Forums of the Megaverse®

I know that as a rule, weapon tattoos use the base weapon description for weapon statistics, but is there a hard and fast rule for how the weapon depicted if chosen?

I.E.
a Mace - how is it decided whether it has 3, 4, or 5 flanges?
a Staff - how is it decided whether it is capped, banded, etc..?
a Sword - How is it decided if the sword has a straight, curved, or cupped guard (if any)?

I ask because my T-man is due for his next tattoos. I've gotten a lot of use out of my simple weapons (club, knife, and sling), but other than using the sling to lob grenades I rarely use them as actual weapons. The sling alone is excellent as a restraint and quick use tiedown.

I have a number of ideas in that regard, but I'm specifically wondering about getting a large hooked crowbar. For weapon stats it would function as a mace or large club.

I'm also wondering about a blowgun thick enough to uses as a light staff.

Aside from GM fiat, does something like that seem feasible?

Abadon Spectre wrote:I know that as a rule, weapon tattoos use the base weapon description for weapon statistics, but is there a hard and fast rule for how the weapon depicted if chosen?

I.E.
a Mace - how is it decided whether it has 3, 4, or 5 flanges?
a Staff - how is it decided whether it is capped, banded, etc..?
a Sword - How is it decided if the sword has a straight, curved, or cupped guard (if any)?

It depends on how the weapon is drawn on the T-man. Did the tattoo master give 3, 4, or 5 flanges? Did the tattoo master draw cupped guard? Etc.

Abadon Spectre wrote:I ask because my T-man is due for his next tattoos. I've gotten a lot of use out of my simple weapons (club, knife, and sling), but other than using the sling to lob grenades I rarely use them as actual weapons. The sling alone is excellent as a restraint and quick use tiedown.

I have a number of ideas in that regard, but I'm specifically wondering about getting a large hooked crowbar. For weapon stats it would function as a mace or large club.

I'm also wondering about a blowgun thick enough to uses as a light staff.

Aside from GM fiat, does something like that seem feasible?

Something else to consider is the Flaming Shield. It's not sexy, but it's indestructible. As in, takes no damage from a dozen simultaneous Boom Gun hits indestructible. Just hold it in front of you, use it for cover, and all of your opponents have to make a called shot to get to you. Plus with a little imagination you'll find plenty of other uses for it.

I personally would say that as long as you clearly describe what you want tattooed on you to your GM and the GM says that the Tattoo Master is skilled enough to do the tattoo (i.e. GM is ok with it), I don't see why there should be a problem.

Honestly I wouldn't be too offended if one of my players asked if they could have a "simple tool" tattoo instead of a weapon.

All too often the knife and hatchet are used to cut rope or wood, but very rarely used to cut a man.
I'm sure a lasso or whip or chain have been used as a length of rope as well.

Mack wrote:

Abadon Spectre wrote:I know that as a rule, weapon tattoos use the base weapon description for weapon statistics, but is there a hard and fast rule for how the weapon depicted if chosen?

I.E.
a Mace - how is it decided whether it has 3, 4, or 5 flanges?
a Staff - how is it decided whether it is capped, banded, etc..?
a Sword - How is it decided if the sword has a straight, curved, or cupped guard (if any)?

It depends on how the weapon is drawn on the T-man. Did the tattoo master give 3, 4, or 5 flanges? Did the tattoo master draw cupped guard? Etc.

Abadon Spectre wrote:I ask because my T-man is due for his next tattoos. I've gotten a lot of use out of my simple weapons (club, knife, and sling), but other than using the sling to lob grenades I rarely use them as actual weapons. The sling alone is excellent as a restraint and quick use tiedown.

I have a number of ideas in that regard, but I'm specifically wondering about getting a large hooked crowbar. For weapon stats it would function as a mace or large club.

I'm also wondering about a blowgun thick enough to uses as a light staff.

Aside from GM fiat, does something like that seem feasible?

Something else to consider is the Flaming Shield. It's not sexy, but it's indestructible. As in, takes no damage from a dozen simultaneous Boom Gun hits indestructible. Just hold it in front of you, use it for cover, and all of your opponents have to make a called shot to get to you. Plus with a little imagination you'll find plenty of other uses for it.

One thing I always wondered about the shield is, does the size of the shield matter. Are there any difference from having a Buckler or a Tower shield?
As for the weapon tattoo, I would say that it wold be as basic or detailed as the tattoo.

The weapon made by the Magic Tattoo looks like the tattoo.
No two of the same tattoo……if you have the Weapons Compendium then I'd let you have multiple of the same weapon general type so long as the specific types are different.
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While the size of the shield should matter…in the PB system they are mostly ignored by the canon text.
However, a shield is counted as a magic weapon opposed to being a powers tattoo like the warrior in full plate. Ref.: effects of getting new tattoos and the recovery times.