Kukri

[Sneaky Git]

Hmm.  Here's a question.  How would a Khukuri (commonly known as the Kukri), the Nepalese fighting knife made famous by Gurkhas, translate into TRoS?  It's a knife (a pretty big one, I think), but with a heavy chopping blade.  Would it somehow be a cross between a knife and an axe?  Or a knife and a khopesh sword?  What do you all think?

Oh, btw.. here are two links that talk about it.  A bit biased, to be truthful, but interesting reads nonetheless.

http://www.army.mod.uk/brigade_of_gurkhas/history/Kukri_History.htm

http://www.btinternet.com/~britishempire/empire/forces/armyunits/gurkha/gurkhaskukri.htm

Chris

[Eamon Voss]

Hmm.  Here's a question.  How would a Khukuri (commonly known as the Kukri), the Nepalese fighting knife made famous by Gurkhas, translate into TRoS?  It's a knife (a pretty big one, I think), but with a heavy chopping blade.  Would it somehow be a cross between a knife and an axe?  Or a knife and a khopesh sword?  What do you all think?

Oh, btw.. here are two links that talk about it.  A bit biased, to be truthful, but interesting reads nonetheless.

http://www.army.mod.uk/brigade_of_gurkhas/history/Kukri_History.htm

http://www.btinternet.com/~britishempire/empire/forces/armyunits/gurkha/gurkhaskukri.htm

I love kukris!  So in my incredibly biased view I think they should have the stats of the doppelsword.

Realistically, I guess they should be done as a combination between the knife and axe, or shortsword and axe.  They throw well too so add that in.

[Nick the Nevermet]

IMHO, its a dagger, but switch the Cut and Thrust numbers so its designed for slashing, not stabbing.

[Eamon Voss]

IMHO, its a dagger, but switch the Cut and Thrust numbers so its designed for slashing, not stabbing.

My first instinct is to go, 'What?!?'  But in retrospect, you might be right.  Maybe give a +1 on slash damage or something at most for a big, meaty version of the knife.

[Jake Norwood]

I'd give it stats like...

Range: Short or Hand
ATN: (cut) 6 (thrust 7 or worse)
Dam: ST + 2c, STp
DTN: 7

It really not a stabbing weapon, nor does it have any of the trappings needed for a good defensive weapon except that it's got enough mass to displace many attacks. It's real strength is in how vicious of a cut it's got for it's length.

Jake

[Nick the Nevermet]

My first instinct is to go, 'What?!?'  But in retrospect, you might be right.  Maybe give a +1 on slash damage or something at most for a big, meaty version of the knife.

Sorry for not being clear; when I said 'cut and thrust numbers' I meant both TN and damage.  My grandpa came back from WWII with a Kukri (wish I knew the story behind getting it), scabard and all.  It really is an impressive looking weapon, and definitely looks like a slash/chop from that would be a very, very bad thing.

[Salamander]

It really is an impressive looking weapon, and definitely looks like a slash/chop from that would be a very, very bad thing.

It is.

[Eamon Voss]

It really is an impressive looking weapon, and definitely looks like a slash/chop from that would be a very, very bad thing.

It is.

While it is a nasty weapon, I can't reconcile giving it a +2 slash.  That makes it the equivalent of a falchion.  I would argue for a +1 slash.

[Jake Norwood]

I gave it a +2 cut based on what I've read and handled. A kukri, though only 18" long, can behead a man. They have a spectacular cut. Their disadvantages are their length and--I presume--defensive capabilities. While I agree that a messer is probably meaner, I think it deserves better than ST+1...ST+1.5 might be perfect, but pointless.

Perhaps ST+1 for the foot-long variety, and ST+2 for the longer variety (up to 2')?

Jake

[Eamon Voss]

I gave it a +2 cut based on what I've read and handled. A kukri, though only 18" long, can behead a man. They have a spectacular cut. Their disadvantages are their length and--I presume--defensive capabilities. While I agree that a messer is probably meaner, I think it deserves better than ST+1...ST+1.5 might be perfect, but pointless.

Perhaps ST+1 for the foot-long variety, and ST+2 for the longer variety (up to 2')?

Hmmm... the pointless and idiotic solution to this conundrum is to heavily modify TROS.  Lets multiply the damage values by 100.  Then we can make the damage results per weapon more specific.  Of course, this would require multiplying armor and toughness values by 100, and modifications to the damage charts will have to ensue.  And while we are at it, lets add a d100 randomizing value to damage.

Sorry.  Couldn't help myself after the meeting I just left.  I think Jake's solution is good, and fits better into the TROS weapon description paradigm.

[Mike Holmes]

I'd allow the +2 for largish ones. And allow big Falchions to go to +3 or higher.

Anyone want to do stats for a Headsman's Falchion (or the sword or axe while we're at it)? Unlikley to be used in combat, but, hey, you never know.

Mike

[Brian Leybourne]

I gave it a +2 cut based on what I've read and handled. A kukri, though only 18" long, can behead a man. They have a spectacular cut. Their disadvantages are their length and--I presume--defensive capabilities. While I agree that a messer is probably meaner, I think it deserves better than ST+1...ST+1.5 might be perfect, but pointless.Perhaps ST+1 for the foot-long variety, and ST+2 for the longer variety (up to 2')?

Sounds reasonable enough. My biggest problem so far is the 7 DTN you gave it. They're relatively short and unwieldy (so far as trying to get them in the way of a sword), I would have to say 8 fits better IMO.

Brian.