Exotic Weapon - Warshovel

[JackMage666]

Exotic Weapon - Warshovel - 2-Handed - Medium Damage: 2d4 - Crit: x3 - Cost: 30 GP - Weight: 5 lbs

Warshovel - This two handed exotic weapon looks too be a regular shovel at first glance, but closer inspection reveals the edges and point of the shovel head to be sharpened to fine points. The extra sharp points allow the weilder of the warshovel to change the damage type (piercing, slashing or bludgeoning) as a free action at any time (however, this choice must be made before any attack). However, if a user is not proficienct with the warshovel, he may only choose to do bludgeoning damage, but only takes a -2 on attack rolls due to the common use of a shovel.

The warshovel must be regularly maintained with a whetstone or other sharpening device, or it will only be able to do Bludgeoning damage.

As well, a warshovel can function as an ordinary shovel, though doing so almost always requires the blades to be re-sharpened (excpetions exist, such as loose sand).

If enchanted, the enchantments effect the warshovel's head as a whole, when applicable. A +2 Warshovel grants a +2 on attack and damage rolls for all damage types, for example, but a +2 Keen Warshovel only grants the Keen ability when doing Piercing or Slashing damage. This also applies to Disrupting, Vorpal, and any other enhancements that are dependent on certain damage type weapons.



What'd you think? I'm considering writing up a prestige class based on it.

And, here it is! http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44589

[DracoDei]

I had a GM who once told of a character he had who whose backstory was that he was a farmer who had gotten lucky and killed something nasty with a shovel... and he ever afterwards used that as his weapon... even going so far as to get a magic one eventually.

I like the humor value. Not sure about the constant need for sharpening as fluff, but it does help balance out the weapon since it can do whatever type of damage is required at the moment (the low damage helps too). I look forward with an eagerness curiously close to dread to see what prestige class you come up with for this.

Now I have an image of a dwarven unit armed with these... "PRESENT!...SHOVELS!"

[Hyrael]

"Honey, God game me a gift. I shovel well. I shovel very, Very well."
"I know. But that does not make you a superhero."

Now all we need is to stat up the fork & posessed bowling ball's use as weapons, and we complete the set.

Damn, I loved that movie.

[mikeejimbo]

What'd you think? I'm considering writing up a prestige class based on it.

I look forward to this prestige class. Neat weapon, and if there's a warpick, why not?

[DracoDei]

"Honey, God game me a gift. I shovel well. I shovel very, Very well."
"I know. But that does not make you a superhero."


1.) I am surprised I didn't make that connection myself.

2.) Yeah, but he never used them as anything but bludgeoning weapons. Also, technically one would have to stat up a trowel so you can off-hand parry with it in a pinch.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Heh heh, you been reading the Wizardry series, comrade? :smallwink:

[ArmorArmadillo]

Looks good, but I don't see the need for it to be an Exotic Weapon.
The shovel seems pretty straightforward, more akin to a mace or pick than something as complicated as a Kusari-Gama.

[DracoDei]

Most of the monk speciality weapons are technically slightly modified (if at all) farming implements.

[JackMage666]

It's Exotic due to it's sharpened edges and the ability to do any type of damage. I made it so it's useable as a simple weapon, though awkward (-2 to hit), and can only do Bludgeoning damage.

[de-trick]

nice weapon
but now
if u piss off a farmer and he has a shovel you could die cause he took exotic weapon war-shovel and thats a war shovel

[Koga]

nice weapon
but now
if u piss off a farmer and he has a shovel you could die cause he took exotic weapon war-shovel and thats a war shovel
Depends on how powerful you and the farmer are. By level 5 non-magical weapons just stop being threatening at all...


The Koga likes it though, he also is an expert both ingame and inlife at shoveling. Suprisingly he's good in rpgs with the same things he's good at life.

Fishing
Shoveling
Running
Going beserk
and Hiding.


Heh, The Koga would be a mudane level barbarian with exotic feats for nets, shovels, and run.. That's actually not a halfbad adventurer...

[ArmorArmadillo]

It's Exotic due to it's sharpened edges and the ability to do any type of damage. I made it so it's useable as a simple weapon, though awkward (-2 to hit), and can only do Bludgeoning damage.

Fair enough, I'd personally say it is more in line with martial, but I can see why you would say that. The -2 for non-proficiency is a bit awkward (as a rule system), as players almost never use weapons with which they are non-proficient.

[Dryad]

I think it's very, very good. It's exotic, because you can flip it, and not everyone can use a shovel to fight well with.. Perhaps you could make an arrangement like the bastard sword: You can use it as a martial weapon, but...

In this case, I would say: If you use it as martial, you can only have it deal slashing damage.
But I don't think it's nescessary. It's a very well balanced weapon, the way it is, and you very much caught the spirit of warshovels as they were used in trench-wars. Just get a trenchdigger with a bow, and there you have it! You could simply go fighter with specialism in shovels and bows, or you could take the special class you've designed, which is also very neat.

Did I mention I like this weapon? Yes? Well I like it again! And more so!

[The_Snark]

nice weapon
but now
if u piss off a farmer and he has a shovel you could die cause he took exotic weapon war-shovel and thats a war shovel

The scythe and sickle are already weapons. Clearly, farmers already walk around heavily armed, laughing at any laws there might be that prohibit people from carrying around lots of weaponry. Probably some sort of secret society...

Nice. There's a reason to take the proficiency with this weapon, and shoveling is fun.

Also, great movie reference.

[de-trick]

the peasant farmers while revolt with the picks, war shovel, scythe and sickle

[TheGrimace]

I believe you forgot the trident...

I mean pitchfork

(quaddent?)

[JackMage666]

I'd also like to add, due to the favor I've recieved in this post, that the item is particularly potent as an Undead Slaying weapon, due to it's multiple damage types. Damage Reduction? A posh on that, switch to what's needed! A Silvered Warshovel can kill any undead with ease. If you wish, you can through on Disruption, and use the bludgeoning type to kill the weak ones.

Flavorful and fun - You can re-bury the dead afterwards.

[ArmorArmadillo]

the peasant farmers while revolt with the picks, war shovel, scythe and sickle
Armed with a scythe, hmm...while, that gives the commoner a 5% chance of killing a cat.