claws

[Krammer]

Has anybody made stats for a Claw type of weapon? Not like animal claws, but more like wolverines, only not built into your hands. I guess what I am thinking of is more along the lines of the Claw weapons in the Diablo 2 Expansion. I have no idea how practical of a weapon it would be, but it seems good to me.
   I would imagine the stats being similar to animal claws, only with more damage, and possibly more range (though not much). In addition, you would be able to block with them and not lose an arm.
   Those are just my own crazy thoughts. Suggestions, criticisms, comments, insults?

[Caz]

The stats for talons say "often as long as daggers" so I'd just use the stats for those, + the daggers thrust stats.  If they're integral, give them the talons stats.  If they're hand held, give them the DTN of a dagger.

Here's something I made up trying to come up with stats for some oriental weapons/equipment.
Ninja climbing claws
Length: Hand, ATN 6, DTN 7, DR ST-3c
They are too small to block weapons you wouldn't block with your bare hands.
  +2 to climb rolls.
   Not intended as weapons.

[Salamander]

Has anybody made stats for a Claw type of weapon? Not like animal claws, but more like wolverines, only not built into your hands. I guess what I am thinking of is more along the lines of the Claw weapons in the Diablo 2 Expansion. I have no idea how practical of a weapon it would be, but it seems good to me.
   I would imagine the stats being similar to animal claws, only with more damage, and possibly more range (though not much). In addition, you would be able to block with them and not lose an arm.
   Those are just my own crazy thoughts. Suggestions, criticisms, comments, insults?

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!

Okay, now that the insults are out of the way... There are claws similar to this from India during and just before the Rajas. They are commonly called tiger claws or "Bagh Nakh" if memory serves. It would be unwise to mount any type of claw weapon on your arm as the force of it would cause you injury. Also, should a person manage to grab them, you can't release the weapon and then you are in even more trouble. Should you try to block with a piece of unsupported metal on your arm the results would be unpleasant.

[kenjib]

The stats for talons say "often as long as daggers" so I'd just use the stats for those, + the daggers thrust stats.  If they're integral, give them the talons stats.  If they're hand held, give them the DTN of a dagger.

They would be a sharper than natural talons though, so perhaps a bit more damage.

[Caz]

You'd think.  But the stats for daggers are the same as for talons, as far as cutting goes.
    As far as indian weapons stuck to the arm, I think a lot of bagh nakh were held by putting the fingers through rings, like clawed brass knuckles.  There's another indian weapon, a sword, but it projects straight from a gauntlet strapped to the hand and forearm.  Generally, as far as weapons designed to be strapped to your arms go, they're made not to hurt you when striking, and some, like the gauntlet sword, are designed to protect as well.  Ever seen that movie Botherhood of the Wolf?  Those claw things those gypsies were using in there is what I'm thinking about.  They looked like they'd strike just fine, but I wouldn't try to parry another weapon with them.  Being able to let go is all personal preference.  Enarmed shields, "arming gloves", locking gauntlets, gauntlet swords,  lanyards, it all depends.

[Krammer]

well, thank you all for the input. I think I will take your suggestions, somehow combine them into one, then tist them around, warp them a bit. Make changes equivelant to that of a Hamster being eaten by an Editorial Columnist, and then use them. (I only wish I could understand what I just said. Oh dear. . .
but, really, thanks.

[Tash]

I've actually worn a sort of wolverineesque claw type weapon.  it was designed by a friend who was into smithing and armor making.  It consisted of a leather gauntlet with three steel blade/spike thingies set into on the back.  They were roughly 12" long and slid forward and back, and could be locked in place using a sort of rachet mechanisim at the end of the blades.
The cool part was that the hand portion of the gauntlet had these little sleeves that matched up with the path of the blades, so when you slid the blades forward they basically locked you hand in line with your forearm and kept your wrist from moving.  It let you punch with a lot of power and not worry about breaking your wrist.  We could get a good several inches of penetration into heavy wood targets like trees, houses, etc.  I even got it through a car door once (in a junckyard, honest, no vandalim here).  All in all it was a pretty cool gadget for a pair of teenagers to get themselves in trouble with.

[Krammer]

well, I had never thought of actually having them be able to retract, but if it is possible, sounds cool.
    so, uh, having had experience with them, Tash, what would you suppose  would be a good ATN, DTN, and damage?

[Tash]

Well they weren't really a weapon by any means, they were a dangerous costume prop.  That said I don't remember them being any harder to move with than my regular hands.  I'd just copy the ATN/DTN for a punch and make the damage Str+1 piercing.  Getting punched in the gut with one would have hurt a LOT.  Its basically 3 stilleto type daggers hitting you at once.

If they were edged along the back or inside (these weren't, they were more spikes than blades) I'd raise the ATN by 1 and make the damage Str slash for a rake or claw maneuver.