Design Goals

With that in mind, I had several goals when creating this system:

• First, simplicity. Weapons should feel different; most weapons should behave in an interesting way, but this must not over complicate their use.

• Second, new weapons should be added that are not represented by 5e's base selection, particularly in light of the new properties added to make weapons feel different.

• Third, buffs should be subtle - enough to make the weapon feel different and to be memorable without throwing off balance too much.

• Fourth, Special weapons should be buffed so that they are more useful, as they are almost never used in their current form.

• Fifth, this supplement should remedy some of the issues with nomenclature D&D has for weapons.

• Finally, exotic weapon materials should be more diverse and more worthwhile without being too close in power to magical weapons.

Changelog

Version 6 completed.

• Added the man-catcher.
• Altered wording to be more concise.
• Removed advice for using the DMG's optional Disarm rule.
• Improved clarity of non-lethal damage rule.
• Agile now increases chance to hit, not damage.
• Altered behaviour of Sweeping to be more readily useful.
• Buffed materials - instead of a flat +1, they now add 1d4 damage dice.
• Mithral two-handed weapons can no longer be used one-handed.
• Clarified intended Net behaviour.
• Adjusted mithral and adamantine.
• Added Special exception to the rapier that allows dagger/rapier to be mechanically viable.
• Restored the default Club and adjusted baton and blackjack weights.
• Adjusted bow nomenclature for accuracy.
• Nerfed materials slightly
• Renamed ranged tripping property to something catchier

Version 5 completed. Thanks to u/Azzu and @cubelith for helping refine the fourth draft.

• Added missing property to hand crossbow.
• Joint-locking renamed
• Bolas wording adjusted to account for winged creatures
• Estoc altered for feel.
• Flail buffed
• Shortbow now DEX only
• Fixed incorrect Silvered wording

Version 4 complete. Thanks to u/Geckoarcher for helping refine the third draft.

• Nerfed anti-armor.
• Buffed bastard sword for balance.
• Added throwing club
• Removed errant properties

Version 3 completed. Thanks to u/SamuraiHealer for helping refine the second draft.

• Concealed sheath added.
• Concealable removed from hatchet.
• Buffed scimitar for balance
• Buffed shortsword for balance
• Buffed trident for balance
• Nerfed whip for balance
• Removed club - superseded by blackjack and baton
• Nerfed quarterstaff for balance
• Buffed sickle for balance
• Improved property consistency in similar weapons
• Double-weapons rules altered due to balancing issues.

Version 2 completed. Thanks to u/SamuraiHealer for helping refine the first draft.

• Fixed overlooked alphabetisation
• Added the blackjack and restored the vanilla 5e club.
• Added the special rule for the staff-sling
• Concealable removed
• Hold-out renamed to Concealable
• Impactful removed.
• Walked back the scimitar renaming.
• Removed the "lobbed" property
• Finesse added to the former Impactful weapons
• Added the "Flat" property.
• Tweaked bonuses.
• Added explicit compatibility for Battlemaster Maneuvers and the Defensive Duelist feat.
• Formatting changes for legibility.
• Battleaxe's Sweeping replaced with Momentum.
• Tuck renamed for recognisability.

Supplement User Guide

To begin using Better Weapons, do the following in your game:

• Replace the 5e Longsword with this supplement's Bastard Sword
• Replace the 5e Greatsword with this supplement's Longsword
• Replace the 5e Handaxe with this supplement's Hatchet

Non-lethal damage now requires dealing bludgeoning damage, but melee weapons that do not normally deal bludgeoning damage may do so by halving the damage dealt.

Weapon Properties

Agile. This weapon is nimble. When you make an attack of opportunity with this weapon, you gain a +1 bonus to your attack roll.

Anti-armor. This weapon is suited to attacking armored foes. When attacking a creature that is wearing non-hide medium or heavy armor, you gain a +1 bonus to your attack roll.

Binding. When you make a successful ranged attack with this weapon, you can use the attack roll against the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check, adding its damage die to the roll. If you win, the creature falls prone. Creatures that are not using limbs to move are immune.

Concealable. If this weapon is hidden on your person with a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check, it cannot be spotted from a distance. Checks made to physically search you for it are made at disadvantage.

Disarming. Using this weapon, you can use a weapon attack to knock a weapon or item from a target’s grasp. You make an attack roll contested by your target’s Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics). If you win, the target drops the item. If a creature is holding the item with multiple hands, it has advantage on its roll. You have advantage if your size is larger than your target, but disadvantage if your size is smaller.

If you use this weapon when you perform the Disarm maneuver, you may impose disadvantage on the target's Saving Throw instead.

Flat. This ranged weapon's shape allows it to be easily used while prone. You make ranged attacks with this weapon without disadvantage from being prone.

Grappling. This weapon is especially useful when grappling. When using your action to grapple your enemy with this weapon equipped, you can add its damage die to your grapple check. If it has the Reach property, you may use that reach as your Reach for the grapple.

Momentum. This weapon can build momentum to hit harder. When you miss a melee attack with this weapon, add +1 to the next damage roll made with this weapon. This stacks with consecutive misses.

Parrying. This weapon is good for fighting defensively. When another creature hits you with a melee attack, you can use your Reaction to add +1 to your AC for that attack, potentially causing it to miss. If you have the "Defensive Duelist" feat, this +1 adds on to your existing parry bonus.

Shoving. When using a Shove attack to push an enemy away with this weapon equipped, you can add its damage die to the roll. If it has the Reach property, you may use that Reach as your reach for the Shove. Creatures that are not either riding a mount or moving using legs or wings are immune.

Sweeping. This weapon uses wide sweeping motions. When you hit with this weapon, you may choose instead to divide damage dealt between all creatures within your range. If a target within your range would not have been hit by your attack, they take a share of the overall damage but lose no hit points.

Tripping. When using this weapon to make a Shove attack to knock an enemy prone, you can add its damage die to the roll. If it has the Reach property, you may use that Reach as your reach for the Shove. Creatures that are not either riding a mount or using their legs to move are immune. If you perform a Trip maneuver using this weapon, you may impose disadvantage on the target's Saving Throw instead.

Unhorsing. When you hit a target with this weapon, they must make a Dexterity saving throw to avoid falling off their mount. The DC for the saving throw is equal to 8 + your Strength modifier + your proficiency modifier.

Special Weapons

Some weapons have specific rules governing their use. Those will be described here.

Adamantine. A weapon or load of ammunition can be made from adamantine. Against objects, any hit from an adamantine weapon is a critical hit. Against creatures made of stone or wood, an adamantine weapon does 1d4 extra damage. The adamantine version of a weapon or ten pieces of ammunition costs 500 gp more than the standard version, and weighs 1.5 times as much. Additionally, adamantine weapons do not rust, tarnish, or corrode. A Light adamantine weapon loses that property, and a normal weapon gains the Heavy property.