Re: What's a Keyword? Gender Issues

From: Bryan <bethexton_at_...>
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 17:18:38 -0000

>
> Jane Williams <janewilliams20_at_...> writes:
>
> >I've never understood why,
> >myself, just assumed that in that case Sartarite
> >fighting style must in some way make a spear just as
> >useful a weapon as a sword for a full-time warrior. Or
> >ignored the whole "Vingans specialise in spears"
> >invention, since they never used to, and there's no
> >reason given.
>
> At a guess, because women tend to be smaller and have less upper body
> strength than men. A weapon which is longer than a sword will give
> them much greater reach, allowing them to keep opponents at a distance
> - and also because a spear-thrust requires less strength behind it to
> do serious damage than a sword-swing.
>
I always figured it was a mythic thing. Vinga used a spear because while nobody would give her a sword at first there were always spears kicking around--even the pig women might take one into the forest sometimes. That became her weapon, so all Vingans are trained in spear and shield combat. Many will also have the warrior keyword, and hence have other combat skills at least as good, but training with the spear is probably part of your time committed to the cult.

Just another take on it.

--Bryan