Basic Descriptions Of Commonly Used Weapons~
Blades~
Bastard Sword: The bastard sword is the best trans-handed sword. Equally functional as a two-handed and a one-handed blade, it is officially a hand-and-a-half weapon. Fast but solid, this is a perennial favorite.
Broadsword: A large heavy sword with a broad blade for cutting rather than thrusting. Lighter than the claymore for use against less heavily armored foes, the broadsword is the most basic medieval blade. It's shorter - three to four feet - and therefore more easily maneuverable. When you're the one in heavy armor, this is a big help. Against heavy armor, this blade will still bash appreciably. An extremely strong warrior can even use this blade one-handed for short periods.
Claymore: The claymore is the mother of all broadswords. It's a huge, two-handed thing. Anywhere from four to six feet long, it's designed for serious armor bashing.
Cutlass: A short curving sword (as seen in pirate movies), not very good for thrusts but a lethal slashing weapon.
Dagger: A long, sharp pointed knife for stabbing. The dagger is somewhat larger than the knife, giving it solidity to take a sword hit, when braced properly. It's larger surface also makes it an effective shield when laid against the arm. It's short reach makes it hard to use against a warrior with a larger sword, but it's long enough to be inconvenient in close combat.
Great Sword: (aka the Two-Handed Sword) This great weapon was invented to help fight plate armor. It is weilded with 2 hands and can be anywhere from 6-8 feet long. A very deadly weapon it is hard to weild but great against armored foes.
Katana: The classic blade from the East, the katana is designed for fast strikes that disable an opponent with one blow. The super-sharp katana can easily slice through leather and bone. Its elongated hilt creates a wide grip that allows precise control. The elongated grip causes problems by forcing the warrior into awkward positions when inverting his blade. This blade is light enough to be used one-handed, though, which makes handling easier.
Khopesh: Ancient weapon of the bronze age. The blade runs straight from the hilt and then curves around in a great sickle shape. It is heavy and awkward.
Kris: Long-wavy bladed dagger from indonesia, masters of the weapon are said to wield mystical powers.
Longsword: The longsword is a thinner sword than the broadsword but has equal reach. This makes it faster without losing the length advantage. As a one-handed blade, though, it won't take the beating that a broadsword can give it.
Machete: A large heavy knife, usually weilded in one hand and used for slashing rather than thrusting (due to the fact that the blade is kind of flimsy).
No-daichi: Largest oriental sword. It's a two-handed katana like weapon nearly six feet in length. Built in the same exacting specifications as the katana, but not of the same high quality.
Rapier: A straight 2-edged sword with a narrow pointed blade, used usually for thrusting as opposed to slashing. It is best used against foes with chain armor for its thin blade can easily slip between the links.
Saber: A light fencing or dueling sword having an arched guard that covers the back of the hand, and a tapering flexible blade with a full cutting edge along one side, and a partial cutting edge on the back at the tip, good for both slashing and thrusting.
Scimitar: A saber having a curved blade with the edge on the convex side. Originally a Middle-Eastern blade, the scimitar's gradual curve makes it a premier slicing weapon. It requires precise control, for its center of gravity is above the blade, creating a lopsided feel. It tends to be rather heavy, making it suitable for use against a broadsword. This is a two-handed weapon, but its great arching style can be adapted to one-handed use.
Short Sword: This blade is extremely fast when weilded properly. Many warriors use two of these at once, or a short sword in combination with a longsword. It's light weight can work against it, though. It takes a more solid hit than with another blade to have effect on your opponent. Also, without a second blade to brace it against, this blade is almost useless for defense. However, a careful and fast warrior often has no need for defense when using this blade.
Brandistock: The brandistock is an iron-shod walking staff that conceals three blades. When deployed they form a small trident. Quite the nasty surprise for the unsuspecting.
Chijikiri: Composite weapon consisiting of a spear with a leangth of chain attached to the butt. It can be used as an ordinary spear or reversed to tangle or flail at an enemy.
Crossbow: A weapon for discharging quarrels and stones that consists chiefly of a short bow mounted crosswise near the end of a stock. A crossbow has more impact damage than a normal bow and is capable of piercing plate mail. The light cross bow, while it is lighter, has a harder time piercing armor than a heavy cross bow.
Horseman's Mace: Lighter and shorter than the footman's, it is constructed from 4 to 8 iron flanges. Good against opponents in flexible armor.
Lance: Tthe lance is the horseman's spear. Prior to the invention of the stirrup the lance could not be used for a charge, but was instead used by throwing or stabbing overhead. But, after the stirrup it was used in charges. Lances are usually quite long and are fairly useless on foot. There are 4 different types--light, medium, heavy and jousting.
Longbow: A hand-drawn wooden bow held vertically and used to launch arrows a great distance when handled correctly. Hard to aim without practice.
Mace: A heavy often spiked staff or club used especially for breaking armor. Strong enough to block a broadsword, usable with one or two hands, and heavy enough to bash right through a shield. A mace against armoured opponents, for when it hits the armour it smashes the armor inward causing the armor to sink into the flesh, the armour thus bashed is hard to take off for you'll be cutting your skin while trying to take it off. Note this only applies to plate mail armour. Chain mail is usually just destroyed rather than dented.
Mace-Axe: A bronze-age weapon featuring a mace-like head with a single curving axe blade projecting from it. Heavy and awkward, but delivers crushing blows.
Polearms: Long hafted weapons designed for two-handed use. Hundreds of varieties exist. I'll run through the categories:
Spearlike polearms
used as thrusting weapons, effectively used when set against charges. (think braveheart here)
Pole axes
heavy weapons with axe like heads designed for maximum striking power. poleaxes include: the bardiche, the halberd, the voulge or lochaber axe.
