RPC has moved! These pages have been kept for historical purposes

TheFanciestBard · **08-06-2014, 03:47 AM**

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.

Knight Kat · **08-06-2014, 09:57 AM**

As my character's main weapon of choice is usually a pole-arm, I like to soak up what I can, and found some good videos from a guy who seems to know his stuff regarding them.

Swords VS Spears. A debatable topic, and he obviously is biased, but he makes some interesting points.

He talks about Winged spears. There is a type of winged spear in-game so I think this could be be good stuff to know.

Finally, disadvantages to spears. How to beat them.

Zhavi · **08-06-2014, 11:03 AM**

Tasa reminded me of one of my favorite Lindybeige videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzbfuI0PMdA

Wink

Great thread, keep up the good work!

Fates Skein · **08-06-2014, 04:56 PM**

Fantastic thread! Â A very interesting read and I absolutely love that you put a bit about the guisarme (and specifically the Hart Guisarme) in!

I am looking forward to your next installments about fist weapons with a great deal of interest.

Mordred Lyloche · **09-09-2014, 06:09 PM**

As someone who always, and I mean ALWAYS, researches fighting styles, techniques, weapon styles, weapon types, and the way weapons are forged throughout time - this thread brought a big smile to my face. I'm glad you took the time to carefully write all of this out and make it easier for people that don't delve so deep into things.

In fact, going so far as to list the pro's and con's might even have had a positive effect on the RP Community, giving people insight on the advantages and disadvantages to their chosen weaponry. Thank you for writing this up. It's very handy.

Zyrusticae · **09-09-2014, 08:42 PM**

I really, really like this. Though my style is not the same as yours, please allow me to contribute:

Bow and Arrow
Predating recorded history and common to most known cultures all across Hydaelyn, the bow and arrow is a venerable weapon with many variations, but all aligned towards the same goal: penetrating your target with a devastating shaft of metal and wood. The weapon provides a strong advantage against any melee combatant at range and is even effective at stopping magic users in their tracks. Its downside lies in its fragility, use of limited ammunition, and complete lack of utility when engaged in melee.

The Shortbow
Briefing
The simplest and cheapest of all bow varieties, the short bow can be seen in use all across the world thanks to its ease of use, light weight, and cheap construction. It can often be employed as a secondary weapon thanks to these factors. It will not, however, be able to output as much range or firepower as any other type of bow. In exchange, it is often far easier to fire rapidly with a shortbow, and it also causes less fatigue in its use.
How to use it
Use lightweight arrows and loose them only when the target gets closer. Don't hesitate to nock more arrows. Keep applying pressure to the target. Make use of its light weight and ease of use to wear your opponent down. As with all bow varieties, but especially with shortbows, carrying a secondary weapon is strongly recommended. Many archers use daggers to defend themselves in close combat.
Pros
*Lightweight
*Easy to use
*Small in size
*Cheap
Cons
*Less firepower
*Low overall range
*Quite fragile due to cheap construction
*Affected by temperature and humidity

The Longbow
Briefing
The next most commonly used variety of bow, longbows come in all sorts of shapes but typically stand 2-3 yalms long, with many varieties being longer than their users are tall. Most longbows are of the "self bow" variety, where they are made out of a single piece of treated wood. Their great length means far more stored energy, which translates to greater range and greater penetrating force, in addition to larger and heavier arrows. Its size, however, can be quite unwieldy, and holding the bow's drawstring while aiming can be very tiring.
How to use it
Make each shot count. Take a stable firing position and aim well. Effective use of a longbow is all about patience and foresight. A single good arrow shot is usually all that's needed to bring a foe down. However, if engaged in melee combat, the longbow must be discarded before drawing a more appropriate weapon.
Pros
*Incredible range
*High firepower
*Can penetrate armor with the right arrowheads
Cons
*Friggin' enormous
*Can cause fatigue over extended use, particularly during aiming
*Not just useless, but actually detrimental in melee combat
*Affected by temperature and humidity

The Composite Bow
Briefing
The term "composite bow" does not describe a particular size or shape of bow, but rather a method of construction. Composite bows are made out of multiple different types of material - traditionally horn, wood, and sinew. The combination of materials allows a composite bow to store more energy for the same length of bow than self bows. Naturally, however, a composite bow requires more materials and is thus more difficult and time-consuming to construct, as well as being more vulnerable to moisture than a simple self bow.
Note that most high-level bows in Eorzea are of this variety.
How to use it
As composite bows can vary in size, how you use one is essentially identical to the equivalent size of bow, with the added bonus of extra force per arrow.
Pros
*Higher firepower for the same length of bow
*Otherwise identical to standard bow of the same size
Cons
*More expensive than standard bows
*More vulnerable to moisture
*Otherwise identical to standard bow of the same size

