Weapons Locker – Melee weapons – Special-purpose, medium melee weapons

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Context

The caveats, the chapters listing and the technical discussion are in Chapter 0 of the Weapons Locker – Melee Weapons document.

And there’s a guide to our weaponry articles, with additional explanations and stuff.

Our general weaponry articles do a Pareto. The “common” articles list what 80% of characters use, and the “special-purpose” list the rest.

This article is a repository. That is, we add weapons to it when the need arises, rather than attempt systematic coverage. So here’s a starter set.

Table of content

Special-purpose, medium, sharp melee weapons

Special-purpose, medium, blunt melee weapons

Special-purpose, medium, other melee weapons

Special-purpose medium, sharp melee weapons

Cane-sword (aka swordstick)

A slim thrusting/stabbing sword hidden within a gentleman’s cane. These were popular during the XVIII^th Century, and especially the Long Nineteenth Century.

The era still had many upper-class men trained in fencing and martial honour. But packing a sidesword was increasingly out. Therefore, concealment.

Of course, many fictional heroes from these eras belonged to that category.

DCH Cane-sword [BODY 02, Enhance (EV): 01 (cap is 04), Insta-Change, Descriptor: Piercing].

This typical-looking cane-sword was once for sale on Naturabuy.fr  . The brass handle is sculpted into a goose.

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Chainsword

Chainswords are a sci-fi weapons. They are primarily associated with the Warhammer 40K grim and dark future where, I’m told, there’s only war.

They are the product of an evolution. Key points are the use of chainsaws in 1970s horror movies (with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre likely having the highest profile), then the appearance of models modified for fighting (in the Chainsaw Warrior boardgame, then the Doom video game). Chainswords are a streamlined version of the latter.

A typical chainsword is a large, thick sort of broadsword. The “edge(s)” features a chainsaw-like motorized chain, bearing extremely hard and sharp “claws” (or “teeth”).

Usage

These *aren’t* realistic weapons. A chainsaw works through firm, stable, prolonged pushing against a soft-ish surface. And they are a fairly fragile tool that requires maintenance and cautious use. But there’s a general agreement to suspend disbelief about that and just paint the damn space marines.

Chainswords are useful for intimidation, and for terror against fighting forces lacking in training and equipment. They also allow officers to brandish a sword in the field, to tap traditional leadership imagery.

More practically, they can come into play for sudden engagements at point-blank ranges. This isn’t rare when fighting in dense urban terrain, aboard spaceships, within hivelike alien structures, etc.. And one assumes that they are handy to get rid of some obstacles (such as interior walls), to prepare makeshift cover or camouflage, to forage, etc..

Stats and illustration

Typical chainsword [BODY 07, Claws: 07, Rec. STR 03, R#2].

This grass-touching LARP style prop, styled after a Warhammer 40,000 chainsword, was made by the Dragon Armoury  speciality shop.

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Kama

A sickle. Variant blade shapes exist, depending on the fields to be harvested, but a common one is for rice.

“Kama” is the Okinawan name. But similar tools are common in a wide area.

Like many Okinawan weapons used in the kobudo martial art, it has plausible deniability. Even under a military occupation, peasants are going to have such sharp tools to work the fields. The trick is to learn to use it in combat.

In order to face swords and spears, kama are often used paired – one in each hand.

Some also have a wrist strap, but that prevents francisca-like throws. And some have hand guards, though that ruins plausible deniability.

Kama has a limited presence in comics. They tend to appear in the hands of disposable ninja goons, for some reason.

Videos

Our previous melee weapons articles had kobudo explainers by Shihan Mishiuchi. And lo, there’s a video about kama too.

 

Let’s also have a kata, performed slowly for paedagogy. Note :

Stats

DCH Kama [BODY 02, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 05), Descriptor: Slashing, piercing].

DCH Kama (Skilled use) [BODY 03, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 05), Stagger (No Range): 04, Descriptor: Slashing, piercing].

These specific kama are made in the UK by Seaholme.net, to harvest the majestic rice fields of Yorkshire.

Folding kama

Traditional sickles in the Khyber area, called lor or lohar, look much like the Japanese kama and other rice-farming sickles. They are reportedly used as tools, as weapons if necessary, and as a cultural symbol. In the latter role, lors often are decorated with sophisticated brass inlays.

