Fixing the Weapons Table, Part 5: Indian Weapons

The second campaign I ever ran was set in Chattara, a mighty multicultural empire ruled over by a caste of turbaned, woolly rhino-riding dwarves.  I did a lot of research into Indian weapons at the time, to make sure my party could really get the feel of the land they were adventuring through.  For today's post, I'm revisiting these weapons, updating them for Pathfinder and with a more practiced eye for game design.

When D&D books start talking about eastern weaponry, you know they mostly mean Chinese and Japanese stuff.  Pathfinder has been a bit better at this, but I find Indian weapons are still a gap that doesn't get filled in as much as it deserves to be.  That's why I'm Fixing the Weapons Table.  The Indian subcontinent has a rich history of unique and exotic weaponry that deserves a chance in the hands of a PC.  From the thrown chakram to the badass pata to the deadly urumi, here are nine awesome Indian weapons for your D&D game.

The following weapons given in gold text are available as Open Game Content under the OGL.  Open Game Content is (C)2014 Jonah Bomgaars.


Bhuj

Royal Armouries - Leeds

The bhuj is also known as the axe-knife, for its resemblance to a heavy, curved knife blade on an axe haft.  It  has great versatility, useful for both chopping and thrusting, and light enough to be swung in one hand but able to be wielded two-handed for extra power.  
   Many axe-knives have a stiletto dagger concealed in the base of the haft - such weapons cost 50 gp extra (including the price of the stiletto).  Those examining the weapon can detect the concealed stiletto with a DC 12 Perception check.  Drawing the stiletto is a free action.  
Bhuj - One-Handed Martial Weapon
   Cost: 8 gp
   Dmg (S): 1d4
   Dmg (M): 1d6
   Critical: 19-20/x2
   Weight: 3 lb.
   Type: P or S

Chakram

Royal Armouries - Leeds

Chakram are one of the more iconic Indian weapons.  I would like to think that's because of their use by the incredibly badass Sikh warriors, but it's probably because Xena, Warrior Princess, used one.
   Chakram have been in Pathfinder since the Advanced Player's Guide, but I think 1d8 damage is a bit too much even for a whirling bladed hoop of death.  What chakram really needed was a 19-20 crit range.  I also took into account the variety of chakram and made two different types: larger, heavier chakram that do more damage, and smaller, lighter chakram that fly further.  Depending on their size, chakram were worn around the neck, around the wrists, or even on a tall turban:

via Wikipedia

   Chakram, or quoits, are metal hoops with knife-sharp outer edges, skilfully spun at the enemy with deadly accuracy.  Larger heavy chakram can be as large as a small shield.  Smaller, lighter chakram, usually made of brass, can travel farther through the air, but do less damage.  
Heavy Chakram - Ranged Exotic Weapon
   Cost: 5 gp
   Dmg (S): 1d4
   Dmg (M): 1d6
   Critical: 19-20/x2
   Range: 20 ft.
   Weight: 1 lb.
   Type: S
Light Chakram - Ranged Exotic Weapon
   Cost: 3 gp
   Dmg (S): 1d3
   Dmg (M): 1d4
   Critical: 19-20/x2
   Range: 40 ft.
   Weight: 1/2 lb.
   Type: S

Cumberjung

via Medievalling

This weapon was certainly not widespread, but it was too weird not to stat up.
   This strange weapon consists of a staff with a flail on each end.  The flail heads, rather than the traditional bludgeoning affairs, are balls encircled by a spinning bladed disk (a quoit).  Proper manipulation of the cumberjung sends the quoits scything through the air.  
   A cumberjung is a double-weapon.  You can fight with it as if fighting with two weapons, but if you do, you incur all the normal attack penalties associated with fighting with two weapons, just as if you were using a one-handed weapon and a light weapon.   
   You can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack rolls with a cumberjung.  
Cumberjung - Two-Handed Exotic Weapon
   Cost: 20 gp
   Dmg (S): 1d4/1d4
   Dmg (M): 1d6/1d6
   Critical: 19-20/x2
   Weight: 2 lb.
   Type: S
   Special: Double, finesse

Goad (Ankusha)

via chalklands

The goad is first and foremost a tool used by mahuts to control their elephants (or other exotic mounts).  However, goads double as a weapon the mahut can use defensively.  It consists of a sharpened spike and curved hook on the end of a short haft.  The hook can be used to slash at enemies, or to trip or disarm them.  A goad provides a +2 circumstance bonus on Handle Animal checks made to control big exotic mounts such as elephants.  
Goad - One-Handed Exotic Weapon
   Cost: 15 gp
   Dmg (S): 1d4
   Dmg (M): 1d6
   Critical: x2
   Weight: 3 lb.
   Type: P or S
   Special: Disarm, trip, see text

