This weapon has no place in medieval warfare, for
it is an Egyptian weapon which went out of use around the tenth century
B.C. However, it is so interesting and it fits so well into the concepts
of the game that it can be added if the DM approves of such. A
khopesh has about six inches of handle && quillons. Its blade is then
straight from the quillons for about two feet. The blade becomes
sickle-shaped at this point, being about two additional feet long but effectively
extending the overall length of the sword by only 11/2 feet.
The curved portion resembles a squared-off capital letter “D,” complete
with upper serif, but with the back (left-hand) bar missing. This
makes the khopesh both heavy and unwieldy (thus the high number
for speed factor), difficult to employ properly and undoubtedly hideously
difficult and slow to recover, particularly after a badly missed
blow. Nevertheless, the weapon will not only cause damage, but its
sickle-like portion can snag an opponent or an opposing weapon. Unless
the opponent is 50% smaller and lighter than the wielder of the
khopesh (deducting or adding 5% per point or category over 18 of
strength difference to arrive at final mass), the weapon will simply
make it impossible for the snagged opponent to get in an effective attack
for 10 segments. If smaller and lighter, the opponent will either be
pulled to the ground (25%) or impeded in an attack (75%) when
snagged.

A weapon can be snagged only if it has protrusions or indentations,
but the only smooth weapons for this purpose are daggers, swords,
spears, and the like. Just as with snagging an opponent where any hit
has a 5% chance to do so, any miss also allows a 5% chance for
snagging the opponent’s weapon, if applicable. If an opponent’s
weapon is snagged, there is a 10% chance it will be torn from his or
her grasp. Failing that, the snagging will either disallow the opponent
the opportunity to effectively attack for 10 segments (80°/o), just as a
bodylequipment snag would, or else the opponent’s strength andlor
leverage would tear the wielder’s grasp (10%).

Because of this weapon’s ancient origin and unusual shape, it is an
ideal druidical instrument. The DM should consider placement of
both normal and magical khopeshes in the campaign, aiming especially
at druidical use. Of all magical scimitars discovered, 10% will
be khopeshes.
 

Weapon Type	Approximate  Weight in  Pounds	Size S or M	Size S or L	Weapon Type	Length	Space  Required	Speed  Factor	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Khopesh	7.5	2-8	1-6	Khopesh	c. 31/2'	4'	9	-7	-6	-5	-4	-2	-1	0	0	+1	+1	+2

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