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War pick

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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 goddess 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[]

Adventures

Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

Video Games

Pools of Darkness • Gateway to the Savage Frontier • Neverwinter Nights (AOL game) • Treasures of the Savage Frontier • Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder

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. Please consider using affiliate links before purchases to support the wiki.

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. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 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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