Melee Weapons

Here be a list of known melee weapons used by contractors … (far from complete, but at least it's a start)

Projectile Melee Weapons

Air Propelled

WEAPON	ORIGIN	TECHNIQUE	I	A	D	M	C	NOTES
Blowgun	Various	Blowgun	+0	+1	+0	None	J	Range: 20
Fukimi-bari	Japan	Blowgun	+0	+0	+0	None	P	Range: 5

Bows

WEAPON	ORIGIN	TECHNIQUE	I	A	D	M	C	NOTES
Long Bow	Various	Bows	+0	+1	+2	None	N	Range: 150; 2H
Short Bow	Various	Bows	+0	+1	+1	None	T	Range: 100; 2H
Crossbow	Various	Crossbows	-1	+1	+2	-1	N	Range: 200

Sling

WEAPON	ORIGIN	TECHNIQUE	I	A	D	M	C	NOTES
Hand	Various	Slings	+1	+0	+2	+0	P	Range: 10
Staff	Various	Slings	+0	+0	+2	+0	T	Range: 12

Thrown

WEAPON	ORIGIN	TECHNIQUE	I	A	D	M	C	NOTES
Boomerang	Australia	Thrown Blades	+0	+1	+1	+0	J	Range: 40
Javelin	Various	Javelin	+0	+0	+2	+0	N	Range: 40
Shuriken	Japan	Thrown Blades	+2	+1	+1	+0	P	Range 20; See text
Throwing Axe	Various	Thrown Weapons	+0	+0	+2	+0	J	Range: 20
Throwing Knife	Various	Thrown Blades	+1	+0	+1	+0	P	Range: 20
War Dart	Various	Thrown Blades	+0	+0	+1	+0	J	Range: 25

Ranged Weapons

Blowgun

A wooden or metal tube through which darts are fired at an opponent by using the fighter's breath to propel them. Some ninja use a small, concealable blowgun called a fukiya.

Boomerang

An aerodynamically shaped wooden throwing club developed by the aborigines of Australia (some other cultures created similar weapons). If the boomerang misses its target, it will return to the other hand of its thrower (provided that the thrower has not moved before then, since the boomerang returns to the spot from which it was thrown). A character may take other actions in the turn in which he catches his boomerang (including throwing the boomerang again).

Bow, Long

Any of the larger bows used around the world, such as the English yeoman's yew-wood longbow or the Japanese daikyu or yumi.
Players should note that the damage a bow does depends as much on the arrow as the strength or the bow. If a character uses larger or broader arrowheads, such as the Japanese "frog-crotch" arrowhead, he may get +1 damage.

Bow, Short

Any of the smaller bows used around the world, such as the Japanese hankyu Short bows are often composite (made of more than one material, for strength and flexibility, or made with special profiles (curved, recurved, four-curved and so on) to improve their power.

Crossbow

A bow set horizontally on a stock, making it possible to carry it loaded and aim it more like a gun. its missle is called a quarrel or a bolt. They are extremely powerful; typically a crank or other tool was used to cock them. Medieval crossbows had greater range than bows, but were much, much slower to use (about one quarrel per minute, versus 6 - 12 arrows per minute for a bow). Modern crossbows are somewhat quicker to use, but still not nearly as quick as a bow.
Use these statistics for all average-size crossbows, from medeival times to modern. For smaller crossbows (such as the pistol-sized modern version), reduce the range, Initiative, and Damage proportionately.

Fukimi-bari

Tiny needles held in the mouth by ninja and blown at nearby opponents. They are usually poisoned and cannot penetrate armor.

Javelin

A short throwing spear. The range can be doubled if the character uses an atlatl, or spear-thrower.

Shuriken

"Throwing stars", popular with the ninja. They come in a wide variety of shapes. They tend to be an irritant more than a serious weapon, though a master can cause grave injuries with them, and they are sometimes poisoned. A character can throw one shuriken per turn for every dot he has in Melee.
Use these statistics for any other throwing blade not suitable for use in hand-to-hand combat, such as the Indian chakram (a bladed metal disk or ring).

Sling

Two cords attacked to a pouch. A sling bullet (usually made of lead) or sling stone was placed in the pouch, and the entire weapon whirled around to build up force. At the right moment, one of the cords released, throwing the missle at the opponent. Some versions were attached to staffs, for added force and increased range.

Throwing Axe

A small axe intended for throwing.

Throwing Knife

Any knife that is aerodynamically shaped to be thrown. Usually they cannot be used in hand-to-hand combat very well (-1 to dagger damage).

