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Well, now I DO have other questions. For those who don't remember, I'm an author looking for advice from people who actually know which end of the sword to hold onto. :)

*Does training/fighting regularly with a sword cause a callus buildup that another fighter would recognize?

*I am trying to ...

Whoa, STILL getting responses. I thought they'd stopped for good. I should obviously check in more often.

Thanks everyone.

Thanks everyone, I'm getting some good material.

Eli --> If you want some good battles for inspiration and "source material", check these out:

From the movie "Against All", an old Czech historical movie. It shows well the chaotic and brutal nature of mass combat with melee weapons, and highlights ...

Hi. Remember me? It's the writer guy who's never held a sword but is trying to write sword fights anyway. :)

I was thinking, what movie has particularly realistic melee fights that I can take inspiration from? It can involve swords, spears, axes, knives or whatever; My characters use a variety of ...

any other questions you might have that we can help with?

Not for now. But I'll know where to turn when I need good advice.
Thanks everyone.

It depends on how you'd want to frame the training regime. Such a long training period could be plausible if the program included things like tactical lessons, war games, and "live-fire" exercises made as realistic as safety paradigms would allow. If the school didn't have any of these things ...

I would actually go with chain mail worn under his shirt. Assuming it's relativly cold outside.

I'm speaking in total ignorance here, but doesn't chainmail rattle quite a bit? Enough to screw up any attempt at moving silently?



Most people during this time who match your description of needing ...

Yes, it's Mister Ignorant Novelist Guy looking for more advice. Just think of it as a chance to flaunt your knowledge. :)

I have a character who lives in a place and situation where he can expect to fight for his life at a moment's notice, and while he's not a man of means I want him to have SOME ...

so technology is reasonably advanced then as zweihanders are not simple things to make even if magical etc.

Well, the zweihander warrior is in another series in another world, one that is still completely in the planning stages. But just so I know, but could you tell me what technology is needed ...

so what sort of weaponry do you intend your character to carry?

Well, I'm writing multiple stories with various main characters. And minor characters and scumbag bandits use all kinds of clubs, axes, spears and whatnot.

Note that due to a backstory detail, I have most swords in my world designed ...

If their full time "day job" is training for combat, then there's no reason they should be limited to training in only one weapon, they have plenty of time to study and practice many things that they can become competent at in 2-3 years.

Okay. So I could have the program itself be 3-4 years long ...

A fighter who knows longsword and staff/polearms well could become competent with a two-hander fairly easily.

But I'm thinking of a program that trains raw recruits. I need a realistic time frame for how long it would take to turn them into skilled warriors. Two years? Four years?

If you had the basics of longsword, dedicating time to the 2handers would show some differences, but it would depend. Are we talking battle field use or more individual use?


Both, really. They mostly fight on their own, but I also want them to be able to stand in a battle formation without ...

If someone trains day in and day out with a good teacher (in any weapon), it's reasonable to expect them to be a competent fighter after a few months, but certainly not a great one. Think of boot camp in the army, that's essentially the teacher's job starting out. To really become exceptional would ...

Hi there. I'm an aspiring fantasy novelist (currently in serious talks with a publisher), and this seems like a good place to ask questions about combat in a pre-industrial world.
I'm currently wondering about training times, because I hate it in novels or movies when a character masters a skill in ...