Flail
Consisting of only a heavy ball attached to a wooden or metal handle with a length of chain or rope, flails have been used by peasants throughout history to thresh wheat. However, when the time came to defend themselves (as in the French or American Revolutions), farmers were able to wield their grain-threshing flails with some effectiveness against the enemy.
The medieval flail grew out of this idea, and became a weapon that helped thwart the knighted class. With the combat version of the flail, the ball is heavier (no more wooden handles, for instance), and is sometimes peppered with spikes. The historical advantage is that the flail could reach over and around a knight’s shield because of its chain. A sword’s blade did not bend, but the flail was flexible. Because of this, it wasn’t considered an honorable weapon, and did not match the proliferation of swords and daggers upon the battlefield. Regardless of history, even now shields do not offer any Defense bonus against flails (see p. 178 for information on shields).
If the flail is just a heavy weight atop a chain, the flail does bashing damage. If that weight is spiked, it does lethal damage. The flail requires a Dexterity 3 in addition to Strength 3 to use effectively. Without the Dexterity requirement, the wielder suffers a –1 penalty to attack.
The medieval flail grew out of this idea, and became a weapon that helped thwart the knighted class. With the combat version of the flail, the ball is heavier (no more wooden handles, for instance), and is sometimes peppered with spikes. The historical advantage is that the flail could reach over and around a knight’s shield because of its chain. A sword’s blade did not bend, but the flail was flexible. Because of this, it wasn’t considered an honorable weapon, and did not match the proliferation of swords and daggers upon the battlefield. Regardless of history, even now shields do not offer any Defense bonus against flails (see p. 178 for information on shields).
If the flail is just a heavy weight atop a chain, the flail does bashing damage. If that weight is spiked, it does lethal damage. The flail requires a Dexterity 3 in addition to Strength 3 to use effectively. Without the Dexterity requirement, the wielder suffers a –1 penalty to attack.
Item type
Weapon, Melee
Size: 3/N
Durability: 3
Cost: ••
Notes: -1 Damage without Dexterity 3, ignores shields