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Top 10 odd D&D weapons
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<blockquote data-quote="big dummy" data-source="post: 2883040" data-attributes="member: 41052"><p>There is always a risk of hitting yourself with a flail, but your imagery here does not really jibe with how a real flail actually works. For one thing most historical examples didn't have the real long chain you see in some fantasy depictions. </p><p></p><p><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0009IKPBW.01-A3DDKKVJN7EED4._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> </p><p>...this is more like the real thing.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>It's a nicely argued point but you just don't understand how a sword works or how a flail works for that matter. I'd reccomend studying some WMA and doing a little full contact sparring with some realistic weapons, you'll see how out of sinc this all looks...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Sword blades do not cut this way. It's understandable you might think so since D&D has long been supporting this mythology, but it's just not the way it works. In addition to thrusting, Western swords can both slice (or draw cut) like a katanna and 'chop' somewhat like an axe (or more like a meat cleaver) depending of course on the blade geometry of the individual weapon,<em> but the difference between a lethal decapitating cut and a completely in-effective one is about 95% form and maybe 5% power.</em> </p><p></p><p>Cold Steel Knives makes a great propaganda DVD for their weapons, which they will ship you for free if you call their 800 number. You can watch them cut through entire rib-flanks (bones and all) with gentle sword cuts but perfect form. You can see the guy cut through a phone book with one stroke, or even an entire 5 gallon plastic bottle full of water without knocking it over enough to spill what was in the lower half. It's all form.</p><p></p><p>On the other hand, if you ever get to handle a real sword, you will notice that you can't even cut through a pool noodle if your form is off (as I learned myself the first time I tried).</p><p></p><p>It's all edge alignment, correct grip and footwork. Brute strength really isn't a factor beyond a certain basic amount of strength needed to handle the weapon. Thats why swords weighed 2-3 lbs usually instead of 15 like in D&D.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>True enough, so why not use a mace or a military pick instead of some silly mercury sword thats going to break and spray poisonous mercury mist all over your face the first time you strike anything?</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Due respect to Gene Wolfe who is a far better author than I'll ever be, the mercurial sword is an example of thinking which belongs in the litter box. </p><p></p><p>In Genes defense though the weapon is supposed to be just for executions isn't it? It wouldnt' work in combat.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Kerry King doesn't wear them on his whole body, I've only noticed them on his forearms. Even that I guarantee he had years to carefully practice with...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Ok you wear it man, I'll stick to the real thing.</p><p></p><p>BD</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="big dummy, post: 2883040, member: 41052"] There is always a risk of hitting yourself with a flail, but your imagery here does not really jibe with how a real flail actually works. For one thing most historical examples didn't have the real long chain you see in some fantasy depictions. [IMG]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0009IKPBW.01-A3DDKKVJN7EED4._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg[/IMG] ...this is more like the real thing. It's a nicely argued point but you just don't understand how a sword works or how a flail works for that matter. I'd reccomend studying some WMA and doing a little full contact sparring with some realistic weapons, you'll see how out of sinc this all looks... Sword blades do not cut this way. It's understandable you might think so since D&D has long been supporting this mythology, but it's just not the way it works. In addition to thrusting, Western swords can both slice (or draw cut) like a katanna and 'chop' somewhat like an axe (or more like a meat cleaver) depending of course on the blade geometry of the individual weapon,[i] but the difference between a lethal decapitating cut and a completely in-effective one is about 95% form and maybe 5% power.[/i] Cold Steel Knives makes a great propaganda DVD for their weapons, which they will ship you for free if you call their 800 number. You can watch them cut through entire rib-flanks (bones and all) with gentle sword cuts but perfect form. You can see the guy cut through a phone book with one stroke, or even an entire 5 gallon plastic bottle full of water without knocking it over enough to spill what was in the lower half. It's all form. On the other hand, if you ever get to handle a real sword, you will notice that you can't even cut through a pool noodle if your form is off (as I learned myself the first time I tried). It's all edge alignment, correct grip and footwork. Brute strength really isn't a factor beyond a certain basic amount of strength needed to handle the weapon. Thats why swords weighed 2-3 lbs usually instead of 15 like in D&D. True enough, so why not use a mace or a military pick instead of some silly mercury sword thats going to break and spray poisonous mercury mist all over your face the first time you strike anything? Due respect to Gene Wolfe who is a far better author than I'll ever be, the mercurial sword is an example of thinking which belongs in the litter box. In Genes defense though the weapon is supposed to be just for executions isn't it? It wouldnt' work in combat. Kerry King doesn't wear them on his whole body, I've only noticed them on his forearms. Even that I guarantee he had years to carefully practice with... Ok you wear it man, I'll stick to the real thing. BD [/QUOTE]
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