Rondel Dagger ERA: Medieval to Renaissance ERA: Medieval to Early Modern Size S Size T Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/5/1 F Reach / Speed / Defense: 0/6/0 F Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/P/P Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SP/S AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +4/- AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/- Hardness / Hit points: 12/4 Hardness / Hit points: 8/3 Cost 15 Shilling Cost 18 Shilling Primary Material: Steel Primary Material: Tempered Steel A specialized thrusting dagger, very popular with the knightly “A caravan arrives at dawn in a small trading town on the class throughout the middle ages. It was characterized by a Silk Road near the ancient kingdom of Bactria on the narrow, often triangular or diamond shaped blade, sometimes Khyber Pass. A merchant alights from his camel to stretch strengthened with a reinforcing rib, and parallel disk shaped and brush the dust of the trail from his khaftan, greeting guard and pommel called a rondel or roundel. Rondel the morning sun. He looks over the Souq and strolls past were very popular auxiliary sidearms for knights, soldiers, and pistachio vendors and cages of exotic songbirds toward a men at arms in the Medieval to Renaissance period. Used to stand selling fruit sherbet. While crossing the street he is pierce through mail or the weaker joints between armor, this strongly made dagger is a very effective armor piercing weapon, jostled by a raucous group of pilgrims, and suspicious, being stiff and narrow for good penetration. The roundel dagger reaches down to catch the hand of a thief in the act of could also be used in the left hand for defensive purposes (see cutting his purse… with a cry of outrage he leaps back, Main Gauche MF). Typical dimensions: Length 16", blade 12", reaching for the curved dagger on his belt…” Weight 1 lb

The curved dagger of Arabia, still carried today as part of Broad Dagger traditional attire in places like Yemen, is called a jambiya. It ERA: Bronze Age to Baroque looks similar to a curved Roman pugio, in its crudest form, it is a simply made double-edged, broad-bladed curved dagger Size S with a central ridge and a sharp point. Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/5/0 F

Jambiyas are primarily for slashing but can thrust effectively Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/P as well. They were carried as a civilian weapon for personal AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/- protection (and an indication of status) and as a secondary Hardness / Hit points: 10/5 battlefield sidearm in exactly the manner as a Roman pugio Cost 20 Shilling or a Medieval dagger. Similar weapons were used in various parts of the Middle East, Persia, India, north and east Africa Primary Material: Steel and Central Asia. One of the most important variations of the A large dagger with an especially broad blade designed for jambiya is the Sikh , which is worn as a religious inflicting maximum possible injury from a thrust or a cut. These obligation by all baptized Sikhs (members of the Khalsa) as weapons do not penetrate quite as easily as other daggers but part of their commitment, as “saint soldiers”, to protect the do far more damage upon a successful thrust. Examples innocent. include the (also made in short-sword sized variants see Sword, Cinquedea) and the ubiquitous Roman pugio. Some were beautifully made of precious inlays, lapis, silver etc. and had exquisitely crafted wootz steel Large Dagger blades with hardened points for thrusting. Such weapons ERA: All eras would also be of masterwork in quality. Size S The slashing ability of a jambiya makes it particularly Reach / Speed / Defense: 1/5/1 F effective against unarmored opponents, though some were Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/SP also madeSample with reinforced points for thrusting (treat as SP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: file +2/- weapons). Hardness / Hit points: 10/4

46 Cost 25 Shilling Cost 50 Shilling

Primary Material: Steel Primary Material: Steel This is a large dagger with a double-edged blade with a blade A war-pick is very similar to a war hammer and the two-types length of 10"-16", and an overall length of 14"-20". Examples overlap, both usually have hammer heads as well as back- include the Swiss baselard (which was also made as a short- spikes, a war-pick just has a longer spike which has better sword, treat as a spatha -see Spatha) the coustille dagger, the penetration, at the expense of being a somewhat less wieldy dagesse, and the Scottish . Though capable of slashing and weapon. The pick is also effective as a hook against shield cutting a dagger of this size was still primarily designed for rims, knees, necks etc. thrusting. These weapons could usually be worn in areas where swords were restricted, being still small enough to still Sword, Akinakes be technically legal, but large and heavy enough to have some ERA: Classical Bronze Age authority and defensive value in a fight. Some large daggers featured large quillions. Sometimes called “blocking daggers” Size S these were more effective for defense (treat as 1/5/2 or even Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/4/1 F 1/5/3 weapons for those with complex hilt features). Often Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/SP used in the off-hand with a sword, these were the precursor of AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/- the Main Gauche (see Main Gauche). Hardness / Hit points: 6/2 War Hammer Cost 1 0 Shilling

ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern Primary Material: Bronze An ancient type of short sword, used by the Persians during Size S classical period, originally adopted from the Scythians, Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/3/2 Sarmatians, and other steppe peoples of central Asia who used Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/BP/BP them well back into the bronze age. An akinakes has a fairly wide, AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +4/+2 double-edged, parallel blade with a rounded or spatulate tip, Hardness / Hit points: 7/4 usually 14"-18" in length (the entire weapon would be from 20"- Cost 25 Shilling 24" long), it was also characterized by a unique two-lobed pommel. The akinakes is primarily a thrusting weapon, but also Primary Material: Wood and Iron useful for slashing (draw cutting) and to a lesser degree, hacking Contrary to depictions in RPGs, computer games and fantasy and chopping. films, real war hammers didn’t look anything like sledge hammers, they actually had smaller (and harder) striking Subjective: heads than hammers used as tools. Like most hand This specific weapon was found in kurgans, tombs and other weapons intended for war, they weighed in the archeological sites dating from thousands of years BC through neighbourhood of 2-4 lbs. They almost always included both the classical period, its presence in a grave is used by a striking (hammer) head and a reinforced back-spike at archeologists to identify settlements or grave sites of these least a few inches long. These could be used against people. different types of targets but were designed to be armor- piercing weapons, especially useful for cavalry, with a Sword, Short hammer one could ride by and crush a helmeted head with ERA: Bronze Age to Early Modern a single blow. Size S War Pick Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/4/2 F ERA: Medieval to Renaissance Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/SP AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: +2/- Size S Hardness / Hit points: 9/3 Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/2/2 Cost 25 Shilling Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/BP/P AP BonusSample / Grapple Bonus: +6/+4 Primary Material: Steel file Hardness / Hit points: 14/12

47 Short swords were common in the early Classical period thrust swords featuring a diamond or lenticular blade cross- because early iron weapons were not strong enough to be section, ending in a sharp point. With its vicious point and overall made longer than two feet or so, being too likely to bend upon short size the gladius is perhaps most dangerous in the thrust, contact with shield rims, helmets, or enemy weapons. As iron though it also cut well. In fact, according to classical eyewitnesses gave way to steel in the late Iron Age (circa 4th-3rd Century BC) of the first reported use of the weapon in a battle against the short swords were gradually eclipsed by longer weapons three Macedonians, the victorious Romans left the field littered with feet or more in length (see Spatha). But short swords remained the severed limbs and heads of their enemies. popular, and in the later middle-ages, even as longer and longer weapons were adopted by knights and professional infantrymen, short swords made a comeback as a popular sidearm, particularly for archers and marksmen. For game purposes a short sword means any non-specific (i.e. not covered under another sword sub-type) double edged sword between 21"-29" in overall length, with little if any hand protection, a small grip and a sharp point suitable for thrusting.

Subjective: By the Renaissance period simpler short swords were replaced in Western Europe by slightly longer and more sophisticated weapons such as the cutlass or the , although the basic short sword was retained as Russia and central Asia (as the kindjal), the Middle East (as the quoit) and in Africa and various other parts of the world (see Gladius). The short sword was even revived as a sidearm for artillery troops by Napoleon. In the Codex, a short sword may not have the reach of a larger weapon, but it handier in a close fight as it can be used at grapple range. Inside mines, caverns, catacombs or sewers, or even just inside a building, a short sword can give you an advantage.

