I always love seeing realistic takes on weapons in fantasy games. A proper fighter should certainly learn a few things about the weapon they pick to RP with. Since I RP exclusively as a warrior IC I've gotta know my axes. Problem is, axes in the real world vs axes in fantasy are so different. A man by the title of Lindybeige does some wonderful videos on ancient weaponry and the one on axes as shown below tell them being very small, hatchet like things. [youtube]boioSxBIkfk[/youtube]
So ultimately we have to improvise and enjoy ourselves yes? Clearly axes are smashing weapons, so they're naturally slow but extremely powerful which you highlighted well but I wonder why you mention a Labrys typically being lighter than a war axe. Usually a labrys, at least in game, has blades comparable in size to a war axe. I'm sure a Bravura isn't nearly as heavy as say.. Conqueror, so I feel they might be the quintessential "1 hit KO" weapons where as a war axe is more balanced and has the advantage of the hook since many Labrys designs do not have such a thing.
This is also completely personal opinion but I'm curious to hear why you feel axes have an advantage against lances. Perhaps it's merely my style but I roleplay that the axe has a very distinct effective range and anything within it is at a disadvantage. This includes most gladiators and pugilists because while swinging the blade close to oneself isn't going to have much force the blades are still sharp and can cause slashing damage. Lancers, however, have an effective range larger than an axe and can poke and zone an axe user by standing their ground properly. This is also based on the fact that polearms were the most widely used weapon in medieval times because of the range advantage they imposed on other melee combatants.
So ultimately we have to improvise and enjoy ourselves yes? Clearly axes are smashing weapons, so they're naturally slow but extremely powerful which you highlighted well but I wonder why you mention a Labrys typically being lighter than a war axe. Usually a labrys, at least in game, has blades comparable in size to a war axe. I'm sure a Bravura isn't nearly as heavy as say.. Conqueror, so I feel they might be the quintessential "1 hit KO" weapons where as a war axe is more balanced and has the advantage of the hook since many Labrys designs do not have such a thing.
This is also completely personal opinion but I'm curious to hear why you feel axes have an advantage against lances. Perhaps it's merely my style but I roleplay that the axe has a very distinct effective range and anything within it is at a disadvantage. This includes most gladiators and pugilists because while swinging the blade close to oneself isn't going to have much force the blades are still sharp and can cause slashing damage. Lancers, however, have an effective range larger than an axe and can poke and zone an axe user by standing their ground properly. This is also based on the fact that polearms were the most widely used weapon in medieval times because of the range advantage they imposed on other melee combatants.