Khanda

Top: Royal Armouries - Leeds; Bottom: Tower of London

This broad, straight, double-edged blade has an abruptly tapered, almost rounded point gives this sword a thick and stocky appearance.  It is quite well regarded amongst the martial castes as a top-notch slashing sword, light enough to use one-handed but devastating when used two-handed.  
Khanda - One-Handed Martial Weapon
   Cost: 15 gp
   Dmg (S): 1d6
   Dmg (M): 2d4
   Critical: 19-20/x2
   Weight: 2 lb.
   Type: S

Pata

Top: Wikipedia; Bottom: The British Musem

Pathfinder covered the pata in Ultimate Combat, but I'm going to ignore their version, which they claim is a 'performance' weapon.  The pata is an incredibly cool weapon, traditionally dual-wielded by Maratha warriors.
   The pata, or gauntlet-sword, is a long blade extending out from an enclosed gauntlet, which gives it extra force for stabbing.  Because the hand is enclosed in a fingerless gauntlet, it is always a move action to equip or unequip a pata, regardless of whether or not you have the Quick Draw feat, and the hand cannot be used for anything else.  The wielder of a pata gains a +10 bonus on their CMD to resist attempts to disarm them of the pata.  Patas are designed to be used one in each hand, so a pata wielded in the off-hand counts as a light weapon for the purpose of determining Two-Weapon Fighting penalties.  
Pata - One-Handed Exotic Weapon
   Cost: 25 gp
   Dmg (S): 1d6
   Dmg (M): 2d4
   Critical: x3
   Weight: 3 lb.
   Type: P or S
   Special: See text

Scissor Katar

The British Museum

This punching dagger has been specially made with a blade which splits into three when triggered by a squeeze of the handle.  This makes critical hits much more potent, as the three blades twist inside the enemy, tearing flesh and organs apart.  
Scissor Katar - Light Exotic Weapon
   Cost: 30 gp
   Dmg (S): 1d4
   Dmg (M): 1d6
   Critical: x4
   Weight: 1 lb.
   Type: P

Tiger's Claw (Bagh Nakh)

Royal Armouries - Leeds

This small weapon consists of four sharp iron claws affixed to a metal bar that runs across the palm of the hand, kept in place with finger-rings.  Attacks are made with open-palm strikes, raking the claws against the opponent's flesh.  These weapons are favoured by assassins because they are easy to conceal and can make it seem as if the target were mauled by a tiger rather than a human.  Those attempting to conceal a tiger's claw get a +2 bonus on their Sleight of Hand checks made to do so.  
Tiger's Claw- Light Simple Weapon
   Cost: 2 gp
   Dmg (S): 1d3
   Dmg (M): 1d4
   Critical: x3
   Weight: 1/2 lb.
   Type: S
   Special: See text

Urumi

fantasymagazine.it

The Urumi appeared in Ultimate Combat, and I think they did a pretty good job of statting it up, but I gave it reach, trip, and disarm, and I lowered the damage dice.  I also added some rules that simulate how dangerous the urumi is to wield, especially for the non-proficient.

Wikipedia

   This strange weapon has one or more blades of whip-like flexible steel.  The blades are kept coiled around the waist or on a belt when not in use.  
   On a roll of a natural one (or 1-3 if not the user is not proficient with the urumi), the wielder must make an attack against his own armor class and take damage accordingly if the attack is successful.  (If playing with the critical fumble rules or a critical fumble deck, treat confirmed critical fumbles accordingly and all other rolls of 1 [or 1-3] as attacks against the wielder as described above).  
   This weapon has reach, and threatens all creatures within 10 feet (two squares) of the wielder.  Unlike most other weapons with reach, it can be used against an adjacent foe.  Using an urumi against a distant enemy does not provoke attacks of opportunity from adjacent enemies due to the threatening whirling blades.  
   Because an urumi can wrap around an enemy’s leg or weapon, you can make trip and disarm attacks with it.  If you are tripped during your own trip attempt, you can drop the urumi to avoid being tripped.  
   You can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack rolls with an urumi.  
Urumi - One-Handed Exotic Weapon
   Cost: 25 gp
   Dmg (S): 1d4
   Dmg (M): 1d6
   Critical: 18-20/x2
   Weight: 2 lb.
   Type: S
   Special: Disarm, finesse, reach, trip

In Player's Handbooks of old, they used to have tables of alternative names for weapons, to let you know that you can call a scimitar a yataghan or shamshir or saber or whatever.  Nowadays, they just hold those names in reserve so they can pretend to offer brand new weapons in supplemental books, when really their just adding copies of old weapons with new names and maybe a BS new weapon quality like 'performance' or 'deadly'. Anyways, here's a short list of alternate names for pre-existing weapons if you want to lend them some delicious subcontinental flavour:
Battleaxe - tabar
Falchion - aruval
Longsword - firanghi
Mace - gorz
Punching dagger - katar
Scimitar - tulwar
Trident - trishula
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Delving into Indian history, mythology, weaponry, and armour is really fun.  There is a lot of cool stuff in there for your RPG and worldbuilding enthusiast.  My hope is that this selection of Indian weapons will help inspire many other exciting Indian adventures.

-your kshatriya d20 despot