War Dart

A dart designed for use in combat.

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Melee Weapons Chart (Hand-to-hand)

General Weapons

WEAPON	ORIGIN	TECHNIQUE	I	A	D	M	C	NOTES
Bagh Nakh	India	Fist-Loads	+1	+0	+1	+0	P
Balisong	Phillipines	Blades	+2	+0	+1	+0	J
Baton	Various	Blunt Weapons	+1	+0	+1	+0	J
Battle Axe	Various	Axes & Picks	+0	+1	+4	+0	T
Battle Pick	Various	Axes & Picks	+0	+0	+2	+0	T
Bayonet	Various	Blades	+0	+0	+2	+0	J	Reach: 1 hex
Bokken	Japan	Blades	+1	+1	+1	+0	N
Brass Knuckles	Various	Fist-Loads	+0	+0	+1	+0	P
Bundi (Katar)	India	Blades	+2	+1	+2	+0	J	Can add to Punches; +1 to Soak with Block
Cestus	Various	Fist-Loads	+0	+0	+1	+0	J	Can add to Punches; +1 to Soak with Block
Chain	Various	Flexible	+0	+0	+1	+0	J	Reach: 2 hexes
Cinquenda	Europe	Blades	+1	+0	+2	+0	T
Club	Various	Blunt Weapons	+1	+0	+1	+0	T
Dagger	Various	Blades	+1	+0	+1	+0	J
Flail	Europe	Flexible	+0	+1	+2	+0	T	See below
Garrote	Various	Flexible	-3	+0	+3	None	P	2H; See below
Hand Axe	Various	Axes & Picks	+0	+0	+2	+0	J
Kama	Japan	Axes & Picks	+0	+1	+2	+0	J
Kris	Indonesia	Blades	+2	+1	+2	+0	J
Kusari	Japan	Flexible	+0	+1	+1	-1	T	Reach: 3 hexes; +1 die to Disarm; 2H
Kusarigama	Japan	Flexible	+0	+1	+2	-2	T	Reach: 3 hexes; +1 die to Disarm; 2H
Lance	Various	Polearms	+0	+0	+4	+0	N	Reach 3 hexes; See below
Mace	Various	Blunt Weapons	+0	+1	+4	+0	N
Manriki-gusari	Japan	Flexible	+0	+1	+1	+0	P	Reach: 2 hexes; 2H
Morningstar	Europe	Flexible	+0	+1	+3	+0	N	See below
Naginata	Japan	Polearms	+0	+0	+3	+0	N	Reach: 3 hexes; 2H
Nunchaku	Japan	Flexible	+1	+1	+3	+0	J
Polearm	Various	Polearms	+0	+0	+2	+0	N	Reach: 3 hexes; 2H
Sai	Japan	Blunt Weapons	+1	+1	+1	+0	J	+1 to Soak if Blocking; +1 die to Disarm
Shikomi-zue	Japan	Staff+	+0	+0	+1	+0	N	See below
Spear	Various	Polearms	+0	+0	+2	+0	N	Range: 20 yards; reach: 2 hexes
Staff	Various	Staff	+0	+1	+2	+0	N	2H, reach: 1 hex
Stake	Various	Fist-Loads	+0	+0	+2	+0	T
Steel Whip	China	Flexible	-1	+0	+2	+0	J	Reach: 2 hexes; +2 dice to Disarm
Stiletto	European	Blades	+1	+0	+1	+0	J	See below
Switchblade	Various	Blades	+2	+0	+1	+0	P

Swords

Bastard Sword	Various	Blades	+0	+0	+4	+0	T
Broadsword	Various	Blades	-1	+1	+3	+0	T
Butterfly Sword	China	Blades	+1	+0	+2	+0	T
Falchion	Europe	Blades	+1	+1	+3	+0	T
Hook Sword	China	Blades	+0	+0	+3	+0	T
Katana	Japan	Blades	+1	+1	+3	+0	T
Long Sword	Various	Blades	+0	+0	+3	+0	T
Ninja-to	Japan	Blades	+1	+0	+3	+0	T	See below
Rapier	Europe	Blades	+1	+1	+2	+0	T
Scimitar	Various	Blades	+1	+1	+2	+0	T
Short Sword	Various	Blades	+0	+0	+2	+0	T

