13.1.3 Weapon Basics
WEAPONS
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Depending on your chosen class, weapons may be of vital importance to you or useful, but not critical. Those of the Soldier and Rogue class, for example, rely heavily on the use of weapons (both on their type and on their statistics), while for magicians, their importance is diminished. There are, however, cases in which weapons are useful for everyone.
To use a weapon, you must first WIELD <weapon>, assuming you have an empty hand (or hands) to do so. Then, depending on your class, you will be able to put the weapon to use using a variety of skills. Most of the Rogue and Soldier class skills revolve around having one (or two) weapons of a certain type equipped, but all classes will need a weapon wielded in order to be able to use the defenses of PARRY and BLOCK (also see HELP DEFENDING). You cannot very well parry an attack with your empty hands. That's how people lose an arm!
WEAPON STATISTICS
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Because no two smiths are ever the same and no two pieces of iron alike, weapons all have statistics that influence how well they perform in combat and they influence the result of your abilities greatly (if your skill requires a weapon to perform). Weapons have three statistics:
Damage: Influences how much damage your attacks will
do when they land.
Precision: Influences the chance that you will land an
attack on a denizen (the higher the better)
and, when fighting against another adventurer,
increases the chance that your attack will
pierce through a successful defense.
Speed: Increases the speed of your abilities,
effectively reducing the time until you gain
balance back after an attack.
A weapon's statistics may be discerned by using the WEAPONPROBE ability in Fighting.
Note that these values are not the only modifiers that come into play when the damage, precision or speed of an attack is considered but that other things (abilities, afflictions, stances, buffs, etc.) will come into play.
A word to Priests and Magicians:
Priests are required to wield warhammers (or spears, depending on the specialization) to perform most of their offensive abilities, but they are not influenced by the statistics of a weapon, but rather by the distribution of their stat points (see HELP STATS). Likewise, a mage's spells will not be influenced by a weapon they are wielding since spellcasting has nothing to do with weaponry but they still require a weapon in order to BLOCK or PARRY an attack.
The statistics of a weapon are influenced by the commodities used in forging them (also see HELP COMMODITIES) and by the type of weapon that is forged.
WEAPON TYPES
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That said, weapons are split into a number of categories which favor one statistic over the other. Different weapon types are also favored by different classes/specializations. Here are the weapon categories currently available:
- Standard weapons -
Longsword: a one-handed bladed weapon built for damage,
preferred weapon of Fencers and Soldiers
Mace: a one-handed blunt weapon built for damage,
preferred weapon of Soldiers
Rapier: a one-handed bladed weapon built for precision,
preferred weapon of Fencers and Soldiers
Morningstar: a one-handed blunt weapon built for precision,
preferred weapon of Soldiers
Saber: a one-handed bladed weapon built for speed,
preferred weapon of Fencers and Soldiers
Flail: a one handed blunt weapon built for speed,
preferred weapon of Soldiers
Claymore/Greatsword: a two-handed handed bladed weapon
built for speed, preferred weapon of Soldiers
Maul: a two-handed handed blunt weapon built for speed,
preferred weapon of Soldiers
Warhammer: a two-handed handed blunt weapon built for
damage, preferred weapon of Faith Users
and Soldiers
Battleaxe: a two-handed handed bladed weapon built for
damage, preferred weapon of Soldiers
Spear/Halberd: a two-handed handed bladed weapon built for
precision, preferred weapon of Soldiers and
Bloodlore users
Club: a two-handed handed blunt weapon built for
precision, preferred weapon of Soldiers
- Special weapons -
Dagger: one-handed weapon that is only usable with
specific Rogue abilities
Crossbow: two-handed range weapon that is only usable
with specific Rogue abilities.
Athame: one-handed weapon that is only usable with
specific Demonology abilities.
Note: Bladed and blunt weapons are functionally identical except for when using specific skills such as Impale.
CHEAP WEAPONS
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Shops exist in all the major cities selling cheap, low-quality weapons intended for newer and returning Midkemians who can't afford high quality weapons. These shops are located at the city's blacksmith, and can be located with DIR BLACKSMITH while standing in the city.
(See also: HELP DEFENDING, HELP ARMOR, HELP COMBATBASICS)