Weaponry

[Dante]

I always ponder this. It's a thought that I consider again and again constantly. I think of weaponry.

Excepting guns and the like, weapons are extremely interesting. And I wonder what would suit the people I know. For example; a large mace for people with little finesse but great strength, or a rapier for swift stabs but little slashing power except with the tip.

Here's the question: What weapon would you use as your choice? The condition is that no guns are allowed (you use axes, swords, halberds, morning stars, quarterstaffs, longbows, you get the idea). No 'modern' weapons such as missiles, and no siege-engines like balistas or trebuchets. It's a duel (as many opponents as you want) you're fighting here.

My own personal weapon of preference would be a trident, about two metres long including the prongs. It would be steel, for strength and lightness, and the middle barb would be longer than the two to either side. It would also be thin. Maybe half an ince to 3/4 of an inch thick. It would have the three large, pointed prongs at one end, and three tiny ones at the other end for emergencies.

This weapon is (I think) best suited to two-person combat, as in closed spaces of people it becomes unwieldy and easily blocked. It's length makes it usable only by people with a large-ish reach and who are quite tall, both qualities I possess. It can be used for swift stabbing with the prongs or as a quarterstaff for protection. Against multiple opponents, however, skill must give way to strength, and the trident would have to bludgeon all enemies within reach before one slips under.

Strengths;

1.Can be used from a greater distance than a sword, dagger, or most other weapons.

2.Points can find small weak spots.

3.Quarterstaffing allows protection and versitility.

4.Can also be used as a somewhat clumsy bludgeoning weapon.

5. Can be used in one or two hands.

Weaknesses;

1. No weapon protection. If your opponent grabs the shaft of the trident it won't have the same effect as a sword.

2. Offers absolutely no protection from counter-attacks unless quarter-staffing. And even then multiple opponents can easily slip in.

3. Prongs can be tangled and the barbs easily get stuck in things.

4. Severely hindered in closed spaces and by many enemies.

It isn't perfect, but I like it. And one day I'll get it. Ok, I've had my shot, your turn. What will it be, battleaxes? hatchets? crossbows? Tell me! :)

[nampigai]

a Scimitar or Sabre probably, I like Hadhafang the blade Arven has in the LotR movie.

[Khan]

I'd take a short sword most likely, speed and slash yeah. I'd like one like Frodo had in LotR but no glowing blue.

[thomas]

I take the katana. very good sword easily known as a gigantic razor blade.

[thomas]

that or a padao or tonfas (dont know what they are go to www.gungfu.com

[TMA_1]

a simple knife is most efficiant. Large weapons like spears and the like are unwealdy. Knifes are so closely centered to the body and have so much speed that you can move in close quarters on somebody which would make them unable to attack you. You could then pierce into them easily. hehehe ;)

a knife makes most sense to me.

[nemafakei]

A light sabre - steel, about 4' long, including basket guard, sturdy forté, but the last 18" of the foible would ideally be thinner, and so very whippy and sharp.

It being one-handed, I would also carry a shield, a knife or a foil in my other hand (not included below). Ideally, I'd also have a few darts handy.

I would wear light, quilted armour (if we can use modern materials, some 800N fencing kit would do nicely, including full-length breeches, and a mask.)

Advantages:

Quick attacks are easy.

Can parry small or medium-sized weapons, and possibly polearms with the forté.

Lightness allows escape from multiple assailants

Rounded guard gives protection to the hand.

I can already wield one...

Enough reach that you can keep your distance and stopcut advancing knifers and wielders of other small weapons.

Disadvantages

No protection against large weapons (axes, hand-and-a-half swords or greater)

Individual attacks do little damage.

Weak against armoured enemies.

Running around (my weird footwork, I'm afraid) drains stamina, so I cannot fight for too long.

[VigilVirus]

I'm going with katana too :)

[Vanguard3000]

I'm probably a repier type person. Although I'd probably have a smaller dagger or poigniard as well.

[Elite47]

I would go for dual short swords.

[exatreide]

Double Sided Axe. Cause well it ownes.

Advanteges

Offesive weapon to the extream can continuely pound swordsmen and not give them time to strike back before next blow is deliverd. ( a berserker could own the best swordsmen.

Disadanvates.

Slow for long blows,

heavy.

[thomas]

foolish axeman gets slaughtered by samurai with katana and tanto action. plus axes are easy to parry and a counter strike swift and hard to block for axe men.

