Realism
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 10:15 pm
I thought I would start a discussion by throwing out a few of my biases for discussion.
I think realism should be encouraged but not enforced beyond the existing belegarth rules.
Why:
In the early 1600's when Jamestown was established in the States, the Europeans quickly abandoned their peascod belly breastplates in favor of chain mail, which had been out of fashion for decades (if not hundreds of years). Peascod belly breastplates feature a sloped ridge down the middle designed to deflect bullets and 100 lb pull longbows. The indians were using 45 lb hunting bows and chainmail is more comfortable. They used what worked.
People have been trying for hundreds of years to make better weapons and we know the results. Crossguards work. Both zheihanders and katanas work (but require totally different fighting styles). Spears have been used effectively on the battlefield for centuries. Mitten gauntlets didn't have padding inside but touched the handle on both sides of the hand for a reason.
By the same token, there is a reason battle ready swords weigh 2-3 pounds and their decorative duplicates weigh 8. A lot of thought and effort by a lot of people went into something as "ordinary" as a sword.
If somebody wants an ultralight weapon that still has "cutting power", ask if they would like to make a hatchet point 1796 Pattern Sabre. Look at all the details like the varying width of the blade, the knucklebow and the part of the knucklebow that sticks out about an inch on the back (it was made that way intentionally) and check out the features that this "realistic" design has over a speedbat.
By the same token, if you want a crossguard that will stand up to abuse, look at how crossguards were constructed and attached to blades historically. They were constucted that way because real swords tended to break when constructed differently - the same as Belegarth swords.
There is an effective reason my heater shield weighs as much as it does.
On the other hand, I think it is silly to ask every 16 year old picking up a foam sword to be a history nut. Let them fall in love with the sport, let them try the massive padded hammers and quarterstaffs and scythes, and then show them how the little design tricks hidden in the real weapons can be translated to Belegarth.
I think realism should be encouraged but not enforced beyond the existing belegarth rules.
Why:
In the early 1600's when Jamestown was established in the States, the Europeans quickly abandoned their peascod belly breastplates in favor of chain mail, which had been out of fashion for decades (if not hundreds of years). Peascod belly breastplates feature a sloped ridge down the middle designed to deflect bullets and 100 lb pull longbows. The indians were using 45 lb hunting bows and chainmail is more comfortable. They used what worked.
People have been trying for hundreds of years to make better weapons and we know the results. Crossguards work. Both zheihanders and katanas work (but require totally different fighting styles). Spears have been used effectively on the battlefield for centuries. Mitten gauntlets didn't have padding inside but touched the handle on both sides of the hand for a reason.
By the same token, there is a reason battle ready swords weigh 2-3 pounds and their decorative duplicates weigh 8. A lot of thought and effort by a lot of people went into something as "ordinary" as a sword.
If somebody wants an ultralight weapon that still has "cutting power", ask if they would like to make a hatchet point 1796 Pattern Sabre. Look at all the details like the varying width of the blade, the knucklebow and the part of the knucklebow that sticks out about an inch on the back (it was made that way intentionally) and check out the features that this "realistic" design has over a speedbat.
By the same token, if you want a crossguard that will stand up to abuse, look at how crossguards were constructed and attached to blades historically. They were constucted that way because real swords tended to break when constructed differently - the same as Belegarth swords.
There is an effective reason my heater shield weighs as much as it does.
On the other hand, I think it is silly to ask every 16 year old picking up a foam sword to be a history nut. Let them fall in love with the sport, let them try the massive padded hammers and quarterstaffs and scythes, and then show them how the little design tricks hidden in the real weapons can be translated to Belegarth.