Melee weapon

From the V8 Rulebook

All melee weapons require a rigid core (unless otherwise noted) and may be used to block, parry, or score hits with their Strike-Legal portion. Some melee weapons allow for Heavy Padding Substitution for a given length.

Heavy Padding Substitution

All melee weapons require a portion their length to be Strike-Legal, as noted in the individual weapon descriptions. Heavy Padding Substitution allows you to replace a portion of Strike-Legal with Heavy Padding. For each inch of Heavy Padding added you may also replace an additional inch of Strike-Legal with Courtesy Padding.

Heavy Padding added must start within 3” of the stabbing tip and proceed continuously towards the handle. Courtesy Padding added in this manner must begin at the top of the handle and proceed continuously towards the tip.

For example: A 48” Long weapon is typically required to have 32” of Strike-Legal followed by 16” of Handle. Using Heavy Padding Substitution you could have 16” of Heavy Padding, followed by 16” of Courtesy Padding, and then 16” of Handle.

Dagger

This is a melee weapon that:

1. May stab and slash.
2. Between 10” and 18”.
3. Must have 10” Strike-Legal.

Short

A melee weapon:

1. May stab and slash.
2. Between 18” and 36”.
3. At least 2/3 of its length must be Strike-Legal.
4. Allows for 1/3rd of its length to be substituted for Heavy Padding.

Long

A melee weapon that:

1. May stab and slash.
2. Over 36” up to a maximum of 48”.
3. At least 2/3rds of its length must be padded.
4. If used to slash at least 2/3rds of its length must be Strike-Legal.
5. Allows for 1/3rd of its length to be substituted for Heavy Padding.
6. May be Double-Ended.
   • Each end of a Double-Ended long weapon must be padded 1/3 the total length of the weapon. If an end is used to slash, that end must be Strike-Legal for 1/3 the total length of the weapon. This requirement replaces the standard requirement for padding on long weapons.

Great

1. May stab and slash.
2. Greater than 48”in length.
3. Must be padded on upper 1/2 of length or at least 3’, whichever is less.
4. If used to slash must have at least 18” of Strike-Legal surface.
5. If the weapon has at least 18” of Heavy Padding it gains the Shield Crushing and Armor Breaking Special Effects when used in a two-handed manner.
   • Heavy Padding on Great Weapons must start within 3” of the tip of the weapon and be continuous down the core.
   • If the weapon is Double-Ended only the ends with Heavy Padding take advantage of these abilities.
6. May be Double-Ended.
   • Each end of a Double-Ended great weapon must be padded 1/3 the total length of the weapon, or 3'. whichever is less. This requirement replaces the standard requirement for padding on great weapons.

Madu

A shield joined to a weapon.

1. Counts as both a shield and a weapon.
2. Only usable if a class can use both a weapon of the madu’s length and a shield.
3. Weapon Destroying will affect the entirety of the madu if it strikes any part of the weapon portion.
4. Shield Crushing and Shield Destroying affect the entirety of the madu if it strikes any part of the shield portion.
5. Magic and abilities that affect any part of the madu, such as Imbue Shield or Heat Weapon, affect its entirety.
6. Weapon portion must be non-hinged and meleeonly.
7. Any shield with weapons affixed to it in any form is considered a madu and must conform to these rules.
8. If built to slash.
   • At least 1/3rd of its length (excluding the shield portion) must be Strike-Legal.
   • At least 12” must be Strike-Legal.
   • . The entirety of the non-Strike-Legal portion must be courtesy padded.
9. May be Double-Ended.

Hinged

1. No more than 36” in length.
2. Has a single articulating head which must be entirely Strike-Legal and cannot contain a rigid core.
3. The chain of a hinged weapon:
   • Is not a legal striking edge.
   • Must be wrapped in foam with less than 0.5” of the rope exposed at any point.
4. The combined rope and striking edge may not exceed 18” in length.
5. The top half of the non-rope and Strike-Legal portion of the weapon must be padded.

See Also:

• Combat Rules
• Armor
• Weapons
• Weapon Types, Shields, and Equipment
• Equipment Checking