Template:EquipmentWeaponDescriptions

Arrows: An arrow used as a melee weapon is treated as a light improvised weapon (–4 penalty on attack rolls) and deals damage as a dagger of its size (critical multiplier ×2). Arrows come in a leather quiver that holds 20 arrows.

Axe, Orc Double: A cruel weapon with blades placed at opposite ends of a long haft, an orc double axe is a double weapon.

Bolas: A bolas is a pair of weights, connected by a thin rope or cord. You can use this weapon to make a ranged trip attack against an opponent. You can't be tripped during your own trip attempt when using a bolas.

Bolts: A crossbow bolt used as a melee weapon is treated as a light improvised weapon (–4 penalty on attack rolls) and deals damage as a dagger of its size (crit ×2). Bolts come in a case or quiver that holds 10 bolts (or 5, for a repeating crossbow).

Bullets, Sling: Bullets are shaped metal balls, designed to be used by a sling or halfling sling staff. Bullets come in a leather pouch that holds 10 bullets.

Chain, Spiked: A spiked chain is about 4 feet in length, covered in wicked barbs. You can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack rolls with a spiked chain sized for you, even though it isn't a light weapon.

Crossbow, Hand: You can draw a hand crossbow back by hand. Loading a hand crossbow is a move action that provokes attacks of opportunity.

You can shoot, but not load, a hand crossbow with one hand at no penalty. You can shoot a hand crossbow with each hand, but you take a penalty on attack rolls as if attacking with two light weapons.

Crossbow, Heavy: You draw a heavy crossbow back by turning a small winch. Loading a heavy crossbow is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity.

Normally, operating a heavy crossbow requires two hands. However, you can shoot, but not load, a heavy crossbow with one hand at a –4 penalty on attack rolls. You can shoot a heavy crossbow with each hand, but you take a penalty on attack rolls as if attacking with two one-handed weapons. This penalty is cumulative with the penalty for one-handed firing.

Crossbow, Light: You draw a light crossbow back by pulling a lever. Loading a light crossbow is a move action that provokes attacks of opportunity.

Normally, operating a light crossbow requires two hands. However, you can shoot, but not load, a light crossbow with one hand at a –2 penalty on attack rolls. You can shoot a light crossbow with each hand, but you take a penalty on attack rolls as if attacking with two light weapons. This penalty is cumulative with the penalty for one-handed firing.

Crossbow, Repeating: The repeating crossbow (whether heavy or light) holds 5 crossbow bolts. As long as it holds bolts, you can reload it by pulling the reloading lever (a free action). Loading a new case of 5 bolts is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity.

You can fire a repeating crossbow with one hand or fire a repeating crossbow in each hand in the same manner as you would a normal crossbow of the same size. However, you must fire the weapon with two hands in order to use the reloading lever, and you must use two hands to load a new case of bolts.

Dagger: A dagger has a blade that is about 1 foot in length. You get a +2 bonus on Sleight of Hand skill checks made to conceal a dagger on your body (see Using Skills).

Dagger, Punching: A punching dagger's blade is attached to a horizontal handle that projects out from the fist when held.

Flail: A flail consists of a spiked metal ball, connected to a handle by a sturdy chain.

Flail, Dire: A dire flail consists of two spheres of spiked iron dangling from chains at opposite ends of a long haft.

Flail, Heavy: Similar to a flail, a heavy flail has a larger metal ball and a longer handle.

Gauntlet: This metal glove lets you deal lethal damage rather than nonlethal damage with unarmed strikes. A strike with a gauntlet is otherwise considered an unarmed attack. The cost and weight given are for a single gauntlet. Medium and heavy armors (except breastplate) come with gauntlets. Your opponent cannot use a disarm action to disarm you of gauntlets.

Gauntlet, Spiked: The cost and weight given are for a single gauntlet. An attack with a spiked gauntlet is considered an armed attack. Your opponent cannot use a disarm action to disarm you of spiked gauntlets.

Glaive: A glaive is a simple blade, mounted to the end of a pole about 7 feet in length.

Greatsword: This immense two-handed sword is about 5 feet in length.