Sword, Gladius A Roman Legionnaire armed with a gladius (now broken) vanquishes a ERA: Classical Iron Age to Early Modern Germanic barbarian, from the “Grande Ludovisi” sarcophagus, circa 251 A.D., photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen Size S Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/4/1 Subjective: Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-6/SCP/CP Generally speaking, the gladius was one of the most versatile AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/- weapons of the classical period, tough, maneuverable, and lethal. Along with the scutum shield, the pilum (javelin), helmet, Hardness / Hit points: 8/4 and body armor of the legionnaire, the gladius formed an integral Cost 30 Shilling part of the Roman military machine which crushed opposition from England to Egypt, from the pillars of Hercules to the deserts Primary Material: Iron of Parthia. Though it was replaced in the 2nd century AD by the A type of heavy short sword used in various forms as the spatha (see Spatha) echoes of the gladius were still used for primary sidearm of the Roman Legions for something like 4 millennia in various forms all around the world. The Georgian centuries, during the military peak of both the Republic and kindjal, seen throughout Russia, the Ukraine and Central Asia, the Empire. The gladius took a lot of different forms but was and the Arabic qama are just two examples of weapons which typically from 24"-32" in total length, and characterized by a bear an uncanny resemblance to the Gladius. bar-bell handle, featuring a spherical wooden pommel and a hemispherical wooden guard, with a grip normally made of As with so much Roman military equipment, the gladius was bone or ivory. originally copied from the Celts. It was based on a broad bladed Sampleshort cut-and-thrust design which thefile Romans first encountered All varieties of the gladius performed similarly in combat. They in Spain which dates back well into the Bronze Age. The Romans were all heavy, stiff, broad -bladed double edged cut-and-

48 called this type the gladius Hispaniensis, or ‘Spanish sword’. Cost 40 Shilling Gradually the weapon was Romanized, later forms found in Mainz Germany, Fulham England, and Pompeii progressively Primary Material: Tempered Steel lost the elegant curves and wasp-waist of the original A cinquedea is a type of short sword originally based on an Celtiberian design leading to the strait parallel edged blade archaic Spanish (Celtiberian) design from the early Iron Age, with a shorter triangular point. Along the way the gladius was and achieved high popularity in the European Mediterranean ultimately perfected as a brutally efficient, close combat killing during the Renaissance primarily in Italy. The name cinquedea tool. literally means ‘five fingers’ which refers to the considerable width of the blade at the guard. The blade, triangular in shape Sword, Cinquedea rapidly tapers down to a point, sometimes very sharp, sometimes rounded off. Another unique feature of the ERA: Classical Iron age to Renaissance cinquedea is a complex arrangement of multiple fullers going Size S all the way down the blade, further lightening it. Between the Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/5/2 F sharp profile taper and the fullers, and a heavy pommel this is a very nimble close-combat weapon, capable of delivering Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/P horrific stab wounds. AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/- Hardness / Hit points: 10/4

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Very ornate Persian Jambiya with wootz (‘Damascus’) steel blade, 16th Century AD th Large Dagger: blocking dagger with sidering, Bolonga Italy 16 Century AD

Ottoman Jambiya with silver inlay and Lapis grip, 17th Century AD

Large Dagger: blocking dagger with sidering, Germany circa 1600 AD

Roundel Dagger, Italy, circa 1350 AD

Short Sword: La Tene (Celtic) anthropomorphic-ilt sword, Bohemia late Hallstatt period 5th Century BC French Roundel Dagger, circa 1500 AD

Ottoman Dagger, 17th Century AD

Short Sword: ‘Antnna hilt’ Sword of the Celetic Cogotas II culture, Salamanca Large Dagger: Swiss Baselard circa 1650 AD Spain, circa 600 BC

Broad Dagger: Roman Pugio, 1st Century AD Gladius, Mainz Germany, circa 50 AD

Broad Dagger: Cinquedea Dagger, Italy 15th Century AD Gladius, Pompeii, Italy 2nd Century AD

Large Dagger: Swiss Baselard circa 1480 AD

Cinquedea sword, Barcelona Spain circa 1540 AD

Large Dagger: Italian Baselard, circa 15th Century AD

Gladius: Russian Kindjal, 19th Century

Sampleth file Large Dagger: Spanish blocking dagger 16 Century AD

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Subjective: This is a weapon designed for the confusing aftermath of pike skirmishes, very deadly in close combat, specialized for chopping. I’ve test-cut a little with some katzbalger replicas and they cleave through meat and bone like nothing. This weapon is also well suited for defense with a close-to-the-hilt balance and an effective hand guard. A handy and reliable sidearm.

