Ritual Weapons of Real World Pantheons

[pawsplay]

I could see Path of War being tied to a ritual weapon, but I like the idea of somewhat moving away from the idea of all campaigns having Priests with ritual weapons, since not every fantasy world has martial priests. Even if the PCs are adventurers, it might seem strange for a given religion to be associated with a specific weapon when the religion itself is not involved in warfare or conflict.

[Vermillion]

I could see Path of War being tied to a ritual weapon, but I like the idea of somewhat moving away from the idea of all campaigns having Priests with ritual weapons, since not every fantasy world has martial priests. Even if the PCs are adventurers, it might seem strange for a given religion to be associated with a specific weapon when the religion itself is not involved in warfare or conflict.

It could be symbolic.

[pawsplay]

I could see Path of War being tied to a ritual weapon, but I like the idea of somewhat moving away from the idea of all campaigns having Priests with ritual weapons, since not every fantasy world has martial priests. Even if the PCs are adventurers, it might seem strange for a given religion to be associated with a specific weapon when the religion itself is not involved in warfare or conflict.

It could be symbolic.

Have you ever tried coming up with a ritual weapon for every deity of the Greek Pantheon? Seriously, many religions just don't have a religion. I daresay I would be hard-pressed to identify what you would use for Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam in a steampunk-era game.

[Agent 333]

I could see Path of War being tied to a ritual weapon, but I like the idea of somewhat moving away from the idea of all campaigns having Priests with ritual weapons, since not every fantasy world has martial priests. Even if the PCs are adventurers, it might seem strange for a given religion to be associated with a specific weapon when the religion itself is not involved in warfare or conflict.

It could be symbolic.

Have you ever tried coming up with a ritual weapon for every deity of the Greek Pantheon? Seriously, many religions just don't have a religion. I daresay I would be hard-pressed to identify what you would use for Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam in a steampunk-era game.

Zeus: Javelin
Ares: Axe
Apollo: Longbow
Poseidon: Trident
Heraclese: Great club
Athena: Short sword
etc...

[Krensky]

Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam in a steampunk-era game.

Christianity: Cruciform sword or staff.
Buddhism: Dorja (aka club), staff, or unarmed. Some sects might have other choices.
Hinduism: Depends on what god. Swords, staffs, and bows are common though.
Islam: Scimitar.

[tenebrae]

Zeus: Javelin
Ares: Axe
Apollo: Longbow
Poseidon: Trident
Heraclese: Great club
Athena: Short sword
etc...

That does work fine for the warlike Greco-Roman deities, but what about Aphrodite?

[Doublebond]

A whip.
 

[pawsplay]

I could see Path of War being tied to a ritual weapon, but I like the idea of somewhat moving away from the idea of all campaigns having Priests with ritual weapons, since not every fantasy world has martial priests. Even if the PCs are adventurers, it might seem strange for a given religion to be associated with a specific weapon when the religion itself is not involved in warfare or conflict.

It could be symbolic.

Have you ever tried coming up with a ritual weapon for every deity of the Greek Pantheon? Seriously, many religions just don't have a religion. I daresay I would be hard-pressed to identify what you would use for Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam in a steampunk-era game.

Zeus: Javelin
Ares: Axe
Apollo: Longbow
Poseidon: Trident
Heraclese: Great club
Athena: Short sword
etc...

ares is generally described as using a sword. Athena is known for two weapons: Zeus's thunderbolt and the shield Aegis, bearing Medusa's head. Aphrodite wields a sword during the Trojan War, unsuccessfully. What about Hera? Dionysisu?

[pawsplay]

Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam in a steampunk-era game.

Christianity: Cruciform sword or staff.
Buddhism: Dorja (aka club), staff, or unarmed. Some sects might have other choices.
Hinduism: Depends on what god. Swords, staffs, and bows are common though.
Islam: Scimitar.

Why a scimitar? It has only the barest cultural connection to Arabs (borrowed from the Mongols and readily lent to the Crusaders) and virtually none with Islam. The cruciform sword is a pretty goood idea, the iconographers of the time thought so as well, but did not event exist in the time of Christ. Jesus of Nazareth was, however, reported as wielding a lash.

Buddhists in Japan took up arms several times, usually bow, sword, and spear. In China, the shao lin monks were known for swords, spears, and staves.

Sikhs actually do have a ritual weapon. Convenient.

[Agent 333]

I could see Path of War being tied to a ritual weapon, but I like the idea of somewhat moving away from the idea of all campaigns having Priests with ritual weapons, since not every fantasy world has martial priests. Even if the PCs are adventurers, it might seem strange for a given religion to be associated with a specific weapon when the religion itself is not involved in warfare or conflict.

It could be symbolic.

Have you ever tried coming up with a ritual weapon for every deity of the Greek Pantheon? Seriously, many religions just don't have a religion. I daresay I would be hard-pressed to identify what you would use for Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam in a steampunk-era game.

Zeus: Javelin
Ares: Axe
Apollo: Longbow
Poseidon: Trident
Heraclese: Great club
Athena: Short sword
etc...

ares is generally described as using a sword. Athena is known for two weapons: Zeus's thunderbolt and the shield Aegis, bearing Medusa's head. Aphrodite wields a sword during the Trojan War, unsuccessfully. What about Hera? Dionysisu?

To be fair, I was kind of going off this take on Ares:


But then, he uses a sword almost as often as he uses an axe... as well as a variety of different guns, his bare hands, his enemies limbs...

[tenebrae]

See, Hera's more like a whip to me. There's not a great weapon to represent 'beauty' or 'love' in the system, as far as I'm aware. Perhaps a Scourge, Razor or a Fan Blade could fit. Maybe even a Net.

[Krensky]

Why a scimitar? It has only the barest cultural connection to Arabs (borrowed from the Mongols and readily lent to the Crusaders) and virtually none with Islam. The cruciform sword is a pretty goood idea, the iconographers of the time thought so as well, but did not event exist in the time of Christ. Jesus of Nazareth was, however, reported as wielding a lash.

Buddhists in Japan took up arms several times, usually bow, sword, and spear. In China, the shao lin monks were known for swords, spears, and staves.

Sikhs actually do have a ritual weapon. Convenient.

Scimitar because of it's resemblance to a cresent moon, which is why it's used in Islamic symbology.

Dorje (which would be a mace, my bad) because it's a Buddhist religous object that was often used by monks as a weapon of self defense, and a staff becajuse it's an iconic monk accessory.

Cruciform sword because it's all over Christian martial iconography. Staff for the crook.

As for Hinduism, there's a bow for Arjuna, sword for Krishna... Considering the nature of the hindu epics all the hindu dieties and heros probably have a good choice.

[pawsplay]

See, Hera's more like a whip to me. There's not a great weapon to represent 'beauty' or 'love' in the system, as far as I'm aware. Perhaps a Scourge, Razor or a Fan Blade could fit. Maybe even a Net.

Net would be an ironic choice for Aphrodite, if you know the story with Ares and Hephaestus.

[pawsplay]

Why a scimitar? It has only the barest cultural connection to Arabs (borrowed from the Mongols and readily lent to the Crusaders) and virtually none with Islam. The cruciform sword is a pretty goood idea, the iconographers of the time thought so as well, but did not event exist in the time of Christ. Jesus of Nazareth was, however, reported as wielding a lash.

Buddhists in Japan took up arms several times, usually bow, sword, and spear. In China, the shao lin monks were known for swords, spears, and staves.

Sikhs actually do have a ritual weapon. Convenient.

Scimitar because of it's resemblance to a cresent moon, which is why it's used in Islamic symbology.

Dorje (which would be a mace, my bad) because it's a Buddhist religous object that was often used by monks as a weapon of self defense, and a staff becajuse it's an iconic monk accessory.

Cruciform sword because it's all over Christian martial iconography. Staff for the crook.

As for Hinduism, there's a bow for Arjuna, sword for Krishna... Considering the nature of the hindu epics all the hindu dieties and heros probably have a good choice.

I really can't see a Catholic priest in a steampunk game running around with a cruciform longsword, under ordinary circumstances, apart, again, from the anachronism of the sword with regards to a religion founded in a known century.

[Sletchman]

The weapon doesn't have to have existed when the religion was founded, it just has to fit in the time period the game exists in.