The AD&D game, and fantasy games in general, have a variety of swords listed 
in the equipment tables. Almost invariably, however, these are the commonest 
swords used in medieval Europe, possibly with the addition of a few of the
more famous Oriental swords (the katana and wakizashi) if any adventuring
takes place in the Far East. This article seeks to remedy this situation by
giving a variety of swords of all cultures and all times, ranging from
Celtiberian Spain to the Philippines. Some swords would be quite suitable
for particular campaign settings, such as Kara-Tur or Zakhara, or historical 
settings as presented in the the Age of Heroes (ancient Greece) or Glory of
Rome (Roman Empire) sourcebooks.
In the following descriptions, Cost is the price of the weapon in gold
pieces, while Weight and Size are the same as on the weapon tables of the
equipment lists in the Player's Handbook. Type is the type of weapon it is,
whether piercing (P), slashing (S), or a combination of both (P/S). Speed
Factor, again, is the same as in the weapons tables in the PHB, and the same 
goes for Damage S-M/L. Finally, Culture indicates what peoples 
really used these weapons. In some cases, characters with proficiency or
specialization in a particular weapon gain benefits in addition to the usual 
ones.

Abbasi
Cost: 20 gp 
Weight: 5 
Size: M
Type: P/S
Speed factor: 5
Damage S-M/L: 1d8+2/1d12+2
Culture: Rajput (Indian)
The abbasi is one of several Indian versions of the long sword. The blade is 
reinforced by extra strips of perforated metal on one side, both increasing
the damage it causes and lessening the chances that it will itself break
during battle. Because of the reinforcement, the blade has a +2 bonus to any 
saves vs. crushing blow.

Antenna sword 
(or "Scalpel")
Cost: 15 gp (ornate) or 11 (plain)
Weight: 4
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 5
Damage S-M/L: 1d8/1d4
Culture: Greek/Lankhmarian
This sword is a light, basically straight blade with a slight curve at the
tip, with antenna-like projections at the hilt as decoration. Fans of the
late Fritz Leiber will recognize it as the sword used by the Gray Mouser,
sans antennae.
Proficient use: The user has a +2 bonus to all parries.
Specialized use: The speed factor is lowered to 4.

Chinese bastard sword
Cost: 15
Weight: 7
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 7 (one-handed) or 5 (two-handed)
Damage S-M/L: 1d8/1d12 (one-handed) or 2d4/2d8 (two-handed)
Culture: Chinese
This weapon is one of several swords used as arms in the Chinese martial
arts. Made of finer metal and with a keener edge than its western
counterparts, it is both lighter and handier without sacrificing any power.
Proficient use: Proficiency gives a +1 bonus to all parries.
Specialized use: Specialists operate under a speed factor of 6 (one-handed)
or 4 (two-handed).

Chinese war sword
Cost: 15 gp
Weight: 6
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 6 (one-handed) or 8 (two-handed)
Damage S-M/L: 2d4/2d4 (one-handed) or 2d6/2d6 
(two-handed)
Culture: Chinese
This is a pure chopping weapon. As with the bastard sword, it may be used
both one-handed and two-handed. On wilderness adventures, PCs will find that 
it works equally well as a weapon and as a tool (like the machete).

Double swords
Cost: 15 gp 
(per pair)
Weight: 6 (per pair)
Size: M
Type: P/S
Speed factor: 3
Damage S-M/L: 1d6/1d8
Culture: Chinese
These Chinese short swords are sold in pairs. Each one has a handle that is
flat on one side, enabling the two blades to be stored in a single scabbard. 
This makes for a nasty surprise if an enemy simply counts scabbards to
determine how many swords are present.
Proficient use: The user may attack with both swords at no penalty, no
matter which hand is being used.
Specialized use: Users operate under a speed factor of 2.

Dusack
Cost: 12 gp
Weight: 4
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 4
Damage S-M/L: 1d8/1d8
Culture: Hungarian/Eastern European
The dusack consists of the blade and nothing else, with a hole in the
blade's base substituting for the grip. It was a favored weapon for dueling
and is more likely to be used against the PCs in an urban or court adventure 
than on a battlefield or in a dungeon.
Proficient use: Add +1 to all parrying attempts.
Specialized use: Add another +1 to all parrying attempts, for a total of +2. 
The speed factor is also reduced to 3.

Epee
Cost: 10 gp
Weight: 2
Size: M
Type: P
Speed factor: 3
Damage S-M/L: 1d6/1d4
Culture: Western European
The epee looks more like an enlarged needle with a sword handle on one end
than anything else, making it useful only for thrusting attacks. It is,
however, one of the few swords that is regarded as much as an item of
courtly dress as a weapon, and it may well be the only weapon a PC can take
with him when admitted to the throne room for an audience with the king. The 
epee is mainly a dueling weapon.
Proficient use: Users gain a +1 bonus on all parries.
Specialized use: The speed factor is reduced to 2.

