It occurs to me that a list of ten swords would be of use. And then I could later come back and borrow from it for other worlds. It would also be of use because thats a little detail that can by handy for spicing worlds with small details.
These are, as pretty much everything in a role-playing game is, optional. You could make good arguements for things being different, and I may not even be wholly consistent with my own guidelines.
You may wish to require a separate skill of horse-born sword combat to utilize the extra power inherent in a curved sword in that situation. Or you may simply want to have this be a strictly skill situation. However, it seems to me that some element of this inherent to the sword. I believe that making it fully inherent to the sword as this list does, or requiring an extra skill to represent the familarity with this potential are both reasonable solutions.
An increase in a Situation Modifier is favorable in nearly all cases. It allows for more damage, and a greater chance to hit.
One reason to give such modifiers is because of the reputation of the sword's excellence. The gladius and the katana both enjoy a favored reputation among some for this quality.
Also, a two-edged sword is more apt to be usable in more situations in combat than a single-edged sword.
An increase in Die Roll generally makes the weapon do more damage, but hit less often. This is particularly suited to a heavy, hard to maneuver, but deadly weapon.
1. Highland Claymore--Typically used by Scottish clansmen. The hilt is about a foot. The blade is between 40 and 45 inches in length. The guards are lengthy and set forward at a thirty degree angle roughly. This is a two-handed weapon.
Also basket-hilted claymores are possible.
Dangerous: NOT Ranged: +15 Die Roll: RF 1
(A two-handed, and somewhat awkward weapon that does large amounts of damage.)
2. Gladius--The Roman legionaires used this leaf-bladed, double-edged thrusting weapon. It is frequently found as a masterwork weapon.
Dangerous: NOT Ranged: +5 for Excellence Sit-mod: RF 2 (RF 3 if used in a shieldwall with only thrusting attacks).
(One may wish to add a +3 for it being a two-edged weapon.)
3. Zweihander--This sword was used by the German Landsknechts supposedly to chop pikes of the opposing forces. It is up to six feet long in its entirety. The knight in the movie Ladyhawke uses a Zwiehander. It is, of course, a two-handed weapon.
Lethal: NOT Ranged: +20 Die Roll: Simple Check by defender who is using wooden weapon if attack vs. weapon succeeds. Failure means the weapon is broken. RF 1.
(This is an enormous weapon that requires two hands or superhuman strength. If it hits, which is somewhat unlikely, its going to hurt...a lot. Thus the +20 Die Roll.)
4. Rapier--A slender, and lengthy (usually more than one yard) sword used primarily to thrust. They often feature complex hilts. Fighting is very fast, and since thrust damage is inherently worse for humans than slicing damage (as internal organs are often damaged) they can be quite lethal. However, they are of little use against zombies.
Dangerous: NOT Ranged: -10 Die Roll: RF 3.
(As described in the Big Black Book of Multiverser aka The Rules, it is suggested that this weapon is faster, quicker, less likely to botch, and does less damage. All this is well represented by a -10 DR).
5. Sabre--This is a curved single-edged sword usually with a large hand guard. It is sometimes carried from a baldric (at the shoulder) or at the waist, but there are lengthier versions meant to be hung from a cavalryman’s saddle.
Dangerous: NOT Ranged: +5 Die Roll: Cavalry version has an upgrade damage category if on horseback. RF 2.
(This is a single-edged, somewhat awkward weapon with a limited number of attack angles. However, it is a moderately heavy weapon.)
6. Falchion--This single-edged sword type covers a variety of shapes, but one shape may be fairly called ‘a machete with a cross-guard’. It is a simple, brutal weapon largely suited for chopping.
Dangerous: NOT Ranged: + 10 Die Roll: RF 1.
(This is a crude and brutal weapon. One may be tempted to change the +10 DR to -5 SM, +5 DR to more accurately reflect the weapon's nature.)
7. Katana--This curved, single-edged Nipponese sword is over two Shaku in length and under three. A Shaku is about thirty centimeters. A curved sword is useful for a horseman as it adds power to the downward strike. This weapon is designed for attacking light armor.
Dangerous: NOT Ranged: + 10 Sit-mod for excellence: + 5 if attacker on horseback with Damage Category Shift Up: + 5 Sit-mod if light or no armor and -5 for heavier. RF 2.
(This weapon was designed to deal with the light armor favored by the samurai. Accordingly, against the full plate of a medieval knight, it should do less well. This is a reflection of war--no weapon is perfect for all situations.)
8. Arming Sword--The knightly cruciform, single-handed sword is typically one yard in length. It is sometimes inaccurately called a ‘longsword’ or ‘broadsword.’
Dangerous: NOT Ranged: Damage Category Shift Up if on Horseback. RF 2.
(Fairly straightforward.)
9. Scimitar--This is a misnomer. The Arabic weapon, the Saif is one example of this ’type’. It is a single-handed, single-edged, variably curved with a slender hand-guard protruding from the sides or quillons, and a small bit protruding from the pommel to make a ‘pistol grip‘. It has a false edge at the tip.
Dangerous: NOT Ranged: -5 Die Roll: RF 2.
(The light nature of this weapon makes the user less likely to fumble, and less likely to do really severe damage which are reflected in teh -5 DR.)
10. Spatha--The later Romans and the Vikings used this double-edged, single handed sword. Its length falls between 3/4ths of and 1 yard. It was carried on the left due to its length.
Dangerous: NOT Ranged: +10 Die Roll: +3 Sit-mod: RF 2.
(Being double-edged is a general advantage represented by the small sit-mod advantage. The length and heaviness of the sword make for a less subtle, and more destructive weapon which is seen in the +10 DR.)
