Proposal: Double Weapons

[GM Craig]

The double weapons in the game have a hefty difficulty number which seems to me to preclude their use. So, here's some options I've been looking at. I think this makes up for the very high difficulty numbers (and no benefits) associated with double weapons.

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When wielding a double weapon, the user may take either a defensive or offensive stance with the weapon. The stance is declared on a round-by-round basis, and applies for the entire round.

Defensive Stance: The user gets an free parry attempt (no muti-action penalty for the parry)
- OR -
Offensive Stance: The user gets a free attack roll (no multi-action penalty for this attack).

Any multi-action penalties for other actions apply, but the free parry / free attack are not counted when calculating multi-action penalties.

This would apply to electrostaves, quarterstaves, double-bladed lightsabers and other double-weapons.

[Jex]

It seems to me that double bladed weapons only increase their difficulty, beyond the standard difficulty for the base weapon, when the wielder is not specialized. If they are specialized in double-blade (etc.), in most cases the difficulty seems the same.

[GM Craig]

The difficulty for double-bladed weapons is 5 higher than the standard weapon. Actually found some rules I like.

Type: Exotic melee weapon
Scale: Character
Skill: Lightsaber: double-bladed lightsaber
Cost: Not available for sale
Availability: 4, X
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Damage: 5D

Game Notes: Proper use of a double-bladed lightsaber requires the specialization ?Lightsaber: Double-Bladed Lightsaber.? Without the proper specialization, the difficulty to use a double-bladed lightsaber is +5 higher than normal, and none of the special benefits of the double-bladed lightsaber may be used. If used with only a single blade projected, a double-bladed lightsaber is treated as if it were a normal lightsaber. If properly trained, a Jedi wielding a double-bladed lightsaber gains a +5 bonus to all parry rolls made when both lightsaber blades are extended. If an attacking character misses the difficulty number by more than 10 points (the base difficulty; not their opponent?s parry total), the character has injured himself with the lightsaber. Apply normal damage to the character wielding the lightsaber.

I'm proposing to add an offensive component, so that when you have both blades extended, you can either take a +5 on all parry rolls, or take a +5 on all attack rolls. Normal MAPs apply.

[Trax]

I can understand the reasoning behind the increased difficulty, a 2 bladed/ended weapon would be more difficult to use but why wouldn't they just use regular difficulties as the base and MAPs if you wanted to attack with both ends?  They could still apply extra difficulty modifiers if you weren't specialized with the weapon.

[GM Craig]

Because you use a weapon with a +5 difficulty for no appreciable gain.

Why use a double-bladed lightsaber (Difficulty 25) when you can use a single-bladed lightsabre (Difficulty 20) and just attack twice?

I'm trying to make a double weapon viable. Difficult to use, but still viable. The +5 basically cancels out the MAP for using the double-bladed, but you still have the higher difficulty.

[Niil Spaar]

If you attacked twice with a single-bladed lightsaber, wouldn't you lose one die on your "to hit" roll for the second attack? 

[GM Craig]

You loose one of your D from each attack.

6D in lightsaber, attack twice, each roll is made at 5D at difficulty 20.

I'm proposing you could use a double sabre, attack twice at 5D+5, DC 25.
OR
use a double saber, attack once and parry once and get a +5 on the parry.

The rules as written state you get a bonus to parry only, but that seems wrong to me somehow. The main advantage of the double sabre as I see it is how quickly it can attack, and that it can keep an opponent with a single weapon on the defensive. Maybe I need to adjust the bonus a little on the attack side?

[Jex]

The difficulty for double-bladed weapons is 5 higher than the standard weapon. Actually found some rules I like.

Where are the rules for that? In the book I was reading, all I could find was the difficulty rating for individual weapons, along with the required skills.

[GM Craig]

The standard rules don't include double weapons. Double weapons were introduced with various ancillary source books, some of which I have.

Maybe I am over-thinking it. I saw one set of house rules that said the difficulty was one class (+5 effectively) higher for double-bladed, unless you have the specialization in double-bladed lightsaber. Then the DC was the same as for a standard sabre, but you got a +5 to parry attempts.

Am I making a big deal out of nothing?

[Jex]

Maybe I am over-thinking it. I saw one set of house rules that said the difficulty was one class (+5 effectively) higher for double-bladed, unless you have the specialization in double-bladed lightsaber. Then the DC was the same as for a standard sabre, but you got a +5 to parry attempts.

Am I making a big deal out of nothing?

This seems to mesh with the source that I read. If you have the correct specialization the base difficulty remains with the additional benefits of the extra blade. If not, then the difficulty goes up and no benefit.  I think that is reasonable.

[Jex]

Also, individual weapons, ie lightsabers etc..., often have additional specific rules written into their descriptions re: skills/specializations and the effect non-skilled use has.

[Trax]

I'm okay with it but that is a free +5 to the parry if you have the specialization.  I don't know if any other weapon, melee or ranged, gives you a free bonus when you're specialized.

[Jex]

I think the +5 bonus is to represent the multiple 'cutting' surfaces. In D&D the double bladed weapons give you extra attacks, but that mechanism doesn't really apply to the SW system.

[Trax]

In D&D the double bladed weapons give you extra attacks, but that mechanism doesn't really apply to the SW system.

Yes, but you get hit with the two weapon fighting penalties.

[Jex]

But in SW you do not get an extra attack. The purpose of double-bladed is to increase the effectiveness of the weapon, if you are trained to use it, hence the +5 bonus. The additional difficulty in using it is abstracted away via the requirement of specialization. If you are not specialized, you do not get the +5 bonus and the base difficulty goes up one step.

If you are dual wielding 2 weapons, that would probably be a different scenario, but I far as I can see, a double bladed weapon does not give you any benefit except the +5 bonus. You don't do more damage (I think there may be some exceptions to that).