Billhook (3.5e Equipment)
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Billhook
Martial Two-Handed Melee
| Cost: | 9 gp |
|---|---|
| Damage (Small): | 1d6 |
| Damage (Medium)1: | 1d8 |
| Critical: | x3 |
| Weight2: | 8 lbs |
| Type3: | Slashing or Piercing |
| 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 spelled "bill hook" and sometimes called (historically) "english bill", is a weapon evolved from the bill, a tool used in many cultures (also under many shapes and variants) for cutting branches off trees.
Usually, paesant troops would take billhooks into battle: billhooks were actually very popular weapons because they were pretty effective, and they were essentially the conscript militia's halberds. Another benefit of using the billhook was the potential to contrast cavalry: The billhook is often used to block cavalry charges; 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.
A soldier with a billhook was called a "billman".
If you use a ready action to set a billhook against a charge, you deal double damage on a successful hit against a charging character.
Billhooks have the potential to dismount cavalry: even if the strike of the weapon didn't kill the rider, it could potentially lock into different parts of their body or 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 10 + 1/2 Base attack bonus + Strenght. On a failed save, the target is dismounted from their mount.
As it happens for every kind of weapon, many sizes and versions of the billhook exist: the "long billhook" is a longer version delivering 2d6 damage with 20x3 critical and has reach; you can use it to strike foes 10 feet away, but not adjacent foes; there is also " the great billhook", wich delivers 3d6 damage with 20x3 critical and has the same reach too.
the billhook does either piercing or slashing damage (player’s choice at time of attack).
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.
Characters proficient with the billhook is also proficient with the bill for purposes of any of the following feats: Greater Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Specialization, Improved Critical, Weapon Focus, & Weapon Specialization and class features.
The Billhook (mundane weapon) must not be confused with the Billhook (tool).
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