This is a leftover off topic from another thread in a different forum:
the vagueness of descriptions of anatomical parts, and how they relate to usage in mechanics.
examples:
claws. What kind of claws are they? Bear? Wolf? Eagle? Crustacean? Different types of claws have different degrees of functionality and usage grabbing things.
hands- triton/sea elf/etc.- are their fingers webbed? Are they not? How does webbed fingers effecting pulling triggers in crossbows and firearms? Using a bow in general with webbed fingers?
tritons: how do they live underwater and not have dark vision.
a lot of these anatomical and biological mechanics are left really vague.
also left vague. Descriptions of weapons.
i have seen arguments that you need a humanoid hand to use a sword.
and the contention is, rapiers, Sabre’s, longswords, and other such. Have guards on them which would make it easier for you to grab and handle if you had say... insect like pincers for hands.
Well if you live underwater a crossbow is probably not a weapon your going to employ as the range would be very short. Maybe a spear run but most likely nothing with a trigger.
So webbed or not you probably are not going to have weapons that have a trigger. Nor any slashing weapons. Underwater weapons are logically only going to be thrusting weapons.
And you are certainly not going to use a black powder firearm underwater. It would not fire. And that begs the question. This is DND why would you incorporate firearms into a fantasy world.
Wolves probably wouldn't be able to grab with their claws, but nor do they have any mention of claws in their stats, so... Bears and felines can catch, grab, or snag with their claws and are better equiped to do so (also actually have claws mentioned in their stats...).
Webbed fingers don't really get in the way of pulling a trigger (you only use your finger tip). And according to rules printed in GoS, the ocean stays relatively bright for quite a ways down:
Sunlight Zone. The sunlight zone extends from the water’s surface to a depth of 650 feet. This area of the sea has the same natural illumination conditions as above the water.
Twilight Zone. The twilight zone is between the depths of 650 and 1,000 feet. When the sunlight zone above is bathed in natural bright light, the twilight zone is filled with dim light. If the sunlight zone is filled with dim light or darkness, the twilight zone is dark.
Midnight Zone. Any depth below 1,000 feet is considered the midnight zone, since no natural light from the surface penetrates this deep.
I would say that weapons can be picked up but not wielded without fingered hands (or perhaps dexterous tentacles). This one is ultimately up to DM.
Well if you live underwater a crossbow is probably not a weapon your going to employ as the range would be very short. Maybe a spear run but most likely nothing with a trigger.
Crossbows don't have their range reduced underwater. They would be the ranged weapons of choice by aquatic races.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
This is a leftover off topic from another thread in a different forum:
the vagueness of descriptions of anatomical parts, and how they relate to usage in mechanics.
examples:
claws. What kind of claws are they? Bear? Wolf? Eagle? Crustacean? Different types of claws have different degrees of functionality and usage grabbing things.
hands- triton/sea elf/etc.- are their fingers webbed? Are they not? How does webbed fingers effecting pulling triggers in crossbows and firearms? Using a bow in general with webbed fingers?
tritons: how do they live underwater and not have dark vision.
a lot of these anatomical and biological mechanics are left really vague.
also left vague. Descriptions of weapons.
i have seen arguments that you need a humanoid hand to use a sword.
and the contention is, rapiers, Sabre’s, longswords, and other such. Have guards on them which would make it easier for you to grab and handle if you had say... insect like pincers for hands.
anybody else find these things interesting?
Blank
Well if you live underwater a crossbow is probably not a weapon your going to employ as the range would be very short. Maybe a spear run but most likely nothing with a trigger.
So webbed or not you probably are not going to have weapons that have a trigger. Nor any slashing weapons. Underwater weapons are logically only going to be thrusting weapons.
And you are certainly not going to use a black powder firearm underwater. It would not fire. And that begs the question. This is DND why would you incorporate firearms into a fantasy world.
Wolves probably wouldn't be able to grab with their claws, but nor do they have any mention of claws in their stats, so... Bears and felines can catch, grab, or snag with their claws and are better equiped to do so (also actually have claws mentioned in their stats...).
Webbed fingers don't really get in the way of pulling a trigger (you only use your finger tip). And according to rules printed in GoS, the ocean stays relatively bright for quite a ways down:
Sunlight Zone. The sunlight zone extends from the water’s surface to a depth of 650 feet. This area of the sea has the same natural illumination conditions as above the water.
Twilight Zone. The twilight zone is between the depths of 650 and 1,000 feet. When the sunlight zone above is bathed in natural bright light, the twilight zone is filled with dim light. If the sunlight zone is filled with dim light or darkness, the twilight zone is dark.
Midnight Zone. Any depth below 1,000 feet is considered the midnight zone, since no natural light from the surface penetrates this deep.
I would say that weapons can be picked up but not wielded without fingered hands (or perhaps dexterous tentacles). This one is ultimately up to DM.
Crossbows don't have their range reduced underwater. They would be the ranged weapons of choice by aquatic races.