Weapons

Few adventurers ever manage to retain long-term ownership of weapons or other martial equipment. Combat breakages, thefts and accidents all take their toll on weaponry and often characters will need to rely on daggers and other secondary weapons, loot weapons from fallen foes or simply pick up found objects and use them to bludgeon their enemies to death. Despite this, many adventurers have weapons they especially prefer and there are certainly advantages and disadvantages to various types of weapons.

Selling Loot

In general, a character can sell something for half its listed price. It is possible that Player Characters – especially thieves and pirates – may get their hands on valuable items that can command a greater proportion of their true value when sold. These commodities are the stock-in-trade of merchants from one end of the world to the other and include everything from dried foodstuffs, cloth, metal, tanned hides, lumber and slaves through to more exotic cargoes like Shemite wine, ivory, silk, spices, gems, incense and even raw lotus blossoms from various sources. In many nations only members of certain social classes are even allowed to conduct trade on this scale.
The value of these trade goods varies greatly with demand and distance from their land of origin and it is far beyond the scope of these rules to simulate an economy. If the characters manage to lay their hands on some ill-gotten gains and manage to find a buyer you can assume that they will receive 100–300 pieces of treasure for a common cargo and 1000–3000 treasure for a rarer one. The most unusual goods, such as lotus or precious metals, are never just ‘sold’ and exchanging them for money is often a complicated process of negotiation.

Weapon Availability

The standard weapons listed on the weapons table are available in most regions, including all the Hyborian kingdoms and most of the Eastern nations. However, weapons with a region as part of their name, such as the Bossonian longbow and Ghanata knife, are usually only available in or around that region.

Weapon Quality

There are almost no specifically ‘magical’ weapons in the Hyborian age. However, weapons of superior and inferior quality are sometimes available. The standard weapons listed in the Weapons table are assumed to be of average quality. On occasion, it may be necessary to wield weapons of lesser quality; conversely, an adventurer who is fortunate enough to get his hands on a better quality weapon will likely not give it up until it is prised from his dead fingers or lost in the corpse of his enemy.

High-Quality Weapons

High-quality weapons are made by master-smiths and wielded by the greatest of warriors and wealthiest of nobles. They are a cut above common blades but do not match the legendary hardness or sharpness of the fabled blades of Akbitan. High quality weapons have twice the HP value of their normal counterparts. They also cost twice as much as normal weapons.

Light Melee Weapons

Weapon	Cost	Range	Hit Points	Age
Gauntlet	Inexpensive	--	5	Stone Age
Net	Inexpensive	Short	5	Stone Age
Dagger	Inexpensive	Short	3	Stone Age
Hatchet	Inexpensive	Short	4	Stone Age
Knife	Inexpensive	Short	2	Stone Age
Knife, Yuetshi	Inexpensive	--	2	Stone Age
Stiletto	Moderate	Short	3	Stone Age
Sword, Short	Inexpensive	--	5	Bronze Age
Poniard	Inexpensive	--	2	Bronze Age
Knife, Ghanata	Inexpensive	--	2	Stone Age

One-Handed Melee Weapons

Weapon	Cost	Range	Hit Points	Age
Axe	Inexpensive	--	5	Stone Age
Club	Inexpensive	--	5	Stone Age
Broadsword	Moderate	--	7	Bronze Age
Battleaxe	Moderate	--	6	Bronze Age
Cutlass	Inexpensive	--	6	Dark Ages
Flail	Moderate	--	5	Dark Ages
Rapier	Moderate	--	5	Dark Ages
Scimitar	Moderate	--	5	Dark Ages
Sword, Arming	Moderate	--	6	Dark Ages
Sword, War	Moderate	--	7	Dark Ages
Warhammer	Moderate	--	6	Dark Ages
Lance	Moderate	--	7	Dark Ages
Mace, Heavy	Moderate	--	6	Dark Ages
Mace, Medium	Moderate	--	5	Dark Ages
Mace, Light	Moderate	--	4	Dark Ages
Spear, Hunting	Inexpensive	--	5	Stone Age
Knife, Zhaibar	Inexpensive	--	2	Stone Age
Sabre	Inexpensive	--	8	Dark Ages
Whip	Moderate	--	4	Dark Ages

