Research and Discussion Forums

Is there any fundamental difference between longsword and greatsword armored fighting?

Judging by the design of many greatswords I was under the impression that the greatsword has a bit more focus on thrusting instead of wrestling, but I don't really know--hence my question.

Thanks again ...

Well I was only paraphrasing from memory. He says more like Liechtenauer holds only these four guards, four guards only and leave the common ones alone. If you want the exact wording, you'd have to look it up; I believe he starts talking about the guards in detail on page "32 R" which is about page ...

I agree that they could teach you the fundamentals, b/c they're basically incorporated into the strikes to begin with. But I'm not sure about them being just 'teaching strikes'. In Dobringer it says something like, here are five strikes and four guards- this is all you need. I think it is pretty ...

As far as the cost of a sword, I don't really know either. But I would have serious doubts that they couldn't afford an extra practice sword. Even if it /was/ costly, that is simply the price for making war. I mean could you imagine the US Army not having target practice to save money on ammo, or ...

Indeed, I didn't mean to imply that you actually rest it on your shoulder, I was only trying to describe what it looks like. You don't actually set the tip of your sword on the ground while in Fool, but I usually see it described that way. I saw a piture of a guy using zornhut with a broken step in ...

I'll try to explain how to strike the zwerch from tail. Stand in tail to your right, with long edge pointed at the enemy. From here you will strike his head with your short edge. Do this by lifting your hands above your head, then as you strike rotate long edge over the top and bring the short edge ...

If I did your test and bend the green stick until it breaks, then apply that same amount of pressure to the same stick but this time its been dried then it will not bend as far and it will not break. If I continue to apply pressure then it will eventually break, and perhaps it didn't bend as far as ...

If you have some good evidence to back that up then please share. But the truth of the matter, as I know it, is dry wood is a lot stronger than wet wood, weighs a lot less, is easier to machine, glues together better, not at risk from decay and mold, and absorbs varnish and oils better. And unless ...

You want to keep wood glue out of water or extreme cold or hot. I think you heard to keep oil away from the glue in general, not that linseed in particular is bad. I would say that tung oil is better because it dries faster, but you can easily get boiled linseed which has additives that makes it dry ...

Also I was only talking about being predictable from your point of view. From the enemy's, then you would want to be unpredictable. If the guards make you less predictable from the opponent's POV, then that is just bonus! Although it is possible that it only seemed less predictable at first because ...

If you are a professional soldier, then I think luck is your enemy. Because even if it only makes you lose 1 in 100 fights (which I think would be a very small margin of chance for a fight), you are going to lose/die after 100 fights.

Okay that brings me to something I wanted to say about Guards ...

I think you missed the point. I could pull off my shield and throw it at you like a frizbie... under the right circumstances, it might even pay off. But that is not how it was intented to be used and usually not the best way to use it. I could throw my sword at you like a spear, again that is not ...

Yes the buckler was sometimes worn on the wrist. But it was most always used held in fist. You ask slightly the wrong question, because it doesn't matter so much if it was or was not used, but why to use it that way. People have made guns with knife and sword blades attached, and knifes and swords ...

Spears being the most common weapon then I think it is obvious that most kills would come from them. But you also need to keep in mind that weapons like the spear were more common not only because they were good and have been around much longer than swords, but also the cost in time and money of ...

Leam, here is a Doebringer quote you might like. He says "I wish to offer you three pieces of advice so that you fight in the right way". This is where he says to not fight in anger, or vanity, or use swordsmanship to bring unjustice to your fellow man.

"Chivalrous and without misdeeds and ...