Broadsword (dNetHack)
) 
| |
|---|---|
| Name | broadsword |
| Appearance | basket-hilted sword |
| Damage vs. small | 2d4 |
| Damage vs. large | 1d6+1 |
| Damage type | slashing |
| To-hit bonus | +0 |
| Weapon skill | broadsword |
| Primary attribute | strength |
| Magical item? | no |
| Properties |
|
| Base size | large |
| Base price | 10 zm (+10/positive enchant) |
| Default weight | 70 |
| Base material | iron |
In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, the broadsword is much different from its appearance in NetHack. It is a large melee weapon that is one-handed for a medium-sized wielder, and has a base material of iron.
The broadsword is the default base item type for the artifact known as The Sky Reflected, which can be created by naming any mercurial weapon: naming the artifact will maintain its original item type.
Generation
Chaotic human Kensei start each game with a blessed +1 broadsword. Half-dragon Noblemen have dummied-out data that sets an uncursed +0 broadsword as their starting weapon.
Half-dragon madwomen have a 1⁄9 chance of finding a mercurial broadsword in their quest box.
The artifacts Fire Brand and Frost Brand have an effective 2⁄21 chance of being generated as broadswords: they can also be wished for in broadsword form, and can be reshaped into a broadsword by dipping the chosen artifact into a forge or fountain respectively—this reshaping requires the hero to either have a broadsword in their inventory or be at least Skilled in broadswords.
Human smiths, Dracae Eladrin and Oona can forge broadswords for a hero that pays to request their services and gives them enough of their required material: Dracae Eladrin can grant the weapons they forge the acrid, sizzling, holy, or consecrated object properties, while Oona can grant the weapons she forges the crystalline, forge-hot or arcing object properties.
Several monsters can be generated with broadswords:
- Glass golems have a 1⁄12 chance of being generated with a large glass broadsword.
- Frost giants are always generated with a huge broadsword.
- Lieutenants have a roughly 1⁄2 chance of being generated with a broadsword.
- Terracotta soldiers generated outside of the Kensei quest and Monk quest branches have a 1⁄3 chance of being generated with a huge stone broadsword.
- Argenach Rilmani have a 2⁄3 chance of being generated with an uncursed silver broadsword that has a minimum enchantment of +3, and those generated with broadswords will be given an accompanying shield item that has a minimum enchantment of +3—this shield has a 5⁄6 chance of being an uncursed silver kite shield, and will otherwise be an uncursed silver shield of reflection.
- Carcosan courtiers generated outside of the future (i.e. the Anachrononaut quest and Android quest) have a 3⁄40 chance (7.5%) of being generated with a golden broadsword.
- Bright walkers are always generated with a broadsword.
- Mariliths that are generated in Gehennom or slated for "good" equipment have a 1⁄3 chance of being given a broadsword as one of their six weapons be a broadsword.
- Balrogs generated outside of the Mordor Ruins Quest are always generated with a large broadsword, while those generated within the Mordor Ruins quest have a 1⁄3 chance of being generated with a large broadsword.
- The blue-eyed fox has a 1⁄16 chance of being generated with a filth-crusted and dire poison-coated broadsword.
- Player monster kensei have an effective 1⁄8 chance of being generated with a broadsword.
Description
As in NetHack, a broadsword inflicts slashing damage, and deals 2d4 damage against small monsters and 1d6+1 damage against large monsters. A hero that wields a broadsword while they are at Skilled or better in broadswords gains the "graze" expert trait.
Unlike NetHack, broadswords are also hand-protecting weapons: while wielded, they grant an AC bonus value equal to their material's AC + Enchantment2 - (2 * erosion), which is always rounded down—this value is halved if the wielder is performing two-weapon combat with the broadsword as the off-hand weapon. For example, an iron broadsword will grant 4 points of AC at +0 while wielded, gaining 2 additional points of AC for every 2 additional points of enchantment while wielded in the main hand, or only 1⁄4 as much when wielded in the offhand during two-weapon combat. This AC bonus is further halved for a broadsword that is any of the following weapon types:
- Faded weapons
- Elf-lord weapons
- R'lyehian weapons, if the hero has more than 40 insight
- the lit Holy Moonlight Sword
Origin
"Broadsword" is the modern name for the historical basket-hilted sword, a type of sword generally used for military purposes in the early modern era of the 16th century and seen as late as the early 20th. The eponymous guard used for the wielder's hand protection is developed from the standard "quillon" crossguard, and is the result of firearms rendering many forms of armor ineffective—"true" broadswords are double-edged, while those with single-edged blades and thickened backs are generally called "backswords".
The term "broad" contrasts the cutting and thrusting weapon with the rapier, which has a more slender blade and is designed primarily for thrusting alone; some rapiers feature a broadsword-like blade paired with typical rapier hilts and sometimes with similar crossguards. Many modern fantasy works incorrectly depict broadswords as a medieval-style weapon with a simple crossguard, similar to an arming sword—dNetHack and its variants do at least account for this with the weapon's AC bonus.
Encyclopedia entry
Bring me my broadsword
And clear understanding.
Bring me my cross of gold,
As a talisman.
[ "Broadsword" (refrain) by Ian Anderson ]