Two-Handed Melee Weapons

Weapon	Cost	Range	Hit Points	Age
Spear, War	Moderate	--	6	Stone Age
Staff	Inexpensive	--	5	Stone Age
Club, War	Inexpensive	--	7	Stone Age
Bardiche	Expensive	--	7	Dark Ages
Bill	Moderate	--	6	Dark Ages
Pike	Moderate	--	7	Dark Ages
Pollaxe	Moderate	--	7	Dark Ages
Greataxe	Very Expensive	--	7	Dark Ages
Greatsword	Very Expensive	--	7	Dark Ages
Maul	Moderate	--	7	Stone Ages
Tulwar	Moderate	--	5	Dark Ages

Ranged Weapons

Weapon	Cost	Range	Hit Points	Age
Bow, Hunting	Inexpensive	Long	5	Stone Age
Bow, Hyrkanian	Moderate	Long	6	Dark Ages
Bow, Shemite	Moderate	Long	6	Dark Ages
Bow, Stygian	Moderate	Long	7	Dark Ages
Javelin	Inexpensive	Long	6	Stone Age
Sling	Inexpensive	Long	4	Stone Age
Arbalest	Very Expensive	Long	7	Dark Ages
Crossbow	Moderate	Long	6	Dark Ages
Longbow, Bossonian	Moderate	Very Long	7	Dark Ages

Ammunition

Weapon	Cost
Arrow x30	Moderate
Crossbow Bolt x15	Moderate
Blow Dart x30	Inexpensive
Sling Bullet x15	Inexpensive