Of particular note are lors that can be folded, much like European folding knives. Having a kama-like weapon you can keep in your pocket could certainly be a thing in a story. Especially if one makes it sexier by adding switchblade-like springs and locks.

Folding lor [BODY 02, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 05), Miniaturisation: 01, Descriptor: Slashing, piercing].

Folding lor (Skilled use) [BODY 02, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 05), Stagger (No Range): 04, Miniaturisation: 01, Descriptor: Slashing, piercing].

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Obsidian saw sword

This is a mācuahuitl – a “sword” chiefly associated with ancient Aztecs.

These are flat wooden clubs, looking like a cross between a sword and a paddle. On the striking edges are rows of “teeth” made of obsidian, a particularly sharp volcanic glass.

The teeth are embedded into the club to compensate for their fragility. This forms a deadly edge, at least in cultures without access to metallic body armour.

Mācuahuitl techniques may have resembled broadsword ones. But after a strike, it makes sense to pull the weapon back to perform a sawing motion with the edge.

The stats below describe the equivalent of a broadsword. About 75cm long, one-handed, meant for war, straight edges.

But in illustrations and historical accounts there also are short ones, two-handed long ones (famously said to be able to decapitate a horse), ceremonial ones, etc..

DCH Mācuahuitl [BODY 03, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 06), Descriptor: Slashing, Limitation: Limited Penetration].

A replica from Occoquan Paleotechnics  .

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Pata gauntlet-sword

A pata (“पट” in Hindi) is more or less a sword mounted on a gauntlet. Historically, it’s associated with the Maratha empire  .

Unlike a katar (another Indian weapon with integral forearm protectors), a pata isn’t normally used for thrusting. It slashes.

From an European point of view, the snaking motions used with a pata occupy an odd space between modern fencing pace, and older swordsmanship body weight commitment. Demonstrations I’ve seen including heavy marching-like legwork, presumably to show students how the sword-wielder’s weight shifts.

(Other techniques rely on swirling, broad and circular, dance-like movements and jumps. I *think* this is used more for exercising/conditioning and intimidation than in melee, but I could be hideously wrong. India has specific ways to mix dance and melee combat I’m not familiar with).

Patas are normally used paired with a shield or buckler. These allow for more sweeping and heavy cuts, which would otherwise leave the body exposed. But pairing with a spear, fighting stick or another pata was also done.

सांख्यिकी और चित्र

Pata “gauntlet-sword” [BODY 04, Enhance (Slashing EV): 02 (cap is 06), Enhance (Piercing EV): 01 (cap is 05), Descriptor: Slashing, piercing, Bonuses and limitations: the design makes it much harder to be disarmed giving an additional +1 C.S. penalty to the OV against a Disarm maneuver].

The general type of pata we’re statting out, top view. Photo from awkwardly-named antiquarian Oriental Arms  .

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Trench club, spiked club

These are often associated with WWI trench warfare. Bayonets weren’t suitable when fighting at close range in the narrow confines of a trench, so more suitable weaponry was crafted for trench-clearing shock troops to wield.

Such a club is made of stout wood, with the business end shod in metal. The head also features large spikes. These are useful in defeating leather armour, such as German spiked helmets. Or penetrating human skulls, which ain’t that easy.

Such weapons also feature in fantasy, often in the hands of orcs, goblins and the like.

It’s cheap, requires little training and has more reach and momentum than a knife.

DCH Trench club [BODY 04, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 05), Descriptor: Blunt].

This trench club was once on sale on Etsy, and that’s all we know about it. It likely is a modern replica based on a photograph of a historical trench club, but that’s just my amateur guess.

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Vibroblade

TMK, the term “vibroblade” comes from 1940s Robert Heinlein stories.

What these are is never quite detailed. But our extraordinary nerd minds could deduce that it’s a blade that vibrates.

From there these made a return in 1970s space sci-fi, such as Star Wars or the Traveller tabletop role-playing game.

Usage

The concept is a powered short-ish sword, using sci-fi metallurgy. The cutting edges perform rapid micro-oscillations. This both produces heat and has a sort of auto-sawing action against what is struck.

As Heinlein’s Sister Maggie points out, the heat means that there’s no bloodletting.

The Traveller TTRPG vibro-weapons are used while boarding starships. The cramped architecture therein can easily force close combat rather than gunfire. IIRC (where’s my copy of that vintage Traveller box ?), they tend to be cutlass-like.

