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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 5622802" data-attributes="member: 20323">Geez, if you're going there, what about walking away from 40' falls? Last time I fell that distance was jumping into a lake, and I still got a bad wedgie. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f615.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":confused:" title="Confused    :confused:"  data-smilie="5"data-shortname=":confused:" />A good choice. There's a reason all the fighting texts from the 1400s include unarmed combat and knife fighting techniques.I believe you are referring to machete type blades ranging from 30-60 cm (12-24 in)? My impression is that's the larger end of what we'd call a "dagger" yet on the smaller end of the "short sword" range. Technicality.Going along with "it's not the blade, but how you use it":In 4th edition base damage for a greatsword wielding fighter is 1d10.Base damage for a dagger wielding rogue with sneak attack is 3d4.Rogue with a dagger is more dangerous when exploiting the clumsy fighter's swings. Voila.You must be hanging around escrima guys - the things they can do with sticks, let alone knives. Wow.If the fullblade is in the 10-12 pound range I think it qualifies as a parade sword which was not historically used in combat. Maybe it makes sense then that it's an exotic weapon?As far as the efficacy of a greatsword - it's a common misconception that they were unwieldy and only used as brute weapons. It's true they were brutal, but not just at hacking the tops off pikes or heads off horses. Greatswords were well-balanced and usually had a large ricasso to allow the blade to be gripped below the quillons and thus wielded more efficiently in close combat. Additionally, many had parrying hooks with which to bind incoming attacks, compensating in part for the greatsword's slow defense.It's true, in cramped quarters - pressed against multiple foes in a shield wall or in a tight passage - a greatsword would be useless against a dagger. However, greatswords were historically used to fight at the periphery of the battle by extremely large men, where they could use mobility to their advantage. Daggers were common backup weapons and there are explicit moves in fighting texts for greatsword wielders to face dagger wielders (and vice versa). There's a reason why greatsword-wielding mercenaries were still successful into the 16th century.In close combat, greatswords weren't used as commonly shown in Conan or Braveheart with wide slashing blows. Certainly that was one move, but a greatsword fighter would incorporate piercing lunges, polearm-type maneuvers, and pommel/grab/trip/disarm attacks. Some masters would incorporate Austrian wrestling when teaching greatsword fighters. Many moves became "counter-cuts" combining offense with defense.  It wasn't uncommon for greatswords to be sharpened razor sharp on the tope 1/3, chisel sharp on the middle 1/3, and dull on the bottom 1/3, allowing it to be used in "half sword" and "mordhau" grips.[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNZGtz9OQG0&feature=related]‪Swordfight‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]That's my long-winded way of saying, in trained hands a weapon is capable of taking life no matter its size.</blockquote>

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