Pre-Gunpowder General Military Thread

[inawarminister]

Same rules as in the old thread. Anything from Stone Age to Renaissance - when melee weapons and non-gunpowder missile weapons are still the norm of the day!

Let me start with asking a question that's been niggling at me. How do cavalry use two-hander swords? I know how sabers and spathas can be used - left hand behind shield or bare holding the reins, right hand swinging here and there. But how to use longswords? Sure, you can technically use one hand to swing a longsword, but aren't they suboptimal for that?

Also, how do people differentiate Messer, Langesmesser, Grossemesser, and Kriegsmesser?

 

[Deleted member 1]

I would assume you would use it like an estoc if compelled to use it while mounted. But if you were expecting to fight mounted, you would have your squire give you an Armament Sword as the backup to your lance, generally, and use the two-hander dismounted.

 

[Hlaalu Agent]

I would assume you would use it like an estoc if compelled to use it while mounted. But if you were expecting to fight mounted, you would have your squire give you an Armament Sword as the backup to your lance, generally, and use the two-hander dismounted.

Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't the issue be the inability to leverage the sword while mounted, and thus defeating the whole purpose of the weapon?

 

[Deleted member 1]

Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't the issue be the inability to leverage the sword while mounted, and thus defeating the whole purpose of the weapon?

Yes, which is why you would have to use it as a poor woman’s estoc. Purely for stabbing.