After many hours of hard thinking and strenuous testing, the three administrators of Middle-earth RPG have finished developing the finished product of the new slot system. This system will better help us manage the board by placing realistic boundries on what weapons can be carried on your character's person. We've written up some definitions, which are there only to make sure everyone is on the same page. We've created a list of "weapon rules," which aren't so much "regulations" as they are akin to programming laws. They define realistic guidelines on how weapons may be carried and used based on common sense. Last, but not least, we've transformed the slot system into a format easily read and understood and capable of being filled in to provide each player with readily available information on what weapons he is carrying and where.

DEFINITIONS

Polearm: A polearm is defined as weapon which features a long pole, upon which is fixed a spearhead (same as pike), a halberd head, a glaive head, or no head (staff). A "long" Polearm is typically over 8 feet long, and a "short" polearm is typically between 5 feet and 7 feet.

Melee: A melee weapon is a (long or short)sword, scimitar, axe, club, mace or warhammer.

Quiver: The quiver is assumed to go either on the back or the leg, whichever has room.

Knife: Knife slots can also be used to carry small throwing axes, similar to those seen below.
http://www.weaponmasters.com/images//produ...2/MCPAK-64M.jpg

Claymore: A claymore is a very long, broad, and heavy sword. A large heavy double-sided axe or large heavy club, warhammer, or mace, would also fit in a Claymore slot and follow the same rules.


WEAPON RULES

Polearms:
• You can only carry ONE polearm of each length (long or short) with you.
• A long polearm doesn't use any slots because it must be held in hand.
• A short polearm will use a slot.
• Only one hand is required to HOLD a polearm, but both must be used to effectively WIELD a long polearm, except when on horseback.
• A short polearm, however, may be used effectively with a shield.

Javelins:
• Three javelins collectively use up one slot.
• If you have only one javelin, it will still use a slot.

Bows:
• Longbows (around 6 feet) cannot be used on horseback.

Swords:
• A maximum of three long or short swords can be worn at one time (two at sides, one on back).

Axes:
• A maximum of three axes may be worn at one time.
• Axes worn on belt cannot be large double-sided axes.


SLOT SYSTEM

(the "/" represents "or")

The names inside the brackets (slots) tell you which items can be placed in those slots. This system does not take horses into account. This is purely what weapons you have attatched to you in some way. Weapons carried in hand obviously do not take up slots, unless you count your character's hands as slots.

[Melee]
[Melee/short polearm]
[Bow/Shield/claymore]
[Quiver]
[Knife]
[Knife]
[Knife]
[3 javelins/short spear/short glaive]

Here's a nice form to use which can be filled out easily. Primary, secondary, and tertiary headings have been added to help you remember which slot is which. This form can be posted at the beginning of the quest, so that the other players and (more importantly) the mods and administrators can keep track of what you have on you. Keep in mind that this is purely for weapons. Armor will not interfere at all with any of the slots, and it is assumed that each character will always have some sort of pack with which to carry other items.

Primary - [Melee]
Primary - [Melee/short polearm]
Secondary - [Bow/Shield/claymore]
Secondary - [Quiver]
Tertiary - [Knife]
Tertiary - [Knife]
Tertiary - [Knife]
Tertiary - [3 javelins/short spear/short glaive]

EXAMPLE: Gimli's might look something like this:

Primary - [Axe]
Primary - []
Secondary - [Battleaxe]
Secondary - []
Tertiary - [Throwing Axe]
Tertiary - [Throwing Axe]
Tertiary - []
Tertiary - []