I have a character who uses an odd weapon. A pair of fans. One set is all metal with sharpened edges. The other set are silk with only the tips sharpened. I need to stat these up, and am at a loss.

Rattan Stick is (STR/2)P; I think that's about the best you'll get for a small clubby thing with sharp bits. AP 0 for being metal, Reach 0 for the size. You could argue either S or P, but metal + sharp seems enough for P.

Basically, same as a knife or sap without the +1 DV.

I'm AFB, but I'd recommend using the stats for hand razors. Very similar effect, I would imagine.

You'll need t<o set of stats :
one when open and using them to slice at the ennemy which should be roughly on par with hand razors or a small knife. Physical damage for sure.
Another when folded, which should be about like a sap or short club dependign on the fan's size. That one would be a blunt weapon dealing mostly stun damage.

Asian style fans come in really 2 basic sizes (that are seen somewhat often). The small type ate only 6" to 8" in length and I agree that the damage code should be (S/2)P for the metal/edged and (S/2)S for the closed version, no reach or armor pen.

The large size (seen mostly on-stage, or in special circumstances) are about 1 meter in length. If your character is using these fans I would allow 1 reach and +1 or +2 to the base damage. The larger fans would also be unwieldy and might impose a penalty to use as a weapon (I'd suggest -1DP to attack while open). However they would improve your parry as that is really what the combat version was used for, so I would grant a +1 DP for melee parry. You may want to allow the parry bonus to either size fan, or even scaling +1 parry for the small one and +2 for the large.

Fans like many martial arts weapons came from ancient Asia when peasants were not allowed to carry weapons, so they discovered how to use normal/farm tools as weapons and built martial combat styles based on this.

BTW, I love ancient weapons.

-D

So do I.

She uses them for the distraction and parry in combat. That and most people won't check them as weapons, especially the set she has with carbon fiber blades. and the fans are about a foot long.

In the fan's case it's more a case of high society wanting an unobtrusive defense when obviosu weapons would have been a complete breach of etiquette. The use of fans as signaling devices by army commanders may also have had in influence there - a signaling device that can double as an impromptu weapon soulds like a good idea, even if an army commander could carry regular weapons along with it without raising eyebrows.

I feel like people in 2070 would check the fans for weapons. If they were checking to begin with.

Exotic Weapon (Fans) would probably be a must. I like it, sounds really cool.

Beside that obvious bit, I got nothing else except thumbs ups on a fun idea.

Depends, steampunk is apparently in...

Like I said: in a situation that someone is checking for weapons, they're *checking*.

"Oh, hey, I'm sure there's no knife or gun in that umbrella, go right ahead."

What my GM suggested

Discrete Fans
6 to 12 inches normally
Damage: (Str/2)
AP: 0
Reach: 0
Conceal: 0

War Fans
1 meter
Damage: (Str/2)+2
AP: 0
Reach: 1
Conceal: -4
+2 parry, and the Distract maneuver

P or S?

The War Fan stats seem just slightly too much. The Reach/Damage is almost the same as a sword, while the +2 parry (*and* Distract?) is a bonus that nothing else (AFAIK) gets: not sai, not tonfa, whatever. It sounds more like a bonus you'd get from a Martial Art that *uses* war fans, right?

Yea, i dont see you really parrying with a warfan, at least not while opened up

Yea, i dont see you really parrying with a warfan, at least not while opened up

[semi-derail]

In 1993 I got on an internal flight from Lima, Peru to Chachapoyas, in the northern Andes of Peru. The Sendero Luminoso and Tupac Amaru terrorist organizations were both still active in Peru at the time, though weakened by recent arrests. In the Lima airport, I entered the doorway with the appropriate gate number. Beyond was a large, almost empty room before the exit to the plane. Just past the door was a two-by-four frame in the shape of those metal detector gates. Just the two-by-fours, though. I walked through that to the security guard on the other side, standing behind one of those folding-leg 6 ft. by 3 ft. wooden tables.

I put my duffel bag on the table in front of him. He pointed to the bag and asked me, "Armas?" ("Weapons?") I answered, "No." He waved me on to the plane outside.

[/semi-derail]

While talking about strange weapons - any ideas for the 'warrior beads' as shown in the film Elektra?!? My knowledge of martial arts weapons is limited and I suspect this is pure fantasy but if anyone knows...!?!

I visited a Naval museum a little while ago.

They were giving every bag a look-over and giving any umbrella a good yank on the handle to make sure there wasn't a shiv inside or something.

There are extremes anywhere you go.



-k