Archpaladin Zousha |
I'm interested in taking the bloodrager for a spin in Skull and Shackles, and am wondering what weapon such a character might use. Bloodragers don't get spell combat the way a magus does, so rapiers might not be as effective. Am I better off using a big two-hander, and if so, what two-handers are the most piratical? I intend on using the Arcane Bloodline, in case people are curious, both because it's pretty darn solid and because it fits the character's story very well (great-grandpa was a powerful sorcerer pirate).
lemeres |
Well, you could go with the obvious answer: a cutlass. That is even more of a pirae weapon than a rapier (since rapiers are rather terrible on ships- too long for the tight quarters; in comparison, the shorter cutlass was not only maneuverable, but also a useful tool for cutting ropes)
It has the same stats as a scimitar. So not bad really. A slight step down from the comparable 2 handed alternative (falchion for high crits), but that is only about 1.5 damage less. So not a huge deal.
Archpaladin Zousha |
Part of me wants to go REAL off-the-wall and use a khopesh, but I'm uncertain if that's essentially "too small" for a bloodrager. Cutlass has the same issue really. Is there any reason for a bloodrager to NOT opt for a big two-hander like a falchion or a reach weapon? Or could I get away with a khopesh?
lemeres |
Part of me wants to go REAL off-the-wall and use a khopesh, but I'm uncertain if that's essentially "too small" for a bloodrager. Cutlass has the same issue really. Is there any reason for a bloodrager to NOT opt for a big two-hander like a falchion or a reach weapon? Or could I get away with a khopesh?
Mechanically? Absolutely no reason whatsoever, as far as I am aware. Unless you are doing some strange build, like dervish dance- but that hardly has to do with blood rager directly.
For actual character reasons? I said it already- the cutlass is a maneuverable weapon easily able to perform well on a ship. And swords have their reputation despite the fact taht other weapons such as polearms are much stronger generally- carrying a big two handed weapon around all the time is a pain, and swords can just go on your belt. So why shouldn't he use a cutlass on a personal preference level? You are a pirate, not some soldier with standardized equipment- use whatever you feel like and can get your hands on.
So you want to use a Khopesh? Sure, say that you came from Osirion. Have fun with it. Not everything is min maxing. I might avoid the khopesh personally, since it is exotic and thus has a direct cost despite not being that great... but you do you.
scootalol |
Depends on what you mean when you say "piratical"!
For our Caribbean-themed "generic" pirate stuff, boarding pikes are really the go-to for two-handed weapons, other than just swinging a cutlass two-handed. A variation of the meteor hammer or spiked chain using rope might work, too, especially if you're going for that barbaric flavor (beating the oakum out of someone with a knotted, waterlogged rope seems rather uncivilized)
However, pirates have come in all flavors through the ages! Halberds had their place during the age of exploration, when steel was giving way to powder. The vikings, of course, used their spears and axes to great effect. In fact axes and their variations (such as the halberd) are pretty common in early-era naval combat, since most ships weren't terribly big and most of the fighting was done on open decks.
Truth be told, pirates are just bandits with boats. Any weapon that works at its job was considered useful. And since you're plundrin' and pillagin', you could have just about any weapon. You really want a ripsaw glaive? Found one in the hold of that gnomish Waterworld catamaran you took the other week!
JulianW |
Boarding pike is probably your most piratical style two handed weapon.
Great axe is always good if you want to look like a crazy nutter (and per the Patrick O'Brien novels, having a few axes to hand on a ship was quite common as tools to cut away damaged rigging and the like).
Trident is always an option for nautical flavour.
One thing to remember when picking weapons for a campaign like this - piercing weapons work better than other types if you have to get into a fight in/under water. Worth bringing a dagger as a back-up weapon at least if nothing else.