Construction Materials

• ½" PVC pipe for long sword or smaller, and 3/4" for two-handed weapons.
• 5/8 inch pipe foam. This could be hard to find. Calling around to smaller hardware stores is your best bet.
• Open cell foam. This can be found at any fabric store or in an old sofa cushion.
• A utility knife and something to cut the open cell foam. (Electric carving knife works great on the foam)
• Duct or Gaffer's Tape
• Hacksaw or pipe cutter
• Thumb Tack

These materials and tools are all that is required to make any weapon in Nexus. Here are some guidelines to construct a safe weapon: see chart at end of section for weapon specifications.
Assembly Steps

1. Cut your PVC pipe to the length desired by subtracting at least two (2) inches from the total weapon length. This is to allow two inches of open cell and one inch total of overhang of pipe foam on each end. If you are making a short sword or smaller melee weapon then you need to subtract at least three (3) inches from the total length because of the 'waylay' pommel. Take time to cover the ends with a small amount of duct tape to prevent the pipe from cutting into the foam. Now by using the chart decide on a blade length for your weapon. (Remember the two inch tip to be added later in you calculations.)
2. Tear an eight (Cool inch strip of duct tape down the center. Place one end of the strip on the PVC pipe and turn it over exposing the sticky side up, then wrap it around the pipe. This will keep the pipe foam in place
3. Cut a length of pipe foam and carefully put it on the PVC pipe leaving at least one-half inch overhang on the end.
4. Cut out a 2x2x2 cube (this is a minimum) of open cell foam. You may have to cut two (2) if you have a short sword or smaller weapon. The half inch gap should be filled with pipe foam to make sure the PVC pipe doesn’t tear through and hit someone. Temporarily tape this tip to the end of the weapon to keep it in place.

This next step is very important, so take your time.

5. Cover your pipe foam blade with duct tape. Take a long strip of duct tape (about double the blade length plus an extra 6 inches) and, starting at the cross guard and leaving three inches overhanging, run a single strip of tape along the pipe foam over the tip of open cell foam and down the opposite side to the end of the blade. Remember the open cell foam is there for safety so don’t tape it down too tightly.Repeat that process on the uncovered sides making sure the tip is completely covered. You may need extra tape for the tip to keep the foam from pushing through the corners. At the cross guard, the extra tape should be pushed down on the PVC pipe to hold the pipe foam down in place. This point is important so make sure it is taped down securely even if you need to use extra tape. In case you were wondering what the thumbtack was for; it is for poking holes in the tip to allow air to escape in order to keep the tip from staying compressed.For the cross guard, it is recommended using pipe foam; cut to a desired length and make a cut in the center to allow it to slide up to the base of the hilt. Make sure to cover the cross guard with duct tape in the process of taping it in place on the sword.
6. Cut a sufficient amount of pipe foam (around 4-8 inches) for the pommel, and tape it to the end of the PVC pipe following steps five and six.

• Take your time to get the wrinkles out; it will look better in the end.
• When making weapons with 3/4 inch PVC pipe, don’t use step three. Just keep the pipe foam together and it should fit together tightly.
• All weapons must be approved by appropriate Nexus staff.
• When making exotic weapons remember that a weapon can only be used at staff discretion . It can’t be used if it isn’t safe for combat.

Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a fully functional Nexus weapon. Just have it checked in at the start of the next event and get a safety tag. Be sure to check it for wear and tear after each event, and make necessary repairs.
When you bring a weapon to Nexus you must get tags at the beginning of the event. They must be attached to the weapon at all times.
Characters may opt to plate their weapons with special ores such as silver, gold, mithril, or precious adamantite. To do this, you must collect the ore you wish to plate your weapon with inplay, and must either possess the Weaponsmith skill, or have a Weaponsmith do it for you. The logistical cost to perform this is 1 silver (or what-have-you) per inch of the weapon's applicable blade length, or area. Though spear, mace, and axe-haft's are not used to strike with, the entire weapon up to the hilt must be plated to change the weapon's tagline. All ores must be procured in-play.

Weapon	Damage	Minimum Blade Length	Maximum Blade Length	Maxium Overall Length
Long Sword	2	25"	36"	44"
Short Sword	2	13"	24"	32"
Small Weapon	1	8"	13"	23"
Spear	2	n/a	n/a	60"
Two Handed Weapon	4	40"	58"	72"
Two Handed Mace	4	38"	48"	70"
Pole Arm	3	48"	60"	74"
Staff	2	36"	48"	72"
Mace	2	24"	34"	40"
Thrown Weapon	1	5"	10"	13"

SPELL PACKETS

Spell packets are required for Sorcerers, Psionisists, and Alchemists. They are pretty easy to make if you use the following rules:

1. Players often use different fabrics so they might tell their packets from those of other players. Orange is for Alchemists and yellow has other game uses, otherwise you are free to use just about any color or pattern for Sorcerer and Psionic packets.
2. Use a piece of cloth approximately 4” square to make each packet. You want the squares to be big enough that you have a tail to hold onto. Place about a tablespoon of birdseed in the center of each square, do not use any other contents - beads, rice, sunflower seeds, and other items hurt when they hit. Remember if you make bad packets, they can be picked up and thrown right back at you! Birdseed is also used because birds and squirrels love it when your packets are destroyed and spill.
3. Tie the packets off with small rubber bands. Do not use bread ties or plastic ties -these can hurt! Don't tie the packets so hard that they feel like rocks. Bear in mind what you are hitting people with something that can hurt.
4. Make lots of extra packets because you will lose most of the ones you throw. You don't want to get caught in a battle and run out of packets! Everyone picks packets up from the ground, especially in battle. If you really need them back and someone picks up your packs just ask for them back, don't get upset.
5. Spell packets and other donations that will be used by Monster Town must be approved by one of the Heads of Monster Town.