Tavern Brawler Strike does 1d4 damage. Improvised weapons actual damage dice type is up to the DM's discretion.
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"I don't give a rat's f***ing ass how big it is, it can still bleed and I'm not dealing with this s*** a minute longer!!!" -Brass Khorne, Dragonborn Rogue/Fighter Battlemaster.
"Welcome to the Weeping Willow! Ale, rooms, or both?...Yes, dogs are fine, why does everyone ask that?" -Lucky Shot, Tabaxi Eldritch Knight and Innkeeper
"Greetings, I'm Sir Dexter of House Barkton. What do I do? I'm a Good Boy." -Dexter, Awakened Dog Rogue and knight of the realm.
Sometimes characters don’t have their weapons and have to attack with whatever is at hand. An improvised weapon includes any object you can wield in one or two hands, such as broken glass, a table leg, a frying pan, a wagon wheel, or a dead goblin.
Often, an improvised weapon is similar to an actual weapon and can be treated as such. For example, a table leg is akin to a club. At the DM’s option, a character proficient with a weapon can use a similar object as if it were that weapon and use his or her proficiency bonus.
An object that bears no resemblance to a weapon deals 1d4 damage (the DM assigns a damage type appropriate to the object). If a character uses a ranged weapon to make a melee attack, or throws a melee weapon that does not have the thrown property, it also deals 1d4 damage. An improvised thrown weapon has a normal range of 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet.
Remember reading that differently...it's a very stupid decision, though, why would all improvised weapons deal the same amount of pain to something? You can't tell me beating someone with a fire poker would be the same and breaking a beer bottle over their head. Or stabbing them with a fire poker.
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"I don't give a rat's f***ing ass how big it is, it can still bleed and I'm not dealing with this s*** a minute longer!!!" -Brass Khorne, Dragonborn Rogue/Fighter Battlemaster.
"Welcome to the Weeping Willow! Ale, rooms, or both?...Yes, dogs are fine, why does everyone ask that?" -Lucky Shot, Tabaxi Eldritch Knight and Innkeeper
"Greetings, I'm Sir Dexter of House Barkton. What do I do? I'm a Good Boy." -Dexter, Awakened Dog Rogue and knight of the realm.
Remember reading that differently...it's a very stupid decision, though, why would all improvised weapons deal the same amount of pain to something? You can't tell me beating someone with a fire poker would be the same and breaking a beer bottle over their head. Or stabbing them with a fire poker.
This is why the first part says "Often, an improvised weapon is similar to an actual weapon and can be treated as such."
So you may be able to make the argument to your DM that a fireplace poker is more like a mace. Whether or not the DM agrees is another story.
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"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing) You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
Mine was way back in 3E - two handed sword. I pretty much always went last on initiative as they factored in weapons speed, unless the party was prepared and we were being charged when I usually went first per house rules. After a while I was making 5 attacks every 2 turns and just mowing down opponents.
Though since they don't really count, a yklwa would be my choice. I used one for my monk and they work well, are unique, and shouting yklwa when you rush into battle is a great battle cry.
I also enchanted mine so that it did 1d4 extra necrotic damage and I would heal as many hit points as necrotic damage done. It was really fun and the yklwa was named Bloodbiter.
Though since they don't really count, a yklwa would be my choice. I used one for my monk and they work well, are unique, and shouting yklwa when you rush into battle is a great battle cry.
I also enchanted mine so that it did 1d4 extra necrotic damage and I would heal as many hit points as necrotic damage done. It was really fun and the yklwa was named Bloodbiter.
I homebrewed something similar for a BBEG vampire that my party will be going up against soon, but it is a long sword/short sword combination he will using.
On the topic of weapons, I've been trying to figure out mechanics for a katana. No reason in particular, I just think they're cool. So far, I would say that a katana would be a martial melee weapon with the finesse and versatile traits, that deals 1d6 slashing damage with one hand and 1d8 with two hands. The issue with it, is that it would basically be an objectively better shortsword, or an objectively worse rapier. Maybe if it was lighter than a shortsword, but more expensive? idk weapons are hard. I know the PHB suggests reflavouring a longsword but I think katanas need to be finesse.
Back in 2ed days my favourite weapon to use was the Bastard Sword. One-handed it did the same damage as a Long Sword (1d8), but it could also be used two-handed for 2d4 damage, which guaranteed at least a 2, and it bell-curved the damage so that you were more likely to do between 4 and 6 damage with each hit.
In 5e they kind of made the Long Sword like that, with the versatility trait, but 1d10 damage, meaning your chance of any particular damage result is the same likelihood, but you can do up to 10 damage potentially.
1e Unearthed arcana had a bunch of cool weapons in it like the glaive-guisarme, the Lucern Hammer, and Fauchard-Fork. I also really liked using a Halberd!
