Encyclopedia of Weaponry

There are 115 weapons provided in this supplement, more than enough to flesh out the supply of weapons normally available to characters in a traditional d20 setting. At least half of the weapons are from non-western cultures, while the rest are rounded out with firearms and some old favorites, such as the main gauche. Each weapon is presented alphabetically, with a complete description and historical origin, as well as an illustration.

Following the descriptions are suggestions as to what races might prefer to use such a weapon in your game, and a statistical chart entry for each weapon. This chart is reproduced in its entirety at the back of the book, providing an easily consulted area for the basics on all the weapons. This is particularly helpful, as the information in the entries tends to get lost on the bottom of each page.

The cream frosting on each weapon is the sample magical version of each provided with the entry. These unique weapons are all named and possessed of a range of abilities. A complete history accompanies the description, providing depth to the entries. Many could be easily transferred to another weapon, if such would fit better in your campaign.

In addition to providing new weapons, rules for artillery and firearms are provided. A few related skills and feats are provided, which are fairly simple, in the spirit of the basic rules, rather than the complicated firearms systems devised in other sources. In addition, the firearms themselves have an advantage over other weapons. Too often, firearms are presented as slow, unreliable, and lacking in damage potential. In short, there is no point in using them in the game because they are in all ways inferior to a simple bow, making one wonder what idiots were using them in the real world. In this book, the weapons have greater damage potential, giving players a possible reason to use them. Overall, this is the best and most functional presentation I have yet seen for firearms in an essentially medieval game setting.

The weak point in this supplement comes in the lack of statistical diversity. Many weapons begin their description with the phrase "This club..." or "This Dagger..." and then provide the same, or nearly the same, game stats as a regular club or dagger. There are only cosmetic differences, which leave a cheapened feeling to the entry.

Overall, this is quite a nice book. The magic weapons are presented with enough uniqueness and background to make them each feel special. Firearms are presented as useful rather than as an excuse for excess dice rolling. Though weakened by promoting as different several items, which are statistically identical, it is still a valuable resource in that it provides a great variety of options for players wishing to explore more individualized weaponry.


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WEAPONRY
Written by: Sean Everette, B.D. Flory, Chris Hartford, Kurt Hausheer, Stephen Sullivan, Christoffer Trossen, James M. Ward, Jakko Westerbeke
Cover Art by: William W. Connors
Interior Art by: Dave Zenz
Number of Pages: 128
Retail Price: $24.99 (US)
Item Number: FAF2020
ISBN: 1-932201-23-8

Added: February 24th 2003
Reviewer: Bill Preusser
Score:
Related Link: Fast Forward Entertainment
Hits: 120
Language: eng