Weapons on WoTmud IV, the Wheel of Time mud.

Each weapon family (aka "broad group") consists of 3 or 4 weapon groups. Learning a weapon skill in one group will give you a little skill in the other groups in the same family. So learning short blades means you can handle some long blades as well. That means that it's quite feasible for a non-warrior to be good in two types of weapons, and it's possible for warrior to be good in many many different weapons (two families even). Some of the pros and cons:

Blades - long, medium, fencing, short
This family covers the whole range of OB, PB, and damage. Good solid choice as weapons in family go well with warrior, attack, throw and can even disarm and poison. Class includes:

The ancient greatsword, Justice
Callandor
a shortsword
a lathe practice sword
a heron mark blade
a black sword
a hand-and-a-half sword
a single-edged broadsword
a great claymore
a kris-edged flamberge
a basket-hilted broadsword
a long, thin sword
a Seanchan longsword
a gleaming blacksword
a skull-guarded greatsword
a huge two-handed black sword
a small stone dagger
a dagger
a stiletto
a jewelled dagger
an ivory-hilted stiletto
a shiny copper dagger
a Sai

Concussion - axes, clubs, staves
Generally a high damage low OB family suitable for pressing the fight. Good with bash. Defense with staves. Not many other frills though. Class includes:

a long-handled war axe
a single-edged battleaxe
a handaxe
a woodcutter's axe
a finely crafted axe
an enormous double-bladed battleaxe
a long poleaxe
a dark, grim axe
a heavy club
a nasty spiked club
a bone-crushing mattock
an enormous spiked club

Poles - lances, spears, javelins, polearms
High but short impact weapons. Best while mounted, goes with charge, throw. Spears single most versatile weapon group. Polearms for defense. Class includes:

a steel-shafted lance
a shocklance
a hooked spear
a large steel spear
a short steel spear
a black-tasseled spear
a boarspear
a red-flecked spear of black steel
a shocklance
a sleek hunting spear

FLEX - flails, whips, chains
Varying quality but all are able to damage multiple opponents at once. Not very good at defense, goes best with armor. Class includes:

a spiked flail
a long length of metal chain
a chain scythe
a short whip
a dark leather riding-crop
a spiked flail

At the moment flex weapons are a bit weak. Well that is until you meet Lanfear and her chain scythe =)

RANGE - bows, crossbows, slings, projectiles

Not fully implemented yet. High but short impact weapons, shorter than poles and thus can be deadly. However requires expendables (arrows, bolts, daggers, rocks). Can of course do damage at greater distances which are impossible for all other weapons.