Why a rapier is bad for an adventurer

[Arnie_Wan_Kenobi]

Let me guess- your your PC, El Druiderino, is on a quest. To find a ... magic carpet! One that was STOLEN from your family.

Not a flying one. Just one that, you know, will magically tie the room together.

I had not gotten that far, but it will be now.

 

[Mannahnin]

That man was doing his own stunts before stunt doubles were a thing.

And was one of the founders of United Artists!

 

[jian]

From my limited HEMA experience I was kind of amazed how good a rapier is for just murdering people - it’s just so easy to land a killing strike with it, much easier than with many other swords. It’s not surprising that a lot of rapier duels ended in double kills (if you’re unlucky you died a few days later) and many people thought they were a terrible idea because they made tavern fights and duels a heck of a lot more lethal. There’s also a school of thought that says they weren’t great for the battlefield since they weren’t ideal for covering multiple opponents and not great defensive weapons.

I don’t think you need to reflect this in game stats particularly unless you really want to (increased critical range, -2 to defence when facing more than one enemy).

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

*I call it this because for me, the tipping point was when I saw an article about how Isaac Asimov (of Laws of Robotics and Golden Age of Science Fiction fame) was a serial and well-known sexual harasser. I mean ... this was the guy that was famous for not drinking and not including any sex and barely a hint of romance in his writing, which he churned out so prolifically that even Stephen King thought he should slow down. Ugh.

Never trust anyone with that sort of facial hair.

 

[Umbran]

*I call it this because for me, the tipping point was when I saw an article about how Isaac Asimov (of Laws of Robotics and Golden Age of Science Fiction fame) was a serial and well-known sexual harasser. I mean ... this was the guy that was famous for not drinking and not including any sex and barely a hint of romance in his writing, which he churned out so prolifically that even Stephen King thought he should slow down. Ugh.

In his novels. Perhaps you aren't aware of:

Lecherous Limericks, Asimov, Isaac (September 1975),
More Lecherous Limericks, Asimov, Isaac (1976).
Still More Lecherous Limericks. Asimov, Isaac (1977).

Which made for 300 dirty poems, the likes of which would make Eric's Grandma blush.

He also had two books of "gross" limericks, one of Sherlockian limericks, and one of limericks for kids.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

In his novels. Perhaps you aren't aware of:

Lecherous Limericks, Asimov, Isaac (September 1975),
More Lecherous Limericks, Asimov, Isaac (1976).
Still More Lecherous Limericks. Asimov, Isaac (1977).

Which made for 300 dirty poems, the likes of which would make Eric's Grandma blush.

He also had two books of "gross" limericks, one of Sherlockian limericks, and one of limericks for kids.

Next you're going to tell me that Shel Silverstein, beloved kid's author ...

wait ...

Nevermind.


eta- I did not know about those dirty poems. I really hate learning. And people.

 

[Umbran]

eta- I did not know about those dirty poems. I really hate learning. And people.

To be fair, there's nothing wrong with dirty poems per se. Guy writes a book of dirty poems, is open about what it is, and a customer buys it, that's all good. Nice and consensual.

Asimov's approach to women (especially at conventions) was a different matter.

 

[Umbran]

But, back to the OP.

Rapiers are good for adventurers, because they are good for players. Because they reveal the others at the table who cherrypick their realism with insufficient consideration of anyone else's fun but their own.

 

[gorice]

But, back to the OP.

Rapiers are good for adventurers, because they are good for players. Because they reveal the others at the table who cherrypick their realism with insufficient consideration of anyone else's fun but their own.

I think that's a little bit uncharitable. I'd put it more like: weapon choice is both a way of expressing a character's personality, and something that might suggest interesting tactical difference. The grizzled guy with the shortsword and the strutting duellist with a rapier are different characters, but also might be expected to fight best in different contexts.

 

[Piperken]

As far as theatrical duels go, the top 3-4 clips have already been posted (you all have great taste!). One I don't believe has been linked are the duels from The Duellists (1977) by Ridley Scott, which you should watch if you haven't.

I also like this one below, although NSFW due to violence; it's about as close to a choreographed demonstration of what the general differences were between two styles of sword play that were prevalent at the time. It starts about :40 in:

Spoiler: George Silver vs. French-Italian