Old 2e game back in middle school. My DM introduced a weapon common to goblins called a "Herculean Club". It did d10 damage and could be used by a small creature, but it would break in two if you rolled less than a 3.
Our ranger loved them, because they were ideal for two-weapon fighting (big oopsey on the DM's part). But his rolls were shit, so he was always breaking them. At one point, he went through six different clubs in an encounter, and the DM demanded to see his character sheet. Dude had, like, 30 of these on there. But also an 18/70 strength score, so... shrug
Rivaling the rogue's boutique skill system for moments of "Why on earth did they shoehorn that in there?" game design.
Per Gygax himself:
"Adding a d% roll to an 18 Strength roll is hardly complicated. It was done because Strength was the only stat that needed to be increased in steps by the d% mechanic so as to improve fighters to hit and damage chances. So that was used because I favor interesting play over any imagined elegance, that being quite unlikely in an RPG in my view. RPGs are games, not art, and I don't give myself airs." "Can you imaging the increases of stats going into the 20s needed in order to get the same result as 18/00? The human norm bell curve of 3-18 down the tubes in a jiffy. Not elegant at all, and simply foolish ;-)"
Disclaimer, his views don't reflect my own.
I'm sorry, but that's just bullshit. The rule was implemented as a patch in to deal with the fact that Strength is the most efficient stat in 2e. Everyone wanted to max out their strength score and Gygax didn't want everyone coming to the table with near-identical stat blocks. So, for one value - 18 - in one stat - strength - he created a secondary rule that stratified characters that much further.
RPGs are games, not art, and I don't give myself airs.
This is also nth-levels of bullshit.
If this guy ever falls over for any reason he's taking 1d12 each of cutting, bludgeoning, and impaling.
One character in the long running game I'm in has been collecting hidden weapons the whole time. His belt is a chain whip, necklace produces knives, cloak entangles and constricts, boots have knives hidden in them ECT. His entire carrying capacity is weapons.
DMG Encumbrance Fighters: Please DM, I can't carry my armor and my weapon without having a -15ft penalty to my movement. I don't even have room for a backpack! PHB Encumbrance Fighters: As long as I can justify it, I can carry three times my body weight in miscellaneous items. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay characters: I'm not a dwarf, so I literally need a horse to carry my food for me if I want to move in mail armor while holding a shield and basic hand weapon. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay dwarves: I can wear whatever I want and still carry whatever I want.
