Regardless of the allure of high-tech weaponry, inevitably things get
back to basics in combat: eventually you’re going to run out of bullets or
gunpowder and then you’ll have to make-do with what’s available to hand. Throughout
China’s history Emperors, wary of the possibility of uprisings from the peasant
classes, imposed restrictions about what sort of arms were available to their
armed forces and to the general populace; in response, the Chinese invented a
variety of implements which allowed them to skirt around the restrictions
Many of these weapons were derived from farm equipment, which meant
that they were fairly innocuous if the Imperial inspectors were around; others
could be easily broken down into their relatively innocent-looking components
to avoid arousing suspicion. Still others were readily available, growing in
the forests and could be garnered in a handful of seconds at need.
A lot of these weapons became the focus of study in the Martial Arts
temples across the country, particularly the Shaolin Temple. Various forms of
kung fu adopted several weapons whose use was considered compatible with their
styles and some of these weapons are now almost synonymous with those
teachings.
Meanwhile, the Western troops, basking in the sense of superiority
that their guns afforded them, fell back upon their traditional cutlery in
terms of melee weapons and things remained fairly unadventurous in their camp.
A
Note about Availability: This statistic shows the relative scarcity
of the particular weapon in China at the time period specified, not its general
availability worldwide. This status should be kept in mind if players need to
re-arm while adventuring in this locale.
*****
Foreign Forces
The invading foreign forces plundering China relied upon
their technological superiority over the Celestials, and they rarely engaged in
hand-to-hand confrontations with the Chinese. When forced to do so, they took
the field with the tried and trusted weaponry of their military regalia, most
of which, by this time, was falling into desuetude and assuming a mainly
symbolic role.
Bayonet
When you run out of bullets, it’s good to have something to
use as a last resort. The bayonet served to repel attackers in these instances,
or if the enemy approached too close for comfort (or the accurate use of a
rifle). Most bayonets screwed onto special threading at the mouth of the barrel
and were triangular-sectioned pointed steel prongs; other versions plugged
directly into the barrel mouth and were designed to be used when all else had
failed. Later on, some bayonets cane to resemble long single-bladed knives that
mounted below the barrel and which could be detached for use as ordinary
blades.
Base%:
25
Damage:
1D6+2+db
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
Yes
HP:
15
Availability: COMMON
Cavalry
Lance
Towards 1900, the cavalry lance had become little more than
something from which to fly your regimental colours. Still, needs must where
the devil drives and occasionally, these weapons were pressed into service.
When used on horseback and whilst charging into the enemy,
these spears do an extra 1D6 points of damage
Base%:
10
Damage:
1D8+1+db(+1D6)
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
Yes
HP:
15
Availability: COMMON
Cavalry
Sabre
In the Victorian era you couldn’t call yourself a military
man unless you had a sabre on your hip to swagger around with. Military
commanders were required to have one of these as part of their dress uniform
and they were primarily used for signalling on the battlefield. Nevertheless,
when out of bullets and surrounded by kill-crazed zombie Boxers, any weapon
will do...
Base%:
15
Damage:
1D8+1+db
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
Yes
HP:
20
Availability: COMMON
Club
No foreign barbarian would ever stoop to using a club in
battle; it was ungentlemanly and unsporting. In fact the closest any Westerner
came to using a club is indicated by the picture above.
Still, any short length of wood can be pressed into service
at a moment’s notice and, so long as nobody tells tales against you, no-one
need ever know...
Base%:
25
Damage:
1D8+db
Range:
Touch
HP:
20
Impale? : No
Availability: COMMON
Knives
While not generally considered quite the thing, a trusty
knife has seen many a military man escape a tricky situation. While mostly
regarded as more of a tool than a weapon, such fine distinctions are easily
dispensed with on the battlefield...
