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War picks, also known as military picks, were a type of pickaxe designed specifically for warfare.[2][1]

Description[]

War picks generally consisted of one or two curved, heavy piercing flukes mounted upon a shaft. Some shafts were known to be spiked at the end.[2] These thick curved flukes, also known as "crow's beaks," help to balance the war pick's hammer head.[3]

Weaponology[]

All war picks were designed to pierce through heavier armor types, from chain mail all the way up to full plate armor.[2][3] However, they could get stuck if swung too hard. Some training was required to wield them effectively, thus they were often considered martial weapons.[1]

Despite having a similar appearance, war picks were noted as being ineffective tools for climbing compared to ice axes.[9]

Variations[]

Footman's pick[]

Footman's picks were the larger and heavier variety of war pick.[2][10] Their name derived from the fact that they were most often wielded by infantry soldiers. They generally were 5 feet (1.5 meters) long.[2]

Horseman's pick[]

Horseman's picks were the lighter variety of war pick, their name derived from the fact that they were most often wielded by mounted knights and heavy mercenary horsemen.[2] They imparted less force than a footman's pick, but their smaller size allowed wielders to fight with greater speed and agility.[7] They generally were 2 feet (0.61 meters) long.[11][2]

Notable War picks[]

War picks of Deities[]

  • A dragon head: a heavy pick that was wielded by the god Tiamat.[13]
  • A lion's head: a heavy pick that was wielded by the god Nobanion.[13]
  • Tyrannosaur head: a heavy pick that was wielded by the god Ubtao.[13]

Notable Users of War picks[]

Groups[]

  • Despite being designed for the purpose of warfare, footman's picks were often utilized by prospectors as a digging tool.[14]
  • Footman's picks were a common weapon among both human and demihuman races all across Faerun.[15]
  • War picks were known to be frequently used by smaller races such as dwarves, gnomes, deep gnomes, duergar,[2] and halflings. Gnomes often favored the lighter variety as an off-hand weapon, though they and halflings were both known for using the heavier variety as a two-handed weapon.[7]
  • War picks were popular among knights and the footmen of some mercenary companies.[2]

Appendix[]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

External links[]

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 116, 120. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 83–84. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Connie Rae Henson & Dale "slade" Henson (August 1992). The Magic Encyclopedia Volume One. (TSR, Inc), p. 94. ISBN 9781560764298.
  4. Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 35, 37. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  5. David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 94. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
  6. Logan Bonner, Eytan Bernstein, & Chris Sims (September 2008). Adventurer's Vault: Arms and Equipment for All Character Classes. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-07869-4978-6.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Jeremy Crawford, Stephen Schubert, et al. (September 2011). Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium. Edited by Cal Moore, Tanis O'Connor. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 21–22. ISBN 978-0-7869-5744-6.
  8. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 149. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  9. Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 136. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
  10. Richard Baker, Skip Williams (1995). Player's Option: Combat & Tactics. (TSR, Inc), p. 141. ISBN 0-7869-0096-2.
  11. Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 38. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  12. Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 141. ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 222. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  14. Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), p. 78. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
  15. Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), p. 73. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
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