Falchion, Persian
Cost: 12 gp
Weight: 4 
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 4
Damage S-M/L: 1d8/1d6
Culture: Persian
 This weapon has a longer blade than its medieval European counterpart,
making it better suited as a military blade (which it is) than as a hunting
weapon.

Falx
Cost: 18 gp
Weight: 7
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 8 (one-handed) or 6 (two-handed)
Damage S-M/L: 1d8/1d12 (one-
handed) or 2d6/2d8 two-handed
Culture: Dacian/German
The falx was a scythe-bladed sword used by the Dacians, who attacked Rome in 
Trajan's time. So deadly was it that the Romans were forced to put old
models of armor back into production to protect their soldiers from its
blows, to say nothing of reinforcing their shields.
Proficient use: When swung two-handed, the falx is +1 to hit.

Franc-taupin
Cost: 15 gp
Weight: 3
Size: M
Type: P
Speed factor: 5
Damage S-M/L: 1d8/1d12
Culture: French
This odd medieval weapon resembles a long sword, but the front half of the
blade narrows sharply to half the width of the blade's base, producing a
spikelike shape suited only for thrusting attacks.

Glavelot
Cost: 35 gp
Weight: 12
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 9
Damage S-M/L: 2d4/3d6
Culture: Western European
Basically, this is a falchion with the blade length of a bastard sword,
immortalized in Howard Pyle's novel Men of Iron as the weapon the chief
villain used in the final tournament. It may be used only two-handed. Some
authorities also refer to it as the hand-guisarme.

Hegyester
Cost: 20 gp
Weight: 10
Size: M
Type: P
Speed factor: 6
Damage S-M/L: 1d6/1d8
Culture: Hungarian
Another bastard sword hybrid, the hegyester has a blade like an awl pike,
making it suitable only for thrusting. It is almost always used in mounted
combat, being held out like a lance as the rider charges his foe.
Proficient use: The user causes an extra +4 hp damage, regardless of the
enemy's size, when charging the foe in a jousting-style attack.
Specialized use: The user does double damage at the end of a charging
attack, no matter what size the enemy.

Khyber knife
Cost: 7 gp
Weight: 2
Size: M
Type: P/S
Speed factor: 3
Damage S-M/L: 1d8/1d6
Culture: Afghan
This is actually a short sword, with a 249 long blade and an 89 blade. Its
blade has an extra-thick T-rib (half an inch thick) that gives it greater
strength than looks would indicate.
Proficient use: The Khyber knife causes an extra 2 hp damage against human
or humanoid foes wearing armor during a stabbing attack, due to the
reinforced blade.
Specialized use: The speed factor is reduced to 2.

Klewang
Cost: 12 gp
Weight: 5
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 5
Damage S-M/L: 1d10/2d4
Culture: Malay
The klewang is a Malaysian machete/sabre hybrid. It is best recognized by
its odd handle, which extends almost at right angles from the blade. In
Oriental Adventures, it would be a suitable sword for jungle barbarians.

Kora
Cost: 18 gp
Weight: 8
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 9
Damage S-M/L: 2d6/2d8
Culture: Nepalese
The kora is the national sword of Nepal, home of the legendary Gurkhas. It
is a pure chopping weapon, and has hand guards both above and below the grip.

Kukri, regimental
Cost: 12 gp
Weight: 4
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 5
Damage S-M/L: 1d10/1d10
Culture: Nepalese
The regimental kukri is an enlarged version of the famous (and deadly)
curved knife of the Gurkhas. In the real world, it is a ceremonial weapon,
used to bless the regiment by slaying a water buffalo. The actual sacrifice
consists of beheading said water buffalo with a single stroke. Only one is
issued per Gurkha regiment, for the specific purpose of the good luck
ceremony, or dushera. This weapon is over 21/28 in length.

Machaira
Cost: 10 gp
Weight: 7
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 6
Damage S-M/L: 2d4/2d6
Culture: Celtic/Greek
This sword was invented by the ancient Celts and subsequently adopted by the 
Greeks. It was also known among the Greeks as the khopis, while the Romans
who faced it in Greek and barbarian hands - 
particularly in Celtiberian Spain - called it the falcata. This broad-bladed 
slashing sword has an inverse curve the opposite of that of a scimitar.
According to battle accounts, it had terrific armor-
penetrating ability.
Proficient use: The machaira is +1 "to hit" when fighting an armored opponent.

Manchu broadsword
Cost: 18 gp
Weight: 4 
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 4
Damage S-M/L: 2d4/1d12
Culture: Chinese/Manchurian
Like the Chinese bastard sword (see above), this is another Chinese sword
that is used by martial artists. The blade has a slight curve to it, giving
extra force to the downward slashing stroke that makes it so deadly.
Proficient use: Users may do an extra 3 hp damage per blow to a foe of Size
S-M.
Specialized use: The speed factor is reduced to 3.

