GAMES MICROSOFT XBOX ICEWIND DALE 2 Manual - page 133
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Longbow:
This type of bow is about as long as the archer is tall, usually 6 or more feet. It has better range
than the shortbow. Composite longbows are bows made from more than one type of material. This gives
greater flexibility and better range.
Longsword:
These swords are usually referred to as double-edged swords, war swords, or military swords.
In many cases, the longsword has a single-edged blade. There is no single version of the longsword, and they
vary in length from 35 inches to 47 inches. In the latter case, the blade is known to take up as much as 40
inches of the total length. Most longswords have a double-edged blade and a sharp point at the tip. Despite
the tip, the longsword is designed for slashing, not thrusting.
Mace:
The mace is a direct descendant of the club, being a wooden shaft with a stone or iron head. The
head design varies; some being flanged, and others having pyramidal knobs.
Morning Star:
The morning star is a wooden shaft topped with a metal head made up of an iron sheath.
Morning stars have an overall length of about four feet. Some such weapons have a round, oval, or cylindri-
cal-shaped head studded with spikes.
Quarter Staff:
The quarter Staff is a length of wood ranging six to nine feet in length. High quality staves
are made of stout oak and are shod with metal at both ends. The quarter staff is wielded with both hands.
Scimitar:
This sword is a long, curved single-edged blade intended mostly for horsemen.
Shortbow:
This is the earliest form of bow. Shortbows are about 5 feet long. As the years passed, attempts
were made to increase bow ranges. Bows were either made longer or flexibility was increased with no
change to the length. The former resulted in the longbow. Composite shortbows are bows made from more
than one type of material. This gives greater flexibility and better range.
Sling:
The basic sling consists of a leather or fabric strap with a pouch for holding a missile. The weapon is
held by both ends of the strap and twirled around the wielder’s head. When top speed is attained, the missile
is launched by releasing one of the strap’s ends.
Spear:
One of man’s earliest weapons, dating back to the most primitive of times, the first spears were wood-
en sticks sharpened at one end. When man mastered metals, spearheads were made from iron and steel.
Sword, Short:
This is popular as an off-hand weapon or as a primary weapon for small characters.
Throwing Axe:
The blade of this axe has a sharp steel tip, counterbalanced by a pointed fluke. The short
handle has a point of the bottom and the head may have a spike on the top.
Throwing Dagger:
Similar to a dagger, but balanced for throwing.
Two-Handed Sword:
The two-handed sword is a derivative of the longsword. The blade was lengthened to
6 feet or more, and the handle extended. Two hands became necessary to properly swing the sword.
Warhammer:
The warhammer consists of a wooden or metal shaft capped with a metal head. The head is
usually a block, a cylinder, or a wedge with a flat or slightly rounded face. The heft of the head makes the
hammer ideal for swinging and crushing through armors of all types.
Note that there are “Masterwork” versions of all the weapons listed above. These high quality weapons
provide a bonus to hit, but they are not magical.
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IWD2 PDF Manual 4/28/03 12:22 PM Page 132