schuetz@via.DEC (05/15/85)
What's your definition of blunt? Most maces I've seen have spikes or six small axe-like blades. The advantage of these over an axe is that it is less likely to twist out of your grip when you hit something. (Of course, this is a realism. If you really wanted to have realism in your battle, have different fumble chances for the weapons.) One primary reason for using a really blunt weapon like a club, is to beat an opponent unconscious, not kill him (for religious reasons - Clerics). The other reason everyone didn't walk around with greatswords is partially cost - a good sword that won't break with the first blow is expensive - but mostly social status. During certain periods of history, only knights and royalty were allowed to wear longswords. Everyone else was limited to a long dagger. But anyone could have a club, even your lowly peasant. Clubs, staves, mace, and flail were adaptions of common tools, and considered beneath the use of the more privileged classes. Instead of concentrating on alignments, try playing social classes for real. We played(and one group still does) a now-defunct system called SWORDBEARER that was very up on social amenities. If your character was a peasant class, you didn't even speak unless spoken too. Remember, only during the 20th century have most social distinctions evaporated. In most periods where D&D style games take place, everyone had a very definite social ranking. This is mostly ignored by DM's and players alike. But try for playing your social class, rather than your alignment or fighter type. You might discover a whole new world of FRP. (If anyone requests, I could post the social levels that SWORDBEARER used.) /Chris