Mel puttah bemoh
Cost: 30 gp
Weight: 12
Size: L
Type: P/S
Speed factor: 8
Damage S-M/L: 1d10/2d8
Culture: Indian
This weapon of southern India is literally a two-handed, double-edged 
rapier. As with the kora (see above), it has hand guards above and below the 
grip.
Proficient use: Users may inflict an extra 2 hp damage per attack, with no
regard for the target's size.
Specialized use: The speed factor is reduced to 7.

Rapier
Cost: 12 gp
Weight: 3
Size: M
Type: P or P/S
Speed factor: 4
Damage S-M/L: 1d6/1d6
Culture: Western European
This is the dueling sword of choice. As with the smaller epee (see above),
it is more of a 
decorative court sword than a weapon to be used in serious adventuring or
battle. Early versions were double-edged, while later models were merely
enlarged epees, suitable only for thrusting. The damage is the same whether
a slash or a
 thrust is used.
Proficient use: The wielder gains a +2 bonus on all parrying attempts.
Specialized use: The speed factor is reduced to 3.

Saddle sword
Cost: 60 gp
Weight: 15
Size: L
Type: P/S
Speed factor: 10
Damage S-M/L: 1d10/2d10
Culture: Western European
The saddle sword is a two-handed sword which is used as much for thrusting
as for slashing, if not more so. Its name comes from its special scabbard,
which enables it to be slung from a saddle for easy 
transport. The last quarter to third of the blade is wider than most of it,
forming into an elongated spear head. Just behind this elongated head is a
socket that can be plugged by a crossbar. This serves the same purpose as
the baffles on a lance or boar spear: it keeps the weapon from penetrating
the target so deeply that it is difficult or impossible to withdraw it again.
Proficient use: The saddle sword inflicts an extra 6 hp damage if the
wielder uses it in a thrusting attack.
Specialized use: A specialist who makes a charging attack causes double 
damage at the end of his charge.

Seax, long
Cost: 18 gp
Weight: 4
Size: M
Type: P/S
Speed factor: 4
Damage S-M/L: 1d8/1d12
Culture: Frankish/Saxon/Viking
The seax is a long sword variant used by many Germanic tribes.
The last third of the blade tapers gradually toward the point. Aside from
shaving a bit of weight off the blade, making it easier to wield, this also
makes the sword handier than most long swords in a thrusting attack.
Sica
Cost: 10 gp
Weight: 3
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 4
Damage S-M/L: 1d6/1d4
Culture: Thracian
This is a short sword-sized scimitar. 
It was used by the Thracians of ancient Greece, and was the main weapon of
the "Thracian" class of Roman gladiators. In Robert E. Howard's stories of
Kull the Atlantean, it also appears to be the sword used by the Picts of
that period.
Proficient use: Proficiency earns a +1 parrying bonus.
Specialized use: The speed factor is reduced to 3.

Tachi
Cost: 35 gp
Weight: 4
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 4
Damage S-M/L: 1d10/1d10
Culture: Japanese
While later tachi are virtually identical to the katana, the earliest tachi
were straight swords, but they still shared the single, razor-sharp edge and 
chisel point of later cousins. Oriental Adventures players who covet magical 
weapons should note that, this being the case, there will be far more
magical tachi lying around in dungeons and other old ruins than there will
be katana or wakizashi. Choose your weapon proficiencies (and
specializations) accordingly!

Tai chi sword
Cost: 12 gp
Weight: 3
Size: M
Type: P/S
Speed factor: 3
Damage S-M/L: 1d8/1d8
Culture: Chinese
The tai chi sword is the last of the Chinese swords listed here to be used
by martial artists.
Proficient use: Wielder gains a +1 bonus on parrying attempts.
Specialized use: The speed factor is reduced to 2.

Talibon
Cost: 17 gp
Weight: 5
Size: M
Type: P/S
Speed factor: 6
Damage S-M/L: 1d8/1d12
Culture: Filipino
The talibon is used by the Christian natives of the Philippines. The blade
is heavy, with a slight outward curve in the center to add more force to a
slashing attack. As with the klewang (see above), it would be a suitable
weapon for jungle barbarians in the Oriental Adventures campaign setting.

Yataghan
Cost: 12 gp
Weight: 4
Size: M
Type: S
Speed factor: 6
Damage S-M/L: 2d4/2d4
Culture: Turkish
The broad-bladed yataghan is one of the primary weapons of Turkish warriors. 
A type of sabre, the most noticeable thing is its incurved blade, which was
designed to go precisely in line with the motion the wielder's wrist makes
when delivering a slashing attack, allowing all his strength to go into the
blow. Much of the blade's weight is forward as well, adding still more force 
to a downward cut. Suitable for 
campaigns from the Al-Qadimr setting to Oriental Adventures, including India 
and eastern Europe.
Proficient use: The user causes an extra 2 hp damage.

Over the past decade,
Gregory W. Detwiler has been a frequent contributor to 
Dragonr Magazine and Polyhedron Newszine. 


Transmitted: 7/24/96 1:34 PM (swor232)