Weapon
Contents
Close-combat weapons
Choppa
A Choppa is a large, brutish weapon which relies on the brutish force of the user rather than a sharp edge. Only Orcs are able to use Choppas, though it is noted that Black Orcs carry many types of choppas.
- Big Choppa: Larger and more unwieldy than regular Choppas, only the Iron Orcs of Carcassonne are known to carry these. When wielded by anyone but an Orc their size and weight is such that they are treated as Great Weapons.[1]
Flail
Cumbersome heavy weapons that are used with both hands they are made up of heavy weights attached to a handle or pole by heavy chains. Although stamina drained to use they can be deadly weapons, smashign shields and splintering bones. [2b]
Great Weapon
Large and heavy weapons used with both hands including Great Axes, Great Hammers and Two-Handed Swords - they can shatter heavy armour and even cut a foe in half. [2b]
Halberd
A halberd is a heavy bladed weapon mounted on a long shaft. The steel blade incorperates the heavy cutting edge of an axe, and a point like a spear which makes it a very versatile weapon, as it can be used to both chop and thrust. [2b] It allows the user to make stronger blows than an ordinary sword, but it is not as heavy and cumbersome as a Great weapon, or as tiring to use as a flail.
Hand Weapons
Every warrior involved in combat has at least some form of weapon, usually a simple axe, sword or even just a dagger. [2a]
- Axe: The Axe is a weapon with a large blade at the end of a pole, or rod. Dwarfs seem to rather like them and frequently use axes.
Morning Star
Able to be used in one hand, they are one or more spiked balls on a chain, it is effective in the first moments of combat but quickly becomes tiring to use like the larger flail. [2b]
Spear
A spear is basically a short blade on top of a long stick, it has a long reach and is a very effective weapon against cavalry who charge directly at the warrior who is holding a spear. They can be short, heavy throwing spears favoured by skirmishers or elegant, thrusting spears used by veteran, drilled infantry. [2c]
- Cavalry Spear: Smaller but more versatile than the Lance, they are still most effective during the initial charge. [2c]
- Lance: A long, heavy spear used by cavalry - usually crouched under the arm so that the brutal point is driven deep into the enemy with the full weight of the charging mount. After the initial charge, the wielder must switch to a more conventional weapon. [2c]
- Thrusting Spear: A favourite of massed infantry regiments across the world, they are ideal defensive weapons but less effective on the chrage. [2c]
Shield
A shield is often used as a weapon, used to punch an opponent and to slam him away.
Whip
Long lengths of braided leather mounted on a stout handle, a skilled user can cause terrible injuries with such a weapon especially if hooked spikes or sharpened blades are added. [2b]
Ranged weapons
Blowpipe
Blowpipes are a weapon unique to the Skinks . The blowpipe uses darts tipped with lethal venom which can bring down the toughest of foes.1 p49 The most skilled users of blowpipes are the Chameleon Skinks, who use the venom of the Lustrian tree frog - a creature so poisonous that only the Chameleon Skinks can catch it. They also are unerringly accurate - able to send darts through the gaps in armor plates and through the eye holes in helmets.1 p51
Blunderbuss
The Blunderbuss is a type of handgun that shoots a large "cloud" of assorted ammunition, rather than a single bullet. A surprisingly common black-powder weapon, even in the more rural areas of the Empire, this weapon can be loaded with a large assortment of ammunition, ranging from the standard(lead or iron pellets), to the exotic(lengths of chain to flammable liquids)or improvised(broken glass, rusty nails, rocks, etc).
Interestingly the Chaos Dwarfs seem to use this weapon as a standard weapon among their warriors to concentrate the singular blasts of the soldiers to a devastating volley.
Javelin
Javelins are light spears which are too flimsy to be used in combat, but are perfect for throwing. A soldier armed with javelins usually carries several to last them through the battle. As javelins have a short range compared to other missile weapons they are relatively rare.1 p57 Probably the most common users of javelins are the Skinks, who often use javelins coated with lethal poisons collected from jungle creatures.2 p50
Bow
Used extensively in warfare, a compact, relatively long-ranged weapon which is often cheap to make and maintain. [2d]
- Longbow are capable of projecting power at incredible range, which only increases as the enemy draws closer. [2d]
- Short-bows are small short-ranged bows. Some cavalry also carry a short-bow because it's easier to shoot from horseback. [2d] Races that favour Short-bows include: Skinks, Beastmen, Ungor Raiders, some Humans and most of all, Goblins.
- Warbows are often composite and recurved they effectively transfer the firers strength into every shot. [2d]
Throwing Spears
Heavy weapons favoured by hunters on foot or mounted, they can also be used in battle by ranks behind the fornt one, killing enemies as they approach. [2c]
Notes & sources
- 1: Knights of the Grail, ch. VI, pg. 65
- 2: Warhammer: The Old World