The Compound Bow
Briefing
The most modern variant of the bow, compound bows make use of mechanical aids, typically involving cables and pulleys, to aid the user. Compound bows are more energy-efficient than the other types of bow. In particular, holding the bow at a draw requires considerably less strength than other bow types, allowing the user to aim more accurately and easily, especially when shooting multiple arrows in a row. In addition, it is less affected by changes in temperature or humidity than standard bows, granting it superior accuracy, velocity, and distance. Unsurprisingly, most compound bows in Eorzea are of Allagan design, as the technology simply has not yet been conceived by Eorzeans.
How to use
Excellent general-use ranged weapons, compound bows can be used even more freely than shortbows. Make prodigious use of its ease-of-use and high accuracy and you will be afeared by all who know your name. Just make sure to take good care of it.
Pros
*High accuracy
*Great range
*High firepower
*Less fatigue, especially during the draw
*Less affected by temperature and moisture, and thus more versatile
Cons
*Very rare
*Can be complex and difficult to maintain, especially if obtained from long-lost sources
*Your enemies will want to steal it for themselves

(I should mention arrows and arrowheads too, but I gotta go <_<)

Enzo · **09-09-2014, 11:32 PM**

(09-09-2014, 08:42 PM)Zyrusticae Wrote: I really, really like this. Though my style is not the same as yours, please allow me to contribute:

Bow and Arrow
Predating recorded history and common to most known cultures all across Hydaelyn, the bow and arrow is a venerable weapon with many variations, but all aligned towards the same goal: penetrating your target with a devastating shaft of metal and wood. The weapon provides a strong advantage against any melee combatant at range and is even effective at stopping magic users in their tracks. Its downside lies in its fragility, use of limited ammunition, and complete lack of utility when engaged in melee.

The Shortbow
Briefing
The simplest and cheapest of all bow varieties, the short bow can be seen in use all across the world thanks to its ease of use, light weight, and cheap construction. It can often be employed as a secondary weapon thanks to these factors. It will not, however, be able to output as much range or firepower as any other type of bow. In exchange, it is often far easier to fire rapidly with a shortbow, and it also causes less fatigue in its use.
How to use it
Use lightweight arrows and loose them only when the target gets closer. Don't hesitate to nock more arrows. Keep applying pressure to the target. Make use of its light weight and ease of use to wear your opponent down. As with all bow varieties, but especially with shortbows, carrying a secondary weapon is strongly recommended. Many archers use daggers to defend themselves in close combat.
Pros
*Lightweight
*Easy to use
*Small in size
*Cheap
Cons
*Less firepower
*Low overall range
*Quite fragile due to cheap construction
*Affected by temperature and humidity

The Longbow
Briefing
The next most commonly used variety of bow, longbows come in all sorts of shapes but typically stand 2-3 yalms long, with many varieties being longer than their users are tall. Most longbows are of the "self bow" variety, where they are made out of a single piece of treated wood. Their great length means far more stored energy, which translates to greater range and greater penetrating force, in addition to larger and heavier arrows. Its size, however, can be quite unwieldy, and holding the bow's drawstring while aiming can be very tiring.
How to use it
Make each shot count. Take a stable firing position and aim well. Effective use of a longbow is all about patience and foresight. A single good arrow shot is usually all that's needed to bring a foe down. However, if engaged in melee combat, the longbow must be discarded before drawing a more appropriate weapon.
Pros
*Incredible range
*High firepower
*Can penetrate armor with the right arrowheads
Cons
*Friggin' enormous
*Can cause fatigue over extended use, particularly during aiming
*Not just useless, but actually detrimental in melee combat
*Affected by temperature and humidity

The Composite Bow
Briefing
The term "composite bow" does not describe a particular size or shape of bow, but rather a method of construction. Composite bows are made out of multiple different types of material - traditionally horn, wood, and sinew. The combination of materials allows a composite bow to store more energy for the same length of bow than self bows. Naturally, however, a composite bow requires more materials and is thus more difficult and time-consuming to construct, as well as being more vulnerable to moisture than a simple self bow.
Note that most high-level bows in Eorzea are of this variety.
How to use it
As composite bows can vary in size, how you use one is essentially identical to the equivalent size of bow, with the added bonus of extra force per arrow.
Pros
*Higher firepower for the same length of bow
*Otherwise identical to standard bow of the same size
Cons
*More expensive than standard bows
*More vulnerable to moisture
*Otherwise identical to standard bow of the same size

