Quick Game Report

[Thig]

I think I would still prefer a Keen Splitting axe against something with a high protection roll than a Giant-slaying Great Spear. It seems that while the Great Spear will cause protection rolls more often, the Splitting axe has a higher chance of not being resisted. Which is more likely to cause an actual wound more often? If it is the spear then blast that I want a refund!

[Glorelendil]

I think I would still prefer a Keen Splitting axe against something with a high protection roll than a Giant-slaying Great Spear. It seems that while the Great Spear will cause protection rolls more often, the Splitting axe has a higher chance of not being resisted. Which is more likely to cause an actual wound more often? If it is the spear then blast that I want a refund!

No, you're right; that's what we were saying before. Against high attribute level opponents with favoured armor, it's all about the Injury rating, not the Edge rating.

[Glorelendil]

I'm with Roc. More than one long pointy stick just seems odd, aesthetically. Great spear and throwing axes for the win. Let the elf kill the deer; you get the boars.

Bonus: if you have (Axes) you could cover ranged, 1h & shield, and two-handed with one skill category, and carrying a long-hafted axe and a couple of throwers.

[Hermes Serpent]

Thoughts about stats for a one-handed throwing axe?

[Rocmistro]

Throwing axes feels more like a military weapon than a javelin/throwing spear which can be used to bring down a boar or deer if you get close enough.

Yeah but why should this matter? Actually, I don't think a single primary hero in the books every used a spear, and certainly not a javelin as a weapon. The only named hero I can remember using a spear is Gil-galad. For all the later heroes, Tolkien had the more "romantic" weapons of Swords, Axes and Bows.

Military versions of spears and axes both developed from less martial utility; hunting for spears and woodcutting for axes. It seems to make sense to me that both Beornings and especially Woodman would have great use for a ranged version of them, since they are used so much in day to day life.

To answer your other question, I think I would just allow a regular axe to be thrown with the same range increment as a spear.

[Murcushio]

I think I would still prefer a Keen Splitting axe against something with a high protection roll than a Giant-slaying Great Spear. It seems that while the Great Spear will cause protection rolls more often, the Splitting axe has a higher chance of not being resisted. Which is more likely to cause an actual wound more often? If it is the spear then blast that I want a refund!

No, you're right; that's what we were saying before. Against high attribute level opponents with favoured armor, it's all about the Injury rating, not the Edge rating.

If you're trying to design for pure mechanical effectiveness, you have to do a little tea-leaf reading in order to pick your weapon, and also consider your role in your Fellowship, I think.

It's like, do you think you're going to be fighting insanely tough singular boss monsters more often than you fight hordes of little dudes? Or will you mostly be fighting hordes of little dudes? Do you already have someone in the Fellowship who has a giant damn spear? That guy can probably cover the whole "slay lots of Goblins with lots of Pierces" roll. So can a Hobbit with a King's Blade. In that case, maybe you do want that giant axe, because you're inevitably going to fight a Troll at least once, and that's your time to shine; all you need is one Gandalf and you're in business. You might hurt yourself in general, and the guy with the Spear will somehow seem a lot better than you are, but when you encounter that Mountain Troll or the GM throws, like, some crazy Hillman with a huge Shield at you, that's your time to shine.

Of course, if you're designing for aesthetics, it doesn't really matter. Grab what you think will look the best when, inevitably, you become unhealthily attached to the character and commission fanart.

[Murcushio]

Yeah but why should this matter? Actually, I don't think a single primary hero in the books every used a spear, and certainly not a javelin as a weapon.

... you know, now that I think about it, that's really damn weird, isn't it?

I mean... the Rohirrim are specifically horsemen. That's kind of, you know, a big deal. When you fight on horseback, swords are okay, but you usually want a spear or a lance of some sort. And the Rohirrim are northmen, which means they come out of a culture that used axes, spears, bows, etc.

But Eomer and Theoden's favored, cherished weapons are both swords, Guthwine and Herugrim. I guess that could be explained by the fact that Theoden is half and Eomer a quarter-Gondorian, and Thengel preferred the culture of Gondor to that of his own land... but those are both supposed to be heirlooms of their houses. I think Eomer might actually use a spear once or twice in the books, but it's certainly not his favored weapon, is it?

Huh.

EDIT: Aha! Turin Turambar specifically used a spear and a bow for awhile...

... because his sword was too awesome and had gotten really famous.

[Glorelendil]

I've always thought that Tolkien, despite his historian's chops, cared more about story and aesthetics than about historical accuracy.

Or maybe I'm projecting....

[Otaku-sempai]

By the way, this game really needs throwing axes. When you've got Great Spear and Axes for weapon skills you have no ranged weapons.

In before Rich: yes, I know fan content includes throwing axes. I meant officially.

Yes to both throwing axes and javelins. My wife also pointed out that throwing sticks (essentially clubs balanced for throwing, such as boomerangs) should be included, especially for a stone-age culture such as the Woses/Druidain.

[Glorelendil]

By the way, this game really needs throwing axes. When you've got Great Spear and Axes for weapon skills you have no ranged weapons.

In before Rich: yes, I know fan content includes throwing axes. I meant officially.

Yes to both throwing axes and javelins. My wife also pointed out that throwing sticks (essentially clubs balanced for throwing, such as boomerangs) should be included, especially for a stone-age culture such as the Woses/Druidain.

I like the image of Woses with boomerangs and bolas.

Thank Vala they're in LotR and therefore "in license". Can't wait.