The Rapier - The Weapons We Wield in D&D
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- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
- Have you ever thought the weapons of D&D 5e are a little lackluster? We agree! Join Bill as he gives an overview of what the D&D weapons are, how well they currently work, and how they could possibly be improved. This video focuses on the rapier, a dueling weapon that's already really good in 5th Edition
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Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
0:58 - The History of the Rapier
8:16 - The Rapier in D&D
10:26 - How to "Fix" the Rapier
15:17 - Conclusion 
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Saying that the rapier is a light sword with 1 kg is not really true, because that is not light for a one- handed weapon and also extremely light for a rapier where 1,3kg is closer to the average weight, and 1,8kg for the really heavy ones. 1m blade-length is also pretty much the minimum to call a complex-hilted sword a rapier and blade-length of up to 1,2m are still fairly common, with a few examples having 1,3m blade-length, however these are less reasonable.
I am writing a reply on my own comment because RUclips will not let me edit my comment.
I personally would give the rapier a special reaction to roll an attack against an incoming strike to parry it, to reflect the inherent defensive capabilities that made rapiers popular, combined of course with the greater reach over most other one-handed weapons, responsiveness of the point and the potential for artistic craftsmanship that the complex hilt provides. Also give it the optional capability to cut on a scale of 1d4 to 1d8, because most actual rapiers can cut and almost every single fencing book from the age of rapier features cuts with the rapier, some rapiers actually had fairly broad blades that could cut extremely well even. The cutting capability depends heavily on the rapier so having multiple possible damage dice makes sense.
@@jansteinhaus5821 I did laugh the 1st time I read ''2 Ib'' next to the rapier in 5e.
Even mine a replica from my fathers family collection an English rapier is a tad over 4 pounds but it is long at 51 inches.
Some get to 53 inches in English Spanish styles of construction.
About 44 inches is the more common though shorter or longer exist as it's a matter of preference, purpose & the users height-built.
I'm a big broad fella at 6' 4'' though short men argue 6' 5'' to gain an inch.
To your 2nd comment you don't really parry exactly but feel the bind trying wind to advantage in the bind but that is duelling.
If anything a rapier should have (reach) property & with a complex hilt usually swept while presenting so little of your body on the flank presented should give (in melee +1ac minimum)
Personally if they want the weapons in 5e to feel unique then stop changing the dice numbers except the spear should be D8 & not D6 minimum.
Give every weapon a few unique useful traits as people might consider the trait over just weight, cost & damage type.
I've got a rapier at home that weighs 0.98 kg. I've got another one that weighs 1.1kg, and another that is 1.13 kg. I'm not saying your wrong, just that lighter ones exist.
@@randymouser3816You’re right! Lighter and smaller ones do exist.
Lightweight rapiers that also have shorter blades may be more accurately represented as smallswords or épées, though there’s no strict definition.
(Btw since this can be read as a little condescending, I just want to say that this is not meant to “correct” you - your sword may in fact be a rapier. This *possibly* new information may be helpful to you or other readers when considering the common characteristics of rapiers.)
That's something a lot of people don't know, because they've never looked very deep into it. Most rapiers weigh about the same as a longsword, and are roughly as long, but the massive difference in their utility is due to the rapier's balance.
While Rangers have never struck me as a rapier type of class (the sword is far too nice to be dragging around in the brush), I've always defaulted to it for my Bards. In fact, there's only one Bard I've ever made who doesn't use a rapier.
We need the whip next, the greatest weapon
Rapier from the French rapière = rasper or grater is kind of a blanket term for blade typology/shape.
What most think of as a 1 handed rapier is a Estoque, Sable or more specifically Espada ropera=dress sword/court sword.
The Italians would call such a blade just spada=sword in the time.
Thing is a tuck/estoc/panzerstretcher as 2 handed sword is as much a rapier as a court/dress sword.
The rapière = rasper or grater was called such due to the matter the blade is used for you would with wrist cut rasp or grate flesh from bone but it grates/raps even better when you 1/2 sword.
To use a rapier be it one handed or 2 handed is not fancy like they make out in Hollywood films but a cruel sadistic affair which is why much of the 18th & 19th century nobility abandoned the rapier for sabres & other similar cutting sword that have far more heroic aura.
My Family pirates turned privateers then red coats had no such qualms of appearing as if villainous.
In fact many bandits pirates & other unsavoury elements used rapiers as they are intimidating on the other side of it's point which a quick nick make most anyone compliant.
Most every civilian carried a sword or side arm of some form in the middle ages in Europe.
Most civilians carried if a sword a cutleaxe/cutlass, falchion, bilbao or similar smaller sword that was far more practical to wear-carry in daily life.
A single edged sword like falchion, cutlace/cutlass or messer is far simpler & cheaper to make.
Double edged arming swords were common outside of nobility but 2 handers were not.
Arming swords were in time replaced by court/dress sword in all walks of civilian life but this was a gradual occurrence as the poorer caught up with trends of technology & fashion of the time.
You made some mistakes & have to understand that Europe was not one unified place in fashion conduct or almost anything like it is in the 20th to 21st century were we pretty much wear or do the same things with the same trends.
I ain't updated much & my brother calls me an 18th century man which I take as a compliment rather then an insult personally.
i never cared for how people do matters without thought or reason.
