Why is a Scimitar a "Light" weapon and Rapier is not?
In our game we switched to damage dice and made Rapier the light weapon, it just doesn't make sense that Scimitar is light while the rapier is not.
Because the dual wielding scimitar dervish is a classic archetype in fantasy. Dual wielding rapiers is not. Even the relatively famous rapier and dagger set primarily relies on the dagger being used as a kind of warding shield instead of an attacking weapon.
That's all there is to it. Light is a property that reflects how easy it is to use with two weapon fighting, and rapiers do not lend themselves to two weapon fighting in the same manner as scimitars do.
Why is a Scimitar a "Light" weapon and Rapier is not?
In our game we switched to damage dice and made Rapier the light weapon, it just doesn't make sense that Scimitar is light while the rapier is not.
"Rapiers were either going to get a d8 for damage or the light property. They got a d8."
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D&D Beyond FoundersD&D weapons are built on a sort of points system, to keep them all balanced choices.
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Because the dual wielding scimitar dervish is a classic archetype in fantasy. Dual wielding rapiers is not. Even the relatively famous rapier and dagger set primarily relies on the dagger being used as a kind of warding shield instead of an attacking weapon.
That's all there is to it. Light is a property that reflects how easy it is to use with two weapon fighting, and rapiers do not lend themselves to two weapon fighting in the same manner as scimitars do.
What D&D 5E calls a "scimitar" is more like a machete, parang or kukri.
Don't sweat the name s- it doesn't really matter. Weapons are just numbers on the end of a stick.