I was wondering if the description of this magic object could be wrong...
It is an 8 feet long mallet (about 2,5 meters, much as the longest polearms), but it has no reach and functions as a greatclub...
Then there is the 10 feet long mattock of the titans (about 3 meters), which is considered a GARGANTUAN +3 adamantine warhammer...
Is the word "Gargantuan" missing from the description of the maul?
That would explain why it is in the Wondrous Items section instead of the normal Specific Weapons section...
It is a relic from 1st or 2nd ed.
(god i wish i had keep my 1st ed book, instead of giving them away)
My 2nd ed DMG is stored away in the shop, it raining outside, and 6 in the morning, so can not check on its history. :( maybe latter.
In 2nd Edition it was a wondrous item too (just checked) and it had a statement about needing to be used by "giant-sized creatures with Strength of 21 or greater"...
This probably adds to the "missing Gargantuan" theory...
That and it was one of three items (Maul of the Titans, Mattock of the Titans, and Lyre of Building), That original purpose was not to be used as weapon so much as Wondrous items of building.
As building your own tower, fort, keep fell out of practice. Due to the way the skill system is now used. These Relics of a Past age have become harder to find.
It is an 8 feet long mallet (about 2,5 meters, much as the longest polearms), but it has no reach and functions as a greatclub...
A polearm is a relatively light haft with a somewhat heavy head. It can be held mostly out and away from you because its a thin peircing or stabbing blade. A maul is much, much heavier, and thus you're stuck holding the thing in the middle, with one hand near the head and one hand at the base.
It is an 8 feet long mallet (about 2,5 meters, much as the longest polearms), but it has no reach and functions as a greatclub...A polearm is a relatively light haft with a somewhat heavy head. It can be held mostly out and away from you because its a thin peircing or stabbing blade. A maul is much, much heavier, and thus you're stuck holding the thing in the middle, with one hand near the head and one hand at the base.
I know... I'm quite fond of ancient weapons and heavy tools... ^^
In 2nd edition the maul was described as a 150 pounds mallet, which means almost 70 Kg... It is not too far from MY weight...
There is no way for a human to properly handle something like that (you can lift it, but hardly use it), and even a strong fantasy hero needs a high Str score...
That's why I was asking if there is a missing "Gargantuan" somewhere in the description, like the one in the mattock description... It's far too a big tool to be useful as a weapon for a Medium character and it is far too convenient to use it as a weapon as it is now, especially for sundering...
I know... I'm quite fond of ancient weapons and heavy tools... ^^
In 2nd edition the maul was described as a 150 pounds mallet, which means almost 70 Kg... It is not too far from MY weight...
Lightweight!
There is no way for a human to properly handle something like that (you can lift it, but hardly use it), and even a strong fantasy hero needs a high Str score...
Well, 1) it does require an 18 strength score to wield without a -4 penalty and 2) Its magic 3) Given how much the rulebooks seem to think the other weapons weigh i'm amazed anyone can swing those either.
That's why I was asking if there is a missing "Gargantuan" somewhere in the description, like the one in the mattock description... It's far too a big tool to be useful as a weapon for a Medium character and it is far too convenient to use it as a weapon as it is now, especially for sundering...
Hmmmm could be.