NUNCHAKU: The nunchaku is an almost direct adaptation
of the common agricultural flail. Also known as “num-chucks”
or “chuka sticks,” the nunchaku as shown in martial arts films is
made of two 12-inch to 14-inch-long hardwood sticks about 1
inch in diameter and connected by either a stout leathern cord
or a metal chain. (With a cord instead of a chain, the weapon’s
price would be 1 sp instead of 1 gp.) Having no mace-like head
similar to the footman’s flail, the nunchaku has a weapon speed
the flail cannot hope to attain; it is this speed which gives the
nunchaku most of its damaging power and puts it on a par with
conventional weaponry.

Nunchaku are easily folded for concealment within a boot or
pack, or to be tucked within a girdle or belt. Characters using
the nunchaku may try to use the weapon to strangle an opponent
(a la Bruce Lee), but this should not be allowed in the
game, since the victim can easily grab the stick portion of the
weapon and relieve pressure on the throat. Nunchaku cannot
be modified with a longer chain to allow strangulation attacks;
this would disrupt the user’s speed and control of the weapon,
making it useless as a nunchaku for melee combat.

Nunchaku are easily folded for concealment within a boot or
pack, or to be tucked within a girdle or belt. Characters using
the nunchaku may try to use the weapon to strangle an opponent
(a la Bruce Lee), but this should not be allowed in the
game, since the victim can easily grab the stick portion of the
weapon and relieve pressure on the throat. Nunchaku cannot
be modified with a longer chain to allow strangulation attacks;
this would disrupt the user’s speed and control of the weapon,
making it useless as a nunchaku for melee combat.

The nunchaku was derived from the flail used commonly in
Asia to separate rice from the stalk, and was used quite commonly
in the Okinawan area.

by Randy Bowman
 

New Weapons

Equipment

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Dragon #61

Dragon magazine