Chaltab
Legend
I mean, it's pretty on brand for the permanent Renaissance-era trappings of the Forgotten Realms it feels pretty well at home.
Maybe less so in Greyhawk or Eberron.
D&D General The rapier in D&D
- Thread starter pawsplay
- Start date
Maybe less so in Greyhawk or Eberron.
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Because swashbucklers are way cooler than some grubby guy with a flail. Also, flails are dumb and are actually worse than maces.
zarionofarabel
Hero
I've never handled a flail, but to me it seems like it would be just as dangerous for the wielder as the target. I would much rather have a mace.
Plate armor didn't exist until after the first hand cannons hit the battlefield.
It's what plate armor was designed to protect you against.
Hand Cannons? 1320.
Plate armor? 1350.
Rapiers? 1420.
The War of the Roses, one of the biggest most well known "Knight in Armor" combats in the history of the world... 1455.
This? This was AFTER the Rapier was invented.
And you know what came about 20 years AFTER the War of the Roses started?
Your Lucerne Hammer.
"Too modern" and it's older than your preferred Dragon-Fighting stick.
Micah Sweet
Level Up & OSR Enthusiast
Neither of which were in all that common usage at the same time as the rapier.
Paul Farquhar
Legend
Probably about the same time Errol Flynn started playing Robin Hood (set around 1200).
Paul Farquhar
Legend
Rapier concealed in a cane is very on brand for Eberron.
Paul Farquhar
Legend
I say bring back the 3rd edition double headed flail.
Paul Farquhar
Legend
“Longsword” type weapons didn’t see much use as a weapon of war during any historical period. Neither did rapiers. In both cases they are more flashy toys for rich people to show off with.
For fighting dragons, I would choose firearms. But legend has it the much-maligned spiked armour is effective.
pawsplay
Legend
The rapier actually wasn't invented until about 1540, and didn't see widespread adoption for another century. Plate armor, pollaxes, and the arquebus (gun) all predate the rapier by more than a century.
Sidearms like the sword, rapier, katana and so forth were primarily used in close quarters, or for duels; they became a symbol of the warrior aristocracy precisely because they were a specialized, expensive tool that most commoners wouldn't have. The metal-tipped spear dominated combat for more than three millennia, and for centuries the main weapons of warfare were the spear, bow, axe, mace and so forth. Medieval samurai considered the bow their primarily weapon, and used more spears and axes than sword-type weapons during their feudal era.
As we get closer to the rapier era, we see the claymore, zwiehander, and espandon type weapons dominate in actual battlefield use over lighter swords. And those are serious weapons I would consider appropriate for fighting bandits, zombies, and large monsters. A rapier, initially, wasn't that distinct from a variety of transitional weapons, but by the time you have the recognizable basket hilt, the elongated blade, and so forth, there was a strong demarcation between the rapier and martial swords. Many early fencing schools continued to teach the broadsword, longsword, and other heavy weapons well into the 16th century, because they were more typical martial weapons.
The term rapier comes from the Spanish ropera, literally a sword for dressing. It was a semi-insulting term but also referred to the fact it was a sword suitable for a gentlemen to wear when about, in case defense or honor were at stake.
Sidearms like the sword, rapier, katana and so forth were primarily used in close quarters, or for duels; they became a symbol of the warrior aristocracy precisely because they were a specialized, expensive tool that most commoners wouldn't have. The metal-tipped spear dominated combat for more than three millennia, and for centuries the main weapons of warfare were the spear, bow, axe, mace and so forth. Medieval samurai considered the bow their primarily weapon, and used more spears and axes than sword-type weapons during their feudal era.
As we get closer to the rapier era, we see the claymore, zwiehander, and espandon type weapons dominate in actual battlefield use over lighter swords. And those are serious weapons I would consider appropriate for fighting bandits, zombies, and large monsters. A rapier, initially, wasn't that distinct from a variety of transitional weapons, but by the time you have the recognizable basket hilt, the elongated blade, and so forth, there was a strong demarcation between the rapier and martial swords. Many early fencing schools continued to teach the broadsword, longsword, and other heavy weapons well into the 16th century, because they were more typical martial weapons.
The term rapier comes from the Spanish ropera, literally a sword for dressing. It was a semi-insulting term but also referred to the fact it was a sword suitable for a gentlemen to wear when about, in case defense or honor were at stake.
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