Heavy weapons. So what’s the point in taking a heavy weapon that uses up more of your load? I understand the gameplay effect of “Fine” weapons and items, but I couldn’t find anything in the rulebook that distinguishes between normal weapons and heavy weapons. Is it just for narrative purposes? Just to be able to say you have a larger weapon, on the off chance that somehow helps out? Because if so, that seems like a rather sketchy benefit.
Heavy weapons.
Heavy weapons.
Narrative weight in this game translates to mechanical effect through the action roll and effects.
A heavy weapon is going to be more potent when you want to crush someone’s skull. Or it might mean a risky skirmish instead of a desperate against an armoured foe.
It might even be both an advantage and a disadvantage :
* a rifle is all very well to keep you out of range of people with swords, but it might not feel so good if you’re caught out in a small alley or inside a building;
* the same kind of thing would happen if you had a pike against a knife : if you can keep your foe at a distance, he cannot stab you; on the other hand, in a cramped space, your pike might be more of a disadvantage against that knifefighter and you might be better off dropping it.
As Timothy said above, it will affect either the effect on the roll or your position for it.
If you want something more codified: Against unarmored humans, I’d generally give heavy weapons +potency and blunt weapons -potency, with the big fat caveat that the target’s size, armor, composition, position, etc. can negate or reverse those modifiers.