Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="AFGNCAAP" data-source="post: 1135405" data-attributes="member: 871">Lots of reasons.  Here's 4:     1) Easier to conceal.  Much shorter than the 2 weapons that you mentioned above.  Many more sections of the body to hide the weapon against compared to longer weapons.  A dagger can easily be concealed along a limb or the trunk of the body--handaxes and shortswords would be limited to the trunk of the body (due to length of limbs & bending joints).     2) Can be thrown.  Some are made balanced for throwing, but in a pinch, any of them can work (just as long as you have a good feel for a balance).     3) Utility.  Just count all of the correct (& incorrect) ways to use a dagger or knife.  It's a cutting implement, a makeshift mini-prybar, a crude hammer (using the pommel), an eating utensil, & just aout anything you could use or need it for.     4) Commonality.  One thing often ignored in fantasy settings is that most tableware wasn't provided at eating establishments.  A spoon may be provided with soup or broth, but forks didn't show up until much later.  Trenchers of bread (large, flat, board or plate-like loaves) were used instead of plates.  The only eating utensil frequently available was the knife, & the diner had to provide his/her own.  Thus, everyone would carry some sort of knife or dagger for eating, & it's not suspicious, while carrying other weapons would be: a wood-chopping axe looks quite different than a battle axe; swords, maces, & flails are outright weapons of war; some ranged weapons (spears, bows, & crossbows) can be used for hunting, but to constantly carry hunting implements with you in a city would immediately arouse suspicion.  However, to carry a knife or dagger around isn't so suspicious--it's a tool, for the most part, though it can be used for self-defence.And think about this: daggers/knives are really the only ancient weapon that is still regularly used today (except for the club, in some cases).  Its overall utility has ensured its success in an age which gunpoweder made many other weapons obsolete.</blockquote>

Verification