Second in my "I returned to DF after a year of absence and have more clarity about it" thread.
I really like the idea that's bandied around for a while of having personal weapons that dwarves can carry. Haven't seen yet if Toady plans to adopt it, but I thought I'd throw out my opinion for how it should work.
I think every weapon class should have a "lesser" personal version. It uses the same skill as the larger weapon, but is very markedly less efficient, doing around 50% damage compared to the full version; it is also much less heavy, so less encumbering for working dwarves. Here's how I see it.
Shortsword --> Dirk, or maybe Ceremonial Sword
Battleaxe --> Hatchet (I think this should be the woodcutter tool, rather than using a combat axe?)
Warhammer --> Forgehammer (be nice if smiths automatically equipped this one, and maybe even had to have one to do their job...)
Mace --> Cudgel
The only one I'd not add is crossbow. Too many other things to carry for that; it doesn't seem right for a civilian to be wandering around with a quiver full of bolts, but having a belt hatchet or a forge hammer doesn't seem odd for a dwarf.
With spear, I'd actually change the dwarven spear weapon to a War Pick. It's far more dwarven, and it does the same kind of damage; it could be exactly the same in stats. Then the mining pick would be the civilian version of the weapon, and we'd replace the second-least-dwarfy weapon (mace is the least IMO) with something probably more dwarfy than anything else in the list. Win/win!
To this I'd add the qualification: a dwarf cannot equip these civilian weapons unless 1) he/she has the right job equipped for it (woodcutter, smith, miner) or 2) he/she has trained up to <nameless> weapondwarf level. At Professional weapondwarf level, the dwarf is allowed to wander around carrying the full military version of the weapon during general function.
I'd also not mind seeing a similar thing done with armour: I was picturing Decorative Chainmail and Ornamental Plate, offering only tiny amounts of protection (like, 25% normal?). No greaves, boots, gauntlets, or helmets would be available, only main body protection. These would require Proficient Armour User, but many nobles would use them without meeting that qualification (and could not be stopped from doing so). Having the hammerer run around in Ornamental Plate Mail seems so appropriate. Even more fun if these could be made of abnormal materials like gold or electrum.
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Topic: How I'd like personal weaponry to be handled (Read 820 times)