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D+D- Speigel Blades
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Kraken
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PostPosted: 18-Dec-2002 22:58    Post subject: D+D- Speigel Blades Reply to topic Reply with quote

(Note: For visual reference, take a look at G Gundam's Shadow Gundam. Those blades on it are Speigels- in fact, the original Japanese name for it is the Speigel Gundam.)

Speigel blades are an oddity- although the blades themselves are exactly like regular swords (long, broad, bastard, short, scimitars, rapiers, and katanas only), they attatch beneath the wrist armor of the wielder. When not in use, they can be folded back and locked into position. Locking and unlocking each take a free action per blade. Using a speigel blade requires an exotic weapons proficiency due to their nature; however, anyone with a weapons proficiency for the base weapon only suffers a -2 penalty rather than -4. Speigel blades are often used in pairs.

Game notes: In order to use the blade, the user must be wearing some sort of metal armor- studded leather at the bare minimum. A speigel blade costs 1.5 times as much as the regular blade. The user cannot be disarmed of his blade(s) unless an attacker either uses a 'knock' spell (thus breaking the connectors), or unless the attacker has the 'Sunder' feat and makes an opposed dex check against the user at a -2 penalty. In addition, as the blades are actually a part of the armor, they are considered more socially acceptable that standard weapons and are often preferred over armor spikes wherever available. However, when the blades are deployed, the user is prevented from making physical attacks that involve the arms- the blades will always interfere. Despite this, the blades have proven themselves repeatedly as acceptable compromises between offensive ability and inconspicuousness.

Thoughts?

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Nightmare
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PostPosted: 19-Dec-2002 01:04    Post subject: RE: D+D- Speigel Blades Reply to topic Reply with quote

Quote:

On 2002-12-18 22:58, Kraken wrote:
Game notes: In order to use the blade, the user must be wearing some sort of metal armor- studded leather at the bare minimum.



I`d imagine you need armor with RIGID arm protection, not just leather with a few metal studs. As such I would penalize your attacks with about -2 unless the blades are attached to a rigid metal plate. Such as is found on plate armor...

Quote:

In addition, as the blades are actually a part of the armor, they are considered more socially acceptable that standard weapons and are often preferred over armor spikes wherever available.



"Socially acceptable?" Where? At least standard weapons are standard, that is people have seen such before. Armor spikes and arm-mounted b1ad3z on the other hand are things only demented dwarfs would think suitable for every-day use. Come to think of it, where is this place people walk around clad in armor all day? And why would a real, honest weapon be seen as worse than attached stuff you can hurt people with just by accident?

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PostPosted: 19-Dec-2002 09:20    Post subject: RE: D+D- Speigel Blades Reply to topic Reply with quote

I've seen it before to where some DMs declare that no one can enter a region unless there are peace knots on their weapons or something else like that. In the locked position, they are designed so that they appear to be an actual part of the armor itself.

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PostPosted: 19-Dec-2002 10:30    Post subject: RE: D+D- Speigel Blades Reply to topic Reply with quote

A 12 inch dagger blade, maybe. Anything longer will make it impossible to bend your arm when the blade is locked in, at least if you want it to be hidden. Anything longer than two feet will look suspicious anyway It`ll stick out above your shoulder, you see.
My forearm, elbow to wrist, is about a foot long. Same goes for my upper arm, elbow to shoulder.

BTW, next time someone says his character`s got a hidden dagger, give him a 12-inch ruler and ask him to show you how it`s hidden. There aren`t very many ways to do it comfortably.

AFAIK the problem of peace knots is better solved by learning to tie fast-release knots. If smuggling in a weapon is so dangerous and important you might actually prefer that hidden dagger. At least the bloody blade can`t be automatically tied to you once you drop it

I`m not saying it`s a bad idea with attached blades, I just don`t think they`ll hit it big as a stealth item. More like the weapons used by the terrible General Slaughter and his battle-maddened berserker guards.

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PostPosted: 24-Dec-2002 11:34    Post subject: RE: D+D- Speigel Blades Reply to topic Reply with quote

Why a 12-inch ruler? From hilt to blade is about three inches, and maybe a six inch blade for a nice tanto-style knife.

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PostPosted: 26-Dec-2002 00:37    Post subject: RE: D+D- Speigel Blades Reply to topic Reply with quote

The large combat daggers are usually up to 12" long (blade+hilt), that`s why. And it was daggers I mentioned.

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[ This Message was edited by: Nightmare on 2002-12-26 00:38 ]
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