Talk:Arcana: Advanced Unit Design

Personal Weapons

Swords

Shortsword

Cheap and easy to acquire, shortswords are commonly carried by pikemen and archers as a weapon of last resort.

Cost:

Sidesword

Popular with both soldiers and civilians, side-swords are adept at fighting both armored and unarmored opponents. They are commonly used with a buckler.

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Scimitar

The term Scimitar applies to a whole family of lethal curved swords.

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Broadsword

Heavy one handed swords, often with an ornate hilt guard. Usually carried by cavalrymen and other soldiers who prefer its brute force over more elegant blades.

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Longsword

The quintessential knightly weapon, the Longsword or hand and a half sword can be found in use just about everywhere.

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Zweihander

A massive two-handed sword capable of battering its way through even the most heavy of defenses.

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Katana

Samurai Swords

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Buster Sword

Giant cloudswords

Cost: ? Adamantium

Lightswords

These aren't the energy swords you're looking for.

Cost: ? Mana

Axes and Maces

Warhammer

A heavy two handed blunt weapon, sometimes with a spike in addition to the hammer itself. Primarily used for bludgeoning armored opponents.

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Axe

While never a glamorous weapon, the axe is highly versatile and a potent armament.

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Mace

A development of the club, maces are used largely in the same fashion. Variations such as the morning star might include spikes.

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Polearms

Spear

Cheap and effective, the spear has largely been replaced by the longer pike in most professional infantry units but remains in use with more traditional cavalry in the form of the lance.

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Halberd

An axe blade and spike mounted atop a long pole. Halberds are exellent for supporting the more cumbersome Pike, and are also carried by royal guards across the known world.

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Pike

Perhaps the simplest and most effective way to arm an army. Pike formations are equally able to ward off cavalry and opposing infantry with a forest of pikes. Against disciplined enemy infantry armed with pikes, engagements tend to become a contest of endurance in the "push of pike".

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Firewand

Not really a 'wand' by any means, but a magical spear that that immolate its tip or else throw a small amount of magical fire across short distances.

Cost: mana

Ranged

Throwing Axe

A thrown axe of the sort used by Franks and Dwarves everywhere.

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Javelin

Light spears primarily intended for throwing.

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Bow

Simple bows are still popular in many regions for hunting and defense.

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Compound Bow

Weapon of choice for the sensible barbarian horse archer.

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Longbows

Standard longbows made of yew, or more favorable or less favorable but cheaper or more common woods.

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Crossbow

While having a slower rate of fire than traditional bows, the crossbow's bolts are considerably more potent.

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Arbalest

The more powerful metal cousin of the basic crossbow, an arbalest is one of the deadliest ranged weapons around.

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Arquebus

Simple and easy to construct, the Arquebus was the first firearm used by the Alfar Imperial Legions.

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Leadcaster

More expensive and much more complex than a simple Arquebus, the magitech Leadcaster is the pinnacle of recent firearm development.

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Hand Leadcaster

A compact version of the shoulder fired standard leadcaster. While it lacks the range and power of the full sized gun, its smaller size makes it perfect for use by mounted troops.

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Exotic

Shotbuster

A buster sword with an integrated leadcaster or other sorcerous ranged weapon, making them particularly lethal at all ranges.

Cost: ? Mana ? Adamantium

Hook

Telekinetically-controlled short spears.

Cost: ? Mana

Infinite Weapon

Rare high magic weapons made of liquid metal that can morph between multiple settings

Cost: ? Mana ? Adamantium

Sword-Chucks

Nunchucks, except made of swords.

Cost:

Personal Armor

Light

Padded Jacket

A simple reinforced jacket.

Cost:

Barrier Jacket

Normally made of flexible metalicized cloth, barrier jackets have an inner weave of magical circuitry that reinforces and protects the wearer.

Cost: ?? Mana

Shell Coat

Essentially similar to a barrier jacket, except with hard armor plates at the shoulders, elbows and other strategic locations.

