Weaponry, Numbers vs Flavor.

This week I want to take a look back, at something that used to be a core part of D&D, that just isn’t anymore. You look at the weapons table for 5e, and you think to yourself, this is enough, really, there are even a few that we can do without, not only that, but every other weapon you might want can just be a reskinned version of one of the ones already listed.

As you may quickly realize, there are many more weapons here than we currently enjoy using in D&D 5e. Many having similar properties the weapon properties used in previous editions of the game. But there are several that are noticeably absent. Double weapons, like the two bladed sword, or the spiked chain, which are very much like dual wielding, making attacks with either end, the advantage being that you only needed to have a single weapon enchanted to have the same enhancements on both sides. Also, in previous editions, some weapons could deal multiple types of damage, for example a short sword, could deal piercing by lunging with the point, or slashing by hacking with the edge, which is less of an issue in 5e, because there are way fewer creatures that have resistance or vulnerability to a specific type of weapon damage. Although that is a fun mechanic to play with as a DM when mashing up your own monstrous creations. Composite bows were done away with, because back in the day, the only way to add a damage bonus to your bow attacks was to have a composite bow, and add your strength modifier to the damage. When 4e came around they decided that since ranged attacks used dexterity to attack they might as well add the dex mod to damage as well, and thankfully it carried forward to 5e.

There are a few weapon properties that are missing that I really feel take some of the spice out of weapon combat, particularly weapons focused on trip and disarm attacks, like the whip, trident, and halberds used to enjoy. Obviously these properties were removed because the maneuvers that used them were relegated to optional rules on pg 271 of the DMG. These properties are easy enough to house rule back into the game. Other things are simple enough to reskin with the current weapon list, like a punching dagger, use a dagger but subtract the thrown property, want nunchaku? No problem, just take a club, and give it the finesse quality. Kukri? Take a scimitar, only instead of a backward curved slashing blade, it’s a forward curve.

One of the things I think we’re lacking in 5e, is a better selection of lighter polearms, I’ve long been a fan of polearm fighters, and I’d love you see a couple that lacked the heavy property and perhaps something like the Naginata that might have the finesse property as an option.

Naginata was a slender sort of polearm with a curved blade head, more like a sword than a spear, iconically favored by female warriors in the era of samurai.

Another thing I really liked that was never implemented, lingering in Unearthed Arcana land, discarded as not popular enough to be picked to be added to a forthcoming product. Though it would have been a fine addition to Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, was Weapon Feats. Which is an article worth checking out if for no other reason then taking a look at the design elements that go would go into making new feats.

Also for more tips on spicing up your melee combats, check out my articles on Melee Combat Dynamics, and Challenges: Combat. Hope this bit of D&D history has given you something to think about, so you can perhaps add a bit of flavor to your weapon base combat. And remember, it’s always darkest, before the Don.