Two-Handed

WEAPON	ORIGIN	TECHNIQUE	I	A	D	M	C	NOTES
Sword	Various	Blades	+0	+1	+5	+0	T	2H
Urumi	India	Blades	+0	-1	+2	+0	T	See below
Wakizashi	Japan	Blades	+1	+0	+2	+0	T

Power Tools

WEAPON	ORIGIN	TECHNIQUE	I	A	D	M	C	NOTES
Chainsaw	Various	Power Tools	-1	-1	+5	+0	N
Industrial Drill	Various	Power Tools	-2	-2	+4	-1	N
Jackhammer	Various	Power Tools	-2	-1	+5	-1	N

Three-Section

WEAPON	ORIGIN	TECHNIQUE	I	A	D	M	C	NOTES
Staff	China	Flexible	+0	+0	+3	+0	T	+2 dice with Disarm; +1 to Soak Block
Tonfa	Japan	Blunt Weapons	+0	+1	+1	+0	T	+1 to Soak with Block
Trident	Various	Polearms	+0	+0	+3	+0	N	Reach: 1 hex
War Hammer	Various	Blunt Weapons	+0	+1	+3	+0	T
Whip	Various	Flexible	-1	+0	+1	+0	J	Reach

Descriptions

Bagh Nakh

Also known simply as "tiger's claws," this weapon consists of a crossbar held in the palm of the hand, with long, sharp "claws" the protrude from between the user's fingers. It can also take the form of brass knuckles with spikes on top._

This weapon's statistics can also be used for the shuko, a ninja weapon consisting of a metal plate that wraps around the palm and has spikes protruding out of the palm area. In addition to being weapons, shuko were used by ninja as climbing tools; wearing a shuko reduces the difficulty of any climbing attempt by 1 (or 2, if one is worn on each hand). However, wearing a shuko prevents the character from using that hand to grasp anything that he doesn't want to puncture.

Balisong

A Filipino folding knife with a 6" blade. When closed, the two metal handles fit around the blade, making it easy to hide the weapon in a pocket or up a sleeve. A trained user can flip the weapon around in an impressive display when opening it; this may aid Intimidation rolls. The balisong is popularly known as a "butterfly knife".

Baton

This is any simple club, such as a policeman's nightstick, the escrima sticks used in many Filipino fighting styles, or the Japanese hanbo or jo sticks.

Battle Axe

Any of dozens of varieties of axes used for combat. They are often used two-handed, but one-handed versions are available.

Battle Pick

A piercing weapon resembling a dagger set at a 90-degree angle to a shaft. It is sometimes known as a "crowbill".

Bayonet

A blade designed to be affixed to the front of a rifle. It has a Reach of one hex when attached to a rifle.

Bokken

A wooden club in the shape of a katana, used by Japanese swordsmen in training. However, the bokken itself can be a deadly weapon in the hands of someone with training.
This weapon's statistics can also be used for the "shinai", a "sword" made of bamboo strips that is used in the sport of kendo.

Brass Knuckles

Four thick metal rings attached to a metal bar or handle of some sort, designed to be worn around the fingers of a fist so as to increase punching power. If used on its own, use the damage listed; if used with a Punch Maneuver, add +1 to the maneuver's damage, which becomes Kill damage.

Bundi

Also known as a katar, this Indian weapon is a broad, triangular knife blade attached to a crossbar handle, so that the blade protrudes from the wielder's fist. It inflicts wide, deep wounds. Because its hilt makes it helpful when blocking weapons, it adds +1 to soak when used to block.

Cestus

A heavy gauntlet with spikes or knobs projecting from it at all angles. In game terms, it works the same as brass knuckles.

Chain

Just what it says. It has a reach of 2 hexes. Like brass knuckles, it is a favored weapon of thugs, punks, and other street scum.

Cinquenda

A broad fighting dagger; the name means it is "five fingers" broad.

Club

Any of thousands of different smashing weapons used the world over, from the caveman's thick stick to the Indian gada or Zulu knobkerrie. In some cases spikes are added to a club, increasing its damage by 1.

Dagger

Use these statistics for most short fighting blades (6 - 20 inches). At the Storyteller's discretion, longer, larger daggers may be the equivalent of a short sword in terms of damage.

Flail

A wooden or metal shaft with two or more spiked balls attached to it by chains. This makes it difficult to block an attack by a flail. If a Block Maneuver is used against one, it gets -1 on the amount it adds to the opponent's Stamina for purposes of soaking damage, and the blocking character does not get a +2 Initiative bonus the next round.

