Legendium
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If you've a link, then link me up. Also, this idea of yours is really cool and I'd like us to expand on that and include it in this discussion.
Swords vs. Everything
It's a useful writing class from a person who also RPs in similar RP style. While the main focus of the writing class is on swords, the fact that it is called Swords vs Everything gives a good insight on quite a lot of weapon types. The thing about swords is that they're all-round good in a fight. Well, the principle of them is. Naturally, when facing a mounted opponent with a spear, a longsword would be preferable to a shortsword, because of the danger of getting trampled or gutted by the spear.
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Other than padded leather and steel plate, and chainmail, what other types of armor would medieval soldiers have worn?
Those are all very broad terms. They're more like materials than actual armor types. Naturally, when it comes to armor, the material is what makes most of the difference, but certain armor styles, alloys, mixes of armor pieces, etc. make a big deal of difference between life and death as well. Most armors aren't all completely steel or iron (or bronze, for that matter), unless you're a knight. Most people would wear plate in certain places, and boiled leather in others, but normally this was due to lack of funds (any sane person going into a fight would want full protection). Soldiers would almost never wear full plate due to low wages and/or uniform. Most uniformed footsoldiers only wore Gambesons, Brigandines or Mail. But for the most part, it depends on the time to find out what soldiers used as armor. For instance, when the Roman empire fell, a large amount of the infrastructure used to transport plate armor nigh disappeared, so chainmail became the more common form of armor.
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Knives, daggers, shortswords, swords, longswords, cutlasses, katanas... what's your favorite blade? Also, how effective is a shield VS missiles and blade/blunt weapons, both wood and metal? Also, how much heavier is a steel shield VS a wooden shield, and would you consider steel shields are more practical than wooden shields
My favorite blade is probably a longsword. Couple that with a dagger and a spear, and you're all set to fight almost everything coming your way. As for the effectiveness of the shield vs projectiles, I'd say it depends on the size of the shield or your ability to judge where an arrow is going to land. It is very hard to block an arrow with a buckler, but a larger shield can make the job easier. If the arrows are large and strong enough, they can sometimes pierce wood, but that's only ever an arrow coming from a very powerful bow or a crossbow bolt. As for blunt weapons, a shield can help, but not much. A blow from a warhammer to any kind of shield can break your hand, and a warhammer can break a wooden shield to pieces.
Steel is far more practical than wood, unless we're talking about cost efficiency. A wooden shield that is as practical as a steel shield has to be pretty thick and pretty heavy. Unless you add iron or steel bolts to it. That'll raise its effectiveness.
Nix this. Steel shields are far heavier than wooden shields. The most effective shield designs use wood reinforced with steel. I didn't do my research. Shame on me. (Although, smaller shields made of steel are better than small shields made of wood. I think.)
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I have read kite shields replaced round shields to cover the legs against arrow, but kite shields would seem quite cumbersome in close-range, so I assume round shields were superior in close combat?
Kite shields are better in large scale fights due to the amount of protection they give. But they are quite cumbersome, which is why it's not a good idea to use one in a duel. Round shields and bucklers are very useful in a fight with only one target. But round shields aren't necessarily any lighter. As the name suggests, they are simply shields that are round. They can come in any size, although the general definition of kite shields implies that they are bigger than some would think. Although, come to think of it, you're probably referring to tower shields, which are only really good in formation due to their absolute clumsiness. But they offer great protection.
When it comes to Japanese weapons and guns, I know very little. I dislike guns quite a lot, mainly because my old neighbor used to use me as a practice target for his plastic BBs. Not fun.
< Message edited by Legendium -- 5/26/2013 16:03:27 >
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