thealmightyguru.freeforums.org

[Alban]

well i kinda suck at useing my weapons and im sure all of you have your weakneses so i just wanted to talk about diferent hints and tips and stroke paterns for fighting for all the main weapon groups (please feel free to mention a diferent weapon just tell me and the others what that weapon is)


percusion(axes war hammers ext.)
Swords(2h broad, basterd, short)
ranged(bows rocks ext.)
daggers
polearms(spears,pikes,halberds)
shields
[/list]

[Darwin_green]

go for the forearms, failing that go for the legs...

try not to let your opponent touch your weapon and keep you movements to a minimum.

Otherwise your opponent the chance to control the tempo, but be careful of telegraphing you attacks too.

[highlander]

Some pole arms are better for chopping and thrusting attacks, and others are good for sweeping side to side attacks and thrusts. Others, like a pike, can only be used for thrusting.

With my glaive, which has a really nasty range being 8' long, I use low sweeping strikes to take out their legs. With the length of it you can actually swing it quickly from one side to the other in a high arc to bring it down on the other side after sweeping in from one side. Or you could just poke them with the pointy end and call it a day. People really don't like the disadvantage they are at when you know they are there which allows me to dictate the pace which means they probably will either retreat or lose.

The time I borrowed someone's halberd I found it was best used with downward chopping strikes and thrusts because the ax head was off center with more of it's mass on the bladed side which made it hard to do side to side sweeping strikes.

Pikes are basically really long spears, and good for one thing: poking someone. If someone gets past the end drop it and go for a sword or hope someone can cut them off, or learn to back up really really fast.

Basically, how you use a weapon will be dictated by it's range, how many hands it requires, and whether you are using it Sword and Board style, Florentine, or single weapon. Some people do use daggers only, but they are also extremely fast and good at getting inside their opponents range. Daggers are also good for going against Sword and Boarders, or as a throwing weapon if it's built for that purpose.

Instead of trying to figure out everything at once, pick something and figure out how to use that weapon. It's easier to help someone when they know what they want to improve on.

[dog slayer]

I use the shield and thrusting spear combo just like a roman

[Ahearn Condon]

Drop your weapons, pick up a single, average length sword and begin fighting. You'll die, over and over and over again. But it'll force you to stop relieing on defending. your reaction time will quicken as you get better at dodging, your jumping and footwork will quicken as your forced to get in close, strike, jump back and dodge. After you've gotten to the point where you can match people with large two handers, axes, spears and the like pick up a buckler or armguard for your offhand. That'll give you a great sheild that relies on your newly honed speed and agility and is faster then most other sheilds out there without being ridiculously annoying for everyone else. The armguard'll be used when you fight the larger sheilds and duel weilders mostly. But will also help against the other fighters you've already gotten better at fighting. After a good while training even with just the one hander it'll improve your ability with near any weapon.

[Oliver Closov]

Drop your weapons, pick up a single, average length sword and begin fighting. You'll die, over and over and over again. But it'll force you to stop relieing on defending. your reaction time will quicken as you get better at dodging, your jumping and footwork will quicken as your forced to get in close, strike, jump back and dodge. After you've gotten to the point where you can match people with large two handers, axes, spears and the like pick up a buckler or armguard for your offhand. That'll give you a great sheild that relies on your newly honed speed and agility and is faster then most other sheilds out there without being ridiculously annoying for everyone else. The armguard'll be used when you fight the larger sheilds and duel weilders mostly. But will also help against the other fighters you've already gotten better at fighting. After a good while training even with just the one hander it'll improve your ability with near any weapon.

Amen...

[hippieshopper]

I think it will really help you if you can block without using a shield...
especially against spearmen

[Oliver Closov]

The main thing that has been keeping me from going double dagger is the Florentine fighters. Today I had an idea for a triple dagger or sai. The forks may help trap the opponents blades, and if done right it might disarm them... I'll have to put some more thought in that one. Any ideas?

[Ahearn Condon]

The main thing that has been keeping me from going double dagger is the Florentine fighters. Today I had an idea for a triple dagger or sai. The forks may help trap the opponents blades, and if done right it might disarm them... I'll have to put some more thought in that one. Any ideas?

Well i have a Jitte, which is basically a modified japanese style sword breaker. Unfortunatly though even when you can catch weapons they are easily free'd unless the prongs are the length of the blade. At which point it becomes an akward weapon. I've found if i'm going to make something to catch a weapon i'd look into making a short trident, make it the size for a hand and a half weapon you could still use a dagger or something in the off hand depending on your rules you play by. Not to mention it'll give you a tougher thrust to defend against as well as the ability to catch weapons, especially when you choke up on the haft.

[xorgthezombie]

Alright, two years of running a 30+ member boffer club has taught me a bit about fighting styles. I'll see how much I remember here:

Florentine (Ultralights): These are the perfect weapons against shield (one of the only that can consistently beat them, actually). With ultralights, you can make quick slashes and stabs, and should keep the swords at different levels, and not on the same horizontal plane. Keep up a steady stream of light and quick taps, and do not go for any powerful swings. Don't concentrate one for defense and one for offense, but rather keep your body square to your opponent. When striking, use you first strike to pin your opponents sword (ultralight can barely knock a sword away, so just keep force on the opponents sword to keep it from moving). Use your other hand to go straight for the unprotected area (there always is one), or feint into it, causing them to block the wrong area. If a shieldsmen is crouched, use one sword to pin their sword to the ground of to the side, and take a big step towards them and reach over their back fast enough for them not to bring their shield up. Against pole-arms, you just need to get inside their range fast enough, and charge them before they can back up. Since ultralights do not pack much punch, you will have to control the opponents long-arm with one, and rush out with the other. Longswords are the hardest to fight against with Florentine, the trick being to block to the side or up, and lunge down towards the legs or lower chest (careful about hitting the crotch).

Whew, that was just one. More to come later.

[hippieshopper]

When I see a battle with a florentine fighter coming I usually will grab my pike to fight them with.

[Oliver Closov]

I am going polearm more an more. I now have two of them. One heavy at 8ft, and one ultra light at 6ft. i can fight florentine with the 6ft one and either my short or long sword in the other hand.

[Oliver Closov]

the longer polearm is easier on my shoulders but harder on the wrists.

[hippieshopper]

Mine is about 5' 6" its pretty light too, but I don't really weigh my weapons

[Oliver Closov]

I should get a weight on all my weapons.