Re: Re: 2 sword fighting

From: KYER, JEFFREY <jeff.kyer_at_...>
Date: Wed, 05 Jul 2000 10:46:00 -0400

Mikko Rintasaari wrote:
>
> On Wed, 5 Jul 2000, Bigfoot wrote:
>
> > Hi List
> >
> > Just to make a note , for those of you wanting an element of realism in your
> > games remember that swords in Glorantha are made of bronze , very heavy ,
>
> I don't recall bronze being heavier that steel. Hammered bronze also
> get's guite close to iron in toughness.

He is correct. Bronze is about as dense as iron but due to its rather brittle nature, swords had to be much thicker. Hence, the extra weight -compare the bronze kopesh to an iron spatha for thickness and width Truly, only when iron became widely available did all-metal weapons like the sword become truly practical.  

> Still, to quoute from my Glorantha files.
>
> "Remember that with just casting and hammering it's very hard to make a
> usable bronze blade longer than a shortsword, thus smithwork also
> includes enchanting."

This is true. Bonesmiths spend a lot of time singing...  

> Reenactment weapons tend to be poorly made, heavy things. At least the
> ones I've held. 10 lbs is a lot for a bastard sword.

I've got some information from the Osprey books. They do mention this weight/size thing in passing in the Egyptian book (I think it was the Egyptian one).  

> > Also from a combat point of view axe and shield is the best way to combat
> > this fighting technique,
>
> Two shortswords is a usable style too, and paires surprisingly well
> against a broadsword and shield, IMO. Two broadswords is rather taxing,

In your opinion --- however, reenactment is not quite a life or death on the shieldwall situation. SCA folks are notorious for 'taking hits' to take down an opp0onent in battles and duesl. Something that one might be relucant to do in reality -- especially with unsanitary bronze pointy things.

> and using two bastard swords is something I've had only one person use
> in my Glorantha campaign so far, and it's a real giant of a Uroxi
> Poljoni, Og the Horned One. (he wears a magical helmet that let's him
> butt enemies with his horns and fling them into the air like a bull)

Yeah. I've no objection to something like that -- an Uroxi screaming and waving around two axes seems to have about the right feeling about it.  

> This guy uses two huge celtic style swords (with rounded tips).

And probably fights alone -- with a good wide space around him! I'd be very leery of getting too close to a flailing monster like that. Almost as dangerous to friend as foe.  

Jeff

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