Our game stats assume that the vibrating edge is doing the bulk of the damage. Thus, the strength behind the blade isn’t much of a consideration.

Stats

DCH Vibro-blade [BODY 06, Claws: 06, Descriptor: Slashing/piercing].

These are conservative stats. For vibroblades that are simply a niche weapon in gritty sci-fi settings.

More heroic vibroblades would have more APs, and quite possibly a few APs of Sharpness. In settings where they can parry lightsabre strikes, a higher BODY is also necessary.

Star Wars vibroblades most existed in the Expanded Universe – unless you count the vibropikes wielded by the Emperor’s red-clad guards. But with the 2019+ The Mandalorian TV series, these had a clearer presence. Which led to plenty of replicas for cosplay and the like. I *think* this specific one comes from this Etsy shop  .

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War fan

This is the semi-fictional version. A pair of hand-held, folding, almost-semi-circular fans. The “spines” are metal spikes, the lateral spines are extremely sharp blades, and the main material is hard enough to block sword strikes. Somehow, it can remain firmly in hand.

This weapon can somehow pass as a normal fan. Especially in areas where they are common due to stifling weather and/or a desire to look all ladylike n’at.

In stories, war fans tend to have the defensive properties of sai, combined with the offensive power of a Bowie-style knife. Another draw is that they can be used to perform beautiful fight choreographies.

Rapidly opening and closing the fans can also allow for feints.

DCH War fan (skilled use) [BODY 03, Enhance (EV): 01 (cap is 04), Enhance (Disarm Manoeuvre EV): 01 (cap is 05)  ; Descriptors: Piercing, Slashing ; Note : OV/RV bonus when using the Block Manoeuvre is 1 AP, Note: the OV bonus for the Shield Cover Manoeuvre is 1 AP, Limitation: Blocking/Cover bonuses can only be used against melee attacks].

An Edo-era Japanese war fan (gunsen) once sold at Christie’s.

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Special-purpose medium, blunt melee weapons

Cudgel

This is the missing link between a truncheon and a mace. So it’s a club (usually made of wood) but with a bulbous, hard, weighted business end.

I wouldn’t call it a “rare” weapon. It’s just that truncheons and maces are much more common in stories. Still, recurrent fictional users are :

Cartoon-like, ham-shaped wooden clubs (think Captain Caveman) can also be treated as cudgels.

Improvised cudgels

The archetypal ones are :

Flexible cudgel

Some designs of Southern African war cudgel use a somewhat flexible handle. Thus, it will store more energy when swung, and deliver it upon impact. That’s not unlike a blackjack.

It can also be easier to wield when also using a large, Zulu-style infantry shield. Or so I’m told.

With suitable materials, this can easily scale up for massive levels of strength. The super-strong Flint (Victoria N’Gengi Santini) has occasionally used a custom-built knobkerrie with a slightly flexible haft.

Stats

DCH Cudgel [BODY 03, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 04), Descriptor: Blunt].

DCH Improvised cudgel [BODY 02, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 04), R#3, Descriptor: Blunt].

DCH Flexible cudgel [BODY 03, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 06), Descriptor: Blunt].

This “hardwood African knobkerry” was once for sale on the-saleroom.com, but it’s long gone. Still, it’s a good piece to show the “step between truncheon and mace” business.

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Medium staff

Longer than a truncheon, but not as long as a quarterstaff. So, about 90cm or three feet.

This corresponds to many designs. Including riot batons or the Japanese hanbo (“half-quarterstaff”).

Walking sticks, canes, full-sized shillelaghs, etc. can also be stout and heavy enough to classify as a medium staff.

Cane-fighting exists as a formalised martial art in various countries, including Japan and France. For instance, Arsène Lupin knew and used cane-fighting techniques.

Some blind Irish-American Catholic New York City lawyers also practice it.

The additional length over your basic truncheon allows for better space control. And there’s enough length to use different grips and strike harder.

Modern variants include :

Wooden swords

Medium staves also have the advantage of being usable with sword techniques. They can thus be used to transmit fencing knowledge in settings where swords have become illegal.

Teaching swordplay can also be done using wooden swords. These would be considered a medium staff, if broadsword-sized. The Japanese bokken may be the most common example.

Famously enough, master Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi once carved a wooden sword/bat thing from a rowing oar. Which he then won a sword duel with. But most people would be better-served with a katana.

Have a maquila, veh nees merah

One notable form is the Basque makhila. This is a robust, studied walking stick with a pommel and a hand strap.

Makilas (or makhilas, or maquilas…) are often decorated. They can symbolise adulthood, status, occupation, etc..

The bottom is steel-shod for balance, which allows it to hit as a reinforced club.

In case of a bigger problem (the traditional if unlikely example being wolves), the handle can be quickly unscrewed to expose a steel spike. This forms a short spear.

Stats

Medium staff (basic use) [BODY 03, Enhance (EV): 01 (cap is 04), Limited Penetration, Descriptor: Blunt].

Robust medium staff (skilled use) [BODY 04, Enhance (EV): 01 (cap is 05), Enhance (Wrestling/Grappling EV): 01 (cap is 06), Limited Penetration, Descriptor: Blunt)]. When fighting a person with a significantly shorter melee weapon, that opponent receives a -1 penalty to their final roll when attacking the Skilled Use medium staff wielder.

Makhila (skilled use) [BODY 04, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 06), Insta-Change, Descriptor: Bludgeoning, Piercing, R#3]. When fighting a person with a significantly shorter melee weapon, that opponent receives a -1 penalty to their final roll when attacking the Skilled Use medium staff wielder.

Videos

This striking (so to speak) 1900 footage shows period French cane-fighting methods. They’re using heavier walking canes, and the visual similarities with sword techniques are notable. Note also the emphasis on range control, presumably to engage knife wielders.

The footage also shows some period boxing techniques

 

By contrast, here’s a recorded bujinkan class about hanbo use. This specific class puts less emphasis on using the stick as wrestling aid than usual, and is more about getting a sense of strikes.

Illustration

A picture of a hanbo by itself isn’t thrilling, so here’s a photo taken at a Shotokan dojo in the Netherlands  .

Typical bokken. It’s a wooden katana, not much to it.

Two makhilas made at the Ainciart Bergara basque workshop  .

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Improvised flail a.k.a. slungshot

A suitable weight (a “shot”, as in “shot put”) at the end of a rope, wire, leather wrap or similar. You swing it into the uncouth personage who called your mum names. It can also be a projectile in a pinch.

Slungshots are chiefly associated with sailors, who know a fair bit about ropes and weights. It spread to the likes of dockers and longshoremen.

There are accounts about Great Depression era (the 1930s one) hobos wielding slungshots.

Other examples include :

Stats

DCH Low-quality improvised flail [BODY 01, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 04), Limited Penetration, Descriptor: Bludgeon]. This doesn’t have the little flail bonus (below).

DCH Well-made slungshot (or suitable, robust chain) [BODY 02, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 05), Descriptor: Bludgeon]. A flail receives a +1 to the final roll total when attacking a shield-wielding target. But melee opponents with a medium melee weapon get a +1 to *their* final roll against a flail-wielder who doesn’t have a shield.

A sailor-style slungshot made using a knotted rope. This one uses modern paracord rather than traditional hemp, hence the shiny texture.

A slungshot made using a laniard and a leather pouch to hold the shot. From this blog  .

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Special-purpose medium, other melee weapons

Bullwhip

A single-tailed, long whip made of leather. It’s normally used to herd cattle. One cracks the whip near the animal, which serves as an order/threat to go in the other direction.

Much of the fictional footprint of bullwhips as weapons and adventuring tools come from Indiana Jones movies. Plus some versions of Zorro, and Castlevania games’ Simon Belmont.

Such bullwhips are commonly 2+ metres long. This range is useful when handling large and/or dangerous animals.

For adventurers, it also offers much improved reach to grab things. Such as snatching the cursed statuette out of the hands of the evil priest, or latching to an overhead beam as the trapdoor opens underneath. Y’know, a Tuesday.

DCH [BODY 02, Enhance (EV): 01 (cap is 04), Enhance (STR): 01 (cap is 05), Stretching: 00, Descriptor: Slashing, Limitations :

M&M Improved Grab, Improved Trip, Reach 3.

This 1900-ish braided leather 16′ (4.9m) bullwhip was once sold at Krave Antique  .

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Lightsabre

These have their own, elegant article from a more civilised age.

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Power fist, cattle prod, ripper…

The Fallout melee weapons also live in their own article.

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