Saber

DX/Average

Defaults: DX-5, Broadsword-4 or Shortsword-4, Main-Gauche-3, Rapier-3, Smallsword-3.

Any light cut-and-thrust sword. Note that cavalry sabers are quite heavy, and use Broadsword instead.

Fencing weapons are light, onehanded weapons, usually hilted blades, optimized for parrying. If you have a fencing weapon, you get an improved retreating bonus when you parry – see Retreat (p. 377). Furthermore, you have half the usual penalty for parrying more than once with the same hand (see Parrying, p. 376).

Note that fencing weapons are light and likely to break when used to parry a heavier weapon. They cannot parry flail weapons at all! You must be relatively mobile to capitalize on their speed and maneuverability: all attacks and parries take a penalty equal to your encumbrance level (e.g., Heavy encumbrance gives -3 to hit or to parry).