Hey guys!

I was wondering what you guys thought about the following custom weapon. I created it for my current assassin character who has a Renaissance-inspired fighting style. Anyhow, let me know what you think about it.

Parrying Dagger (Main Gauche):
A parrying dagger or main gauche is a stiff-bladed off-hand specially crafted for both offense and defence. The blade is generally wide at the base and tapered to a point with a basket hilt or guard to assist in deflecting blows. The statistics below represent a standard example of the parrying dagger. However, for triple the listed price the parrying dagger's blade can be fitted with spring-loaded prongs which can be deployed as a Free Action by pressing a button on the hilt or grip. When the trident blades are spread the weapon loses the Balanced quality and instead gains the Defensive quality. Resetting the spring-loaded parrying arms takes a Full Action as the jutting blades must be locked into place manually. The trident dagger variation costs triple the listed price and has an availability of Rare.

Parrying Dagger: Dmg : 1d5+2 R; Pen 0; Qualities: Primitive, Balanced, Special; Wt: 1 kg; Cost: 50 th; Avail: Scarce

Thanks!

Shouldn't it always be defensive rather than balanced if its a parrying dagger?

Honn said:

I suppose. Though historically, the trident dagger was only one possible permutation of the parrying dagger. I liked the idea of having a dagger that granted some defensive edge to the wielder but also the idea of taking that one step further for someone who wanted a truly, well.... Defensive weapon.

And, if the wieler wants it on Defensive, it's a free action, so they could basically always have it "on."

Macharias the Mendicant said:

Not bad... Couple of things to consider. Remember, defensive weapons take a penalty on WS rolls; I think it's -10

1. Might consider giving it the following qualities instead: Balanced, Fast, Primitive with an additional +5 to parry on top of the Balanced quality.
2. Or check out the write up in Into the Storm ; within in those vaunted pages exists an official version. Page 122-123.

-=Brother Praetus=-

Of course its in Into the Storm.

I am certainly aware that defensive weapons take a -10% to WS tests and I figured that made sense that when you turn the weapon into some trident-like contraption it would be harder to hit your foes.

I'm not sure that I would give the Fast quality to a weapon primarily designed for defense in this way though this brings up an interesting possibility: if I am attacked by a fast weapon, but also am equipped with a fast weapon, would that not cancel out? The idea behind fast weapons is that they rely on speed to get past your defenses but if you have a weapon that is equally speedy...