Weapon of Choice

[miltonyorkcastle]

Being that Cole's favored weapon is the Greatsword, I decided to do a little resarch on the subject.  I found this little treatise:

http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html

Turns out, the Greatsword is the weapon of choice for mercenaries.  *grins*

[KageKeeper]

Neat article!

[cappyra]

I was intrigued until the algebra lesson =P

[miltonyorkcastle]

*smirks*  I'm a highschool math teacher (calculus, pre-cal, and algebra 2); it was the algebra that hooked me.

[michaelbohun]

Thanks for sharing the article! I teach psychology and totally ignored the algebra. I think there was some math in there but my unconscious desire to avoid math created a blind spot... ad nauseum :-)
  Actually, in the SCA I have fought many times with a greatsword (rattan) weighing in at the 9-12 pound weight. The crossguard/quillion actually accounts for a lot of the weight in the weapons we use as they are often metal. A counterweight on the butt end of the greatsword is sometimes used to get a more balanced weapon.
  Nice weapon when you are at your distance, but a good one handed sword/shield fighter will close the gap and keep you from being very effective with the great sword.
  I enjoyed the article. Thanks miltonalgebraslayer  !

[NEXUS7]

The intaresting thing I get from the treatise is the use of the grate sword in units and as one to one wepon.
I can see how in a mass action the reach of the 2H Grate sword would scare the hell out of nights more than
the poll axe as a chopping and pescing wepon.

Bobkin and Grate swords troops in light formation would
cut a awave throw cavrey if alowed to. I can see now why the swiss yeomanry would like it as it would make for good adaibel troops
on the field. Any haranging light cavrey would thing twise about engaing a body of troops if they knew GS where us use.


But with a singel one on one fight the Shield Sword combo would I think have the upper hand also in a closed space the swing would be
out with such a sword just its just a short spear from that point on with a gaurd.

[miltonyorkcastle]

yeah, in all reality, the best fighters utilize all weapons they can carry, choosing a weapon based on the fighting situation they encounter.  hence why the 'fighter' class in DnD (and NWN) assumes the training of ALL martial weapons.  In NWN, because situational conditions are, in many ways, non-existant, save for the occasional entangle/hold effects, it usually makes more sense to pick one weapon and master it to get maximum damage output.  However, in RL, and in PnP Dnd, the best survivalists are not specialized in only one thing, but rather well rounded, being comfortable with a variety of tools and situations.

[Diamondedge]

I've always envied the idea of ending up in a market, leaving my weapons at home, getting attacked by some thugs, and fighting them off with a trout. Just... it makes me happy to think that's what a fighter ought to be able to do.

[miltonyorkcastle]

I've seen Jackie Chan do it..... =P

mmmmmm.... Trout....

Ever heard of Samson?  killed somewhere past a 1000 guys with the Jawbone of a Donkey.  I wish I could play a barbarian and wield a donkey's jawbone of doom!