Cost: ?? Mana

Medium

Mail

While seen as somewhat dated in this era of heavy plate, older styles of mail armor are still commonly used by feudal foot soldiers and poorer knights alike.

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Lamellar

Armor consisting of small plates that have been laced together in overlapping rows.

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Plated Mail

Mail armor that has been reinforced by the addition of metal plates.

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Elven Weave

Having done away with clumsy mail millenia ago, the Alfar Empire outfitted its troops with comfortable (if somewhat heavy) soft armor made of adamantium fabric. Enchantments dispersed the impacts of blunt weapons and the adamantium weave could turn all but the best swords. Better still, elven weave can be worn even while travelling, making it popular with adventurers.

Cost: Adamantium

Enchanted Armor

Typically taking the form of a simple breastplate that has been imbued with enchantments to protect the rest of the body, enchanted armor is commonly used by those who prefer to avoid significant armor encumberance. Like elven weave, enchanted armor can be easily worn all day long.

Cost: ? mana

Heavy

Partial Plate

While not providing the comprehensive protection of full plate armor, partial plate still offers better mobility and superior visibility over a suit of full plate, in addition to being cheaper to produce.

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Full Plate

The favored armor of nobility and knightly cavalry. Expensive, but is more than worth the price for the protection it offers.

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Superheavy Plate

Impossibly thick armor used by monstrous creatures or the super humanly strong.

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Adamantium Plate

A few lords or rich knights can afford special plate armor reinforced with adamantium, giving them almost unmatched protection.

Cost: ? Adamantium

Embodied Armor

Rife with enchantments, 'embodied' armor is the ultimate expression of heavyweight personal armor. Not only does it provide incredible resistance to attacks both physical and magical, it is surprisingly easy to move in and even augments the wearer's strength.

Cost: ?? Adamantium ? Mana

Shields

Buckler

Scottish targes, bucklers, and other small shields. They cannot cover much target area against a rain of missiles, but provide a significant advantage in close combat.

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Light Shield

Shields of fair size but simple and light construction. Light shields provide good protection and coverage against lighter weaponry, but are too flimsy to withstand weapon weaponry.

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Full Shield

Good defensive boosts against all forms of attack.

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Tower Shield

These are large, heavy shields that cover practically the entire body against attack. They are very solid against projectiles and formidable protection for ranks of spear. Tend to be a bit unwieldy in a general melee.

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Pavise

Useless in close combat but provide exceptional ranged protection.

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Round Buckler

A magically-animated shield that can automatically move to interpose itself between enemies and the user.

Cost: ? mana

Miscellaneous

Mounts

Rouncey

An ordinary horse suitable for a wide range of purposes, the expense of maintaining superior war horses means that many more common ones are used by cavalrymen and scouts in times of war.

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Courser

A capable warhorse used by mounted men at arms and poorer knights. While not as expensive or prized as a Destrier, they are well suited for use by cavalrymen.

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Destrier

The finest warhorses available, Destriers are tough and fast. They are unquestionably the mount of choice for Knights in both battle and tournament.

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Elephant

There is an elephant in the way.

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Warstriders

Strider Weapons

Giant Mauls

Simple clubs, hammers and related bashing weapons, appropriately sized-up for warstriders.

Cost: ?? Gold

Giant Swords

Warstrider-sized swords. Eminently capable of cleaving striders, knights, dragons and houses.

Cost: ?? Gold

Strider Leadcasters

A Strider Leadcaster is roughly equal in size to a light artillery piece like a Falconet.

Cost:

Mana Cannon

A 'pure' magic weapon, mana cannons fire a fast-moving ball of force across long distances. In appearance, they resemble a large open-ended telescope.

Cost: ?? Mana

Upkeep: ?? Mana

Strider Armor

Iron Plate

Usually readily available and relatively inexpensive, iron is by far the most common metal used in warstrider construction.

Cost:

Adamantium Plate

Only the most expensive warstrider designs are protected by adamantium armor.