Glaves
simple polearms with a single long curving blade used for slashing and thrusting. glaives include--the glaive, the fauchard, and the oriental naginata and nagimiki.
Bills
multi-function polearms that include a cutting surface, a spear-like spike, and hooks or curved blades. they include: bills, guisarmes, and glaive-guisarmes.
The Naginata
A pole arm with a single, curved blade on one end, is employed with sweeping, circular motions and, as an extension of the wielder, channels energy in a harmonious display of beauty and precision. The Naginata is a weapon with a rich history, utilized and refined from the Nara Period (710-784 A.D.) to today. Employed initially by the Bushi, it later found itself the specific weapon of the Sohei or Buddhist monks. It is the school of the spear and, as such, is a shafted weapon. The length of its oval shaft varied, from 5' to 8', depending on battle conditions and personal requests. The most striking feature, however, was the blade; it could be anywhere from 10 inches to more than 2 feet, and was sharpened on a single side, fashioned in the manner of either Sakizori or Uchizori. As with most shafted weapons, it was most devastating when utilizing sweeping, circular motions. However, thrusts with the blade and also the heavy Ishizuki on the butt end were acceptable tactical alternatives.
Quarterstaff: A long stout staff wielded with one hand in the middle and the other between the middle and the end. Favored weapon of traveller and peasants everywhere! Iron shod ends are used to strike powerful blows or jab at an enemy.
Staff: A long stick carried in the hand. Can't take too much chopping, but its smooth reversal ability makes it a fluid and versatile weapon when used with skill.
Belaying Pin: This is a weapon of convenience for sailors. Belaying pins are used to secure the lines of a ships rigging, and there's always one nearby on a ship.
Blow Gun: Don't think I need to explain this one. Most are 6-7 feet in length......but assassins might carry smaller ones.
Bolas: Bolas consist of two or three weights joined by a sturdy leather cord or rope. They are spun over the head quickly and then thrown at a target, entagling them effectively.
Boomerang: An ancient hunting weapon, the boomerang is a heavy, aerodynamic club. It does not normally return to the thrower either.
Bottle: Come on.... You know what I mean here....common in any tavern.
Brass Knuckles: A set of metal finger rings or guards attached to a transverse piece and worn over the front of the doubled fist for use as a weapon.
Caltrop: A caltrop is a cluster of 4 or more iron spikes designed so one point is always facing up. They are intended to be scattered in the path of an enemy, who might step on them if he's not careful. Useful for crippling pursuit.
Cat of Nine Tails: This weapon is a whip with nine straps rather than one. This weapon can take the skin clear off of a mans bare back. A really light and deadly weapon great for tourtures.
Chain: You know what a chain is.
Chakram: a throwing quoit or disk with a sharpened outer edge, about a foot in diameter. Thrown frisbee style with a rapid spin. not effective against armored opponents.
Club: A heavy usually tapering staff especially of wood. Man's oldest weapon......made out of nearly anything....from hand held to monster two handed varieties...smash..bludgeon your foe...you know you love it.
Flail: Developed from the farmer's threshing tool, flails were used on the battlefields throughout the middle ages. two differing types--horseman's flail uses iron weights attached with sturdy chains to the haft. The footman's flail on the other hand, consists of a sturdy shaft with a hinged (not chain) spiked head. it is used two-handed and can deliver crushing blows of great power.
Garrote: A wire with a handle at each end, used for a quick death by strangulation.
Gunsen: This deceptive weapon resembles an oriental fan. It is both a parrying device and an effective bludgeon. The paper fan contained in a gunsen was used to distract and confuse an opponent, and is often decorated with beautiful designs.
Kau sin ke: Basically means whipping chain, oriental version of the flail. Consists of 4 to 6 iron bars linked end to end by short lengths of chain. Useful for striking around shields.
Kawanaga: Consists of a grapple with a weighted rope attached. Morning star: This weapon consists of a small shaft of wood with a ball and chain attached to it. the ball is usualy spiked. A great weapon in it's own right, it takes a while to put into effect. it requires being twirled around the head for a while to gain momentum. When this baby hits it usually bashes right through armour and breaks most of the bones where it hits.
Nunchaku: Consists of 2 wooden or iron bars linked by small lengths of chain.
Sai: A parrying weapon with a large crossgaurd. Normally used for bludgeoning attacks.
Scourge: A torturer's weapon, consists of a handle with several leather whips, often studded with barbs, nails, and glass.
Shuriken: The word shuriken means ``a dagger hidden in a palm,'' so all daggers small enough to hide in a palm were called by this name. They have many variety in their shape and usage. Some are starlike shaped, and thrown with spin. Some other are needlelike shaped, and thrown just like a throwing dagger. Though a shuriken can hardly penetrate armor protection, it was enough because ninja threw it at unarmed target mainly. Venom was used with shuriken normally.
Sling: An instrument for throwing stones that usually consists of a short strap with strings fastened to its ends.
Slingshot: A small, forked stick with an elastic band attached for shooting small stones.
Spear: A thrusting or throwing weapon with long shaft and sharp head or blade. The spear is the basic thrusting/throwing weapon. Heavy for good penetration when thrown, it isn't too heavy to use close. It has the benefits of both a staff and an edged weapon. This is among the shortest of the polearms, though it can be cut to any length.
Talon: A part or object shaped like or suggestive of a heel or claw, usually worn on the hands for slashing.
Whip: An instrument consisting of a handle and lash forming a flexible rod, slung back and snapped forwards for a quick and painful hit.
