Often a swashbuckler will acquire a high quality, special, or even unique weapons or armor. Honor+Intrigue includes these in the rules as Magnificent Arms and Armor. These are items that are acquired as Boons either during character creation or during the game. Such items can be created by skilled Craftsmen, though they may also require the skills of an Alchemist. The rules list several examples of magnificent weapons and armor: Perfectly Balanced, Damascus Steel, Hidden Weapons, Trick Swords, and Lucky Swords with room for the player and GM to create additional items of their own devising. Typically the items gain a Bonus Die for some function. (See page 38 of the rule book for details.). So far, none of the PCs have acquired Magnificent items, though they have encountered a few examples.
In Honor+Intrigue Magnificent quality items fill a similar niche to magic armor and weapons in other RPGs, but in the period there were different qualities of weapons available to the discerning swordsman or soldier. In Honor+Intrigue these are represented by Masterwork arms and armor (p. 189). These are items that can be made by skilled craftsmen.
Masterwork arms and armor reroll any result of a "1" when rolling Damage or Protection.
Well crafted blades in the period were likely to be made of fine steel and I wanted include examples of those. Two types were Solingen steel, from a town in the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, and Toledo steel, from the city in central Spain. Such blades may well be owned by nobles and include significant and costly ornamentation. I added
Solingen Steel: Produced in the town of Solingen in the Imperial Duchy of Berg, blades made from Solingen steel are among the finest found in Europe, praised for their strength, flexibility, and keen edge. Weapons made from Solingen steel add +1 to their roll to resist breakage. These weapons cost three times the normal price listed. Availability is limited.
Toledo Steel: Blades made from Toledo steel are among the finest found in Europe, praised for their strength, flexibility, and keen edge. Weapons made from Toledo steel add +1 to their roll to resist breakage. These weapons cost three times the normal price listed. Availability is limited.
Ornate Weapons: Whether for show or crafted for the nobility are decorated with semiprecious or precious stones, ivory, engraving, and silver or gold filigree work. The price of the weapon is increased by 100-200L for semiprecious stones and sliver trim and by 500+ L for precious stones and gold trim.
One PC was gifted with a Masterwork rapier (see below) as a gift for saving the life of the Prince de Croÿ. Sadly, if history follows its course the reprieve was only a temporary one and the Prince will be shot dead November 5, 1624.
Masterwork Rapier (reroll any 1) decorated with gold and silver and the coat of arms of the House de Croÿ. The blade is Toledo steel (+1 to resist breaking) and it was given to the Prince’s father by Henry IV when he was made duc de Croÿ and a Peer of France.
Arms of the House de Croÿ
In Honor+Intrigue Magnificent quality items fill a similar niche to magic armor and weapons in other RPGs, but in the period there were different qualities of weapons available to the discerning swordsman or soldier. In Honor+Intrigue these are represented by Masterwork arms and armor (p. 189). These are items that can be made by skilled craftsmen.
Masterwork arms and armor reroll any result of a "1" when rolling Damage or Protection.
Well crafted blades in the period were likely to be made of fine steel and I wanted include examples of those. Two types were Solingen steel, from a town in the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, and Toledo steel, from the city in central Spain. Such blades may well be owned by nobles and include significant and costly ornamentation. I added
Solingen Steel: Produced in the town of Solingen in the Imperial Duchy of Berg, blades made from Solingen steel are among the finest found in Europe, praised for their strength, flexibility, and keen edge. Weapons made from Solingen steel add +1 to their roll to resist breakage. These weapons cost three times the normal price listed. Availability is limited.
Toledo Steel: Blades made from Toledo steel are among the finest found in Europe, praised for their strength, flexibility, and keen edge. Weapons made from Toledo steel add +1 to their roll to resist breakage. These weapons cost three times the normal price listed. Availability is limited.
Ornate Weapons: Whether for show or crafted for the nobility are decorated with semiprecious or precious stones, ivory, engraving, and silver or gold filigree work. The price of the weapon is increased by 100-200L for semiprecious stones and sliver trim and by 500+ L for precious stones and gold trim.
One PC was gifted with a Masterwork rapier (see below) as a gift for saving the life of the Prince de Croÿ. Sadly, if history follows its course the reprieve was only a temporary one and the Prince will be shot dead November 5, 1624.
Masterwork Rapier (reroll any 1) decorated with gold and silver and the coat of arms of the House de Croÿ. The blade is Toledo steel (+1 to resist breaking) and it was given to the Prince’s father by Henry IV when he was made duc de Croÿ and a Peer of France.
Arms of the House de Croÿ
Good stuff. I have some notes for incorporating "masterwork" weapons into Witch Hunter (to go along with Silvered and Cold Iron weapons, conveniently borrowed from Regime Diabolique). Mind if I borrow some of this for flavor?
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome to take anything you find useful. That's why I post it The only caveat is that the stuff I produce is for personal not commercial use.
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