POLL: Matched and Mismatched

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So you notice how most RPGers tend to stereotype certain races with certain weapons? I myself am guilty of this all the time. For example, I always have a dwarf place proficiency points in war hammers. However, provided the character is a least part fighter, there is nothing that prevents you from having say, a gnome wield a halberd.

So, we're going to have a most common weapon/most ridiculous weapon poll for each of the races.

1. Only consider melee weapons - not missile weapons as there are so few.

2. Assume the character is a fighter.

3. I didn't include humans as they can wield anything - although a kensai specializing in say, daggers would be odd.

4. Lots of questions - and you're allowed up to 3 choices per question.

5. Hopefully, I got all of the weapons!

EDIT - damn it, I forgot axes!!!! Let's consider war hammers and axes together (and it's a common combination - so if you vote for one, we'll say you're voting for both.

Poll Information
This poll contains 12 question(s). 35 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: Matched and Mismatched (35 votes.)

Dwarf - most common weapons (Choose 3)
* Two-Handed Sword - 3% (1)
* Bastard Sword - 3% (1)
* Katana - 0% (0)
* Scimitar - 0% (0)
* Long Sword - 6% (2)
* Short Sword - 6% (2)
* Dagger - 3% (1)
* Flail/Morning Star - 60% (21)
* Mace - 60% (21)
* Club - 20% (7)
* War Hammer - 100% (35)
* Quarterstaff - 0% (0)
* Halberd - 3% (1)
* Spear - 3% (1)

Dwarf - most ridiculous weapons (Choose 3)
* Two-Handed Sword - 40% (14)
* Bastard Sword - 3% (1)
* Katana - 57% (20)
* Scimitar - 43% (15)
* Long Sword - 6% (2)
* Short Sword - 0% (0)
* Dagger - 26% (9)
* Flail/Morning Star - 0% (0)
* Mace - 0% (0)
* Club - 6% (2)
* War Hammer - 0% (0)
* Quarterstaff - 31% (11)
* Halberd - 34% (12)
* Spear - 29% (10)

Elf - most common weapons (Choose 3)
* Two-Handed Sword - 3% (1)
* Bastard Sword - 9% (3)
* Katana - 37% (13)
* Scimitar - 43% (15)
* Long Sword - 97% (34)
* Short Sword - 34% (12)
* Dagger - 14% (5)
* Flail/Morning Star - 3% (1)
* Mace - 0% (0)
* Club - 0% (0)
* War Hammer - 0% (0)
* Quarterstaff - 17% (6)
* Halberd - 0% (0)
* Spear - 17% (6)

Elf - most ridiculous weapons (Choose 3)
* Two-Handed Sword - 46% (16)
* Bastard Sword - 9% (3)
* Katana - 0% (0)
* Scimitar - 3% (1)
* Long Sword - 0% (0)
* Short Sword - 0% (0)
* Dagger - 9% (3)
* Flail/Morning Star - 26% (9)
* Mace - 20% (7)
* Club - 63% (22)
* War Hammer - 51% (18)
* Quarterstaff - 3% (1)
* Halberd - 29% (10)
* Spear - 6% (2)

Half-Elf - most common weapons (Choose 1)
* Two-Handed Sword - 0% (0)
* Bastard Sword - 6% (2)
* Katana - 14% (5)
* Scimitar - 6% (2)
* Long Sword - 63% (22)
* Short Sword - 3% (1)
* Dagger - 0% (0)
* Flail/Morning Star - 0% (0)
* Mace - 3% (1)
* Club - 0% (0)
* War Hammer - 0% (0)
* Quarterstaff - 3% (1)
* Halberd - 0% (0)
* Spear - 3% (1)

Half-Elf - most ridiculous weapons (Choose 3)
* Two-Handed Sword - 29% (10)
* Bastard Sword - 9% (3)
* Katana - 0% (0)
* Scimitar - 3% (1)
* Long Sword - 0% (0)
* Short Sword - 3% (1)
* Dagger - 11% (4)
* Flail/Morning Star - 31% (11)
* Mace - 20% (7)
* Club - 37% (13)
* War Hammer - 49% (17)
* Quarterstaff - 3% (1)
* Halberd - 23% (8)
* Spear - 3% (1)

Halfling - most common weapons (Choose 3)
* Two-Handed Sword - 0% (0)
* Bastard Sword - 0% (0)
* Katana - 0% (0)
* Scimitar - 9% (3)
* Long Sword - 0% (0)
* Short Sword - 91% (32)
* Dagger - 91% (32)
* Flail/Morning Star - 3% (1)
* Mace - 20% (7)
* Club - 40% (14)
* War Hammer - 6% (2)
* Quarterstaff - 11% (4)
* Halberd - 0% (0)
* Spear - 0% (0)

Halfling - most ridiculous weapons (Choose 3)
* Two-Handed Sword - 94% (33)
* Bastard Sword - 23% (8)
* Katana - 14% (5)
* Scimitar - 0% (0)
* Long Sword - 3% (1)
* Short Sword - 0% (0)
* Dagger - 0% (0)
* Flail/Morning Star - 6% (2)
* Mace - 0% (0)
* Club - 0% (0)
* War Hammer - 11% (4)
* Quarterstaff - 14% (5)
* Halberd - 77% (27)
* Spear - 37% (13)