The Compound Bow
Briefing
The most modern variant of the bow, compound bows make use of mechanical aids, typically involving cables and pulleys, to aid the user. Compound bows are more energy-efficient than the other types of bow. In particular, holding the bow at a draw requires considerably less strength than other bow types, allowing the user to aim more accurately and easily, especially when shooting multiple arrows in a row. In addition, it is less affected by changes in temperature or humidity than standard bows, granting it superior accuracy, velocity, and distance. Unsurprisingly, most compound bows in Eorzea are of Allagan design, as the technology simply has not yet been conceived by Eorzeans.
How to use
Excellent general-use ranged weapons, compound bows can be used even more freely than shortbows. Make prodigious use of its ease-of-use and high accuracy and you will be afeared by all who know your name. Just make sure to take good care of it.
Pros
*High accuracy
*Great range
*High firepower
*Less fatigue, especially during the draw
*Less affected by temperature and moisture, and thus more versatile
Cons
*Very rare
*Can be complex and difficult to maintain, especially if obtained from long-lost sources
*Your enemies will want to steal it for themselves

(I should mention arrows and arrowheads too, but I gotta go <_<

I added your addition to the official list, I did not fact check it because I am lazy but I trust that you probably know way more than I do about bows and thank you very much for your filling that part out. I have been in absence (Explained in the notes on the main list) and hope you all can forgive me, I will try to work on this list more and see it through to completion starting hopefully this weekend. I may go over it and add little bits here and there if perhaps a bow type was left out or something (Is there really only four bow types in FFXIV? I can look for special bows) but for the most part the addition looks flawless. Again thank you for your help and for everyone else in supplying wonderful information on the weapons of FFXIV and how to use them.

Zyrusticae · **09-10-2014, 12:24 AM**

Aha, why, thank you!

There are actually quite a lot of different bow types in the game ("cavalry" bows and "velocity" bows and "armored" bows), but unlike the melee weapons the differences between these types are really quite minimal and, besides that, they're entirely fictional. I could have thrown in "reflex" and "recurve" etc., but these are just references to a bow's shape, and these shapes thus have high overlap with the types I already listed (reflex bows in particular are basically composite bows).

Perhaps I need to redo this. Instead of "bow types" I do "bow sizes", "bow shapes", and "bow material compositions", to make things clearer. Bows are pretty complicated compared to melee weapons, heh. Dazed

g0ne · **09-10-2014, 01:46 AM**

Awesome thread!!

Have a treat, no seriously, can I give all of you a cookie? Anything else that you like? I'll give you all a biscuit! *Hands out biscuit tray*

And, yeah, so far in the bow and arrow part, only bows have been discussed. Let's see some info on arrows too!Â Big Grin

Ps. I stole my parrots' biscuits!Â Bouncy

Aduu Avagnar · **09-10-2014, 02:16 AM**

Can I add for the longbow the following tidbit of information: training with a longbow over an extended period of time will, eventually, cause massive growth in the shoulder and upper arm areas. Causing an almost malformed appearance. However this is imaginary fun times, so I am sure there is some way to counteract this (imbuing the bow with maybe wind aether to cause it to be easier to draw.)

Zyrusticae · **09-10-2014, 02:37 PM**

Arrows
Can't use a bow without arrows to shoot! Arrows come in a variety of shapes and sizes, though they all have one thing in common: they MUST be aerodynamically shaped or they're just not going anywhere. Arrows can also be used for self-defense in melee in a pinch, though they are not a substitute for forged melee weapons.

Size
An arrow's size (and thus weight) has a major effect on its performance. They can range from half a yalm to nearly 2 yalms long, though most tend towards a range around 1 yalm. Longer and heavier arrows can confer more force upon the target but suffer from reduced range that the user must compensate for, and are only appropriate for use with larger bows with heavier drawstrings. Very short arrows, on the other hand, have extremely good range and can be used to snipe opponents without fear of retaliation if they do not have similar equipment.

