Short sword (Huh. Good God.) What is it good for?

[Bareheaded Warrior]

I agree with a) but in my opinion this should only apply to metal surrounding the Wizard such as mail or plate armour or a helmet as these would 'disrupt his aura' in a Faraday cage kind of way rather than just metal he is holding.

With regards to b) I don't think modifying prices adds to the complexity, it just means that a longknife or axe (or possible a spear, dagger or staff) would be better starting weapons that a sword, breaks a fantasy stereotype!

[knightkrawler]

A rapier. I made a rapier that can be used by the Wizard. 2 AD, but white shields hit.
After some training (gold coins) skulls hit.

[Jaws]

I have often wondered about the short sword myself.

According to the rules (Norwegian ones at least) you can only buy equipment once. When the card is gone from the "store" nobody else can buy that card. However, none of the heroes start with any equipment. They don't have any of the cards at the beginning of the game. And as none of the heroes have less than 2 dice to attack, except the wizard which can't use it, the short sword is just dead weight. Nobody would spend 150 gold to have the same attack dice..

[knightkrawler]

I have often wondered about the short sword myself.

According to the rules (Norwegian ones at least) you can only buy equipment once. When the card is gone from the "store" nobody else can buy that card. However, none of the heroes start with any equipment. They don't have any of the cards at the beginning of the game. And as none of the heroes have less than 2 dice to attack, except the wizard which can't use it, the short sword is just dead weight. Nobody would spend 150 gold to have the same attack dice..

It's the EU rules for most countries. This and other creators' calamities are the reason why every last one of us has a houserule here and there.
I hereby push you towards my solution: http://forum.yeoldeinn.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=1548&hilit=combat+stats
Each card for my game will be printed in such an amount that the item shown will be available/usable.

[Jaws]

I have often wondered about the short sword myself.

According to the rules (Norwegian ones at least) you can only buy equipment once. When the card is gone from the "store" nobody else can buy that card. However, none of the heroes start with any equipment. They don't have any of the cards at the beginning of the game. And as none of the heroes have less than 2 dice to attack, except the wizard which can't use it, the short sword is just dead weight. Nobody would spend 150 gold to have the same attack dice..

It's the EU rules for most countries. This and other creators' calamities are the reason why every last one of us has a houserule here and there.
I hereby push you towards my solution: http://forum.yeoldeinn.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=1548&hilit=combat+stats
Each card for my game will be printed in such an amount that the item shown will be available/usable.

It does look quite complex. I sort of like the scarcity of equipment. Without additional house rules, every hero would be the same in the end.

It also prevents complete powerhouses to a certain degree. Borins+shield+helmet, platemail+shield+helmet etc. After all, it's 50% to roll a skull. Only the most powerful monsters roll 4 dice, 2 average skulls per hit. While with six defense dice, the heroes would have 2 average shields per throw (33.3%).

With the entire equipment deck divided among the heroes, most will still be 4/4 or 3/4.

I am not saying your solution is poor in any way. It's just too much of a change for our group. I think I saw a few threads here while browsing around which inspired me. It's 7:30 in the morning, and I haven't slept, so I won't look for them now.

But I'd rather have weapons and armour have different functions. Benefits and drawbacks. Rather than rewriting the entire combat system.

[chaoticprime]

What is the point of studying magic if you still have to rely on the sword? The whole aesthetic of Elf is sword & magic, also. The rapier wasn't even invented until the 16th century, not that any characteristic of one's use synchronizes with a guy who uses magic. By this logic using a rapier could lead to learning magic. Wizards don't use swords because swords and magic each take a life-time to master, at least till the degree where you're nationally recognized as a Hero.

If you took a starting Barbarian and put him up against a starting Wizard, the Barbarian wouldn't stand a chance of winning. You'd get even less equal results if you took either from any strata of their experience. The Wizard is just the most-powerful Hero when fighting against a single adversary, almost regardless of that adversary's strength. Enemies with blanket immunity to spells are the exception. The Wizard's weakness is groups. He has to have that weakness. If you don't like playing a Wizard that doesn't get to attack every round, play the Elf. The text on Hero cards instruct every potential player exactly what to expect with each Hero. Part of the game requires the Heroes to basically deliver the Wizard safely to the end of the Quests so that he can throw down the combo of spells covered by his hand-sweat. Wizard players plot and get the biggest payoffs. If you want to improve any class, improve the Dwarf. He's only there because they wanted a fourth.

It's just too much of a change for our group.

They'll get over it. If you let Heroes accumulate too much stuff, all they play is a game where they try to suffer through quests without losing all their Equipment and Artifacts. You get used to cold water by jumping right into it--pussyfooting around only serves to extend the experience. Hell, I think the game shouldn't even let the Heroes keep Artifacts forever. They're way too valuable, and there's a war on. Orc's Bane would get a hole hell of a lot of use on the battlefield. That would be an interesting system, though, would it not? Heroes gaining Renown (or w/e) for whenever they turn in Artifacts. Renown could be used to temporarily suspend your maximum BP or something.

[knightkrawler]

Hell, I think the game shouldn't even let the Heroes keep Artifacts forever. They're way too valuable, and there's a war on. Orc's Bane would get a hole hell of a lot of use on the battlefield. That would be an interesting system, though, would it not? Heroes gaining Renown (or w/e) for whenever they turn in Artifacts. Renown could be used to temporarily suspend your maximum BP or something.

That is interesting, indeed.

[chaoticprime]

I once played with a guy whose Barbarian chose to destroy the Talisman of Lore because he was metal, or from a D&D setting, or something.

[Jaws]

It's just too much of a change for our group.

They'll get over it. If you let Heroes accumulate too much stuff, all they play is a game where they try to suffer through quests without losing all their Equipment and Artifacts. You get used to cold water by jumping right into it--pussyfooting around only serves to extend the experience. Hell, I think the game shouldn't even let the Heroes keep Artifacts forever. They're way too valuable, and there's a war on. Orc's Bane would get a hole hell of a lot of use on the battlefield. That would be an interesting system, though, would it not? Heroes gaining Renown (or w/e) for whenever they turn in Artifacts. Renown could be used to temporarily suspend your maximum BP or something.

I am not sure what you mean. Limiting the heroes to just one of every item is preventing exactly what you talk about there. . Letting everyone buy everything, allows for accumulation.

[chaoticprime]

This wasn't an argument against your point. It was another point entirely.