Half-Orc - most common weapons (Choose 3)
* Two-Handed Sword - 86% (30)
* Bastard Sword - 46% (16)
* Katana - 3% (1)
* Scimitar - 0% (0)
* Long Sword - 9% (3)
* Short Sword - 0% (0)
* Dagger - 0% (0)
* Flail/Morning Star - 14% (5)
* Mace - 6% (2)
* Club - 23% (8)
* War Hammer - 31% (11)
* Quarterstaff - 0% (0)
* Halberd - 46% (16)
* Spear - 14% (5)

Half-Orc - most ridiculous weapons (Choose 3)
* Two-Handed Sword - 3% (1)
* Bastard Sword - 0% (0)
* Katana - 37% (13)
* Scimitar - 26% (9)
* Long Sword - 0% (0)
* Short Sword - 43% (15)
* Dagger - 83% (29)
* Flail/Morning Star - 3% (1)
* Mace - 3% (1)
* Club - 6% (2)
* War Hammer - 0% (0)
* Quarterstaff - 40% (14)
* Halberd - 0% (0)
* Spear - 11% (4)

Gnome - most common weapons (Choose 3)
* Two-Handed Sword - 0% (0)
* Bastard Sword - 0% (0)
* Katana - 3% (1)
* Scimitar - 0% (0)
* Long Sword - 3% (1)
* Short Sword - 66% (23)
* Dagger - 71% (25)
* Flail/Morning Star - 3% (1)
* Mace - 46% (16)
* Club - 29% (10)
* War Hammer - 20% (7)
* Quarterstaff - 26% (9)
* Halberd - 0% (0)
* Spear - 3% (1)

Gnome - most ridiculous weapons (Choose 3)
* Two-Handed Sword - 94% (33)
* Bastard Sword - 26% (9)
* Katana - 9% (3)
* Scimitar - 0% (0)
* Long Sword - 3% (1)
* Short Sword - 0% (0)
* Dagger - 0% (0)
* Flail/Morning Star - 11% (4)
* Mace - 0% (0)
* Club - 3% (1)
* War Hammer - 9% (3)
* Quarterstaff - 17% (6)
* Halberd - 69% (24)
* Spear - 43% (15)

 

Uh, half elf - most common only allowed one choice, as opposed to every other category allowing 3. Just to let you know.

 

Pretty strong bias against elves using blunt weapons. . . Has nooone ever heard of an elven cleric?

 

Well, isn't the cleric in NWN an elf? Linu or something? That's pretty mainstream. I'd have to say that the oddest combo is gnome and two handed sword. I had Jan use carsomyr in ToB.

 

Where is "axe"?

I think the strangest combo is half-orc and sling.

 

Interesting poll.
@Tassadar: I agree!

I don't have a problem with elves using blunt weapons at all. I have more of a problem with gnomes with halberds.

 

Uh, before you post, you might want to read the first one...

Aldeth himself said that axes are included with hammers.
The poll wasn't about clerics, it said to assume you're a fighter.

 

well, elves and half-elves get bonuses when using long swords and bows, so that's partly where the stereotype comes from. We give them those weapons because according to the rules, they get bonuses from them.

 

I think Gnome's can't even wield a halberd in 3.0+ versions. For the same reason RPG'ers have understood for a longer time already that you don't make them. Afterall, a short light thing like that would be hard-pressed to do anything with it. Like a human trying to battle with a full-sized flagpole or something.

And yes, daggers are a bad idea for bigger races because range and power is a far more important factor than the little advantage of speed you get with daggers.

Too bad you forgot axes. I think they and warhammers are a very different thing. My dwarves always use axes, you see. Warhammers are more common for clerics.

Otherwise too, different fantasy novels have created those stereotypes.

 

Elf warriors have a habit of only using bladed weapons (for melee).
Dwarves are known for broad weapons (i.e. broadsword) and weapons on shafts (axes, hammers etc.).
Half-Elves'll use anything but'll probably use blades more often than not.
Gnomes stick to small weapons but are partial to staves and hammers.
Halflings stick to small weapons.
Half-orcs'll probably wield anything larger than a dagger.

An odd thing to see would be a dwarf with a spear since a spear is often considered a cowardly weapon and dwarves are known to get in and cause trouble.

 

Dwarfs - The stereotype seemed to me to be axes, not warhammers. I mean, there's even dwarven waraxes as a base weapon type in 3rd edition.
Elves - Scimitars and long swords (scimitars are more used by dark elves than surface elves though, I think)
Half-elf - Long swords
Halflings - Short swords, daggers, and maces
Half-orcs - 2h swords, bastard swords, and clubs
Gnomes - Short swords and staffs

 

I think its kinda strange that a race "shouldn't" use a weapon. its like saying a human "shouldn't" use a knife because it's too small . Apart from weapons that are too large for the smaller races, i don't think any of the weapons would be too hard to imagine being used by any race. A Half Orc knifeman, who likes to kill his opponents up close and personal . A dwarven spearman "I lets me enemy do the runnin'!" If you imagine races other than human as real characters rather than a collection of stereotypes, most weapons can be easily used by any race.

P.S. Jan with Carsomyr is cool!