[Acriku]

A gladius on an armored steed :) Decapitations here I come!

[slaphapy]

i'd have to go with some of those knives in the Dune movie .... hehe ;D.... o and the skills to use them to come along as well

[rigel6669]

I will go with the japonese tradition, the best weapons to use are your hands and feet.

The karateslap ( empty hand ) is able to beat any non firing weapon.

But it will take a complete lifetime to master it ;)

[TMA_1]

"I would go for dual short swords."

You would love Eskrema GZA. I took it for about 6 months. You practice with two rataan sticks that mimic short swords. When in real combat though you use usually two double sarrated short swords (the wavy kind).

Also acriku, a gladius is relaly small. Chopping people's heads off with one of those would be kinda hard.hehe

[Acriku]

TMA - on a steed going 30 mph? Like butter.

[ordos45]

I would have to choose a katana made in modern times with lightweight metals. Its quite easily handled, has a long enough reach to be effective at parrying, slashing, and stabbing.

(Geez, admit it, two others have, you all like the katana...) :)

[TMA_1]

it isnt as easy as that, and a gladius has something like an 18 inch blade. That would be extremely difficult to reach down, aim perfectly and slice.lol it takes a lot of technique and a longer sword. "Gladiator" wasent very accurate historically in many places.lol

[TMA_1]

eh, the problem with the katana or the di'eto is that they are not good for clashing against other metal objects. They get dull extremely easily. You need a very well made one for it to be extended towards its full potential. They look cool though and you are right, very good with slashing. :)

[sonic-worm]

C'mon McDusty it's gotta be a pair of steel toed boots and the pipes.When you play the Bagpipes the foe will cover his ears ..then a quick kick to the bollocks and it's all over,case closed!

[Vanguard3000]

I like the bagpipes, so I guess you'd lose horribly if ever we fought. ;)

[exatreide]

foolish axeman gets slaughtered by samurai with katana and tanto action. plus axes are easy to parry and a counter strike swift and hard to block for axe men.

Huh How so?

So you slash with Katana, I block with light arm sheild, slash with axe, Samerui have practicly no armor, and whoops there goes mister samurai's arm......

whoops there goes Mr Samurai's head.

and say you have a Arm Sheild,

I hit it, it hurts your arm

and before you can strike back

I hit it again, Nocking you back a couple of steps

and before u can hit me, I hit you again in the shield with it, hurting your arm and sending you back a few more steps untill

A: You find yourself against a wall, and a nice head chop gets rid of you

B: You run

C: I continue to batter your arm shield untill it brakes a bone, and opens up a opertunity for me to kill you.

D: You commit Supuko Take your pick

That was of course if a Samurai Had a arm shield :) and since they dont, well your chances just went from 10% survival to 5%

Becouse A Samurai Could Never, Ever, Ever Defeat A berserker.

Ever. :)

And if not the Axe, Then the Curved Swoard of the Jan Ceri. Those things were made to wack peoples heads off :) easily owning one of those pitiful little Katana things.

(but the axe is still better, double sided, with short-medium handel, cant reamber its exact name)

[sonic-worm]

I like the bagpipes, so I guess you'd lose horribly if ever we fought. ;)

Squeel..meow..squeeeel..screech..meow..THUD..Crack..crunch.."Whoa! those rolling eyes tell me that's gotta hurt" ;)

[Cyborg]

Double-edged axe.

If I should take part in some medieval war, I would choose a doubleaxe with about 60 cm long shaft and two large axeblades at the end of the shaft. I would also carry a shield if I encountered archers or many enemies at once. Light axes in the belt would be really great too for small chops between the doubleaxe blows. Throwing axes/knives/darts would do well for ranged combat.

Armor choice: Heavy - An axeman is like a meatgrinder whitch move around on the battlefield. He does not need to run fast ;D

Advantages:

* The doubleaxe is really, really strong. And might knock the enemy down even though he's not killed(Easier for tall persons - Like me ;D).

* It can cut through most armortypes with a good blow.

* I can protect myself with it(by blocking with it)

* The enemy can't block your weapon with his very easily.

Disadvantages:

* Very heavy which leads to slower blows than other weapons.

* Like Dust Scout's weapon, my weapon has no protectoin in it. But the shaft is short enough that not many people come near enough to grab it...