Sword, Leaf Blade Sword, Katzbalger ERA: Classical Bronze Age ERA: Renaissance Size M Size S Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/1/1 Reach / Speed / Defense: 2/3/3 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-10/SCP/C Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/C AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/- AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/- Hardness / Hit points: 8/4 Hardness / Hit points: 12/4 Cost 35 Shilling Cost 50 Shilling Primary Material: Iron or Bronze Primary Material: Steel An archaic sword design of very ancient lineage which existed in The katzbalger is a special type of arming sword or broadsword bronze form well before the Classical period. Both bronze and iron developed during the Renaissance in Germany, it was the versions of this weapon were used by the Celts, the ancient Greeks, infamous signature weapon of the Landsknecht mercenaries. the early Romans, and by various other peoples around Central and Southern Europe. The Spartan xiphos was a leaf-bladed sword. Like many ancient sword types, these weapons did not have any hand protection to speak of. The shape of the blade, broader and heavier Katzbalger with gold plated hilt, 16th Century AD Thurungia, Germany toward the end, moves the balance toward the point and makes it highly effective for chopping attacks, though it is also effective for thrusting. If the broad double-edged blade does successfully penetrate in a thrust, it will do catastrophic damage. The sword does have a stiff, usually diamond cross sectioned blade making the sword strong enough for thrusting through tough targets. Katzbalger, 16th Century AD Schwabia, Germany Sword, Spatha A sturdy, medium-length sword with a distinctive 'S' shaped guard, the blade itself is strait and parallel edged with a ERA: Classical Iron age to Dark Ages spatulate or rounded point, usually lightened by several short Size M fullers in the forte. Reach / Speed / Defense: 3/2/1 Damage / Attack Types / Primary 1-8/SCP/CP were actually made in many different sizes, AP Bonus / Grapple Bonus: -/- Hardness / Hit points: 9/4 ranging from the short sword depicted here, to an arming Cost 45 Shilling sword size, and even hand and a half and very large two- handedSample versions. Most had a pretty distinctive shape and size Primary Material: Steel file as described above, with a heavy sometimes bronze or brass pommel and a heavy cutting blade.

51 For game purposes a spatha is any broad, single-handed strait starting with the Cimbri and Teutons. More and more the Germanic sword about 3’ long which lacks a true iron pommel. The and Celtic tribes carried spatha which had been wrought with Roman spatha is the archetype of a variety of similar swords sophisticated pattern welding techniques and were increasingly used all around Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle perceived as effective and dangerous weapons, causing the Romans East from the last days of the Roman Republic through the first to rethink their doctrine favoring the gladius as the sidearm for heavy few centuries of the Dark Ages. A spatha is similar to the infantry. ‘Viking’ broadsword in that is primarily a cutter with a long, broad blade, but the spatha is fairly stiff, making it better for By the 2nd Century AD the Spatha had largely replaced the gladius as thrusting, and also more blade heavy. The spatha derives from the standard sidearm for the Roman Legionnaire. The original Roman the La Tene (Celtic) culture, and was adopted by the Romans version has the same kind of guard as the gladius short sword. Spatha initially as a sidearm for cavalry. with a crossguard (like the Arab type) may rate as 3/2/2 weapons.

During certain military reforms of the early Imperial period it Subjective: was adopted by infantry in order to help Roman Legionnaires Many of the Spatha type swords recovered from archeological sites cope with the increasing numbers of Scandinavian and created by the Germanic and Scandinavian Barbarian cultures during Germanic tribes they encountered such as Visigoths, the Migration Era featured pattern welded blades, and often Ostrogoths, Lombards, Vandals, Burgundians and Franks who elaborate goldwork as well. In 2009, more than 70 elaborately carved used these spatha type sword extensively. In the 1st Century gold hilts were discovered in one horde alone in a Saxon or Norse site BC Rome experienced the first in a series of shocks as newly found at Staffordshire in Britain. energized Barbarian confederations began to cross the Rhine,

Katzbalger, 16th Century

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