Base%:
15
Damage:
1D8+1+db
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
Yes
HP:
15
Availability: COMMON
*****
Chinese Forces
During the middle of the 19th Century, the various Chinese
forces – Imperial or otherwise – generally disdained foreign ordinance, usually
as a matter of policy. Until the close of the Boxer Rebellion, it was rare to
see Chinese rebels armed with guns; Imperial forces used what weapons they
could get, generally outmoded armaments rejected by the more up-to-date foreign
forces. Still, traders in Shanghai weren’t squeamish about who they sold their
guns to, so on rare occasions well-equipped rebels or Imperial troops could be
encountered.
Across many dynasties, the general populace of China has had
limited access to weaponry; this stemming from policies imposed by many
Emperors in an attempt to prevent uprisings by discontented social elements. In
response, the Chinese developed quite a few unusual weapons based upon the
agricultural implements that they were allowed to carry and use...
Axe
...The obvious choice from amongst these options was of
course the axe. At a pinch, an axe can also be thrown: this requires the use of
the Throw skill, and, if successful, does damage but without the damage bonus.
Base%:
20
Damage:
1D8+2+db
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
No
HP:
15
Availability: COMMON
Bows
Obviously, the bow
doesn’t do any damage; it’s the projectile
that causes harm.
Chinese bows were influenced by the ones made by the Tartars
and the Mongols and came to prominence during the Mongol rule of China during
the Yuan Dynasty. These bows are of composite manufacture, meaning that they
are made up of multiple layers of wood, hide and bone, lacquered or glued
together. This gave them an enormous tensile strength and meant that they could
be made quite small; small enough to be fired from horseback. Some bows had to
be warmed up over the course of a day, heated with fires and sunlight, in order
to be strung, preparatory to heading into battle; given this amount of work
just to get ready, bows were often carried in quivers that hung from the
warrior’s saddle
As a point of interest, given the huge amounts of pressure
that these weapons are under when in use, cutting or breaking the string of a
strung bow requires the wielder to make a Luck roll: failure means that the bow
shatters spectacularly, in a 1d6 splinter-explosion, harming all within a
three-foot radius.
Base%:
20
Damage:
1D8+db
Range:
30m / 90ft
Shots/round:
2
Impale?:
Yes
HP:
9
Malfunction:
00%
Availability: COMMON
Along with so many other things, the Chinese invented the
crossbow. The standard crossbow is a slow-moving affair that requires some
hefty reloading after each shot, usually by means of a hook, or crank device.
However, ease of use and accuracy over a longer range is the upside. Some
bright sparks even devised a magazine with a fast reload action, but these
versions are few and far between (statistics for these are in parentheses
below). A malfunction requires a Mechanical Repair skill roll and the procedure
will take 1D4 rounds to accomplish
Base%:
25 (20)
Damage:
1D8
Range:
40m / 120ft
Shots/round:
½ (1)
Impale?:
Yes
HP:
15
Malfunction:
95% (90%)
Availability: UNCOMMON
Club
Whatever the Westerners may have thought about using clubs
in a fight, the Chinese had no qualms whatsoever.
Base%:
25
Damage:
1D8+db
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
No
HP: 20
Availability: COMMON
Fans
Warfans are a peculiarly Chinese invention and most require
training in order for them to be used effectively. There are several versions:
one style is designed to be used folded up, the material protected by the two
outer vanes of the fan. In this instance, the fan acts more like a knife than
anything else and the statistics of that weapon should be used rather than the
one below.
The more common warfan has a razor edge running along the
outer radius of the fan’s arc. The wielder slashes at their foe and causes damage
and confusion by the unexpected nature of the attack. Those trained in Martial
Arts may also use the warfan to Parry incoming blows.
Base%:
10
Damage:
1D6+db
Range:
Touch
Shots/round:
1 attack, or 2 parries
Impale?:
No
HP:
6
Availability: UNCOMMON
Grapnels
The Grapnel is simply a vicious hook on the end of a long
rope. Their use in battle is mainly to overbear or destabilise onrushing
enemies. The Tiger Men of the Imperial Army were proficient at using this
weapon to drag horsemen off their steeds; sometimes they tied explosives to the
hook end and used the rope to sling these bombs into the enemy forces.
