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Top 10 odd D&D weapons
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<blockquote data-quote="Dannyalcatraz" data-source="post: 2882865" data-attributes="member: 19675"><p>My point is that they are weapons that have shifting weight. If you stop the motion of a flail, you 1) run the risk of hitting yourself, 2) have trouble restarting the motion of the flail, leaving yourself open or missing offensive opportunities, and 3) return the mass of the head to the rest state, potentially even below the wielder's grip, and definitely below the optimum point of balance.</p><p></p><p>A blade with a tube full of mercury would functionally behave the same way as a flail. That shifting weight would be awkward if you keep shifting its speed like you would with a normal, static-massed blade. If you stop the motion of such a blade, the mass of mercury would come to rest, meaning you'd have to exert additional effort to get it back up to a reasonable striking speed and position. As the mass sloshes out to the point, there's a jerk- a lot of stress on the gripping hand and wrist, potentially drawing you off balance. (You can do an experiment with a mailing tube containing bags of sand or ball bearings to show you what that will feel like.)</p><p></p><p>But if you keep such a blade in motion, the extra mass at the tip could lead to horrendous chopping injuries, similar to those of an axe. That is important. </p><p></p><p>Swords are great weapons- useful against any foe- but axes and flails and similar weapons are actually more useful against heavy armor than swords. Their mass, all concentrated at the point of impact, can dent or penetrate armor or shields that would turn a sword blow- that is one of the reasons they were so popular on the later day battlefields.</p><p></p><p>A mercurial sword would be an example of "thinking outside of the box"- attempting to combine the best aspects of the flail and the sword.</p><p></p><p>However, such a blade (assuming one could be made) would be MUCH more expensive than any other weapon of the era, and probably not worth the expenditure for what would amount to a marginal increase in striking power.</p><p></p><p>As far as armor spikes go, there are numerous entertainers who routinely wear them as part of their stage costumes, like the guys in GWAR and Slayer. Yes, the ones in GWAR are merely rubber, but Kerry King's are indeed 6" metal spikes...and he hasn't impaled himself yet. Plays some mean guitar while wearing them.</p><p></p><p>Besides, its not like you have to festoon the armor with spikes. If placed sensibly- one on each knee, a few on the pauldrons, some on the greaves & gauntlets- you won't hurt yourself.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dannyalcatraz, post: 2882865, member: 19675"] My point is that they are weapons that have shifting weight. If you stop the motion of a flail, you 1) run the risk of hitting yourself, 2) have trouble restarting the motion of the flail, leaving yourself open or missing offensive opportunities, and 3) return the mass of the head to the rest state, potentially even below the wielder's grip, and definitely below the optimum point of balance. A blade with a tube full of mercury would functionally behave the same way as a flail. That shifting weight would be awkward if you keep shifting its speed like you would with a normal, static-massed blade. If you stop the motion of such a blade, the mass of mercury would come to rest, meaning you'd have to exert additional effort to get it back up to a reasonable striking speed and position. As the mass sloshes out to the point, there's a jerk- a lot of stress on the gripping hand and wrist, potentially drawing you off balance. (You can do an experiment with a mailing tube containing bags of sand or ball bearings to show you what that will feel like.) But if you keep such a blade in motion, the extra mass at the tip could lead to horrendous chopping injuries, similar to those of an axe. That is important. Swords are great weapons- useful against any foe- but axes and flails and similar weapons are actually more useful against heavy armor than swords. Their mass, all concentrated at the point of impact, can dent or penetrate armor or shields that would turn a sword blow- that is one of the reasons they were so popular on the later day battlefields. A mercurial sword would be an example of "thinking outside of the box"- attempting to combine the best aspects of the flail and the sword. However, such a blade (assuming one could be made) would be MUCH more expensive than any other weapon of the era, and probably not worth the expenditure for what would amount to a marginal increase in striking power. As far as armor spikes go, there are numerous entertainers who routinely wear them as part of their stage costumes, like the guys in GWAR and Slayer. Yes, the ones in GWAR are merely rubber, but Kerry King's are indeed 6" metal spikes...and he hasn't impaled himself yet. Plays some mean guitar while wearing them. Besides, its not like you have to festoon the armor with spikes. If placed sensibly- one on each knee, a few on the pauldrons, some on the greaves & gauntlets- you won't hurt yourself. [/QUOTE]
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