So, I've been enjoying reading through Dead Stars so far; I'm not too worried about remembering things about if and/or when the game I play in advances to that point of our story. But that's beside the point here.

I noticed an apparent disregard for the errata in the stats presented for one of the NPC's gear. He is listed as having " lathe-forged mono-sabres ," yet in the v.3.0 errata, page 15 second column, 4th entry it is clearly stated that the lathe-forged upgrade "cannot be combined with the Mono upgrade." So, was this an oversight on the part of the writers? Because there is a lot to be said for a penetration 5 melee weapon over a penetration 3 melee weapon, after all. Especially when we're talking something that's non-powered weapons.

I'm going to go through the book some more, see if there is anything else that seems off from the current published game materials. Otherwise, I've been enjoying the story details so far.

-=Brother Praetus=-

I always understood the errata to mean, or at least imply, that the lathe blade upgrade included a mono-forging, and it was simply a better version of the same process.

Now, I have not read the book, and haven't seen the stats for the weapons, but is it possible that they just meant lathe-blades, and the exact wording was just a fanciful description.

"Oh Brother"..

is the problem in the name? Because the name you state only says that you have got mono sabres that have been produced in (on?) the lathes. Full stop. Not every weapon hailing from their needs to have the "lathe upgrade" (rules wise).

My two cents (unless you can post the stats. I do not own DS -by now-)

p.s: no offense!

Actualy, bassed off the information Brother's given (I don't have the book), it sounds like a problem of writer disconnect. If these "mono lathe-blades" have a pen of 5, it means that the base blade that the lath blade was based on had a pen of 2. Seeing as how sabers have a base pen of 0 but the mono upgrade would give it a pen of two, I'd put money on it being a case of Writter Didn't Do The Research. In most cases, I say rule books/errata trumps adventure book. You don't want to set a precedent you'll latter regret after all ;-)

Edit: that is if they are listed with a pen of 5... on a reread of the OP, i'm not sure if you saw them having a pen of 5 or weren't stated and you were wondering if they'd have a pen of 3 or 5...

The Boy Named Crow said:

Same here. So PEN 5 would be a mistake in the rules unless I have missed something else.

-Cynr

@ Cynr,

If you missed something, then so have I. I think it was just an oversight on someone's part somewhere.

@ Graver,

They are indeed published with a penetration of 5; which means a stacking of two "upgrades" which are stated as being incompatible. Remember also, the lathe -forged upgrade also removes the Primitive quality from a weapon as does mono .

@ Gregorius21778,

As to the weapon stats; subtracting the wielder's strength bonus and Crushing Blow talent, they are 1d10+2 R; Pen 5; Balanced' +10 WS (Lathe-forged are always Best Quality). The base Sabre is 1d10; Pen 0; Balanced and Primitive. Mono give +2 Pen and removes Primitive. Lathe gives +2 Damage, +3 Pen, removes Primitive, +10 WS and counts as Best Quality (benefits of which are already factored in). It can also parry a power or force weapon without risk of harming the weapon.

@ The Boy Named Crow

Sort of, kind of a similar take/thought on the differences as well. Plus the fact that the Lathe weapons are always Best quality, which helps some to explain their huge cost increase; the other benefits and their rarity being the other reasons for the expense.

-=Brother Praetus=-

Don't have the book, but are they listed as being similar to long sabres from IHB which have a pen of 2.

Brother Praetus said:

Hi Brother,

you had me with the mentioning of the PEN:5 I was obviously a little to quick ("going in half coked"?) with my assumption about "only a name problem".

As mentioned by others, you must indeed have spotted an error.

Face Eater has a point, Long Sabres from IHB do indeed have a PEN of 2 to start with, which would mean a total PEN of 5 if they had the Lathe upgrade.

Yep, but said sabres where double handed weapon, as far as I know. So, only used as one "sabre". Brother states that the npc is equipped with "sabres", so it sounds like two of them.


Unless we are talking about an ogryn and assuming the IH sabres are "kinda greatswords" (as I think I remember them), I go with the "mistake spotted"... bu tperhaps I should stop guessing until I have a copy of DS in hands *whydoIalwayshavetoWAIT?!?!*

It's possible the offending entry in Dead Stars was written before the newest errata was issued.

Attila-IV said:

Would Dead Stars have been in production for over a year?

On the sabre, their stats would match perfectly with a Long Saber if he/she only had one. I guess you could take away one of their sabers or knock 2 off of the damage and pen and give them two sabers.

Graver said:

Perhaps, it is possible that several of the elements to the adventure were hashed out prior to the errata; like working on the screenplay for a movie trilogy. The overall arching plot may have been story-boarded, as it were. But said NPC has been mentioned in previous materials and cited as using two lathe- forged swords. So, I do not believe he is intended to be using a Long Sabre.

-=Brother Praetus=-