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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Janx" data-source="post: 6057968" data-attributes="member: 8835">Yeah, I've given the stereotypical basics for each weapon.  In the hands of an expert, there's a lot more he can do, and that would probably surprise us.  But generically speaking.  A strong enough man COULD possibly reverse course with that hammer smash, because to him, the hammer isn't all that heavy.The spear can be looked at as a staff with a pointy-bladey bit on one end.  So a lot of staff moves would work. And there is a slashing technique to use with a spear, by holding one hand near the butt, and the other near the center.  The butt-hand can torque the spear in slashing attacks, or thrust it toward an opening, while the center hand lets it slide, pool cue style.To shift topic a bit to mentality of wielder, which might get to the OP's question, I forgot what it was:a heavy weapon like a hammer or axe is likely to be used by a big strong man.  He's confident in his strength and likes to intimidate others.  He likes how much damage he can inflict with a solid hit from his weapon.  In real life, a solid hit from him is probably more destructive than a hit from any other weapon.  Thus, he is confident in his ability to swing and connect with a foe, liking knocking him down and crushing bones so he can't fight anymore.Someone with a spear is likely not keen on getting hurt.  He wants to be able to hold the enemy at bay, which he thinks the reach advantage of the spear gives him.  an alternative is that the spear was issued to him as a conscripted soldier.  a lord can afford a lot more spears to hand out to his troops than fancy swords.a man wielding a quarterstaff is looking to be inconspicuous.  Odds are good, he'd rather be mistaken for a harmless old man, or he's being economical and can't really afford a more purposeful weapon.  a traveller, or peasant might use such a weapon, so as not to violate weapons laws, appear harmless, while still being able to defend himself.a man wielding a bow is likely a hunter, or trained archer for the military, possibly both.  In real life, England encouraged its peasants to practice archery, so that way when needed, they'd have a useful archery force.  In any event, like the quarterstaff, it might be acceptable to be in posession of one, given its uses.  However, hunting in real England was fairly well regulated, often peasants were forbidden from hunting as the animals belonged to the Lord.  so it's kind of dicey on how culturally emulative" you want to get on how widespread bows would be.A man wielding a club is kind of a slob and thug.  He really has no finesse, and just picked it for its availability.  it is probably a dead tree branch or table leg with a nail or rock tied onto it.  He may even be hoping that it is unnoticeable if he tosses it aside when the law comes, so it looks like he has no weapon.A man wielding a crossbow is probably a military man.  They don't hand them out to just anybody.  The heavier crossbows will have a winch, so it doesn't take lots of strength to cranky it, but it will take some.  A guy with 8 strength will probably struggle to cock ANY crossbow, even a light one will have at least a 20 pound draw (when I was a lad, I couldn't draw such a bow until I built up some muscles).  Factor this in that a STR penaltied wizard is going to struggle with a a bow or crossbow. He might be able to draw a weaker one, but that will still be a challenge and take longer.  the rules don't really reflect this.A sword is likely to be limited in availability to nobility and professional soldiers.  Professional solider might mean mercenary, or could be the noble's standard guards.  Even a minor lord might equip his 20 best men with swords.  It's the untrained conscripts and irregulars that he's handing out the non-swords to.  A sword man is likely to be trained, as I said, he's a professional.   that doesn't mean he's a master, just that he actually knows the 5 basic blocking positions, stepping in, counter attacking, and grappling.Yes, grappling.  Almost every fight in the history of man ends up on the ground in a grapple (obviously excluding ranged weapon fire, or if you got lucky and killed him quick).  two dudes exchange blows, and eventually one of them steps in close, and the weapons are next to useless.   So they punch with the butt of the weapon, drop the sword and use a knife, and just generally wrestle and try to choke or bash the other guy to death.  You can still see this effect in bar fights today, or UFC.  Some fine punching goes on, then they get into a clinch.Every boy in the warrior caste of every society is encouraged to wrestle and grapple.  So if you were in a viking village, you'd see the boys running around, chasing, and eventually wrestling.  This is because they all know that once your axe gets stuck in the other guy's shield, you gotta get in close and take him out with your hands.Getting in close also defeats the weapon.  We learn this in modern self defense classes.  block the knife while you step in, sweep and throw, twist the arm as he falls and arc the elbow across your knee or thigh as you smash into his rib with your knee or fist.  Once you are between the bad guy's hands and body, he's got less ability to hurt you.  That'll change, once he adapts, but his arm movement is inhibited, reducing the angles he can reach and the force he can exert.So, everybody who ain't a pansy will know how to grapple.  This basically means all the classes except the wizard, who was too delicate to engage in such brutish endeavors.</blockquote>

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