Monday, February 24, 2020

d66/d18 Flails

Image result for flail striking over a shield

You should look at Mork Borg if you don't already know about it; it was because of a Twitter exchange with them that I've thrown together this table of random flails.

Bear in mind, the flail familiar to us from consumable media is not necessarily a replicable historical object (see The Curious Case of the Weapon That Didn't Exist* and The Case Against the Medieval Ball and Chain).

I'm not an expert, nor a mall ninja, so I'm not making any claims to historicity, to realism or to simulationism.

Flails in Game.
  • will have a feature like Awkward, Clumsy, Heavy or even all three
  • primary special: ignore shields (flails strike over or round them)
  • optional/secondary special: chains can be used to snare & disarm 
  • on a fumble, you definitely hit yourself

1st d6 (1-2) 2nd d6:

  1. Death Tolls Twice: double-ended flail; wield it like a quarterstaff, if your Strength is 15+.
  2. Whirligig: triple-headed throwing flail; whirl to wind it up, then hit the release.
  3. Flagellant’s Friend: three slungshot on a rod; subdual damage.
  4. Flagellant’s Favourite: nine hooked chains on a haft.
  5. Flagellant’s Fine Fellow: spiked iron paddle on a short chain, heated red hot; stout, two-handed haft.
  6. Star of Dawn: not a morning star.

1st d6 (3-4) 2nd d6:

  1. Hunter’s Belt: not a triple-headed morning star.
  2. Goddess of Love: not a morning star with a hollow head for burning sulphur; three-headed version is The Triple Goddess.
  3. Tresses of Medusa: three, six or nine chains on a haft; spiked balls are hollow as venom reservoirs.
  4. Throne of Skulls: triple-headed skull flail with spring-loaded snapping jaws.
  5. Dragon’s Neck: flanged/spiked head on a telescopic chain; reach weapon or actual hookshot-from-Zelda, depending on your campaign.
  6. Meteor Hammer: double-headed long fighting chain; flanged/spiked heads forged of starmetal/meteoric iron; cage heads for combustible material.

1st d6 (5-6) 2nd d6:

  1. Ogre’s Choice: 3+ sword/axe blades on short chains; two-handed haft, Str 15+ to wield. Stupid idea; looks intimidating.
  2. Murther of Crows: double- or triple-headed straight-bladed sickle flail; two-handed haft.
  3. Gentleman’s Flail: bafflingly petite quadruple-headed spiked flail; hollow handle for drinky-poos or secret notes from/to your beloved.
  4. Shooting Star: unassuming single-headed one-handed flail with a pistol built into the haft.
  5. Shield Splitter: enormous two-handed single-headed spiked flail, Str 15+ to wield; anytime a shield foils an attack from this, it has to save vs. crushing blow.
  6. People’s Friend: repurposed agricultural flail; studded with nails; dipped in shit.

*The Weapon That Didn't Exist.

  • Only available in post-medieval time periods, this is an apparently ordinary flail, morning star or chain weapon.
  • Once claimed, it can only be relinquished on your death or by a quest, remove curse or similar.
  • It does not exist, has no encumbrance value and is completely undetectable except when you are wielding it in combat; it is always your primary melee weapon and appears in your hand. You can still wield other weapons in your off-hand.
  • If you attempt to put it down or pass it to someone else, it vanishes until you next wield it in combat.
  • If you are disarmed, it vanishes as it leaves your grip but will be in hand at the start of the next combat round.
Edit: Table removed for wider browser compatibility.





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