New weapons category?

[Darr]

Just a little while ago I had a conversation with Cib. It was how about how people have experimented with crossbows and also "special javelins" that have a ring or something connected to it and spoon that connects to the ring so that you can whip the javelin quite far. Kind of like those sticks with a cup on the end with a ball that fits into it used for playing fetch with your dog. It came up that there has been some difficulty in making them work. Both the crossbows and "special javelins" hit too hard at close range. The crossbows have another problem of not having the same size arrows as regular arrows. That means that something would have to be done to differentiate them between regular arrows or figure out how to make them the same length as regular arrows. The "special javelins" also have a problem. Because they hit so hard they have extra padding so as to be safe. This means that a crazy amount of rules would have to made to differentiate between "special javelins" and regular javelins. It just isn't practical. Well, I think I have a solution. Why not give these oddities their own category?

When I was shopping for weapons making material I accidently bought some color coded tape that I thought was red but when I got home I was surprised to find it orange. I got me to thinking that it would be possible to make another weapons category with the color of orange. It would be a Long Range category with weapons in it designed only for shooting missles long range. "Special javelins" and crossbow bolts would have to have orange on there heads differentiating them from regular weapons.

So do you think it would work or are there still too many flaws in my hypothesis for it to be practical?

[Cib]

The spear throwing thingy is called an Atlatl if anyone was interested.

There is nothing stopping us from making our own extra weapons category, for ether Airdrie or even Alberta. I think Belegarth as a hole might be resistant to more rules added on a global level, which makes sense, simplicity is a big part of our game. But I say, lets look at it and see if we can't make it work.

If we have a new weapons category what are the basic defining rules? Wit the knowledge that we expect them to change and become more defined and filled out over time, they don't have to be perfect right away.

I think the first thing to look at is what could go wrong, and then is it reasonable, if it is, what rule should be put in place to keep it safe?

[Cib]

Concern 1: What stops a Atlatl thrown spear from hitting some one at close range?

Concern 2: Will the javelins look to much alike that one might pick it up, for get to check the tape, and use it befor reolising it is the wrong class?

Concern 3: Cross-bow bolts, will a herald or marshal be able to tell the difference between a bolt and a broken arrow from a distance?

[Darr]

Answer to concern #1: I was thinking about the kind of "long range" were you would have to put an arc in weapons flight in order for it to get that far out. If the flight path of an Atlatl is parabolic then nobody who is somewhere in the middle of its flight will get hit with it.

Answer to concern #2, #3: Both the Atlatl's and the crossbow bolts would have to have orange not only on the pommel but on the head as well. This would help immensely in differentiating them from regular weapons. Nobody, unless they are extremely careless, would miss something like that.

[Darr]

Can you think of any other weapons to put in this category? Right now I can't think of any except for catapults perhaps.

[Gil-Galad]

what about weapons that if they are used give the victim a penalty? (eg ninjas used black eggs to handicap the other fighter.) would there be someway that could work? just a random thought thats been nagging me for a while now

[duskinwolfs]

firsst of all how would you make a black egg and my second thought hasnt come yet.

[Moginheden]

While black eggs aren't specifically prohibited they go against the general feel of Belgarth. As an example Belegarth does not allow magic or entangling weapons. Black eggs may not be magical, but they have a very similar feel to them.

[duskinwolfs]

how would you make them if they were legl?

[Gil-Galad]

not sure exactly how to make them but for their effect i was thinking like forcing a loss of an eye (blindfold or somethin) this would make fighting a little bit more difficult and work well but then again it could just become a nuisence and not worth the effort. i will try to make one or two and use them and let you guys know if it works okay or if it is a complete bust

['Nuck Badger]

Death frisbees. Similar to shuirkens or w/e, but I saw this on the bele-forums and I kinda like the idea. Never known anyone thats been killed by a frisbee Maybe a layer of blue along the edge (striking surface) and does 1 blue slashing damage?

[Moginheden]

a death frisbee works, but it follows the rock rules, (no core, have to hit in the head, minimum size.) We actually have a rock in airdire I often use like this, (although it wasn't quite designed for it so it doesn't fly as well as it should)

[Gothmog lord of the Balrogs]

throwing weapons were used in amteguard and were super cool. i think there needs to be exceptions in belegarth. if arrows can be shot without being padded the whole way why can't small weapons be thrown? of course they would have to be built safely and be checked carefully but still it is a great weapon. in my opinion they should work like arrows but be able to be blocked by weapons (hey. Aragorn did it) kinda like a rock?arrow hybred

[Cib]

Amtgard throwing weapons have no core, and unlike arrows and javs they usually spin in flight.

[duskinwolfs]

what if we made something like a death frizbee. no core just a few circles of foam, maybe a washer or two just to add a bit of weight.