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I hope to share more about the new iteration of the rules soon, but let's solve this right away. Cultural weapons and individual weapon skills are gone. There are 5 Combat skills now, Axes, Bows, Brawl, Spears, Swords, allowing proficiency in a variety of weapons under each Combat skill.

Francesco! This kind of comment on the forum means that I've got to check back and pay attention more often now. Back to the old days!

Great info! I only hope (as I stated earlier in the threat) that this isn't indicative of system-wide simplification.

No, I wouldn’t say that. This change was introduced more to rectify something that seemed ‘wrong’ rather than as a simplification.

Francesco

Great info! I only hope (as I stated earlier in the threat) that this isn't indicative of system-wide simplification.

No, I wouldn’t say that. This change was introduced more to rectify something that seemed ‘wrong’ rather than as a simplification.

This is one of the best things I could have hoped to hear you say this early on. Keep up the great work, Francesco!

Sounds like we're not getting staves, slings, or hammers. :-/

Hi all,

I hope to share more about the new iteration of the rules soon, but let's solve this right away. Cultural weapons and individual weapon skills are gone. There are 5 Combat skills now, Axes, Bows, Brawl, Spears, Swords, allowing proficiency in a variety of weapons under each Combat skill.

Francesco

That sounds interesting Francesco, though what about the Mattocks of the Dwarves? Perhaps they fall under Axes? And I wonder how non-canonical yet historical weapons might fit into these categories. Say, I want to introduce a culture that uses Slings; would they be lumped under the Bows category? I suppose that Clubs, Maces (citing the precedent of Morgoth's mace Grond) might be treated like Improved Weapons and fall under Brawl? Or would they constitute additional Combat skills?

Hi all,

I hope to share more about the new iteration of the rules soon, but let's solve this right away. Cultural weapons and individual weapon skills are gone. There are 5 Combat skills now, Axes, Bows, Brawl, Spears, Swords, allowing proficiency in a variety of weapons under each Combat skill.

Francesco

Good stuff! We luv crumbs!!! - - ... Walts

HOORAY! Forum pressure is working.. is this our first piece of TOR2e specific information? Everyone, keep rolling Riddle and Persuade until Francesco feels kind enough to throw another nugget.

I get that other weapons (Club, mace, sling etc) are desired by those who want a particular character build. I have a great figure holding a hawk and tweaked the Hound of Mirkwood Reward, so a woodman could SUBSTITUTE a hawk instead. (biggest change was no combat role [to induce Weary in an opponent], but the gains were the ability to notice ambushes, and to help with hunting rolls)

My point here is that axes, bows, brawl, spears and swords can just as easily be substituted (house rule) for chopping action; projectile action; 'have a go' action; stab action and slash action.

As an example: a two-handed sword would join Axes (and Maces) in the chopping action group. So when a character was created, an LM might permit a PC to have a two-handed sword, that performed as an axe in combat style. [The mattock in TOR 1e RAW is like a compromise between axe and great axe]
Again the LM and the player can house rule the characteristics of the weapon. I would expect the ability with an axe to transfer to all chopping action weapons: but the damage, edge, injury and encumbrance would vary. Perhaps, as someone has already said, the first rank should take some XP to get started. Or perhaps other weapons in the same Axe/chopping action group are allowed to be used , but with a penalty like raising the TN (reminds me of the Hindered penalty).
Bottom Line: there is always a House Rule! Play and enjoy!

It will be interesting to see what weapon proficiencies fall under each weapon category. Example: Axes might now include: Axe, Great Axe, Long-hafted Axe, Mattock. Brawl may have: Dagger, Staff, Club, Hammer. Although Hammer could possibly fall under Axes too I suppose (similar striking swing). For that matter, Staff could possibly fall under Spears... I don't know, the mind speculates. Whatever it ends up being will be fine for me. The weapon skills and their structure have never been an issue for me or my group of players.

My only question would be: Is the concept of cultural weapons ending altogether? Or, will players still be given starting Weapon Skills choices that reflect the most common weapons of their chosen culture?

One of my few dislikes about the Adventures in Middle-earth 5e game, is that during character creation, culture seems to matter very little when it comes to weapons. But, maybe my dislike is due to a false expectation.

Are cultural weapons a false idea to begin with in Middle-earth? This is not something I have thought about deeply until now.

Are cultural weapons a false idea to begin with in Middle-earth?

Not at all. There are countless examples of different cultures heavily leaning towards certain types of weapons, and Tolkien very frequently discussed weapons and armor alongside broader descriptions of the different peoples of Middle-earth (Dain's folk and their mattocks, the 'long and stout bows' of the Galadhrim, etc). The one exception is swords. Pretty much every culture throughout Middle-earth's history in all three ages used swords (including Dwarves) alongside their more iconic armaments.

Are cultural weapons a false idea to begin with in Middle-earth? This is not something I have thought about deeply until now.

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It seems to me Dwarves are culturally associated with axes in Tolkien's Middle-earth; likewise Elves with bows, while Men always seem to use swords.
Then there seems to be some overlap: Elves seem to use daggers for close combat, but can also use swords, while others than Elves also use bows, and so on.

So I'd have to say ... no. Cultural weapons are very much a thing in Middle-earth.