A sport fencer's view of D&D (Iron Heroes) feats

[shurai]

A good swing may be long, but it's not wide. Your description of the axe-like movement is dead on. A n ideal greatsword swing comes down, ultimately, it's just a question of which down, exactly, it's coming from. Even in early styles, however, many of the telling blows were short and aimed at the neck or another joint.

I have several years of experience with the Japanese sword and it's similar for us: Very rarely do we use the kind of whirlybird silliness seen in the crappier films featuring Japanese swords (cough, Kill Bill, cough).

The first three plates here tell a very informative story:

http://www.thearma.org/Manuals/talhoffer.htm

Man, I love Plate 7: http://www.thearma.org/talhoffer/t7.htm

I can just see it playing out: The attacker on the right thrusts. The defender on the left sidesteps, does a "headlock" on the attacker's haft and arms, and then CRACK with the pommel right in the attacker's face. Game, set, match. >: ]

Also, what's this about the Eastern martial arts having all the silly flashy stuff? Guy looks like a rockette: http://www.thearma.org/talhoffer/t12.htm

Wheeeeeee! --> http://www.thearma.org/talhoffer/t34.htm

More to Driddle's original thoughts:

Of special note, I’m amused that the authors chose the wrong terms in the original text: “As a foe attacks, you use a stinging, painful parry to slash back.” It’s actually the riposte that would be stinging and painful, not the parry.

I'm not sure the authors knew what they were saying here either, but it is the case that you can parry and strike back with literally the same move. What if you parry but make contact with his arm rather than his weapon? : ]

 

[Piratecat]

With all of your body, including your pee-pee? It doesn't count unless you love me with all of your body, including your pee-pee.

*sticks fingers in ears* LA LA LA LA LA!

 

[hong]

Note to self: turning 40 does strange things to your mental equilibrium.

 

[Driddle]

I'm not sure the authors knew what they were saying here either, but it is the case that you can parry and strike back with literally the same move. What if you parry but make contact with his arm rather than his weapon?

Yes, your'e right in one sense -- parries in epee (and even in foil and sabre) often incorporate an attack. Because we're trying to keep the point on target even as we're deflecting the threat. But an action on the arm instead of the blade is still considered, formally, an attack. Now it might be a failed attack, or if successful it's a counter-attack or a riposte. During a bout, it might even be a cardable offense if done intentionally to harm the opponent (bad sportsmanship, you know). A parry on the arm is not a "parry" for this reference.

But that's nitpicking of no importance here to anyone except maybe me and a handfull of (mostly silent) sport fencers. As we've noted, this is a very imprecise translation from table game combat to sport.

The discussion is a fun little mental exercise, though. Thank you.