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This idea just came to me...I don't know how feasible it is, since D&D tends to be quite generic, but why not have different weapons that perform in different ways, exclusive to each region? - perhaps not in the core rules but in a campaign setting?

For example, if we're talking Forgotten Realms, the "longsword" could be a "Cormyrian Arming Sword", while in Luskan they could have a "Schlaeger" (which could be similar but does 2d4 instead of 1d8 damage), while the "rapier" is a distinctly Waterdeep weapon. Most places would also have a variant of the shortsword ("smallsword", "side sword", "short arming sword" etc), and certain places would have the "war sword" or "knight's sword" (hand and a half sword). Of course, if you go east, you've got the "Rashite Scimitar" (scimitar) or the "Thayan Sword" (similar to a longsword). Further north, you could have the "zweihander" from Icewind Dale (greatsword), etc.

This doesn't mean that such weapons would only be available in those regions...just that they'd be more common and easier to find. It'd also mean you wouldn't need so many base weapons, since most swords would be a variation on a basic type. I just think it'd add a bit more flavour to the weapons when they all have a regional twist to them.

Another idea is to do what Traveller does, and have "tech levels", to help eliminate the whole "Napoleonic sabre vs Spartan hoplite" thing. With this, there'd simply be a "single-handed sword", but at tech level 1 it'd be like a stone-age dirk or sth, tech level 2 might be a bronze sword, 3 would be a Roman gladius, 4 might be a Saxon or Celtic sword, 5 would be a medieval arming sword, 6 would be a shortsword, 7 a sidesword, 8 a rapier, 9 a sabre/backsword, etc. Each one would have different properties...a tech level 1 sword would do crappy damage, while a tech level 5 sword would probably do the best damage, and beyond that, it'd be greater crit ranges (if they do bring that back), attack bonuses, or finesse weapons. Meanwhile, we have a "two handed sword" which starts at tech level 6 (hand and a half sword) and continues to tech level 7 (two-hander) and finishes at tech level 8 (flamberge). Crossbows would be tech level 5-8, and guns would be about 6 (firelock handguns) to 10 (hammerlock rifles/pistols), and even beyond, if we want futuristic laser guns and the like!

Obviously those wouldn't exist concurrently...campaigns would have a range of about 4-5 tech levels to choose from. That way, you could say "it's late medieval, so, tech levels 5 through 7. Anything before that is an antique, and anything after that hasn't been made yet."

Aug 5, 2012 -- 2:18AM, Qmark wrote:

So... how does a chainsaw fit into this concept.

Seriously, though, you're overthinking it.  "longsword" is just shorthand for "1d8, slashing".  Exactly what particular variety of longsword it happens to be is mostly cosmetic.

You could go for the masterwork option having a breakdown such as.
One masterwork level could give the +1 attack and a second Damage +1 then a third of Increased Critical range.
These could maybe only be created by weaponsmiths for certain regions and indeed the weapons they could be applied to could be based on Race, Region. Dwarves being the master weaponsmiths could apply the bonuses to all weapons except bows, elves could do all weapons except bludgeoning and crossbows.
Cormyrian weapons could be a limited list like longsword,2 handed sword, halberd, mace, flail.

It would take a lot of work and indeed all masterwork weapons could be available in certain places like waterdeep.

I would like them to cut back on weapons, if anything, the "Nomenclature of Pole-arms" deal got a tad silly, for me.

In my v3.5 homebrew, the rapier is better known as the 'elven sword'.  Elves are the ultimate rakes and swashbucklers in the setting .