You would not really use a 2nd sword in the off hand as carrying it is added encumbrance & inconvenience while a parrying dagger or buckler others more while far easier to wear-carry.
Some sailors & explorers used hatchets or tomahawks as an off hand hand weapon in mentions as it served a ranged weapon or parrying device while not used as a tool.
Alehouse dagger/basket hilted dagger is my preference of off hand but you use what you have got & a free hand is often preferable to a off hand weapon in some cases for 1/2 sword or grappling.
2 handing swords was rarely done as it is not very practical though I have done it in sparing against 2 opponent but I am ambidextrous meaning both my eyes & hands are just as coordinated!
Still even ambidextrous which is less the 1 in 100 people I would rather another weapon in my off hand over a pair of swords as it sound neat but it really isn't.
Critical hit on 19 & 20 doesn't seem appropriate from my experience.
My English rapier replicated off my fathers is 51 inches & in my 27 inch arm due to the 2 inches on the guard it reaches just over 80 inches from my flank in reach.
If anything a rapier should have reach & with a complex hilt usually swept while presenting so little of your body should give (in melee +1ac minimum)
I have stuck people with blunt mock replica's in protective long before they get adjacent to me when using other swords that are not rapiers in blade typology.
reach is a massive advantage in real life as the only thing better is ranged weapon.
Court swords are great weapons in a duel or melee but if ranged weapons or cavalry is involved it would be my last choice so not suited to open battlefield.
What I never understood about D & D is why the spear is so awful when it was the king of the battlefield till cannons & artillery replaced it as the king of the battlefield.
Spear should be D8 & not a D6 weapon.
A novice with a spear will defeat even a sword master more often then about say 6:4.
Reach & being able to be thrown is a big advantage.
Swords excluding Great swords are side arms & not primary battle field weapon like the spear!
It is like comparing a pistol to rifle.
They both have their place but it is not a real competition as the rifle wins being a primary armament!
great video. very useful. would add slash to damage type as player chosen option, (exclusive pierce damage would be more epee). what made rapiers so dangerous was being able to either pierce or slash. adding repost action as a dex contest when attacked during another's turn would add more flavor. additionally, adding the failure to handle close-in attacks (say less than 2 feet) through another dex contest should keep the rapier from being OP and add more flavor...
Important correction: there is nothing preventing the rapier from producing deep slashing wounds and its use alongside a dagger seems to largely have been incidental rather than essential; most people carried a sword and dagger anyway so why not use both. It's also important not to overestimate the importance and prevalence of the rapier as a historical weapon; in many cases, "rapiers" were simply another name for side swords and arming swords, with only a fraction of those weapons fitting the more modern definition.
The "Rapier," as framed as a distinct weapon from an arming/side sword, is optimized for its superior reach. In duels where it was likely to come up against side/arming swords and long/bastard swords, a blade as long as on most two-handed swords yet still light enough to be wielded in one hand effectively could generally be expected to make ranged attacks before most of its competitors. How to translate this into D&D is a bit tricky: Perhaps a "Lunge" mechanic, that would allow you to increase the weapon's reach after a skill check, less reliable than a spear, but still valuable in a sword fight.
Rapier does put a bit of a wrench into my idea of a Tasha's weapon damage feats as rules idea from earlier videos. Given that I've mostly endorsed the High Crit Chance of Swords vs. High Crit Modifier of Axes, Rapier's innate Piercing damage would essentially combine both mechanics. Perhaps a more reasonable option would be giving piercing weapons advantage on damage rolls: in this case, roll 4D8 and choosing the top 2. This gives Piercing weapons value from their potentially better damage without necessarily breaking them.
they need to make a saber that just rapier but slashing
Just use scimitar stats and reskin.
Excellent video. 👌🏻 Plenty to discuss, but not in a comment section. 😂 Bravo.
I wonder, will you be doing s new series of videos on arms, armor, and monsters when the new books come out?
I like your focus on making weapons unique for players to specialize in and dive into. But for me part of the appeal of 5th edition for me was to simplify the mechanics. All of your ideas are good to set apart the weapons , but for me they are adding complications to the player and the DM.
Remember the lesson of Rob Roy. Only good if both sides are armed with Rapiers. And if the opponent is unarmored.
Imho, I don't think the rapier should be in D&D. There i said it.
The whole setting is a mix of so many time periods, while claiming to be medieval 😂
Rapiers and Plate armor shouldn't be in it, if it is supposed to be medieval.
@@yurisc4633 plate armor is normal if expensive and rare-ish in the "late/high" medieval...
Only if you are running a Renaissance or Steampunk setting. Same with Foils, Epees, etc.
@@armorclasshero2103 Full Plate armor makes its appearance in the 1300s so no issue with having it. But Rapiers are a product of the Renaissance with Armor going away.
@@Marcus-ki1en exactly
Booooo
It's over used
It does the best damage for dex weapons, it's hard not to pick it. The only other choices is a dualwield short sword.
I'd love to be able to duel wield rapier and daggers without needing the feat and furthermore 2 rapiers doing more damage. I wish rapiers weren't the end all be all choice.
@@ediskey the humble scimitar gets overlooked again #tragic
@@jasong8085 Depends on the flavor you're going for.