers) or fall prone. It’s not clear how Soft-Soap is deployed - are we carrying buckets into the dungeon? Both Quicklime and Soft-Soap feel overpowered; the saves should be easier, and Quicklime’s duration should be reduced. Finally we get the Pavise which counts as a shield when firing from behind it - so just +1 AC. Missed opportunity. 

Anything insightful?

• I like the misericorde/poniard as weapons useful in grapples. I’d apply their superior WvAC to attacks verse prone targets as well. I think Trent has a better handle on this with his take on daggers in Heroic Legendarium.

Should I share this with my players? 

No, not unless you want Quicklime bombs and buckets(?) of Soft-Soap in your game. The poniard is worth borrowing, but overall, Armed to the Teeth doesn’t make the “best of” list.