Guisarme: A guisarme is an 8-foot-long shaft with a blade and a hook mounted at the tip.

Halberd: A halberd is similar to a 5-foot-long spear, but it also has a small, axe-like head mounted near the tip.

Hammer, Gnome Hooked: A gnome hooked hammer is a double weapon—an ingenious tool with a hammer head at one end of its haft and a long, curved pick at the other. The hammer's blunt head is a bludgeoning weapon that deals 1d6 points of damage (crit ×3). Its hook is a piercing weapon that deals 1d4 points of damage (crit ×4). You can use either head as the primary weapon. Gnomes treat hooked hammers as martial weapons.

Javelin: A javelin is a thin throwing spear. Since it is not designed for melee, you are treated as nonproficient with it and take a –4 penalty on attack rolls if you use a javelin as a melee weapon.

Kama: Similar to a sickle, a kama is a short, curved blade attached to a simple handle.

Kukri: A kukri is a curved blade, about 1 foot in length.

Lance: A lance deals double damage when used from the back of a charging mount. While mounted, you can wield a lance with one hand.

Longbow: At almost 5 feet in height, a longbow is made up of one solid piece of carefully curved wood. You need two hands to use a bow, regardless of its size. A longbow is too unwieldy to use while you are mounted. If you have a penalty for low Strength, apply it to damage rolls when you use a longbow. If you have a Strength bonus, you can apply it to damage rolls when you use a composite longbow (see below), but not when you use a regular longbow.

Longbow, Composite: You need at least two hands to use a bow, regardless of its size. You can use a composite longbow while mounted. All composite bows are made with a particular strength rating (that is, each requires a minimum Strength modifier to use with proficiency). If your Strength bonus is less than the strength rating of the composite bow, you can't effectively use it, so you take a –2 penalty on attacks with it. The default composite longbow requires a Strength modifier of +0 or higher to use with proficiency. A composite longbow can be made with a high strength rating to take advantage of an above-average Strength score; this feature allows you to add your Strength bonus to damage, up to the maximum bonus indicated for the bow. Each point of Strength bonus granted by the bow adds 100 gp to its cost. If you have a penalty for low Strength, apply it to damage rolls when you use a composite longbow.

For purposes of Weapon Proficiency and similar feats, a composite longbow is treated as if it were a longbow.

Longspear: A longspear is about 8 feet in length.

Longsword: This sword is about 3-1/2 feet in length.

Mace: A mace is made up of an ornate metal head attached to a simple wooden or metal shaft.

Mace, Heavy: A heavy mace has a larger head and a longer handle than a normal mace.

Morningstar: A morningstar is a spiked metal ball, affixed to the top of a long handle.

Net: A net is used to entangle enemies. When you throw a net, you make a ranged touch attack against your target. A net's maximum range is 10 feet. If you hit, the target is entangled. An entangled creature takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty on Dexterity, can move at only half speed, and cannot charge or run. If you control the trailing rope by succeeding on an opposed Strength check while holding it, the entangled creature can move only within the limits that the rope allows. If the entangled creature attempts to cast a spell, it must make a concentration check with a DC of 15 + the spell's level or be unable to cast the spell.

An entangled creature can escape with a DC 20 Escape Artist check (a full-round action). The net has 5 hit points and can be burst with a DC 25 Strength check (also a full-round action). A net is useful only against creatures within one size category of you.

A net must be folded to be thrown effectively. The first time you throw your net in a fight, you make a normal ranged touch attack roll. After the net is unfolded, you take a –4 penalty on attack rolls with it. It takes 2 rounds for a proficient user to fold a net and twice that long for a nonproficient one to do so.

Nunchaku: A nunchaku is made up of two wooden or metal bars connected by a small length of rope or chain.

Quarterstaff: A quarterstaff is a simple piece of wood, about 5 feet in length.

Ranseur: Similar in appearance to a trident, a ranseur has a single spear at its tip, flanked by a pair of short, curving blades.

Rapier: You can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack rolls with a rapier sized for you, even though it isn't a light weapon. You can't wield a rapier in two hands in order to apply 1-1/2 times your Strength bonus to damage.