Base%:
05
Damage:
1D3 or Grapple
Range:
3m / 10ft
Impale?:
No
HP:
4
Availability: COMMON
Halberds
From ancient times, the halberd has been the standard weapon
of the Chinese armed militia. In mass formations on the battlefields, these
pole-arms were essential to holding the enemy forces at bay and protecting the
army’s flanks.
Many historical armies became known for the extreme lengths
of their halberds, some of which reached ridiculous lengths (some up to almost
60 feet!). How effective they were is not truly known.
Base%:
20
Damage:
1D10+1+db
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
No
HP:
17
Availability: COMMON
Lances
Lances are a favourite weapon amongst mounted troops and
were a point of commonality between the Chinese and the West. The Chinese liked
to decorate their lances with banners, often embroidered with magic spells to
cause fear in all those who looked upon them.
Base%:
10
Damage:
1D8+1+db(+1D6)
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
Yes
HP:
15
Availability: COMMON
Sickles
The sickle is another obvious agricultural implement that
did extracurricular duties in times of war. The adherents of the cults that
grow up around Nyarlathotep in its form of the Bloated Woman, particularly like
to employ sickles in their activities and they have a slew of superstitious
beliefs about them.
Base%:
20
Damage:
1D4+3+db
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
No
HP:
12
Availability: COMMON
Spears
The spear is an extension of the lance, more robust in
construction and designed to keep foes at arm’s length. At a pinch, the spear
may be Thrown, but, if successful, does not add the damage bonus to the wounds
it inflicts
Base%:
15
Damage:
1D8+db
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
Yes
HP:
18
Availability: COMMON
Staves
In a country whose forests are literally bursting with bamboo, the
prevalence of the staff as a weapon of choice is not surprising. Bamboo grows
incredibly quickly and has a tensile strength greater than steel: a weapon can
be cut from a nearby grove in seconds flat. Martial Artists have some special
manoeuvres that can be brought into play when armed with one of these.
Base%:
Damage:
1D+db
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
No
HP:
Availability: COMMON
Swords
Chinese swords tend to come in two different varieties (although there
are many different styles available). The first is the Chinese War Sword, which
is a large chopper-type blade with a single edge and slight curve upwards
towards the tip. The handle is often overly long allowing a two-handed or
single-handed grip, as needs be. The other style of sword, very common amongst
Martial Arts types, is the Chinese Straight Sword, which is double-edged with a
single-hand grip and relatively small quillons. Martial Artists can perform
their special moves whilst wielding this weapon; the Chinese War Sword is more
of a foot soldier’s blade.
Base%:
15
Damage:
1D8+1+db
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
Yes
HP:
15
Availability: COMMON
Three-Section
Staff
In the movie “36th
Chamber of Shaolin” there’s a training montage which reveals how this
weapon came into being: while using a bamboo staff our hero breaks his stick in
two places, however the outer bark of the bamboo keeps the three sections
connected. He discovers that the flexible staff allows him to entrap his
opponent’s weapons and to grapple them into submission, making it an infinitely
better combination implement than an ordinary staff.
Whatever the truth of this story is, this weapon is distracting and
daunting when encountered for the first time: those fighters meeting with one
as a new experience give their opponent a +20% advantage.
Base%:
05
Damage:
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
No
HP:
Availability: COMMON
Tiger
Claws
There are two main versions of this weapon: a variety that straps
around the hands like a combination set of knives and knuckledusters, and
another style that more resembles the Indian punch dagger or Katar. Both work
with the same statistics with the following differences: all skills requiring
manual dexterity are at –10% whilst wearing the strap-on variety of ‘Claws and Disguise
rolls are at –20%; whilst using the Katar-style version, the wielder must make
a Luck roll if stunned, impaled, or seriously jostled (by a nearby
explosion, say), or else they drop one or two of their weapons (roll 1D6: odds,
they drop one set of ‘Claws; evens, they drop both).
Climb rolls whilst wearing Tiger Claws are at +20%.
Base%:
20
Damage:
1D6+db
Range:
Touch
Impale?:
No
HP:
10
Availability: UNCOMMON
*****
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