Which weapons are steel, which are wood, etc?


Rules Questions


The special materials section of Ultimate Equipment includes things like wyroot and living steel and darkwood and mithral. But some can only be applied to wood weapons and some only to steel.

But I can't find a simple way of determining which weapons are made of wood and which are made of steel. Is there a comprehensive list somewhere? It would be really bothersome to look at the description of the dozens or hundreds of weapons there.

Any help?


It's not explicitly defined, no. If it's majority steel (sword/axe) then it's made of steel, if it's majority wood (polearm/quarterstaff) then it's made of wood. That's all you get.


Some weapons and equipment will mention this. However, I believe the general assumption is that you go by what the real world version of the item made out of.

So swords are made out of metal, staffs are made out of wood(except for the ones that aren't), the important bit of a spear is made out of metal, a bow is made out of wood, etc.

Honestly I don't think you are going to find a comprehensive RAW list on this one. If it isn't immediately obvious or a google search doesn't avail you, you might want to just check with your DM.

Sczarni

Grab a copy of the GameMastery Guide. It has charts that break down which weapons and armor are constructed of which materials.

It even shows that Bucklers can be made of wood or metal (a highly debated topic until the book came out).


Nefreet wrote:

Grab a copy of the GameMastery Guide. It has charts that break down which weapons and armor are constructed of which materials.

It even shows that Bucklers can be made of wood or metal (a highly debated topic until the book came out).

And the polearms listed all say metal, BTW.


daimaru wrote:
Nefreet wrote:

Grab a copy of the GameMastery Guide. It has charts that break down which weapons and armor are constructed of which materials.

It even shows that Bucklers can be made of wood or metal (a highly debated topic until the book came out).

And the polearms listed all say metal, BTW.

Except for spears and tridents.

Scarab Sages

But there are always exceptions, like a Undine Weaponshaft that can allow metal Staffs, Spears, and Tridents.


Chengar Qordath wrote:
daimaru wrote:
Nefreet wrote:

Grab a copy of the GameMastery Guide. It has charts that break down which weapons and armor are constructed of which materials.

It even shows that Bucklers can be made of wood or metal (a highly debated topic until the book came out).

And the polearms listed all say metal, BTW.
Except for spears and tridents.

Neither of which is a polearm.


Nefreet wrote:

Grab a copy of the GameMastery Guide. It has charts that break down which weapons and armor are constructed of which materials.

It even shows that Bucklers can be made of wood or metal (a highly debated topic until the book came out).

By Jove, you're right Nefreet. Thank you!

Just made my little project go that much faster.


daimaru wrote:
Chengar Qordath wrote:
daimaru wrote:
Nefreet wrote:

Grab a copy of the GameMastery Guide. It has charts that break down which weapons and armor are constructed of which materials.

It even shows that Bucklers can be made of wood or metal (a highly debated topic until the book came out).

And the polearms listed all say metal, BTW.
Except for spears and tridents.
Neither of which is a polearm.

Spears are usually classed as polearms in common usage. However, they're different categories of weapon in Pathfinder, and that's obviously the more important definition when discussing Pathfinder rules.


I would consider the portion you use to make contact with your target. A spear, axe, or pole arm has a lot of wood, but the head is metal.


One more question: In Ultimate Equipment, it says that a weapon can be made of alchemical silver if it's ammunition, a light weapon, one-handed weapon, or two-handed weapon.

Does that mean that ranged weapons can not be made of alchemical silver? Or does it mean that one has to go through each ranged weapon and determine how many hands it takes to wield it?


I think when it says "ranged weapon", it means a launcher like a bow. It's the arrows (ammunition) that do the damage, so that's what you make out of silver to bypass DR. Maybe ranged weapons can't be made out of silver because silver doesn't flex enough?


Dustin Ashe wrote:

One more question: In Ultimate Equipment, it says that a weapon can be made of alchemical silver if it's ammunition, a light weapon, one-handed weapon, or two-handed weapon.

Does that mean that ranged weapons can not be made of alchemical silver?

Technically, yes. Most ranged weapons are launchers like crossbows, but a strict reading of the rules would prohibit an alchemical silver javelin.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Sadly, it's a detail left out that becomes really important sometimes.

A person could have a metal club, or a wooden one for example.

This from someone that has characters that buy obsidian tipped arrows just in case the party runs across rust monsters.

Sczarni

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Fun fact, you can also make clubs out of stone! =D


Nefreet wrote:
Fun fact, you can also make clubs out of stone! =D

http://www.historyandcivilization.com/Picture-Gallery---Prehistoric---Early -Dynastic-Egypt---Artifacts--Objects---Sculpture.html

Scroll down and see some stone mace heads from ancient Egypt. The handles, of course, would have been wood.

Grand Lodge

Nefreet wrote:
Fun fact, you can also make clubs out of stone! =D

Well, according to several PFS judges I have spoke with, you can have Clubs made of just about any material.

My PFS Warpriest sports a Masterwork Alchemical Club.

I carry a Tire Thumper around with me, to show what such a thing would look like.

Liberty's Edge

Nefreet wrote:

Grab a copy of the GameMastery Guide. It has charts that break down which weapons and armor are constructed of which materials.

It even shows that Bucklers can be made of wood or metal (a highly debated topic until the book came out).

Many thanks from my druid.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Which weapons are steel, which are wood, etc? All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.