Sai: A sai is a metal spike flanked by a pair of prongs used to trap an enemy's weapon. With a sai, you get a +2 bonus on Combat Maneuver Checks to sunder an enemy's weapon. Though pointed, a sai is used primarily to bludgeon foes and to disarm weapons.

Shield, Heavy or Light: You can bash with a shield instead of using it for defense.

Shortbow: A shortbow is made up of one piece of wood, about 3 feet in length. You need two hands to use a bow, regardless of its size. You can use a shortbow while mounted. If you have a penalty for low Strength, apply it to damage rolls when you use a shortbow. If you have a bonus for high Strength, you can apply it to damage rolls when you use a composite shortbow (see below), but not a regular shortbow.

Shortbow, Composite: You need at least two hands to use a bow, regardless of its size. You can use a composite shortbow while mounted. All composite bows are made with a particular strength rating (that is, each requires a minimum Strength modifier to use with proficiency). If your Strength bonus is lower than the strength rating of the composite bow, you can't effectively use it, so you take a –2 penalty on attacks with it. The default composite shortbow requires a Strength modifier of +0 or higher to use with proficiency. A composite shortbow can be made with a high strength rating to take advantage of an above-average Strength score; this feature allows you to add your Strength bonus to damage, up to the maximum bonus indicated for the bow. Each point of Strength bonus granted by the bow adds 75 gp to its cost. If you have a penalty for low Strength, apply it to damage rolls when you use a composite shortbow.

For purposes of Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus, and similar feats, a composite shortbow is treated as if it were a shortbow.

Shortspear: A shortspear is about 3 feet in length, making it a suitable thrown weapon.

Shortsword: This sword is about 2 feet in length.

Shuriken: A shuriken is a small piece of metal with sharpened edges, designed for throwing. A shuriken can't be used as a melee weapon. Although they are thrown weapons, shuriken are treated as ammunition for the purposes of drawing them, crafting masterwork or otherwise special versions of them, and what happens to them after they are thrown.

Siangham: This weapon is a handheld shaft fitted with a pointed tip for stabbing foes.

Sling: A sling is little more than a leather cup attached to a pair of strings. Your Strength modifier applies to damage rolls when you use a sling, just as it does for thrown weapons. You can fire, but not load, a sling with one hand. Loading a sling is a move action that requires two hands and provokes attacks of opportunity.

You can hurl ordinary stones with a sling, but stones are not as dense or as round as bullets. Thus, such an attack deals damage as if the weapon were designed for a creature one size category smaller than you and you take a –1 penalty on attack rolls.

Sling Staff, Halfling: Made from a specially designed sling attached to a short club, a halfling sling staff can be used by a proficient wielder to devastating effect. Your Strength modifier applies to damage rolls when you use a halfling sling staff, just as it does for thrown weapons. You can fire, but not load, a halfling sling staff with one hand. Loading a halfling sling staff is a move action that requires two hands and provokes attacks of opportunity.

You can hurl ordinary stones with a halfling sling staff, but stones are not as dense or as round as bullets. Thus, such an attack deals damage as if the weapon were designed for a creature one size category smaller than you and you take a –1 penalty on attack rolls.

A halfling sling staff can be used as a simple weapon that deals bludgeoning damage equal to that of a club of its size. Halflings treat halfling sling staves as martial weapons.

Spear: A spear is 5 feet in length and can be thrown.

Spiked Armor: You can outfit your armor with spikes, which can deal damage in a grapple or as a separate attack. See Armor, below, for details.

Spiked Shield, Heavy or Light: You can bash with a spiked shield instead of using it for defense.

Starknife: From a central metal ring, four tapering metal blades extend like points on a compass rose. A wielder can stab with the starknife or throw it.

Strike, Unarmed: A Medium character deals 1d3 points of nonlethal damage with an unarmed strike. A Small character deals 1d2 points of nonlethal damage. A monk or any character with the Improved Unarmed Strike feat can deal lethal or nonlethal damage with unarmed strikes, at his discretion. The damage from an unarmed strike is considered weapon damage for the purposes of effects that give you a bonus on weapon damage rolls.

