D&D 5E Rohirric Sword -- Short or Long?

[Prism]

We do this

Dagger - finesse, light, thrown, 1d4
Short sword - finesse, light, 1d6
Broad sword - finesse, 1d8
Long sword - versatile, 1d10/1d8
Great sword - heavy, 2d6

The sword in the picture for me would be a broadsword. The name is inaccurate (should be an arming or knightly sword) but it works for us. I believe the 5e Middle Earth book has exactly those stats too.

 

[Dausuul]

Agreed with most of the other folks: Rohirrim swords are arming swords, which are not well represented in D&D.

If I had to pick one of the existing weapons, I would go with longsword, because it a) is a slashing weapon and b) is the best fit for the Rohirrim fighting style (medium armor, sword and shield). However, I would suggest a slight variation: Remove the versatile property, and instead allow the wielder to choose between slashing and piercing damage with each attack.

 

[BookBarbarian]

Like Prism said, Adventures in Middle-Earth would classify it as a Broadsword. Martial 1d8 Slashing Damage Finesse. I think it works for any Arming sword, Knightly sword, Viking Sword, Spatha etc.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

If you saw the sword being swung rather than thrust, or wielded in both hands, then it definitely translates as a longsword rather than a shortsword.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

To be devils advocate, it's and arming sword, or in DND terms a longsword.

one handed weapon, that can be used twohanded.

Even Theoden used it with two hands when he wanted to execute Grima, but Aragorn stopped him.

Arming swords are more shortswords or broadswords(as much as I hate this name), in dnd. Even Rapiers if you ignore the piercing only thing, since arming swords are what the rapier formed out of, and both are fairly long one handed swords with a noticeable taper and relatively low "blade presence"(ie, the balance is nearer the crossguard than many other swords).

Longswords in 5e are real world longswords, ie, bastard swords.

Théoden's sword in that image is closest to a specific type of "Viking" sword, and while a second hand can be used to grip the pommel for extra heft, in dnd terms, that isn't a "versatile" weapon, as such. A longsword that isn't versatile and can be used to dual weild...in 5e that's a rapier.

 

[Istbor]

It is times like these that I wonder why a lot of the swords aren't capable of slashing and piercing. Oh mechanics, thou art strange.

I would throw my money in the longsword with finesse properties.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

It is times like these that I wonder why a lot of the swords aren't capable of slashing and piercing. Oh mechanics, thou art strange.

I would throw my money in the longsword with finesse properties.

I just houseruled that most swords can deal either Slashing or Piercing damage, chosen before making an attack.

I would view Théoden's sword an arming sword in historical terms which would put it in 5e Longsword territory to me.
I consider 5e longswords to cover a fairly wide range: A sword primarily for one-handed use but could be used with both hands (either on hilt or half-swording) for a little extra oomph would be a 5e longsword. A bastard sword/smaller historical longsword which were designed primarily for two-handed use but could be used one-handed in a pinch (such as from horseback) I would also consider a 5e longsword.

Théoden's sword actually seems rather odd for a horseman's sword to me. Generally cavalry would prefer something longer, and probably more blade-heavy and/or curved.