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Recently got the itch to play a martial character whose weapon of choice is some kind of reinforced metal-handled shovel, and I figure I'd need to homebrew it considering the alternative would be the Weapon Improviser archetype, which would be more along the lines of having a golf bag of normal shovels so I never run out of them when they break, which while a funny mental image isn't quite what I'm looking for.
So, what kinda weapons should I be looking for as "bases" to extrapolate from? What traits should it have? Should it be versatile S to simulate making swings with the edge or solely bludgeoning? Should it be a standard-length shovel as a two-handed weapon, or more like e-tool length and wielded with a pick in the other hand?
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Historical ones (like the Roman design) had a lot in common with pickaxes, so basing it on a pick (or Greatpick for the 2h version) would make a lot of sense. PF1 had the Mattock for it.
More modern ones are often spades with sharpened edges.
As a GM the shovel/sawblade design feels like it could work off a Sawtooth Saber base. So, I'd do something like S/Versatile B in the Sword group (like a Sawtooth Saber), d6 damage (or d10 if you feel two handed is more appropriate for wielding it). Put a note on that it also functions as a shovel/saw/long tool (as appropriate), and if you want to be fancy maybe let it give it's potency rune bonus to a check where you're using it as a tool (because a magic entrenching tool giving a bonus feels appropriate).
For the pickaxe design it'd be similar except P/Versatile B, in the Pick group, and I'd still use d6/d10 damage.
Those would be as martial weapons.
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I'd reskin a Fighting Oar.
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Oh yeah, I forgot about the Fighting Oar! The Leiomano would probably be a good way to do it for a one-hander too, now that I think about it.
Historical ones (like the Roman design) had a lot in common with pickaxes, so basing it on a pick (or Greatpick for the 2h version) would make a lot of sense. PF1 had the Mattock for it.
More modern ones are often spades with sharpened edges.
You bring up a good point there: an edge isn't necessarily sharp enough to deal slashing damage. You don't expect the flanges of a mace to cut like an axehead...
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Recently got the itch to play a martial character whose weapon of choice is some kind of reinforced metal-handled shovel,...
Thinking of this guy? Don't forget your trowel. :)
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Recently got the itch to play a martial character whose weapon of choice is some kind of reinforced metal-handled shovel,...Thinking of this guy? Don't forget your trowel. :)
Well, I am NOW! (I really gotta watch this movie...) XD
This is a real thing
Fangbian Chan (or Monk Spade)
But, just a shovel
pole arm, slashing, with versatile B, two handed. I wanna say... D10
I thought that already existed in 2e as the Dueling Spear?
I think what I would want would be something like one-handed, D6 bludgeoning, finesse, versatile slashing, and then a flavor trait like shove or sweep.
And the +1 to athletics checks to dig similar to the fighting oar and combat fishing pole special traits. Just for fun.
But that's because that's what I would want for a specific character who was a combat engineer alchemist. Needs finesse so it synergizes with alchemical bomb throwing, needs one handed to work with using items, slashing in case poison is needed, but bludgeoning because it's a friggin shovel. It's a greedy desire.
I think what I would want would be something like one-handed, D6 bludgeoning, finesse, versatile slashing, and then a flavor trait like shove or sweep.
A Probing Cane after houserule adding the Versatile S trait and reskinning it.
Won't Battlecry have a battle shovel?
Recently got the itch to play a martial character whose weapon of choice is some kind of reinforced metal-handled shovel,...Thinking of this guy? Don't forget your trowel. :)
I like the way he uses both ends of the shovel. Wasn't there a relatively new feature that lets someone dual wield with a polearm and its butt-end?
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I like the way he uses both ends of the shovel. Wasn't there a relatively new feature that lets someone dual wield with a polearm and its butt-end?Recently got the itch to play a martial character whose weapon of choice is some kind of reinforced metal-handled shovel,...Thinking of this guy? Don't forget your trowel. :)
Yes, it's Haft Striker Stance from War of Immortals. It's pretty neat and it works with polearms or spears.
Bloody Berleth from Agents of Edgewatch actually uses a coal shovel if you get into combat with him, in that book they used the stats of a scythe but with the addition of being Versitile B.
Alternatively, the newly-added maul-spade directly states that it is useable as a shovel, and gives an item bonus to athletics/lore checks to dig. it's an advanced weapon so it might not be perfect for your uses, though.
Battlecry! did give us the Gravedigger's Call , if Zousha is still looking for stuff to adapt.
There's the maul-spade :)