On the other hand, the harpoon has a poor throwing range, and damage potential is less when it is used one-handed, much like a bastard sword. Harpoons may be used one- or two-handed, and there is no change in speed factor for using it one way or the other. Kuo-toa, the aquatic subterranean fish-men, favor the harpoon with as many nasty barbs on the weapon as possible. The victim is pulled toward the wielder only if a concentrated attempt is made and the victim is of a size and weight that makes this possible (e.g., a harpooned whale cannot be hauled in by a fighter with 13 Strength).Ĭertain primitive jungle tribes traditionally use harpoons to hunt wild boar.

Failure means the harpoon is still attached, the victim takes another hit point of damage, and is drawn 10' closer to the harpoon's wielder. If the target has Intelligence of 2 or greater and some means of dislodging the hook or breaking the line, it is allowed a saving throw vs. Some creatures may be of sufficient intelligence to try to free themselves from the harpoon. When a hunter throws the harpoon and hits an animal, he follows the victim as best he can, playing out as much rope as needed until the beast tires and dies. These heads are usually detachable from the shaft, but are connected to the thrower by a cord attached between the point and the barb. Metal harpoon heads evolved later, most with pointed or barbed heads. The head was then fitted or attached to the end of the shaft, secured by animal sinews. The heads often had hooks cut into them for increased damage and to hold the harpoon fast in the beast's flesh.

Later, these became sticks with a sharp head of horn or bone. The first harpoons were merely pointed sticks. Its development by primeval man was for hunting marine mammals and large fish. The harpoon is a hunting weapon, which, in times of duress, may be used for defense. Merman suffer double damage from fire attacks.'Īs for harpoons, here's what the Arms & Equipment Guide has to say (pardon the absence of page number I don't own the book, and am using a 'Private Non-Profit'. Once stopped, the ship is attacked and a hole is knocked in its hull in 4d4 rounds, after which the ship slowly sinks, to be looted by the mermen. Each grapple held by 10 mermen slows a ship by 1. They use grapples to attack ships the grapples can be thrown up to 50 feet. Mermen crossbows have a range of 30 yards underwater. * 20% of all trident wielders are also armed with a hook and grappling line (50 feet long). The MM (249) states that 'Mermen communities are well-armed.

Harpoon game dementia