Just how Exotic is an Exotic Weapon?

[Reaper_Monkey]

Right, multiquote time....

You need something to separate the blade from the users hand, though. To avoid accidental cutting.

Well the idea is that you need to know how to hold the weapon just right in order to not injure yourself, and thats why it requires special training (read, exotic weapon). Owrtho also correctly pointed out that its a blend, which is why its not like a standard axe.

It would end up being worse at both. My design suggestion employed the proficiency with wielding the funky shaft to increase damage and usability. This is just a bigger blade.

Well this was meant to incorporate your shaft, it just didn't come out as well on the thrown together pain drawing (the one ive got on paper illustrates it much better). The bigger blade is to incorporate the axe as well as the scythe blade, its not just for the sake of being bigger.

Also, looking at the stats on that thing, you'd never use anything other than the harvester axe edge.

The other two are for reference for when your using it under martial proficiency only (with the -4 to hit remaining), the "harvester axe edge" is the damage that signifies the combined use of both halves, as any can be used when hitting. Its up to you or the DM to determine what bit of the weapon actually does the hitting from blow to blow, the damage roll is the sum of the likelihood that one will hit, and the damage that would deal. You could say for instance that any critical damage dealt will always be from the scythe, while high normal damage is the main axe head, and low normal damage is just butting them with the mildly sharpened counterweight end.

Hope this clears things up a wee bit more

[charl]

The thing with battle axes is that they are mainly a parrying weapon. They were sometimes used as an off-hand weapon together with a sword, for that very reason.

Scythes would presumable be used in a very different style of combat.

The combination of the two doesn't really make sense.

But this is fantasy after all. You like it, use it.

[afroakuma]

As I indicated, though, no lengthly wooden haft could coordinate such a large blade, nor could any Medium-size wielder operate a proportionate copy of this weapon to do any real damage. The blade is simply too large and too clumsy, failing at the functions of both of its parents.

[Reaper_Monkey]

As I indicated, though, no lengthly wooden haft could coordinate such a large blade, nor could any Medium-size wielder operate a proportionate copy of this weapon to do any real damage. The blade is simply too large and too clumsy, failing at the functions of both of its parents.

What would you suggest for the handle then? Because I really like the idea of a blend between a scythe and axe, although I'd much rather feasible than pure fantasy... which leads me neatly on to...

The thing with battle axes is that they are mainly a parrying weapon.

My thinking here was that the damage output would be more akin to that of a battle axe, but it would be used more like a great-axe/ wood-chopping axe, ie, long sweeping blows which connect hard and do lots of damage, but lacking in precision. However, this weapon would be hard to use even in that way without training, and therefore wouldn't be has effective as a great-axe when wielded by an untrained fighter.

[afroakuma]

The handle adds the exotic quality to it. What you have there is a martial polearm, albeit Cloud Strife's version of one.

A long, flat, weighted, tapered scythe blade on an elongated handle with the S-grip haft is feasibly wieldable and allows neat fighting tricks. It would also do crazy damage, have mad critical and reach to boot.

For everything else, you're veering into "Large halberd" territory.

As an alternate idea, if you want an exotic, chopping polearm, why not design a straight haft topped with a blade shaped such: )O(

It would have two shallow chopping sides and a slashing top.

[Zeful]

What would you suggest for the handle then? Because I really like the idea of a blend between a scythe and axe, although I'd much rather feasible than pure fantasy... which leads me neatly on to...

You could just take a normal scythe blade and shore up the far side of the blade simply by pulling a little on the top curve of the weapon creating a kind of bulge in the blade. Sharpen it and you have a very poor axe simply because there isn't enough weight on a scythe to work as an axe. I'd just sharpen the entire back of the blade allowing you to make backhanded slashes with it. Turning it into a kind of double weapon (with about as much realism in design as the Dwarven Urgosh). Using Afrokuma's "S" haft you would have a very sensuous fighting style, looking like a kind of deadly dance.

[afroakuma]

Using Afrokuma's "S" haft you would have a very sensuous fighting style, looking like a kind of deadly dance.

Oh, exotic! I thought you said... nevermind.

[Zeful]

Ha, ha.

But seriously it would have to be very fluid in order to put any real bite on the back-side edge. But it would definitely be an exotic weapon.

[imp_fireball]

Sooo.... are the harp strings just cuz you couldn't find anything better?

Owrtho

Zomg bard instrument/weapon! Hey that's a good idea for an exotic feature. Make the weapon an instrument as well! Or maybe that would simply mean the expensive process of adding additional features to an instrument.

[Vagrant Lustoid]

Whenever anybody mentions an axe/scythe hybrid, I can't help but think of this weapon: Slayer Scythe.

Mainly because I can't really see anything about it that's at all scythe like. To me it's always been an axe and has puzzled me about why it's called a scythe. Don't know if it's quite exotic enough though :P

[Reaper_Monkey]

Whenever anybody mentions an axe/scythe hybrid, I can't help but think of this weapon: Slayer Scythe.

Mainly because I can't really see anything about it that's at all scythe like. To me it's always been an axe and has puzzled me about why it's called a scythe. Don't know if it's quite exotic enough though :P

Actually that is quite puzzling... I've no idea why its meant to be a scythe either.

I'm thinking of dropping that line of thought, and just having a normal great-axe styled weapon, which resembles a large wood-chopping axe, but with more of a wedged head so the counter weight can be used as a bludgeoning weapon, and the handle being cunningly balanced to allow for heavier but more accurate swings. Call it a balanced great-axe, give it a 19-10 crit range and the ability to do bludgeoning damage, and be done with it. Its simple and to the point which fits my character, but exotic enough that it'll count for the feat.

Thanks for all the help though guys =)

[Hawriel]

It's exotic if it is difficult to wield due to being a skillful weapon or a weapon that presents a great deal of danger to an untrained wielder.

Something like a recurve scythe (a scythe with a double-curved shaft that an expert wielder could employ to quickly reverse the direction of its sweep or add extra power to a single stroke) which I just bs'ed into existence now, would probably be what you seek.

The sythe is a common tool on farms. Any farmer would have a sythe recurved or not. It should have been a simple weapon exept that it does alot of damage and is two handed. The expert training in using a sythe is the life time experience of the farmer. Then again because how a sythe is made because of the way it is used, it is a highly impractical weapon. Better that the farmer use a hoe, mattock, pitchfork, or axe. A friend of mine has the type of sythe your talking about. Ive swung it around many times, its only good for slicing grain or ankles.


There afew rules WOTC used to classify an exotic weapon.
1) If the weapon is a highbred and can be used in two different fighting styles. Examples are the bastard sword or dwarven waraxe. They are in between the one handed and two handed weapons of each type. They can be used one handed with a shield. Thats the real reason. A D10 one handed weapon.

2) If the weapon can be used in two different ways. An example is the dwarven Ugrish (sp?). It is a waraxe with the butt end capped in a spear tip. You can swing it like an axe or set it like a spear to receave a charge.

3) A single weapon that lets the user fight as if they where duale wielding. These are your classic WOTC double weapons. Double axe, dire flail, double sword. Stupid and truly impractical as a real weapon.

4) The weapon allowes the user to perform a combat manuver with out consiquence, or a bonus to the manuver. A whip is this type of weapon. You can make a trip attack with a range bonus. Also if the user fails the apposed trip the weapon can be dropped with no penalty to the user.

5) The weapon's stats are a little better than the normal range for that class of weapon. The sythe has a x4 crit, the repeating crossbow has a faster reload time, the elven thin blade is a D8 rapier.

6) The fluff reason. The weapon even though from its country of origen it maybe a martial weapon in another land its exotic. the Naga-nata is such a weapon. The stats are exactly the same as a great sword but its a Japanies weapon.

7) BS/arbitrary reaspon. The hand crossbow. There is no reason other than drow like to use it. Its a small crossbow. it does a D4 damage.

If your weapon falls under any of these reasons it would be appropiate to call it exotic. Some of these reasons are crap and have been house ruled out by many peaple. The bastard sword and hand crossbow are commonly hand waved this way. Some other weapons do have at least one of these like the rapier or kukri are not. They have a +1 on the crit threat and they can be used with weapon finess. In short use your best judgment.

[Fax Celestis]

Whenever anybody mentions an axe/scythe hybrid, I can't help but think of this weapon: Slayer Scythe.

Mainly because I can't really see anything about it that's at all scythe like. To me it's always been an axe and has puzzled me about why it's called a scythe. Don't know if it's quite exotic enough though :P

It's called a scythe because it scythes bits of your opponents off of them. Really, it's like naming your sword "Sharp" or your dagger "Pointy".

[chronoplasm]

Exotic weapon ideas:

A giant pair of scissors.
Steam-powered gauntlets with drills attached.
A giant spoon... for flinging acid.