Obi-Wan Kenobi (spoilers)

[Paul Farquhar]

That may be true, but it's also an objectively superior tool. A master swordsman might be more effective with a wooden sword than an apprentice would be with a metal sword, but that doesn't mean that the swordsman would reach for the wooden sword when the metal one is readily available. The Jedi I can 100% believe using an objectively inferior tool because of tradition reasons, but the "grab any advantage possible" Sith? Eh, not so much.
But, ultimately, Star Wars runs on rule of cool, and it's by far not my biggest nitpick with the series.

A metal sword might always be better than a wooden sword, but is supa-motorized-spinny-double-sword always better than a straightforward metal sword?

 

[Ryujin]

A metal sword might always be better than a wooden sword, but is supa-motorized-spinny-double-sword always better than a straightforward metal sword?

I'd say that a supa-motorized-spinny-double-sword is more dangerous to the wielder, than to the enemy. That's why I've never used the double-weapon cheese for any of my characters in D&D.

 

[Mannahnin]

Double weapons are always silly; unless it's something blunt like a quarterstaff where you can reasonably handle the ends and not cut yourself open if you accidentally bonk your shin or something. And people still give themselves concussions and fractures training with those.

That being said, Ray Park was so amazing that he made it look viable. At least for a world class martial artists with psychic powers.

 

[BrokenTwin]

Oh, double-bladed weapons are completely ridiculous. But they appeal to the giddy child part of my brain.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I'd say that a supa-motorized-spinny-double-sword is more dangerous to the wielder, than to the enemy. That's why I've never used the double-weapon cheese for any of my characters in D&D.

Double weapons are always silly; unless it's something blunt like a quarterstaff where you can reasonably handle the ends and not cut yourself open if you accidentally bonk your shin or something.

That being said, Ray Park was so amazing that he made it look viable. At least for a world class martial artists with psychic powers.

That might be why it has a handle with a guard: so a numpty can just hold it in front of themselves and spin it, rather than actually swing it and risk damaging themselves. When used by more skilled practitioners they often seem to just have one blade on and use it like a conventional lightsabre.

 

[Mannahnin]

That might be why it has a handle with a guard: so a numpty can just hold it in front of themselves and spin it, rather than actually swing it and risk damaging themselves.

Maybe. In practice even the "hold it in front of you and spin it" plan is going to require tilting and angling it against an opponent who's actually fighting you, and then you run into the same issue of hitting yourself.

When used by more skilled practitioners they often seem to just have one blade on and use it like a conventional lightsabre.

Probably because every actor who's got any real life sword skills (except for extraordinary flukes like Ray Park) knows how absurd and contrary to all their training a double sword is.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Maybe. In practice even the "hold it in front of you and spin it" plan is going to require tilting and angling it against an opponent who's actually fighting you, and then you run into the same issue of hitting yourself.

It's not designed for use against someone who is actually fighting you, it's designed to intimidate.

Probably because every actor who's got any real life sword skills (except for extraordinary flukes like Ray Park) knows how absurd and contrary to all their training a double sword is.

The fight co-ordinators certainly do.

 

[Ryujin]

Maybe. In practice even the "hold it in front of you and spin it" plan is going to require tilting and angling it against an opponent who's actually fighting you, and then you run into the same issue of hitting yourself.


Probably because every actor who's got any real life sword skills (except for extraordinary flukes like Ray Park) knows how absurd and contrary to all their training a double sword is.

That might be why it has a handle with a guard: so a numpty can just hold it in front of themselves and spin it, rather than actually swing it and risk damaging themselves. When used by more skilled practitioners they often seem to just have one blade on and use it like a conventional lightsabre.

Inquisitor: < Starts twirly lightsabre >
Classically Trained Swordsman: Are you serious? Are you serious right now?
Inquisitor: < Grins in evil >
Classically trained Swordsman: < Casually removed fingers from Inquisitor's sword hand >

 

[Ryujin]

Inquisitor: < Starts twirly lightsabre >
Classically Trained Swordsman: Are you serious? Are you serious right now?
Inquisitor: < Grins in evil >
Classically trained Swordsman: < Casually removed fingers from Inquisitor's sword hand >

For rapier users replace the last line with, "Stabs Inquisitor through the heart, through the gaping hole it their guard."

 

[Mannahnin]

For rapier users replace the last line with, "Stabs Inquisitor through the heart, through the gaping hole it their guard."

I don't want that spinny circle of death falling on me while I'm in full lunge!