GURPS Martial Arts - Home

Nata – Japan. A HATCHET (pp. B271, B276).
Neko-De – Japan. A BLADED HAND (p. 226) commonly associated
with ninja. Used for both climbing and fighting.
NET (p. B276) – Ancient Rome. A weighted net designed for
combat. The MELEE NET is a one-handed thrown or
melee weapon, used by Roman gladiators in conjunction
with the TRIDENT (p. 229). The LARGE NET requires two
hands and is only for throwing, but is also harder to
escape from. See p. B411 for rules. A fighter with a net
can trail it in front of him to trip foes. The hex containing
the net is bad footing. Furthermore, the wielder can
try to yank the net out from under the enemy. Roll a
Quick Contest of ST. If the user wins, his opponent falls.
Otherwise, nothing happens . . . but if his ST roll is a critical
failure, he falls instead!
Designing the Perfect Weapon
There are several rules for modifying weapons.
Use them all if you like! They apply in the following
order:
1. Add accessories using Combination Weapons
(p. 214). Record the new cost and weight.
2. Adjust quality using Weapons of Quality
(p. 216). Modifiers apply to the total price of combination
weapons, using the most expensive applicable
type; e.g., a staff with a sickle is “other cutting melee
weapons” and not “crushing-only melee weapons.”
3. Conceal the weapon using Hidden Weapons
(p. 218). Cost modifiers apply after changes for accessories
and quality. Weight modifiers are cumulative
with those for accessories.
Ngao – Thailand. A polearm tipped with a fork, spearhead,
or long blade. Treat a forked ngao as a TRIDENT (p. 229),
a spear-tip ngao as a SPEAR (p. B273), and a bladed ngao
as a NAGINATA (pp. B272-274).
Ninja-To – Japan. Also called a “ninjaken,” this is a straightbladed
SHORTSWORD (p. 223) associated with ninja.
Reputable historians and hoplologists have found no
straight-bladed Japanese swords older than the mid-20th
century – but Ninjutsu stylists (see Ninja and Ninjutsu,
p. 202) claim that the design is almost a thousand years
old. In a cinematic game, it has a hollow sheath that
works as a BLOWPIPE (p. B275) and snorkel.
Nodachi – Japan. A curved sword similar to the KATANA
(pp. B271, B274), but longer. Treat as a THRUSTING
BASTARD SWORD (pp. B271, B274) or a THRUSTING
GREATSWORD (p. B274), depending on size. Longer
weapons existed but were strictly ceremonial.
NUNCHAKU (p. B272) – Okinawa. Popular fiction wrongly
portrays this Okinawan flail as a “ninja weapon.” It consists
of two lengths of wood linked by a chain or cord, the
length of which varies but is usually short. Sometimes
wielded in pairs.
Okusarigama – Japan. A large SCYTHE (p. B274) with a fulllength
KUSARI (p. B272) mounted on the head; use
Combination Weapons (p. 214) to work out statistics.
Users often plant the staff on the ground or against the
body with one hand (takes a Ready maneuver but lowers
the weapon’s ST requirement by one) and swing the
kusari with the other.
Otta – India. An S-shaped club styled to resemble an elephant’s
tusk, traditionally held in a Defensive Grip
(pp. 109-111). Treat as a KNOBBED CLUB (p. 226).
Paku – Indonesia. A WOODEN STAKE (p. B276) used for
throwing.
Panthiruchan – India. A QUARTERSTAFF (pp. B273-274).
Parang – Indonesia. A cleaver- or machete-type sword of
SMALL FALCHION (p. 227) to FALCHION (p. 229) size.
Partisan – Europe. A spear with triangular spikes (“ears”) at
the base of a broad head. This prevents impaled foes
from running themselves through to close with the
wielder; see Holding a Foe at Bay (p. 106). Otherwise,
treat as an unthrowable SPEAR (p. B273). Also called a
“Bohemian ear-spoon.”
Pedang – Indonesia. A SHORTSWORD (p. B273).
Piau – Indonesia. A throwing blade. Treat as a SHURIKEN
(p. B276).
PICK (p. B271) – Europe, Middle East. A one-handed war
club with a beaked head mounted at right angles to the
handle. It’s designed to penetrate armor; the narrow tip
removes -2 of the penalty for targeting chinks in armor
(p. B400).
Pikestaff – England. The shaft of a long spear or pike, used
as a fighting stick. Treat as a LONG STAFF (p. 230).
Pilum (illustration, p. 222) – Ancient Rome. Plural is “pila.”
A throwing spear. Its head has an unhardened iron portion
that bends on a hit, preventing the enemy from hurling
it back or easily removing it from a shield. If a
thrown pilum hits, it becomes useless except as a staff
until straightened. Should it strike a shield, footnote [4]
under the Muscle-Powered Ranged Weapon Table (p. 232)
applies. In either case, unbending the head requires a
free hand and a foot, and takes three Ready maneuvers
and a ST roll. Treat as a SPEAR (pp. B273, B276) in all
other respects.
Pisau – Indonesia. A SMALL KNIFE (pp. B272, B276).
Plong – Thailand. A bamboo QUARTERSTAFF (pp. B273-274).
PLUMBATA (p. 231) – Ancient Rome. A short javelin or “war
dart” with a fletched wooden shaft. Part of the slender
metal head is made of lead (plumbum, whence the
weapon’s name) that deforms on impact, fouling shields
and making it a one-use weapon.
Parrying Flails
As explained under Fencing Parries (p. 221), the
inability of the rapier, saber, and smallsword to parry
flails (see p. B405) is a consequence of blade design,
not weapon skill. Any weapon that works with the
Main-Gauche, Rapier, Saber, or Smallsword skill and
at least one Melee Weapon skill other than those four
can parry flails at the usual penalties. This includes
the edged rapier (and any other rapier that weighs 3
lbs. or more), jian, jutte, sai, and short staff (which is
identical to a baton).
WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT 221