An unarmed strike is always considered a light weapon. Therefore, you can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack rolls with an unarmed strike. Unarmed strikes do not count as natural weapons (see Combat).

Sword, Bastard: A bastard sword is about 4 feet in length, making it too large to use in one hand without special training; thus, it is an exotic weapon. A character can use a bastard sword two-handed as a martial weapon.

Sword, Two-Bladed: A two-bladed sword is a double weapon—twin blades extend from either side of a central, short haft, allowing the wielder to attack with graceful but deadly flourishes.

Trident: A trident has three metal prongs at end of a 4-foot-long shaft. This weapon can be thrown.

Urgrosh, Dwarven: A dwarven urgrosh is a double weapon—an axe head and a spear point on opposite ends of a long haft. The urgrosh's axe head is a slashing weapon that deals 1d8 points of damage. Its spear head is a piercing weapon that deals 1d6 points of damage. You can use either head as the primary weapon. The other becomes the off-hand weapon. If you use an urgrosh against a charging character, the spear head is the part of the weapon that deals damage. Dwarves treat dwarven urgroshes as martial weapons.

Waraxe, Dwarven: A dwarven waraxe has a large, ornate head mounted to a thick handle, making it too large to use in one hand without special training; thus, it is an exotic weapon. A Medium character can use a dwarven waraxe two-handed as a martial weapon, or a Large creature can use it one-handed in the same way. A dwarf treats a dwarven waraxe as a martial weapon even when using it in one hand.

Whip: A whip deals no damage to any creature with an armor bonus of +1 or higher or a natural armor bonus of +3 or higher. The whip is treated as a melee weapon with 15-foot reach, though you don't threaten the area into which you can make an attack. In addition, unlike most other weapons with reach, you can use it against foes anywhere within your reach (including adjacent foes).

Using a whip provokes an attack of opportunity, just as if you had used a ranged weapon.

You can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack rolls with a whip sized for you, even though it isn't a light weapon.

Circleknife: Circleknives are actually a broad category of weapons that are all handled in the same manner. A circleknife is characterized by a grip that is similar to a Punch Dagger, but uses one or more circular blades that come out perpendicular to the direction of the fist. All variations feature hooked edges or trapping areas to help with disarming foes, granting a +2 bonus to Disarm attempts. Additionally their broad surfaces help with parrying attacks, granting a +1 Shield bonus to AC if wielded in pairs by a proficient user. Common variations include the Hornknife, which looks like two crescent-shaped blades merged together in opposing directions, with a leather grip at the center of one or the other. Wind and Fire Wheels are a variation from Tsang Lun, they are a full circular blade, sometimes with sharp serration, that features the grip on a crosspiece in the center of the wheel. This is an exotic weapon.

Claws of Attack, Orcish: This traditional orcish weapon consists of blades that emulate the 12 inch claws of a dire wolf. Sometimes they are designed literally as finger-blades and other times they are strapped to a large gauntlet. Either way, they require the user to get up close and personal with an opponent. The orcs treat orcish claws of attacks as martial weapons, otherwise they are exotic.

Defensible Parasol: Created originally as a security measure for Myrrish nobility, the Defensible Parasol is an uncommon but useful device mostly seen among ladies (or sometimes gentlemen) of refinement or technological leanings. The parasol is made of handsome hardwood with reinforced iron ribs, and its canopy is constructed of dyed, weatherproofed canvas; not only can it keep up to three people from the rain and sunlight, its reinforced construction allows it to also serve as a buckler for purposes of defense when unfurled. The parasol also has a retractable spike in its shaft that projects out of the end of the shaft--it can serve as a shortspear in this case. It cannot protect and be used as a spear at the same time, however; the parasol must be furled for the spear to function, and vice versa.

Earthbreaker: This enormous weapon is a favorite of the Dranei Warriors of the north and their brutish and physically powerful allies among the northern jotun-kund (The Beastmen) and Orcs. Variations on this theme can be found as well among the dwarves. A martial weapon, it does incredible damage but also grants an additional +4 bonus when used on sunder attempts against shields. Various ornate versions of it exist ranging from enormous hammers to vast decorated clubs.