Garrote

This is anything used to strangle someone from behind. Most garottes are simply lengths of rope or cloth. Once successfully used, it is considered a Sustained Hold. If the target takes five or more Health Levels of damage from the intial attack, he is considered to be choking. This means that he cannot speak or cry out and cannot soak the damage from the garrote on subsequent turns in the hold!!
The initial damage from a garotte is Stun damage. After the victim falls unconscious, he will take Kill damage if the hold is maintained. However, there are wire garottes that do Kill damage initially, instead of Stun; they usually end up nearly decapitating the victim.
When used in conjunction with the Choke Hold maneuver, a Garotte adds +2 to damage.

Hand Axe

An axe smaller than the battle axe, used one-handed.

Kama

A Japanese battle pick or sickle.

Kris

A long, wavy-bladed dagger from Indonesia that cuts easily and deeply. Kris are surrounded by lore and mysticism; masters of the weapon are said to be able to wield magical powers as well!! The kris is the traditional weapon of the Pentjak-Silat fighting style.

Kusari

A Japanese chain weapon, comprising a chain about 12 feet long with a weight on one end and a metal ring on the other. It can be used like a typical chain weapon (requiring two hands to use properly), or it can be thrown (usually with the intention of entangling a target's legs and making him fall). If used with a Disarm maneuver, it adds +1 die.

Kusarigama

Similar to a Kusari, but it has a kama on one end instead of a metal ring.

Lance

A horseman's polearm — essentially a big, thick spear. It is too heavy and long to use in normal combat; it can only be used for charges on horseback (or, presumably, on a motorcycle or while standing in the sunroof of a sportscar!!).

Mace

A metal club with flanges at the top, designed to crack through better armor than a sword. Sometimes there is a spiked ball in place of the flanges.

Manriki-gusari

a 3-foot chain with a metal weight at either end. Similar to a kusari in many respects, but not as useful for disarming foes.

Morningstar

A shaft with a spiked metal ball connected to it by a chain. Works just like a flail with respect to blocks.

Naginata

A Japanese polearm; its use is frequently taught to female warriors.

Nunchaku

Two short (12 - 14") wooden rods, connected by a 1 - 5" rope or chain. In the hands of a trained user, these weapons can be whirled around until they build up enough force to deliver lethal blows. They are often used in pairs, one in each hand.

Polearm

Use these statistics for any of a wide variety of weapons consisting of a long shaft with a blade or tine at the end. European examples include the awl pike, bardiche, becde corbin, bill, fauchard, glaive, guisarme, halberd, Lucern hammer, military fork, partisan, ranseur, and voulge; Asian examples include the chai-dao, dai dao, ghi, ngow, nine-dragon trident, tai dao, kwan dao, and tiger fork.

Power Tools

In modern-day campaigns, characters sometimes want to use some unusual objects as weapons. Three such objects — chainsaws, big industrial drills, and jackhammers — are included under this heading. There are no existing schools that teach Weapon Techniques with these beasts (thank goodness!!), but Storytellers can certainly allow their players to devise a new technique if they feel it necessary. These objects tend to be big, heavy, and clumsy to use or move — but they do a lot of damage and scare the hell out of most opponents.

Sai

A Japanese truncheon consisting of a thick metal tine with two broad, hiltlike prongs extending from the handle. It is not sharpened; rather, it is a smashing weapon, like a baton. It aids in blocking (+1 to soak) and in disarming (+1 to die).
This weapon's statistics can also be used for the jutte (which has only one prong), the nunte (which has one prong reversed) and the Indonesian tjabang.

Shikomi-zue

A special type of staff used by the ninja. It is hollow, with either a spear-blade or a chain hidden inside. When activated, the concealed weapon is released, usually surprising the ninja's opponent enough for the ninja to injure him. The fighter must know the Polearm or Flexible Weapons Techniques to be able to use the concealed weapon properly.

Spear

Similar to the polearm, this weapon is essentially a shaft with a dagger attached to the end. It has a 2-hex reach. It can be used hand-to-hand or can be thrown (at a +1 difficulty if the wielder does not know the Javelin Technique).

Staff

A wooden shaft, usually 4 - 6' long, wielded with two hands. It is a common weapon across the world (the most popular versions are the European quarterstaff and the Japanese bo) and is often the first weapon taught to martial arts students. It has a Reach of one hex.

Stake

The classic sharpened wooden stick used against vampires.

Steel Whip

Also known as a chain whip, this weapon is like a standard whip, except that it is made out of linked steel rods about 2" long each. It sometimes has a small slashing blade at the tip.

