Editing BurningTemple:Weapons (section)

= Weapons of the Martial World =

In ''Five Fists of the Burning Temple'', weapons are not replacements for skill—they are extensions of it.

A true master does not rely on the blade. But when they draw it, the world remembers.

Weapons enhance your martial arts, adding reach, control, and lethality. They do not replace your base damage—they build upon it.

This system replaces the weapon damage system used in regular SWADE.

== Weapon Philosophy ==

All weapons follow three guiding principles:

* '''They enhance, not replace, your martial arts'''
* '''They add flat bonuses instead of new damage dice'''
* '''They express style as much as function'''

Your base damage comes from your Martial Arts skill. Weapons add to that damage.

== Weapon Damage Model ==

{| class="wikitable bt-table"
! Weapon Category
! Damage Bonus
! Notes
|-
| Light Weapons
| +1
| Fast, flexible, concealable
|-
| Standard Weapons
| +2
| Balanced, versatile, most common
|-
| Heavy Weapons
| +3
| Powerful, slower, often two-handed
|}

'''Example:'''
A martial artist with Str + d8 unarmed damage using a saber (+2) deals:

'''Str + d8 + 2'''

== Weapon Traits ==

Weapons may also grant special traits:

{| class="wikitable bt-table"
! Trait
! Effect
|-
| Reach +1
| Can attack from 1" further away
|-
| Defensive
| +1 Parry when wielded
|-
| Entangling
| +1 to Grapple or Disarm attempts
|-
| Concealable
| +1 to Stealth rolls to hide weapon
|-
| Two-Handed
| Cannot be used with a second weapon
|-
| Flexible
| Ignores some Parry bonuses (GM discretion)
|}

== Weapon Reference Table ==

{| class="wikitable bt-table"
! Weapon
! Category
! Bonus
! Traits
! Favored Styles
|-
| Dagger / Twin Daggers
| Light
| +1
| Concealable
| Snake, Moth, Scorpion
|-
| War Fan
| Light
| +1
| Defensive, Concealable
| Fan, Crane
|-
| Chain / Rope Dart
| Light
| +1
| Flexible, Entangling
| Snake, Mantis
|-
| Throwing Needles
| Light (Ranged)
| +1
| Concealable, Range 3/6/12
| Moth, Snake
|-
| Straight Sword (Jian)
| Standard
| +2
| Balanced
| Crane, Hundred Forms
|-
| Curved Saber (Dao)
| Standard
| +2
| +1 damage on Raise
| Tiger, Scorpion
|-
| Jo Staff
| Standard
| +2
| Reach +1, Defensive
| Monkey, Crane
|-
| Spear
| Standard
| +2
| Reach +1
| Horse, Hundred Forms
|-
| Tonfa / Short Batons
| Standard
| +2
| Defensive
| Ox, Mantis
|-
| Polearm / Halberd
| Heavy
| +3
| Reach +2, Two-Handed
| Horse, Iron Body
|-
| Great Sword
| Heavy
| +3
| Two-Handed, +1 damage on Raise
| Tiger, Hundred Forms
|-
| Tetsubo / War Club
| Heavy
| +3
| Two-Handed, ignores 1 Armor
| Ox
|-
| Silk Scarf
| Exotic
| +1
| Entangling, Concealable
| Fan, Moth
|-
| Hook Swords
| Exotic
| +2
| Entangling, Dual-wield capable
| Scorpion
|-
| Chain Whip
| Exotic
| +2
| Flexible, Reach +1
| Snake
|}

Weapons are explained in more detail below.

== Light Weapons ==

Fast, elegant, and often deceptive.

=== Dagger / Twin Daggers ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +1  

'''Traits:''' Concealable  

'''Style:''' Snake, Moth, Scorpion  
Used for quick strikes and hidden attacks.
</div>

=== War Fan ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +1  

'''Traits:''' Defensive, Concealable  

'''Style:''' Fan, Crane  

Elegant and deadly. Often mistaken for decoration.
</div>

=== Chain / Rope Dart ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +1  

'''Traits:''' Flexible, Entangling  

'''Style:''' Snake, Mantis  

Difficult to master, devastating in skilled hands.
</div>

=== Throwing Needles ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +1 (ranged)  

'''Range:''' 3/6/12  

'''Traits:''' Concealable  

'''Style:''' Moth, Snake  

Used for distraction, poison, or precise strikes.
</div>

== Standard Weapons ==

The most common weapons of the martial world.