Weapon Descriptions

Arbalest: This is a heavy and powerful steel-framed crossbow, designed for penetrating armour and long-range effectiveness. An arbalest is very slow to load, as it must be braced against the ground and laboriously ‘spanned’ with a mechanical device called a cranequin before a new bolt can be loaded in place. Reloading takes an action, so few adventurers bother to reload their arbalests during combat. An arbalest must be wielded with both hands.
Axe: The axe is an effective off-hand weapon or backup weapon, easily carried in a loop on the belt and reasonably effective against armour. It can also be used to hook enemy weapons.
Bardiche: The bardiche is a heavy axe-blade mounted on a thick ash shaft some four to six feet long. Though the blade is also quite large, it is highly curved so as to concentrate the initial impact in a very small area. This combination allows for both excellent armour penetration and the possibility of dealing heavy damage. The long double handed war-axes of the Aesir and Vanir can also be treated as bardiches.
Battleaxe: The battleaxe is a powerful weapon, ideal deadly for overhead dealing blows from horseback but also sufficiently well-balanced for fast-moving melee combat. Mounted mercenaries favour it especially, since it is relatively cheap but highly effective against armoured enemies.
Bill: This versatile polearm was originally derived from a hedging tool mounted on a long shaft but is in common use by heavy infantry and city watchmen alike. Nemedian soldiers, police and mercenaries favour its use. A bill has a spearhead, curved axe-head and hook, all forged from a single blade and mounted on a shaft around six feet long. In better quality weapons the shaft is protected by steel langets that extend down most of its length from the head.
Bow, Hunting: These small, simple bows are used around the world, for both hunting and combat. Any bow other than one of the regional longbows can be treated as a hunting bow. Hunting bows require two hands for use. They may be used while mounted.
Bow, Hyrkanian: The Hyrkanian bow is a composite bow made from horn, wood and sinew. A Hyrkanian bow requires both hands to shoot and may be used while mounted.
Bow, Shemite: The Shemite bow is very similar to the Hyrkanian bow. A Shemite bow requires both hands to shoot and may be used while mounted.
Bow, Stygian: The Stygian bow is heavy and powerful, shooting a long, weighty arrow that does a great deal of damage but does not travel as far as most other arrows. A Stygian bow requires both hands to shoot and may not be used while mounted, though the Stygian nobility often use them from chariots.
Broadsword: This heavy, slightly tapered sword is intended for battlefield use and is often wielded by knights expecting to face lightly armoured enemies. It is too expensive for most mercenaries but many adventurers favour broadswords for their good balance and reasonable effectiveness against armour. Though the broadsword’s handgrip is clearly only long enough for one hand to grip it comfortably, the pommel is large and often disc-shaped, allowing for a warrior to get his second hand behind the blow if need be and use the weapon two-handed.
Club: The club is perhaps the simplest of man-made weapons. It is most often found in primitive countries but may also be used by peasants and city mobs in more civilised nations.
Club, War: War clubs are used by warriors who cannot afford anything better or who live in areas where better weapons are not generally manufactured.
Crossbow: Crossbows are favoured by countries that do not have many troops capable of wielding any type of longbow, which includes many of the Hyborian nations. A crossbow is effective but the experienced warrior will find that a bow of any kind allows a far more rapid rate of fire. A crossbow requires two hands to fire. It may be reloaded as a action.
Cutlass: Cutlasses are shorter than broadswords but almost as heavy and damaging. For this reason they are much-used by pirates, who need a weapon that is not likely to get entangled in rigging or stuck in the low ceilings below decks.
Dagger: The dagger is an all-purpose weapon and tool that is carried by almost everyone in the Hyborian countries over the age of 10 or so. Most daggers have double-edged blades, making them more useful for stabbing than cutting but they are still short and handy enough to have many roles outside of combat.
Flail: A handle with a chain on one end and a ball or spiked ball at the end of the chain.
Gauntlet: Gauntlets come free with all medium and heavy armours but some characters may elect to buy a gauntlet by itself as a weapon.
Greataxe: A larger, heavier version of the battleaxe, sometimes with two opposing blades instead of one.
Greatsword: Possibly the most powerful weapon fielded on the battlefield by most Hyborian nations, the greatsword is a large, no-nonsense killing sword. Adventurers of Nemedia are particularly noted for wielding greatswords but most other Hyborian armies arm at least a few knights with this deadly weapon.
Hatchet: The hatchet is more of a woodsman’s tool than a weapon, though it is often pressed into service in combat. Many armies carry a number of hatchets too, simply for cutting firewood, though a lowly man-at-arms or mercenary may certainly carry one onto the battlefield.
Javelin: The javelin is a light throwing spear that is rarely seen among the Hyborian military but that is sometimes used by more primitive armies. It is rather better balanced for throwing than the hunting spear but is a little too fragile for effective use in melee combat.
Knife: A short, single-edged cutting tool, the knife can only really be effective as a weapon against unarmoured or defenseless foes.
Knife, Ghanata: The Ghanata knife is commonly used by the tribesmen of the Southern Desert. It is two feet long, heavy, razor-sharp and slightly curved.
Knife, Yuetshi: The Yuetshi knife is a long, saw-edged knife with a crescent-shaped blade. It is wielded by the Yuetshi fishermen of the southern Vilayet sea.
Knife, Zhaibar: The Zhaibar knife is as long as most swords, though it is shaped very much like a large knife and has a thicker blade than any sword. It is used throughout Ghulistan. Its blade is three feet long, triangular and intended for slashing rather than thrusting. Most Zhaibar knives are bone-handled.
