jagardner@watmath.UUCP (Jim Gardner) (08/21/85)
[...] Being able to use several types of weapons is always useful. If you are in a situation where you have been deprived of your usual weapons (or one of your weapons has broken), it's really handy to know how to use the first weapon you pick up. In Fantasy Hero, different types of weapons have different advantages and disadvantages. For example, a long bow can shoot several arrows in the time it takes to load and fire a crossbow, but the crossbow can do more damage and does not lose as much accuracy when firing at a distance. Also, various weapons require different strengths to use -- a broad sword does more damage than a short sword, but you have to be much stronger to use one, and it costs more Endurance. Sharp weapons like swords do killing damage while blunt instruments like maces and quarterstaffs do normal (STUN) damage. This is useful against opponents with really good armour -- you may have trouble putting a sword through someone's armour, but you can still beat and bruise the opponent into unconsciousness. Of course, there are also specialized weapons like whips, which are melee weapons but can inflict damage at a short distance or grab and immobilize an opponent. The system offers a variety of moves that can only be performed with specific weapons. For example, a mounted charge can only be done with a lance -- you can certainly ride down on someone with a sword if you want, but you don't get the defensive value that the lance's length offers, and you don't get the added damage of your horse's velocity...not to mention that lances are more aero-dynamic than swords, so they're easier and more accurate to throw, even if they are heavier. Jim Gardner, University of Waterloo