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PaperclipPerfector  2mo ago (text post)   2588 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for February 7, 2025

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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  • Small weapon and small shield

  • Small weapon

  • Two small weapons

  • Big weapon

  • Small shield*

  • Two small shields*

  • Big shield*

Which do you find the coolest to look at? Which do you find the most fun to use in games?

IMO, "small weapon and small shield" is coolest, but "big weapon" has ended up being the most fun to use in the action-focused video games that I've played (e. g., Dark Souls 2, Nioh 1, and Gundam Breaker 4).

*Among video games, those in the Dark Souls series are the only ones of which I am aware in which these setups are semi-viable (not counting Captain America–style shield throwing). Among tabletop RPGs, GURPS provides a fair amount of detail for shield users (1 2 (a b)).

I'm a longsword/Zweihander or halberd fanboy. The latter, like all polearms, is grossly underrepresented in media such as video games or movies. How often do you see a protagonist using a pike or halberd instead of a sword?

This assumes a degree of significant personal protection with armor. If that was lacking, I'd definitely opt for a shield.

Sadly most representations of combat utterly gloss over how effective even basic armor was, a medieval knight was a tank that was almost immune to sharp damage while not tired, and only really countered with blunt force trauma.

Sadly most representations of combat utterly gloss over how effective even basic armor was, a medieval knight was a tank that was almost immune to sharp damage while not tired, and only really countered with blunt force trauma.

This has always bothered me. Aragorn was cutting down orcs like they were naked even when they wearing heavy plate.

Some media gets it right. There are two duels in the King that get it right. And "A Knight's Tale" which is silly in many ways also managed to get armor correct.

Aragorn's a bad example here because he has a magic sword. From the fight in Moria:

...Andúril came down upon his helm. There was a flash like flame and the helm burst asunder. The orc fell with cloven head.

It also shines with white fire whenever Aragorn is doing something cool later in the story. I wish that had made it into the movies.

I thought maybe that was the case that he had a magic sword. But it also happens in reverse where the orcs cut down the men defending the white city. And again the guys have plate.

Their arrows also have remarkable penetration.

Love that blog, I think I've read that post before but went ahead and read it again anyways.

Yeah, that's a movie/hollywood convention. Nothing to do with the books.

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