[Guest Post] Dark Ages weapons & armour

[We're back with more of the period-piece weapons you crave! This is the beginning of familiar territory for most D&D settings. This is a nice easy weapon list before we get to the huge and complex arms proliferation of the high middle ages and beyond. Don't get cocky though, there are some key differences between the Dark Ages and latter times. -HDA]

Part One - Prehistory
Part Two - Antiquity

*****

Francisca - The classic one-handed axe, a few fellows hold them in the picture just above.

Shepherd's Axe - Similar, with a bigger head and longer handle.

Dane Axe - Long-handled axe with a differently-shaped head. [See link below]

Angon - Very similar to the pilum and maybe derived from it, used by the Anglo-Saxons.

Peasant Flail - Originally used for threshing, the two-handed versions had cylindrical heads unlike many one-handed flails.

DARK AGES (6th-10th century)

Simple Melee	dmg	notes
Club	D4 B	light or versatile
Dagger	D4 P	finesse, light
Handaxe, francisca	D6 S	light, thrown (20/60)
Handaxe, shepherd’s	D6 S	versatile
Javelin	D6 P	thrown (30/90)
Javelin, angon	D6 P	thrown (20/60), near miss disables wooden shield
Mace	D6 B	-
Mace, footman’s	D6 B	versatile
Military flail	D6 B	-
Morningstar	D6 B	-
Peasant flail	D8 B	two-handed
Quarterstaff	D6 B	two-handed
Sap	D4 B	finesse, light, knockout
Sickle	D4 S	light
Spear	D6 P	thrown (20/60), versatile
Simple Ranged
Crossbow, hand-spanned	D6 P	ammunition (60/120), loading (1), two-handed
Dart	D4 P	finesse, thrown (20/60)
Shortbow	D6 P	ammunition (80/160), str 11, two-handed
Sling (stone)	D4 B	loading (0), ammunition (30/90)
Sling (bullet)	D6 B	loading (0), ammunition (30/120)
Martial Melee
Battleaxe, bearded	D8 S	versatile
Greataxe, dane axe	D12 S	heavy, two-handed
Lance, light	D6 P	reach, thrown (10/30), versatile
Lance, heavy	D8 P	reach, heavy, two-handed on foot, versatile
(couched charge)	2D8 P	reach, heavy, two-handed on foot, versatile (2D10)
Shortsword, seax	D6 P	finesse, light
Sword, Carolingian/Viking	D8 S	-
Sword, sabre/scimitar	D8 S	finesse
Whip	D4 S	finesse, reach, knockout, no opportunity attacks
Martial Ranged
Longbow	D8 P	ammunition (150/300), heavy, str 13, two-handed
Net	-	special, thrown (5/15)
Shortbow, recurved	D8 P	ammunition (100/200), str 13, two-handed

Special weapon rules:
Light: Ideal for off-hand use when dual wielding.
Versatile: May be used in one or two hands. Roll the next higher die for two-handed damage.
Finesse: May use DEX modifier in place of STR for attack/damage rolls.
Heavy: Small creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls.
Reach: Adds 5 feet to striking distance, unless more is indicated.
Ammunition/Thrown: A ranged weapon. The first number is short range (attacks incur no penalty), the second is maximum range, in feet.
Loading (x): Require the user to spend an indicated number of actions reloading the weapon. If the number indicated is 0 it can be fired once per round, but no more.

Light Armor	AC	notes
Padded aketon/vápntreyja	11+dex	-
Padded gambeson	12+dex	-
Medium Armor
Hide armor, elk/reindeer	12+dex (max 2)	-
Mail shirt	13+dex (max 2)	stealth disadvantage
Mail coat	14+dex (max 2)	stealth disadvantage
Scale shirt, iron	13+dex (max 2)	stealth disadvantage
Scale coat, iron	14+dex (max 2)	stealth disadvantage
Shield, wooden	+2	-
Byzantine Cataphract Barding
Light Barding	AC	notes
Padded barding	11+dex	-
Leather scale barding	11+dex	-
Medium Barding
Hide barding	12+dex (max 2)	-
Scale barding, forequarters	13+dex (max 2)	stealth disadvantage
Scale barding, body	14+dex (max 2)	stealth disadvantage

*****

Here's a nice link that relates back to the previous post. A beautiful Roman-made dagger.

Types & shapes of Norwegian Viking-age swords, up to the 10th c.
Various shapes & sizes of axe heads, including the Dane Axe and others.

If anyone else has links to historical footnotes or resources, have at it in the comments!
Now that we're in the Viking Age, some appropriate music: