Billhook (3.5e Equipment)
 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
 | |||||||||
|
Rate this article Discuss this article | |||||||||
Billhook
Martial Two-Handed Melee
| Cost: | 15 gp |
|---|---|
| Damage (Small): | 1d8 |
| Damage (Medium)1: | 2d4 |
| Critical: | x3 |
| Weight2: | 8 lbs |
| Type3: | Piercing and slashing |
| HP4: | 10 |
| Hardness: | 10 |
1. See Damage Increases by Size to calculate the damage for a weapon larger than Medium or smaller than Small.
2. Weight figures are for Medium weapons. A Small weapon weighs half as much, and a Large weapon weighs twice as much.
3. When two types are given, the weapon is both types if the entry specifies "and", either type (player's choice at time of attack) if the entry specifies "or", or each end of the double weapon is a different type if the entry specifies "/".
4. The hp value given is for Medium armor, weapons, and shields. Divide by 2 for each size category of the item smaller than Medium, or multiply it by 2 for each size category larger than Medium.
The billhook (also called "bill-guisarme" if the weapon is more oriented towards slashing) is evolved from the bill, a tool used in many cultures (also under many shapes and variants) for cutting branches off trees.
The bill (also known as "sling blade", kaiser blade or "bush-axe") is basically considered a simple two-handed melee weapon and shares many characteristics with the Billhook, but it is lighters (6lb.), cheaper (7 gp) and delivers only 1d8 x3 damage, without bonus against a charge and no particoular dismounting properties (see text below within this page).
As with many other tools, the poor would take billooks into battle, and thus over time they evolved into a weapon. They were actually very popular weapons because they were pretty effective, and they were essentially the poor man's halberd.
Another, benefit of using the billhook was the potential to dismount cavalry. If the strike of the weapon didn't kill the rider, it could potentially lock into the different pieces of their armor and bring them down. A soldier with a billhook was called a "billman".
Billhooks have the potential to dismount cavalry: Even if the strike of the weapon didn't kill the rider, it could potentially lock into the different pieces of their armor and bring them down. When you make a successful slashing attack against mounted opponents, they must make a Strength saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + the wielder's Strength modifier + the wielder's proficiency bonus. On a failed save, the target is dismounted from their mount.
The billhook has reach; you can use it to strike foes 10' away, but not adjacent foes.
You can use the billhook to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during the attempt, you may drop the weapon to avoid being tripped in return.
Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Equipment → Weapons