Flail, Dran: An evolution of the normal heavy flail, the Dran flail is one weapon that helps embody the Dran ideal; bred them big and bred them strong. A large heavy chain attached to a sphere or some other object larger then the head of an ox, the Dran flail is a reach weapon that cannot be used against adjacent opponents due to the space required to swing the head effectively. The Dran flail is a martial weapon.

Gnomish Transmogristaff: This walking stick appears at first to be a normal quarterstaff, just well-crafted with a hint of style. However, at the press of a button it extends, losing its double-weapon property and becoming a two-handed reach weapon instead. The user decides which end of the staff is in use when the weapon is transformed in this way. When in its longer form, it may not be used to attack adjacent, nor does it threaten adjacent (just as with most reach weapons). Switching between these two modes is a free action decided at the start of your turn.

Such a transformation is often accompanied by a whirring or buzzing noise, or other effects.

Goblin Catapult: Developed originally for specific elements of the Grimdiddle goblin clan by the Kurba brothers of Arngrun, this catapult is a weird, effective, but sometimes very dangerous foray into the realm of portable bombardment. The catapult is a device that is worn on the back, with a powerful spring-loaded arm that is drawn back by a crank on its side (making reloading a move action). To use, one simply need load a or small-sized grenade weapon (nothing larger than a flask of acid, alchemist's fire, holy water, or the like) into the arm's basket, range to target, and release! Accuracy is somewhat spotty, however--a user takes an automatic -1 penalty to hit when using the device, but the ability to strike at long range generally offsets this. On a natural 1, however, the DM must roll 1d8 to determine if a serious malfunction has occured; a roll of 1 or 2 indicates the launched missile is woefully short and hits the catapult's wearer, instead!

Hunting Bolas, Egalrin: The egalrin hunting bolas is a lethal form of the normal bolas. It does lethal damage instead of nonlethal, and has the trip property. Egalrin treat this is a martial weapon.

Khazad Breaching Engine: A common tool in Khazad Duin, the Breaching Engine from Ironhold's foundries is a masterful means of clearing rock and - in some cases - laying siege. Heavy steam pressure propels this device's heavy hammer foreword with frightening strength, dealing damage to obstructions and ignoring hardness up to 8. Stone is the most commonly affected material, as the Breaching Engine was designed to batter through rock walls to get to veins of precious metals and trapped miners on occasion. It can be employed as a weapon, but requires a full round to charge and the feat Weapon Proficiency: Exotic (Breaching Engine).

Lucht Walking Stick: Developed by someone's famous great-great-grand-uncle-cousin-four times removed, its making fondly remembered at fireside tales and the subject of many a Tarien-inspired prank, the lucht walking stick is a master of utility. To most, it appears to be a normal quarterstaff. However, it contains a number of craftily hidden (and reinforced) compartments and levers which allow it to function as either a hammer and shovel in addition to a normal quarterstaff. Transforming it between functions requires 3 rounds. In addition, its hilt contains a slender dagger, and the other, a signal whistle and a tightly packed case containing flint and steel. A successful DC 20 perception check uncovers these functions.

A lucht may hide another item inside the walking staff by removing the flint and steel, though this item may be no larger or weighter than a ring. It is not infrequent for lucht use their staff to hide a small jewel for safekeeping while on the road.

Aside from proficiency, the walking stick may benefit from feats which also benefit quarterstaves.

Lucht Traveler's Knife: A heftier dagger with broader blade for parrying attacks, this blade serves a number of purposes for the traveler, as well as basic defense. Just as a normal dagger, it may be thrown to a distance of up to 10 feet, and may be used as both a piercing and slashing weapon. However, its unique shape grants a +2 bonus to disarm checks, and when wielded defensively or as part of a full defense action, grants its wielder an additional +1 shield bonus to AC.

Main Gauche: The Main Gauche is a fencing variation of the dagger for use as an off-hand weapon. Main Gauche's feature a very broad hilt guard, which is as long, or longer, than the blade length itself. When fighting defensively or with full defense, a Main Gauche wielded in the off-hand grants a +1 shield bonus to AC.