1e Unearthed Arcana had so many cool weapons.
I always liked having a variety of weapons and armor, or any equipment really, that actually have impact in the game. If a player(s) wants something else I will work on figuring out the rules.
On the topic of weapons, I've been trying to figure out mechanics for a katana. No reason in particular, I just think they're cool. So far, I would say that a katana would be a martial melee weapon with the finesse and versatile traits, that deals 1d6 slashing damage with one hand and 1d8 with two hands. The issue with it, is that it would basically be an objectively better shortsword, or an objectively worse rapier. Maybe if it was lighter than a shortsword, but more expensive? idk weapons are hard. I know the PHB suggests reflavouring a longsword but I think katanas need to be finesse.
That is where a cultural trait is really useful, if you can forgive me. A plain old katana in the hands of someone not from that culture is just a katana. But put it in the hands of the people who made it their cultural weapon of choice (and all weapons have such a thing, since that is where they come from) and suddenly it has finesse because they have trained and perfected its use over generations. To learn to use it with finesse you have to travel to such and such a place.
Another options is to make a class have finesse with certain specific weapons as an additional skill, feat, ability, whatever. Samurai could have finesse with a katana, then, and give it that capability. just be sure to note that it doesn't stack if you also do the above, lol (or maybe you want it to! egads!)
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Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities .-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-. An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more. Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
On the topic of weapons, I've been trying to figure out mechanics for a katana. No reason in particular, I just think they're cool. So far, I would say that a katana would be a martial melee weapon with the finesse and versatile traits, that deals 1d6 slashing damage with one hand and 1d8 with two hands. The issue with it, is that it would basically be an objectively better shortsword, or an objectively worse rapier. Maybe if it was lighter than a shortsword, but more expensive? idk weapons are hard. I know the PHB suggests reflavouring a longsword but I think katanas need to be finesse.
So, re-flavor a rapier, maybe?
It’s finesse piercing vs. a katana finesse slashing. About the only difference is whether is qualifies for piercer or slasher
Let’s see, a 30” to 40” blade, space on the handle for 2 hands but able to be wielded with one, a single curved cutting blade with a razor edge. Except for the curved blade that would be a long sword. Granted there should actually be a category or 3+ for single edged swords as opposed to double edged but there isn’t (yet?) so we are stuck with the katana being either a long sword and therefore versatile doing 1D8/1D10 or it’s a scimitar (because it’s a curved blade) and therefore a light finesse weapon doing 1D6. To me the katana is a long sword while the wakazashi is the scimitar. There are sword classes I would really like to see added in 6e: the short (20-30”) straight single edge hack and slash sword (machete, kris, falchion, khyber knife) the long (30-40”) straight single edged hack and slash sword (broadsword) the long 30+” curved single edged slashing sword (katana, shamshir, etc) (yes I know, irl most sabers and scimitars actually fit here but…)
I really don’t see katanas as finesse weapons, what I can see is that if you put the time and training into them you can learn to dual wield them or to dual wield a katana and a wakazashi. In DnD terms to me that means taking the 2 weapon fighting style and then taking the dual wielding feat. But katanas are not light weapons that your dexterity can position for max effect, they are cutting weapons that call for strength to chop them into the target and strength to draw them thru the target . For me finesse weapons are pretty much all piercing weapons because of this distinction.
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Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
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Tavern Brawler Strike does 1d4 damage. Improvised weapons actual damage dice type is up to the DM's discretion.
"I don't give a rat's f***ing ass how big it is, it can still bleed and I'm not dealing with this s*** a minute longer!!!" -Brass Khorne, Dragonborn Rogue/Fighter Battlemaster.
"Welcome to the Weeping Willow! Ale, rooms, or both?...Yes, dogs are fine, why does everyone ask that?" -Lucky Shot, Tabaxi Eldritch Knight and Innkeeper
"Greetings, I'm Sir Dexter of House Barkton. What do I do? I'm a Good Boy." -Dexter, Awakened Dog Rogue and knight of the realm.
Player's Handbook:
Improvised Weapons
Sometimes characters don’t have their weapons and have to attack with whatever is at hand. An improvised weapon includes any object you can wield in one or two hands, such as broken glass, a table leg, a frying pan, a wagon wheel, or a dead goblin.
Often, an improvised weapon is similar to an actual weapon and can be treated as such. For example, a table leg is akin to a club. At the DM’s option, a character proficient with a weapon can use a similar object as if it were that weapon and use his or her proficiency bonus.
An object that bears no resemblance to a weapon deals 1d4 damage (the DM assigns a damage type appropriate to the object). If a character uses a ranged weapon to make a melee attack, or throws a melee weapon that does not have the thrown property, it also deals 1d4 damage. An improvised thrown weapon has a normal range of 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet.