Cost: Adamantium ?

Artillery

Siege Engines

Bombard

A fairly simple large caliber gun or mortar used to batter down fortified walls.

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Trebuchet

Largely supplanted by cannons, the wooden Trebuchet is still used by the armies of more conservative or remote nations.

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Field Artillery

Culverin

One of the most common pieces of battlefield artillery, the first Culverins were used by great effect by the Alfar Legions against enemies who could at best field unwieldy full sized cannons.

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Demi-Culverin

An excellent all purpose gun, the Demi-Culverin is a popular choice for armies on the move, where it is easy to transport while still retaining considerable range and power.

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Falconet

The lightest cannon in common use, a Falconet is roughly similar in size and power to the oversized firearms used by warstriders. Highly mobile, Falconets serve as an excellent defense against oversized enemies and giant monsters.

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Ballista

Somewhat like a giant oversized crossbow, the Ballista is an ancient but still effective field weapon.

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Skycraft

Weapons

Firepowder Cannon

Firepowder is an old if not supremely popular option among the siege-minded. While it has the advantage in simplicity, firepowder cannons are not terribly accurate.

Cost: ?? Gold

Upkeep: Firepowder?

Mystic Focus

A mystic focus is a common addition to large structure, allowing a mage to 'power up' their spells by tapping into a substantial source of power.

Cost: ?? Mana

Lightning Launcher

These crystaline contraptions fire bolts of powerful lightning against nearby targets. While it is limited to short ranges, the lightning is almost impossible to avoid.

Cost: ?? Mana

Upkeep: ?? Mana

Mana Cannon

A 'pure' magic weapon, mana cannons fire a fast-moving ball of force across long distances. In appearance, they resemble a large open-ended telescope.

Cost: ?? Mana

Upkeep: ?? Mana

Armor

Wood Cladding

Skycraft are typically constructed out of thin wooden sheeting over a frame, which provides little to no resistance against weapon fire. It is thus common to armor skycraft expected to see fighting with thicker, denser wood, giving them effective immunity to hand-held missile weapons and substantially increased resistance to medium-sized field weapons.

Cost: ?? Gold

Iron Cladding

A few unusual skycraft have been fitted with iron armor; while providing superior protection against weapons it is fairly expensive and very heavy. As a result a skyship so armored tends to be something of a pig in the air, albeit a very difficult one to disable.

Cost: ?? Gold

Upkeep: ?? Mana

Halves all carrying abilities

Adamantium Cladding

The occasional lord with more money than sense will commission a skyship clad in Adamantium armor. While the amount of adamantium required is rather excessive, a ship so armored had none of the performance drawbacks of iron cladding.

Cost: Yes Adamantium

Upkeep: ?? Mana

Barrier Cladding

Some shipbuilders opt to forgo significant physical armor, instead relying on magical defenses to keep the skyship safe. While less effective against things such as cannons, magical protection is significantly better against spells and spell-firing weapons.

Cost: ?? Mana

Upkeep: ?? Mana

Magic & Equipment

Haze Field

More sneaky captains have their ships fitted with haze fields, magical wards that can hide a skyship against empty sky. While hardly perfect, they can help a ship to avoid 'unnecessary entanglements'. Many civilized ports consider any ship with a haze field as an outlaw vessel.

Cost: ?? Mana

Upkeep: ?? Mana

Manajets

Some skyships have especially powerful enchantments, throwing out raw mana as propulsive force, making them faster and more responsive.

Cost: ?? Mana

Upkeep: ? Mana

Troop Barracks

The skycraft was built with particularly large passenger spaces and as a result, increases the amount of Infantry units it can carry by 100% per level.

Cost: ?? Gold

Upkeep: ? Gold

Heavy Lift

The skycraft has especially powerful enchantments, allowing it to carry particularly weighty loads and as a result, increases the amount of Mechanical units it can carry by 100% per level.

Cost: ?? Mana? Levistone?

Upkeep: ? Mana