Icon updates for various weapons in the SRD item compendium

[M0nk3yy]

I am finally back with another set of icon updates (previous updates includes armor, shields, tools, and other misc items).

A lot of icons are still holdovers from when icons were included in the dnd5e game system and there were considerably fewer to choose from. As always I will attempt to find icons that more accurately represent their intended item and minimize icon duplcation. In the case of the SRD weapons the intent is also to choose icons that are more appropriate for basic equipment as opposed to higher level gear or magic equipment, as they will be used to outfit 1st level PCs, commoners, and other mundane NPCs. I would like to tackle some magic weapons at some point but the scope of this pass is only the basic weapons and their +1, +2, and +3 variants.

Current icons are shown on the left, new icons on the right.

Simple Melee

Club:

The current image looks like you are hitting someone with a stick rather than a "club". The new image more clearly indicates a weapon through its coloured grip and band of metal, whilst still being clearly a bludgeoning weapon rather than a spiked, piercing weapon.

Change from icons/weapons/clubs/club-simple-black.webp to icons/weapons/clubs/club-banded-brown.webp

Dagger:

The current jewelled image with minimal crossguard would likely make a good magic item or an expensive assassin's weapon etc. but the go-to SRD weapon should be more basic. As the item description indicates, daggers are also often sidearms for fighters, not just weapons for fancy assassins.

Change from icons/weapons/daggers/dagger-jeweled-purple.webp to icons/weapons/daggers/dagger-straight-blue.webp

Greatclub:

Current image appears to be made of metal, whereas a club would generally be wooden (as indicated by its description) lest it be considered some kind of mace. Chosen icon is similar, but clearly wooden.

Change from icons/weapons/maces/mace-spiked-steel-grey.webp to icons/weapons/clubs/club-heavy-barbed-grey.webp

Javelin:

Current icon looks like it depicts crossbow bolts. New icon has javelins.

Change from icons/weapons/ammunition/arrows-bodkin-yellow-red.webp to icons/weapons/polearms/javelin.webp

Light Hammer:

Current icon looks more appropriate for a Warhammer or similar. The new icon gives a good sense of scale as it shows the entire small handle, clearly indicating size, and that this weapon could potentially be used for throwing.

Change from icons/weapons/hammers/hammer-war-spiked.webp to icons/weapons/hammers/shorthammer-double-stone-engraved.webp

Mace:

Maces with a more rounded head style are more common and so a suitable basic one has been chosen. The current image might be good for a higher tier weapon.

Change from icons/weapons/maces/mace-flanged-steel-grey.webp to icons/weapons/maces/mace-flanged-steel.webp

Quarterstaff:

The carved gold band makes the current image look like a bit more than a generic quarterstaff. New image depicts a pretty average staff with the wrapped grip as described in the flavour text.

Change from icons/weapons/staves/staff-simple-gold.webp to icons/weapons/staves/staff-simple.webp

Spear:

There are plenty of spear icons but the proposed icon is the most "neutral" and simple for basic equipment, with plenty of room for others to be used as variations.

Change from icons/weapons/polearms/spear-flared-worn-grey.webp to icons/weapons/polearms/spear-flared-green.webp

Martial Melee

Battleaxe:

The current icon looks like a polearm (an in fact is in the polearm icon folder, labeled as a halberd). The new icon makes it clear that it is a hefty axe.

Change from icons/weapons/polearms/halberd-crescent-engraved-steel.webp to icons/weapons/axes/axe-battle-black.webp

Change flavour text to avoid overlap with a poleaxe/halberd from ... is adorned with spikes upon the back-side of the blade and the top of the shaft. to ... is adorned with a spike upon the back-side of the blade.

Glaive:

That's not a glaive. This is a glaive.

Change from icons/weapons/polearms/halberd-crescent-glowing.webp to icons/weapons/polearms/glaive-simple.webp

Update flavour text to better match icon and fix spelling mistake from A crescent blade is mounted on the end of a tall metal shaft. This polearm provies the ability to attack with deadly efficiency from greater range than typical melee weapons. to A large blade mounted on the end of a tall shaft. This polearm provides the ability to attack with deadly efficiency from greater range than typical melee weapons.

Greatsword:

Changing from a quite high-end looking weapon (gold, jeweled hilt) to a more typical one. As the sword icon with the broadest crossguard and longest hilt, this is probably the best representation of a standard greatsword.

Change from icons/weapons/swords/greatsword-guard-gem-blue.webp to icons/weapons/swords/greatsword-crossguard-steel.webp

Halberd:

The current icon is not a halberd as it doesn't have the spiked tip, so is likely an axe rather than a polearm. It also looks pretty magical. New icon is a more standard polearm.