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
Type as in piercing, slashing, etc not die size.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Remember reading that differently...it's a very stupid decision, though, why would all improvised weapons deal the same amount of pain to something? You can't tell me beating someone with a fire poker would be the same and breaking a beer bottle over their head. Or stabbing them with a fire poker.
"I don't give a rat's f***ing ass how big it is, it can still bleed and I'm not dealing with this s*** a minute longer!!!" -Brass Khorne, Dragonborn Rogue/Fighter Battlemaster.
"Welcome to the Weeping Willow! Ale, rooms, or both?...Yes, dogs are fine, why does everyone ask that?" -Lucky Shot, Tabaxi Eldritch Knight and Innkeeper
"Greetings, I'm Sir Dexter of House Barkton. What do I do? I'm a Good Boy." -Dexter, Awakened Dog Rogue and knight of the realm.
This is why the first part says "Often, an improvised weapon is similar to an actual weapon and can be treated as such."
So you may be able to make the argument to your DM that a fireplace poker is more like a mace. Whether or not the DM agrees is another story.
"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing)
You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
Swords of any variety. Yeah they're basic but who doesn't want a badass sword?
[REDACTED]
Mine was way back in 3E - two handed sword. I pretty much always went last on initiative as they factored in weapons speed, unless the party was prepared and we were being charged when I usually went first per house rules. After a while I was making 5 attacks every 2 turns and just mowing down opponents.
Shadow blade or flame blade.
Though since they don't really count, a yklwa would be my choice. I used one for my monk and they work well, are unique, and shouting yklwa when you rush into battle is a great battle cry.
I also enchanted mine so that it did 1d4 extra necrotic damage and I would heal as many hit points as necrotic damage done. It was really fun and the yklwa was named Bloodbiter.
I homebrewed something similar for a BBEG vampire that my party will be going up against soon, but it is a long sword/short sword combination he will using.
On the topic of weapons, I've been trying to figure out mechanics for a katana. No reason in particular, I just think they're cool. So far, I would say that a katana would be a martial melee weapon with the finesse and versatile traits, that deals 1d6 slashing damage with one hand and 1d8 with two hands. The issue with it, is that it would basically be an objectively better shortsword, or an objectively worse rapier. Maybe if it was lighter than a shortsword, but more expensive? idk weapons are hard. I know the PHB suggests reflavouring a longsword but I think katanas need to be finesse.
[REDACTED]
I always liked having a variety of weapons and armor, or any equipment really, that actually have impact in the game. If a player(s) wants something else I will work on figuring out the rules.
That is where a cultural trait is really useful, if you can forgive me. A plain old katana in the hands of someone not from that culture is just a katana. But put it in the hands of the people who made it their cultural weapon of choice (and all weapons have such a thing, since that is where they come from) and suddenly it has finesse because they have trained and perfected its use over generations. To learn to use it with finesse you have to travel to such and such a place.
Another options is to make a class have finesse with certain specific weapons as an additional skill, feat, ability, whatever. Samurai could have finesse with a katana, then, and give it that capability. just be sure to note that it doesn't stack if you also do the above, lol (or maybe you want it to! egads!)
Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities
.-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-.
An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more.
Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
So, re-flavor a rapier, maybe?
It’s finesse piercing vs. a katana finesse slashing. About the only difference is whether is qualifies for piercer or slasher
Let’s see, a 30” to 40” blade, space on the handle for 2 hands but able to be wielded with one, a single curved cutting blade with a razor edge. Except for the curved blade that would be a long sword. Granted there should actually be a category or 3+ for single edged swords as opposed to double edged but there isn’t (yet?) so we are stuck with the katana being either a long sword and therefore versatile doing 1D8/1D10 or it’s a scimitar (because it’s a curved blade) and therefore a light finesse weapon doing 1D6. To me the katana is a long sword while the wakazashi is the scimitar. There are sword classes I would really like to see added in 6e:
the short (20-30”) straight single edge hack and slash sword (machete, kris, falchion, khyber knife)
the long (30-40”) straight single edged hack and slash sword (broadsword)
the long 30+” curved single edged slashing sword (katana, shamshir, etc) (yes I know, irl most sabers and scimitars actually fit here but…)
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
I really don’t see katanas as finesse weapons, what I can see is that if you put the time and training into them you can learn to dual wield them or to dual wield a katana and a wakazashi. In DnD terms to me that means taking the 2 weapon fighting style and then taking the dual wielding feat. But katanas are not light weapons that your dexterity can position for max effect, they are cutting weapons that call for strength to chop them into the target and strength to draw them thru the target . For me finesse weapons are pretty much all piercing weapons because of this distinction.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.