Lance, Heavy: A heavy lance used from the back of a charging mount does double damage. A heavy lance has reach: one can use it against opponents 10 feet away but not against an adjacent enemy. Heavy lances are intended for use when mounted and are unbalanced for use on foot; if used while dismounted, attacks are hindered.
Lance, Light: A light lance used from the back of a charging mount does double damage. Light lances are intended for use when mounted but can still be reasonably effective on foot; if used while dismounted, treat a light lance as a spear.
Longbow, Bossonian: The Bossonian longbow has justly made the Bossonian Marches famous for the quality and deadliness of their archers. This massive yew bow does not have quite the range of the Hyrkanian or Shemite bows but the Bossonian archers make up for this with deadly accuracy when the enemy is within range and utter steadfastness when he is not. A Bossonian longbow requires both hands to shoot and may not be used while mounted.
Mace, Heavy or Light: The mace consists of a wooden or metal shaft topped with a heavy, blunt striking surface, usually flanged or ball-shaped. It is very effective against armour, crushing both the protection and the warrior inside it.
Maul: A larger version of the hammer, such as a sledgehammer.
Net: A net designed for battle rather than fishing. It has metal hooks at each intersection to help catch your enemy. You can throw it with one hand. Action to refold it so it can be thrown again. If you hit an opponent with the net, all of their physical actions are hindered until they take an action to remove it.
Pike: Pikes are extremely long spears, highly effective in massed ranks but very unwieldy in close combat. A pike is a special variety of reach weapon. A character wielding a pike can attack opponents who are 20 feet away but cannot attack opponents closer than that.
Pollaxe: With an axe-head backed by a warhammer-head, the whole thing surmounted by a spear-point, the pollaxe is a versatile if heavy weapon. The ash shaft is usually around four to five feet long and is protected by steel langets. A character can use a defense action to set a pollaxe against a charge, in which case it deals double damage on a successful speed defense against a charging character.
Pommel: A pommel is the heavy steel counterweight on every sword-hilt. The following weapons can all be used to make pommel attacks: dagger, poniard, Ghanata knife, short sword, Zhaibar knife, arming sword, broad sword, scimitar, cutlass, sabre, war sword, greatsword and tulwar. Pommel attacks are useful when one wishes to make a bludgeoning attack or when one needs to use a light weapon – for example, when grappling an enemy.
Poniard: The poniard is a heavy, long dagger designed for war and favoured by fighting men as an off-hand or secondary weapon. The blade is usually fifteen to nineteen inches long, with the pommel, guard and handle bringing the total size of the weapon to over two feet.
Rapier: A light sword with a thin blade used for stabbing and slashing.
Sabre: The sabre is a common cavalry weapon in the East. It is intended for one-handed use from horseback or two-handed use on foot.
Scimitar: The scimitar is the Eastern equivalent of the sword, with a heavy, curved blade that provides extreme cutting power. It is the most common weapon among Hyrkanian and Shemite nomads.
Sling: The second most basic projectile weapon – one step up from throwing rocks – the sling is still highly effective, hurling lead bullets capable of breaking limbs or smashing skulls.
Spear, Hunting: The hunting spear is light enough to be wielded with one hand and is commonly used in pairs, with the first spear being flung and the second used to finish off the wounded animal. Some warriors from primitive countries use a hunting spear and shield in war.
Spear, War: The war spear is a long, heavy spear with a broad, often leaf-shaped head. The war spear is a reach weapon; a character wielding it may attack foes who are 10 feet away.
Staff: The staff is a thick piece of oak or ash fully eight or nine feet long and usually shod at each end with iron. When wielded with both hands close to the butt it provides a good five to six feet of striking length when it is held towards the enemy and used for thrusts, sweeps and swings. A staff is a reach weapon; a character wielding it may attack foes who are 10 feet away.
Stiletto: This is a long, narrow-bladed dagger, favoured at court and much used by noble ladies and assassins.
Sword, Arming: The arming sword resembles the broadsword but is slightly shorter and lighter and often not quite so well made. Knights and mercenaries whose main weapon is a broadsword, battleaxe, heavy mace or two-handed weapon carry an arming sword as a backup weapon and some archers and crossbowmen also use it. Well made, fancy-looking versions of the arming sword are often worn about town by nobles and other well-to-do types, since it does not attract quite so much attention as the more obviously military broadsword.
Sword, Short: The short sword is somewhere between the arming sword and poniard in length, with a blade some two feet long or a little longer. It is handy, concealable and can be used as a finesse weapon, making it much favoured by thieves and skirmishers.
Sword, War: Also known as a bastard sword or hand-and-a half sword, the war sword is intended for one-handed use from horseback or two handed use on foot.
Tulwar: This two-handed, heavy curved sword resembles a massive scimitar. It is wielded for its sheer cutting power and sometimes as symbol of rank among warriors of the East.
Warhammer: Though referred to as a warhammer, this weapon has a head that more closely resembles a meat tenderiser, which is used for bashing in the joints of an armoured opponent. The spike on the reverse of the head looks a little like a pickaxe blade and can be used to pierce right through heavy armour. The head is mounted on a three-foot long shaft of ash, allowing for good leverage.
Whip: The whip is assumed to be a large bullwhip, capable of inflicting serious pain and some injury over a 15ft range. It is, however, unable to damage an armored opponent.

Cost Breakdown

Category	TR Value
Inexpensive	Less than 1 tr
Moderate	1 - 10 tr
Expensive	100 - 500 tr
Very Expensive	1,000 - 10,000 tr
Exorbitant	10,000 tr