Stiletto

A slim steel dagger designed to punch through armor easily. For the most part, a stilleto is really just a glorified icepick, but it does what it's meant to do very well. Reduce the Armor Rating of any armor an opponent is wearing by half if he is attacked with a stiletto.

Switchblade

A short folding knife with a blade that springs open when a button is pushed. A common street weapon.

Sword, Bastard Sword

A "hand-and-a-half" sword popular with some medieval warriors. It can be used on-handed or two-handed; if used one-handed, use the damage statistics for the longsword.

Sword, Broadsword

Any of a wide variety of one-edged, often slightly curved, swords used around the world. Examples include the Chinese darn dao, various Western military sabers, and similar weapons.

Sword, Butterfly Sword

A short, single-edged chopping blade used by some Kung Fu practicioners. Often used in pairs.

Sword, Falchion

A short, heavy sword, with an outward-curving edge, good for chopping or heaving thrusting.

Sword, Hook Sword

A Kung Fu weapon consisting of a rod or blade that curves into a large, sharpened hook at the tip, with an axelike blade set parallel to the hilt of the sword. They are usually used in pairs.

Sword, Katana

The Japanese "samurai sword", slightly curved with a single edge. Typically it is used two-handed, but can be wielded one-handed as well. As with the kris, there is an extensive body of lore and craftsmanship associated with the katana.

Sword, Long Sword

Any one of the hundreds of different types of straight, double-edged swords found throughout the wrold. Examples include the Chinese jien, and dozens of different kinds of European swords.

Sword, Ninja-to

The sword of the ninja — a straight, single-edged weapon, used as much as a tool as a weapon. It can be used to assist in climbing (reduce climbing difficulty by 1), for digging and for similar jobs. The scabbard is longer than the sword and is often used to conceal messages, blinding powder, or other weapons. There is a cord wrapped around the scabbard that has many different uses.

Sword, Rapier

A slim, light sword, used primarily for fencing. It is almost as exclusively a thrusting weapon, rather than a slashing weapon. This weapon's statistics can also be used for other fencing swords, such as the epee, foil, and fencing saber.
If the rapier comes equipped with a hilt guard, to protect the wielder's hand, it adds +1 to soak if used to block.

Sword, Scimitar

A slender, curved, single-edged sword developed in Arabia. Use this weapon's statistics for similar weapons (such as the Persion shamshir and the Indian tulwar and khanda) and for other slender swords that curve frontward (such as the Ethiopian shotel, the Egyptian khopesh and some Indian swords).

Sword, Short Sword

Use these statistics for a wide variety of shorter, straight, two-edged swords, including the Roman gladius and some Celtic swords.

Sword, Two-Handed Sword

A large, straight, double-edged sword that must be wielded with two hands. Examples include the Scottish claymore and a variety of German swords.

Sword, Urumi

The Indian "whip-sword", consisting of two to four edged steel "ribbons" attached to a sword-hilt. When used in combat, the fighter can make on damage test for each blade the sword has; however, if he botches, he injures himself with that blade!!

Sword, Wakizashi

A curved, single-edged Japanese short sword, usually paired with the Katana.

Three-Section Staff

A Chinese weapon consisting of three 18 - 20" rods connected by short links of chain. it can be used like a flail for longer strikes (it has a reach of 2 hexes) or folded up like a baton for closer combat. In the hands of a skilled user, it makes it easy to disarm (+2 Accuracy) an opponent or to block (+1 to soak) his attacks.

Tonfa

A Japanese clublike weapon, consisting of a baton with a handle set perpendicularly to it about 1/3 down from the top. This makes it easy to use the weapon to punch or to block (+1 to soak). A policeman's nightstick is a close cousin — practically identical.

Trident

A short, spearlike weapon with three pointed tines used for stabbing. It has a reach of 1 hex.

War Hammer

A refined from of a club, with a metal hammer head attached to a wooden shaft. Usually a pick-blade was set on the opposite side.

Whip

The typical 18'-long leather bullwhip, commonly used by lion tamers, pulp heroes, torturers, and slave drivers. It can be a very versatile weapon, allowing a skilled user to attack a foe up to 5 hexes away. It can also be used to disarm (+2 Accuracy); at the Storyteller's discretion, it may be wrapped around an opponent's feet and used to yank them out from under him (Dexterity + Melee, difficulty 7, to accomplish this; opponent resists by rolling Dexterity). However, the whip cannot do damage to flesh that is protected by armor.