javelin, mace combo

[vek]

i've been toying with the idea of using a javelin and my mace as a combo, you know going flourintine with them. do you guys think this could be effective? what are the pros and cons?

[Maciah]

Though a javalin is smaller and lighter than a spear it just wouldn't be effective for florintine. It takes two hands on a jav to make the shots effective and hard enough, though I have seen one handed strikes that were well played. If going florintine with a barrel mace and a jav is what you want to do I suggest you start practicing with it, find moves that work for you, who knows you could become a great jav master.

[Djinn aka D]

i say that alls fair. i mean, if your goin for auithenticity, you can't tell me people didn't pick up javelins to shank someone or or pick up a broken spear as a javelin.

[vek]

true, but i cant shank someone in the face now can I? what i could do is puncture the four limbs walk back and then throw it, but thats jsut me...

[Djinn aka D]

no your just being difficult

[Syrus]

Jav/mace is a good and effective style, if properly applied.

First: do NOT hold the point up. Hold the jav as if you'd throw it at any second, with the point down, gripped about halfway (but in your left.)

Second: the jav is your big, cheap, unbreakable shield, but it is flimsy. Try to punch-block, and respond with a quick jab into their leg, or hip.

Third: Unless you have a big * of a mace, learn the rush step. It WILL make the difference against shields. Move in quickly, and use the omnidirectional strinking surface of the mace as a drumstick and you're sounding the alarm all up and down their back.

Fourth: Throw the jav every once in a while, to keep them on their toes.

[vek]

osiris you sound to be familiar with this strategy, thanx for the tips

[glorfindel]

Theres a guy in my realm who does that with jav + sword with some sucess. He sometimes placed the jav on sword to get more stability with it.

[Syrus]

No problem. Anything for a foamfighter.

[Freyson]

If you are going to throw the javelin and the rush in I would think it is a good idea for a first strike combo. If you are planning on not throwing the javelin then I would say it is a bad idea. Javelins are normally difficult to use one handed due to the padding compressing under the hand and the core flexing. About the only way to do this is to keep it in a throwing position and feint throws, or use it as a shield. This can be a good combo to keep people without shields at bay until your team can come to help out.

If you are seriously considering using a long stab and short hack combo, consider using a non-javelin short spear/long dagger. I have a rapier I use for fun on occasion. It is made out of a graphite golf club shaft with a dagger style tip and an 8? hand guard. Since there is no flex and it is very pommel weighted, it is extremely accurate in the stabs. Its overall length is about 40?. It has little use against armored opponents unless you hit perfectly in the armor gap and they decide to take it. Yet is has some great advantages against unarmored people. Most people see a weapon that size, rush and wonder why you are not swinging it at them, then impale themselves. It also has a very shallow angle of attack which most people are not used to blocking. A simple side step and cross body stab puts the tip into the opponent in a place they have never experienced. The first time I brought it to an event (playing a monster-type character) people laughed at it until about the third battle. The style of a one handed long stab can be very effective, with time and practice. But it is a style which will get you beaten down until you are proficient.

[Kyrian]

As a variation of this, I've seen some fighters use a red sword held point down in their off hand while wielding a sword/flail/etc. as their primary weapon. If the red is stabby, they can attempt to snap the tip forward to stab. If they come up against a shield fighter or an armored opponent, they can immediately transition to breaking the fighter's shield or engaging him without worrying about the armor.

Kyrian

[Magpie Saegar]

i've had a bit of success (against non-shield users) with a shortsword/stabbingjav combo.

i hold the javelin underhand near the butt end, and balance it on the flat of my horizontally held sword. this is great for ranged stabbing, and with a quick toss you can transition into jav throwing mode.

however, this is not very effective vs armored opponents (unless thrown) or shield-bearing opponents.


someone earlier mentioned holding it above your hand, as if you were about to throw it. i caution against this until you are well practiced... it is much harder to control your stabs this way. its and easy way to get face stabs.

[Syrus]

Well, if used correctly, you'd have to be standing on your head for a face stab. I only said that to illustrate the grip and direction of the javelin. But unless you are about to throw (or feint a throw), the point should be held no higher than your navel.