Viking Weapons

    The viking weapon list is a little different from the standard D&D list.
Simple Melee Weapons

• Dagger/Knife
• Handaxe
• Javelin "Gaflak"
• Spear

Simple Range Weapons

• Sling

Martial Melee Weapons

• Battleaxe
• Glaive "Atgeirr"
• Greataxe
• Halberd "höggspjót"
• Longsword
• Shortsword "Sax"

Martial Ranged Weapons

• Longbow

Armor

• Padded
• Leather
• Chain Shirt
• Shield
• Helmet

A typical man had a shield, an axe or a spear. A lot of them carry a sax as a secondary weapon. A wealthy man would own a sword. Very expensive and passed down as heirlooms. Swords are named by their owner.

Further thoughts on viking bards and clerics

    So I've been thinking more about Clerics and Bards. I've got two different styles in mind. Not sure which direction would be better.
    So first off no real changes to what I've already posted. One thing I did miss was the elimination of turning undead. Doesn't seem right to me to be included.
    Second idea is a mildly radical change. (I know that kind of a oxymoron, but roll with me here a minute.) Elimination of spells completely. Bards would have more or less boosting abilities through their poetry. Example, poem of inspiration raises the parties attack bonus for the fight. Or boost a character's strength, and etc. Then clerics wouldn't really be clerics per say, as much as they would be devout follower of a particular deity. Whom they may ask a favor or boon of. I keep thinking of the line from Conan the Barbarian.

"Crom! I have never prayed to you before. I have no time for it. No one, not even you, will remember if we were good men or bad. Why we fought, or why we died. All that matters is that today, two stood against many. That's what's important! Valor pleases you, Crom; so grant me this one request. Grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then to hell with you!"

    Now that I write that down the line between bard and cleric kind of blurs to me. Perhaps I'm over thinking the whole thing. After all I want it to be a mythic campaign so to speak. So they will be fighting mythic creatures, and such. As well as other humans/warriors. I've got to ponder this all a bit.

A viking class forgotten

    I forgot a class. But in turn it's a little bit of a problem as well. The Bard aka Skald, seems to scream viking campaign to me. But that also brings up the specter of magic. So I thought a bit about this today. Bards don't really have fireball and such in their spell list. So maybe it's ok. Perhaps a bit more magical than I would like but ok. Maybe some how tie it into runes somehow. I would think the musical aspect would be tossed in the trash and replaced by poetry. That would be very viking and bardish. (Is Bardish a word? It is now, true believer.)
    Perhaps do the same with clerics. The cleric spell list would definitely need some tightening up. No Guiding Bolt for example. I think a cleric should favor a particular god. But venerate them the pantheon. Obviously the god list would be easy to put together. Not to mention finding the aspect of the favored god, and applying it the the cleric's domain.
    The big question is are Druid appropriate to the campaign. If this was straight up celtic I would say yes. But... Something to ponder. As for now I would be inclined to say no.

Vikings on the mind

    So i've been thinking about Vikings a lot lately. I think a fantasy viking campaign would be very fun. So I thought a little about the basics, characters. What classes should be allowed in a 5e game. So heres my little list.

• Fighter/Warrior
• Barbarian/Berserk
• Ranger/Scout

    Cleric is a maybe. I say maybe because I'm not a big fan of characters casting magic in the campaign. But at the same time a pagan shaman of some sort wouldn't be to bad. But its the casting that gets me. I don't like it. Not for this type of game.
    There are restrictions of equipment available as well. But that's next time.


This website here has a ton of interesting information.

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 A little side note about olympic equestrian stuff. It honestly boggles my mind. This massive beast half trot, walk up to these obstacles. I think to myself, their never gonna make it! Then they proceed to leap over it like stepping over a crack in the sidewalk. Its really amazing to me.