Dwarf miner's weird pickaxe's

[Googley Eye'd Bastard]

Something I notice about the dwarf miner units in game is that some of their pickaxes are a little strange, one of them is a strange slight double headed crescent pick which I can understand wanting two heads so they stay sharper for longer but why are they bent at such a large angle.

The second and more interesting to me is the sort of "Hammer pick" that is half angled pick and half hammer. Is there any sort of mining use for this or is it purely a combat modification for a dwarf miner to have a miner in case of an attack?

I ask because I'm thinking about getting into a warhammer fantasy RPG and I want to create a dwarf slayer who used to be a miner and uses a pickaxe into battle instead.

[TheAlmightyProo]

Possibly due to being tool preferences and/or variants thereof for the job.
Like some have basic picks but others have adzes, mattocks, hammers etc... like how a shovel and spade do cross over but each have their own more specific use they're better for.

Sort of like me tbh... most folks doing their outsidey work in the nicer parts of the year seem to get a basic all rounder machete type implement for clearing brush etc but I favour a hand bill for both heavy chopping and more precise/coppicing type of work (they're generally shorter, broader and sharper blades but the extra weight is closer to the hand but better balanced than a hatchet) But can I find one in any regular hardware store? Nope... they're more a specialty tool these days while machetes are both easily available and vary greatly in quality.

Lol anyway, grumbles aside (omg am I a Dwarf?) probably something like that and also, yeah, some visual variety too I guess.

As for your RPG character, just go with what makes sense. If it's a more unique variant of a tool just try to imagine it's actual use vs outcome per efficiency etc and you can't go too far wrong. Been a long time since I P&P RPG'd but it usually worked out. Good luck with that and have fun.

[currently_just-a-Dude]

As a stonemason I can tell that miners sometimes split stones by using the feather and wedge technique. Maybe thats the reason for the "hammer pick". If you are curious what that technique is then I would recommend to watch a YouTube video about it.

Edit: being a stonemason is the main reason why I love dwarfes

[Googley Eye'd Bastard]

Originally posted by TheAlmightyProo:

Possibly due to being tool preferences and/or variants thereof for the job.
Like some have basic picks but others have adzes, mattocks, hammers etc... like how a shovel and spade do cross over but each have their own more specific use they're better for.

Sort of like me tbh... most folks doing their outsidey work in the nicer parts of the year seem to get a basic all rounder machete type implement for clearing brush etc but I favour a hand bill for both heavy chopping and more precise/coppicing type of work (they're generally shorter, broader and sharper blades but the extra weight is closer to the hand but better balanced than a hatchet) But can I find one in any regular hardware store? Nope... they're more a specialty tool these days while machetes are both easily available and vary greatly in quality.

Lol anyway, grumbles aside (omg am I a Dwarf?) probably something like that and also, yeah, some visual variety too I guess.

As for your RPG character, just go with what makes sense. If it's a more unique variant of a tool just try to imagine it's actual use vs outcome per efficiency etc and you can't go too far wrong. Been a long time since I P&P RPG'd but it usually worked out. Good luck with that and have fun.

Originally posted by Musculus_sternocleidomastoideus:

As a stonemason I can tell that miners sometimes split stones by using the feather and wedge technique. Maybe thats the reason for the "hammer pick". If you are curious what that technique is then I would recommend to watch a YouTube video about it.

Edit: being a stonemason is the main reason why I love dwarfes

Thanks for the info! I actually have seen the feather and wedge technique before I just forgot about it! I think ill have my dwarf use that hammer pick.

Though I'm not sure on one thing according to how the rpg rulebook they seem to only use dual wield weapons at the first rank of trollslayer and gain two handed weapons at rank 2 giantslayer does this mean I'd have to use smaller one handed picks? Are those a thing?

[MrSoul]

Originally posted by Googley Eye'd Bastard:

Originally posted by TheAlmightyProo:

Possibly due to being tool preferences and/or variants thereof for the job.
Like some have basic picks but others have adzes, mattocks, hammers etc... like how a shovel and spade do cross over but each have their own more specific use they're better for.

Sort of like me tbh... most folks doing their outsidey work in the nicer parts of the year seem to get a basic all rounder machete type implement for clearing brush etc but I favour a hand bill for both heavy chopping and more precise/coppicing type of work (they're generally shorter, broader and sharper blades but the extra weight is closer to the hand but better balanced than a hatchet) But can I find one in any regular hardware store? Nope... they're more a specialty tool these days while machetes are both easily available and vary greatly in quality.

Lol anyway, grumbles aside (omg am I a Dwarf?) probably something like that and also, yeah, some visual variety too I guess.

As for your RPG character, just go with what makes sense. If it's a more unique variant of a tool just try to imagine it's actual use vs outcome per efficiency etc and you can't go too far wrong. Been a long time since I P&P RPG'd but it usually worked out. Good luck with that and have fun.

Originally posted by Musculus_sternocleidomastoideus:

As a stonemason I can tell that miners sometimes split stones by using the feather and wedge technique. Maybe thats the reason for the "hammer pick". If you are curious what that technique is then I would recommend to watch a YouTube video about it.

Edit: being a stonemason is the main reason why I love dwarfes

Thanks for the info! I actually have seen the feather and wedge technique before I just forgot about it! I think ill have my dwarf use that hammer pick.

Though I'm not sure on one thing according to how the rpg rulebook they seem to only use dual wield weapons at the first rank of trollslayer and gain two handed weapons at rank 2 giantslayer does this mean I'd have to use smaller one handed picks? Are those a thing?

Ice/rock climbing picks would technically fit that description imo. Seeing as dwarfs live in the mountains makes sense. And I know, I know “but soul those aren’t MINING picks”

In the process of mining, someone has to find the actual deposits of metals etc. had a buddy used to do this in Northern BC, theyd camp out way out middle nowhere where company worked for owned claims etc. According to him basically just go hiking around checking off areas for survey teams to go in later where find geological evidence of potential iron vein etc. obviously, like dwarfs my buddy was surrounded by mountains up north there, so he had whole kit of gear including climbing picks etc so could scamper around and get to more remote places.

Maybe your character started off their mining career with a prospecting team, and was one of more agile and lively hires(hence why later becomes a slayer), and was given task of climbing to higher places. Best I got lol