=== Straight Sword (Jian) ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +2  

'''Traits:''' Balanced (no penalties)  

'''Style:''' Crane, Hundred Forms  

The weapon of scholars and nobles.
</div>

=== Curved Saber (Dao) ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +2  

'''Traits:''' +1 damage on a Raise  

'''Style:''' Tiger, Scorpion  

A brutal, practical battlefield weapon.
</div>

=== Jo Staff ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +2  

'''Traits:''' Reach +1, Defensive  

'''Style:''' Monkey, Crane  

A versatile weapon of monks and wanderers.
</div>

=== Spear ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +2  

'''Traits:''' Reach +1  

'''Style:''' Horse, Hundred Forms  

The king of battlefield weapons.
</div>

=== Tonfa / Short Batons ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +2  

'''Traits:''' Defensive  

'''Style:''' Ox, Mantis  

Excellent for blocking and close combat.
</div>

== Heavy Weapons ==

Powerful, dramatic, and often overwhelming.

=== Polearm / Halberd ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +3  

'''Traits:''' Reach +2, Two-Handed  
'
''Style:''' Horse, Iron Body  

Massive battlefield weapon with wide arcs.
</div>

=== Great Sword ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +3  

'''Traits:''' Two-Handed, +1 damage on Raise  

'''Style:''' Tiger, Hundred Forms  

Used by warriors who favor power over speed.
</div>

=== Tetsubo / War Club ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +3  

'''Traits:''' Two-Handed, ignores 1 point of armor  

'''Style:''' Ox  

Crude, heavy, devastating.
</div>

== Flexible and Exotic Weapons ==

These weapons require training or special Edges.

=== Silk Scarf ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +1  

'''Traits:''' Entangling, Concealable  

'''Style:''' Fan, Moth  

Can entangle, blind, or disarm.
</div>

=== Hook Swords ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +2  

'''Traits:''' Entangling, Dual-wield capable  

'''Style:''' Scorpion  

Complex weapons requiring precision.
</div>

=== Chain Whip ===
<div class="bt-card">
'''Bonus:''' +2  

'''Traits:''' Flexible, Reach +1  

'''Style:''' Snake  

Can strike unpredictably from odd angles.
</div>

== Improvised Weapons ==

In the martial world, everything is a weapon.

{| class="wikitable bt-table"
! Object
! Bonus
! Notes
|-
| Chair
| +1
| Breaks on a Raise
|-
| Bottle
| +1
| May cause Distracted on hit
|-
| Tray
| +0
| Can be used defensively
|-
| Ladder
| +2
| Awkward, but powerful
|-
| Cooking pot
| +1
| Can blind with a Trick
|}

Using improvised weapons:

* –1 to hit unless using a Trick
* Gain +1 if used creatively
* Gain +2 if it makes everyone laugh

== Dual Wielding ==

Characters may wield two light or standard weapons:

* Use standard SWADE off-hand penalties
* Some styles (Monkey, Mantis, Scorpion) specialize in dual weapons
* Hook swords and daggers are especially suited to this

== Weapon and Style Synergy ==

Using a weapon favored by your style grants:

* +1 to a single attack roll per round

This represents harmony between weapon and technique.

== Weapon Breakage (Optional Rule) ==

On a Critical Failure:

* Light weapon: breaks immediately
* Standard weapon: breaks on second failure
* Heavy weapon: becomes unwieldy (–2 to hit) until repaired

This rule emphasizes cinematic destruction and shifting combat conditions.

== Legendary Weapons ==

Some weapons are more than steel—they are stories.

Legendary weapons may:

* Grant additional Edges
* Unlock hidden techniques
* Require Honor thresholds to wield
* Refuse unworthy users

These are detailed further on [[Burning Temple Legendary Relics]].

== Final Word ==

A weapon does not make a master.

But in the right hands—

—it ends the story.

[[Category:Burning Temple]]
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