Change from icons/weapons/polearms/halberd-crescent-glowing.webp to icons/weapons/polearms/halberd-engraved-black.webp

Lance:

There are no good lance icons. The pictured middle icon is the icon I want, but it is unfortunately not available and since icons are now provided by Foundry rather than the system, it is not easy to add new icons. You can view my request for expanded core icons that include my preferred lance, morningstar, trident, and more icons here: foundryvtt/foundryvtt#8038. The icon on the right, is the icon I have am settling for.

Change from icons/weapons/ammunition/arrow-head-war-flight.webp to icons/weapons/polearms/spear-simple-engraved.webp

Longsword:

This icon is now the Greatsword so a new icon is required. The new icon was chosen for its long handle, properly representing the Versatile nature of a longsword.

Change from icons/weapons/swords/greatsword-crossguard-steel.webp to icons/weapons/swords/greatsword-guard.webp

Maul:

Current image depicts more of a spiked-mace-type weapon. The maul deals bludgeoning damage and the flavour text describes it as a "two-handed hammer". The new icon reflects this and the forced upwards perspective really gives the impression of its large size.

Change from icons/weapons/maces/mace-spiked-wood-grey.webp to icons/weapons/hammers/hammer-double-steel-embossed.webp

Morningstar:

The current image depicts a morningstar with large, uneven spikes and a red background, giving a pretty evil vibe. This icon is also currently used for the Bugbear morningstar, and the magical Vicious Morningstar for which it is more appropriate. The base SRD item should be more neutral and the new icon reflects that. This is another case where additional core icons could provide an even better fit.

Change from icons/weapons/maces/mace-round-spiked-black.webp to icons/weapons/maces/mace-cube-spiked-steel.webp

Pike:

Pikes are more or less big spears, so the new icon separates itself for more diversity, with the addition of the hook in the style of an Irish fighting pike.

Change from icons/weapons/polearms/pike-flared-red.webp to icons/weapons/polearms/spear-hooked-spike.webp

Rapier:

Current icon depicts a generic sword hilt. New icon is still a sword but its fancy crossguard attempts to approximate that of a rapier.

Change from icons/weapons/swords/sword-guard-brown.webp to icons/weapons/swords/sword-guard-bronze.webp

Scimitar:

Current icon shows a katana hilt. New icon is a scimitar.

Change from icons/weapons/swords/sword-katana.webp to icons/weapons/swords/scimitar-worn-blue.webp

Change flavour text to not describe the inverse of a scimitar from This curved blade is wide near the wrapped handle but arcs and tapers towards a gleaming tip. to This curved blade is narrow near the wrapped handle but broadens towards a gleaming tip.

Shortsword

The same generic sword hilt as the original rapier. New icon reinforces the small size of this sword compared to the larger swords by showing the entire blade.

Change from icons/weapons/swords/sword-guard-brown.webp to icons/weapons/swords/sword-guard-worn-purple.webp

War Pick:

At first glance the current icon does look like some kind of weaponized pickaxe. But I think it's actually a weapon with 4 spikes, one of which is facing the viewer. Regardless, War Picks typically have a single spike with hammer counterweight at the rear as depicted by the new icon.

Change from icons/weapons/axes/pickaxe-double-brown.webp to icons/weapons/axes/pickaxe-iron-green.webp

Change flavour text to indicate that the pick is definitely the front of the weapon, from A brutal curved spike mounted on the back of a sturdy haft ... to A brutal curved spike mounted on a sturdy haft ...

Whip:

The flaming whip icon stands out as some kind of magic weapon. New icon is more generic but fits in better as a standard piece of equipment.

Change from icons/weapons/misc/whip-red-yellow.webp to icons/sundries/survival/leather-strap-brown.webp

Simple Ranged

Blowgun

This weapon would typically be wooden, matching the flavour text description of its use by "tribes and guerrila fighters". New icon depicts a clearly wooden pipe.

Change from icons/commodities/tech/pipe-metal.webp to icons/commodities/wood/log-rough-hickory-brown.webp

Dart

New icon explicitly depicts a weighted dart rather than an image of arrows.

Change from icons/weapons/ammunition/arrows-war-red.webp to icons/weapons/thrown/dart-feathered.webp

Shortbow

Switching from glowy to more mundane.

Change from icons/weapons/bows/shortbow-recurve.webp to icons/weapons/bows/longbow-recurve-brown.webp

Heavy Crossbow

Rather than one that almost looks like it's glowing, a regular, hefty crossbow.

Change from icons/weapons/crossbows/crossbow-blue.webp to icons/weapons/crossbows/crossbow-loaded-black.webp