Self-defense Cane weapon idea

[Mangaholic13]

I admit, I'm a bit of a sucker for Cane Fu as a concept, and while Pathfinder has more cane-based weapons than most TTRPGs, I feel it could still do with more. So, I'm going to design one!

Self-Defense Cane
Traits: Finesse, Trip, and Parry
Price: 7 silver
Damage: 1d4 Blungeoning
Bulk: 1
Hands: 1
Type: Melee
Category: Simple
Group: Club

While appearing to be a simple cane, the Self-Defense Cane has received strengthen treatments similar to the Probing Cane, making it an effective, non-threatening accessory that can be used to defend oneself in combat. The hooked handle can even be used for tripping up opponents.

[Teridax]

I really like this! Given how the sickle is a simple weapon with the agile, finesse, and trip traits, swapping agile for parry, a weaker trait, should be absolutely fine on a simple weapon. It looks like it could be fun on a Monk, and in particular could help fulfill the trope of "frail-looking elderly person with a walking stick is actually a martial arts master and starts beating some fools". Nice work!

[Mangaholic13]

Teridax wrote:

I really like this! Given how the sickle is a simple weapon with the agile, finesse, and trip traits, swapping agile for parry, a weaker trait, should be absolutely fine on a simple weapon. It looks like it could be fun on a Monk, and in particular could help fulfill the trope of "frail-looking elderly person with a walking stick is actually a martial arts master and starts beating some fools". Nice work!

Thank you.

I actually used the "light mace" as the base (since it's also a simple finesse club). I swapped agile for parry to better emphasize the defensive nature of the cane's use.

On a differing note... can anyone explain to me why "probing canes" are martial weapons? Why do you need to be a trained martial to swing a stick? "Griffon canes" I can accept as simply not being designed for use as a weapon, but a cane is just a fancier walking stick, after all.

[Teridax]

The mechanical argument is that the weapon has the stats of a martial weapon, and PF2e sets out arbitrary weapon divisions so that some have better stats than others, but I'm guessing that's not a satisfying answer. The thematic answer is that while the probing cane is designed for general use, it is not designed for general use as a weapon, and so using it as such requires martial training. It's still pretty arbitrary though, and creates situations where someone like, say, a blind Wizard wouldn't be able to defend themselves adequately with their cane.

[Perpdepog]

I'm not entirely sure, either. It's basically a long, thin staff. Modern ones, like mine, have segments that are filled with elastic to help the cane fold and be stowed and out of the way, and I think some can telescope, but these are solid canes, so they wouldn't have even that degree of mechanical complexity.

[Azoriel]

Speaking of telescoping canes, this is very similar to the nightstick.

Quote:

Nightstick

This Weapon may contain spoilers from the Agents of Edgewatch Adventure Path
Legacy Content
Uncommon Agile Finesse Nonlethal Parry
Source Pathfinder #157: Devil at the Dreaming Palace pg. 78
Price 1 gp; Damage 1d4 B; Bulk L
Hands 1
Type Melee; Category Simple; Group Club
This collapsible baton consists of several nested, telescoping metal shafts that can be extended as a free action by flicking the wrist. Once extended to its full length (usually around 2 feet), the baton locks into shape until the wielder uses an Interact action to collapse it—a collapsed nightstick is 8 inches long, making it easily concealed. Lighter and more maneuverable than an ordinary club or truncheon, nightsticks are designed to subdue foes without causing permanent injury. A nightstick is an uncommon simple melee weapon.

But maybe you don't want to deal with the uncommon and nonlethal tags.