Shaft
The shaft of the arrow can be made of many different materials, though it is traditionally made out of a type of wood. The stiffness of the shaft is referred to as its "spine", meaning how little the shaft bends when compressed. An arrow that bends less has more "spine". Groups of arrows must be similarly spined for consistent results. "Center-shot" bows can be used to gain consistent results with a wide range of spines, but most traditional bows are not center shot and the arrow has to deflect around the handle in the Archer's Paradox (this is getting complicated...). To put it short, the arrow's spine has to be made to allow the arrow to deflect correctly around the bow. Higher draw-weight bows typically require more spine for the right amount of flex when shot.

Footed Arrows
Arrows made out of two different types of wood (a hardwood near the arrowhead and a softwood for the rest of the shaft) fastened together are referred to as "footed arrows", and proffer the superior survivability of hardwood with the flexibility and light weight of softwood arrows. Gridanians are most likely to use these types of arrows.

Arrowheads
Arrowheads are extraordinarily varied, and can be designed to best a wide variety of targets. Any arrow designed to penetrate its target can be dipped in poison to further its effect. Note that this list is not exhaustive, though it should cover most types likely to appear in Eorzea.

*Armor piercing (needle bodkin) - The most expensive type of arrowhead, these are always made out of some type of hardened metal and forged into a shape designed to penetrate even the toughest plates of armor. It should be noted that, on planet Earth, arrowheads of this design were not in common use due to the development of firearms which had no problems penetrating plate armor. Apparently this does not apply in Eorzea, as archers are still commonly seen despite the simultaneous development of full-body plate armor and firearms. These arrows will cause less harm to poorly armored targets than broadhead arrows, and the weight of the heads gives them poorer flight characteristics, so these are used exclusively for fighting armored legions, Garleans especially.

*Bifurcated - A.k.a. "Frog-Crotch", "Fishtail", or "Forked" arrowheads, these heads are shaped in a V or crescent shape with points extending outward on either side. The cutting edge can be in the inside of the curve, though sometimes the entire head is sharpened. These arrowheads are commonly used as rope-cutters, and can be used to cut through a ship's rigging, climbing cords, and even other archers' bowstrings.

*Bodkin points - Short, rigid points with a small cross-section made of unhardened iron. Used for greater range or accuracy as well as cheap production. Ineffective against armored targets.

*Blunt - Unsharpened arrowheads occasionally used for target shooting or for stunning the target without penetration. In Eorzea these may be made of metal or hard rubber. Note that the shaft is capable of penetrating the arrowhead and/or the target, so safety is still paramount with their use.

*Broadheads - The most common type of arrow in use in Eorzea for war and hunting, broadheads are made out of some type of hardened metal and have two or four wide, sharp blades intended to bleed the target by cutting major blood vessels. They are designed to cause further damage upon removal as well, making them extremely dangerous. They are also expensive, can damage most targets, and are usually not used for target practice. They can come in two types:
**Fixed-blade - What it says on the tin.
**Mechanical - Uses some of the kinetic energy of the arrow to deploy its blades out into the target when struck. They possess better flight characteristics due to their more aerodynamic design, but less penetrative power due to some of the energy being lost during blade deployment.

*Cage Fire - An arrowhead commonly used by Eorzeans, cage fires are designed to be ignited with elemental fire before being released into the fray to set an area alight. They have poor aerodynamic properties and thus must be lobbed into the area at moderate ranges rather than shot freely. They are frequently reusable.

*Whistling - An arrowhead slightly hollowed out with four to six holes bored into it. A whistling arrowhead, once launched, releases a high-pitched whistling noise as it flies. Whistling arrowheads are not designed for combat, but instead designed to signal others from a distance or to scare off foes.

Fletching
Fletching is found at the back of the arrow and is usually made out of the feathers of wild birds, particularly dodos. They are used as airfoils and provide a small amount of force that helps to stabilize the arrow in flight, reducing its tendancy to pitch and yaw and thus keeping it flying true to its target. Feathers used on an arrow mut come from the same side of the bird as bird feathers have a slight natural twist depending on where they come from. This same twist helps the arrow rotate in flight, increasing accuracy. Arrows designed to travel the maximum possible distance will often have little-to-no fletching, while arrows with broadheads will have long and high fletching to counteract the aerodynamic effect of the arrowhead.

...So as you can plainly see, bows are friggin' complicated. There is a LOT more to bows and arrows than what I've already written here. If you're interested in excessive, exhausting detail, there is a document on arrows posted here that's designed for use with some RPG system or other, but is still very useful as a resource on the ridiculous variety that arrows can come in.

Enzo · **01-22-2015, 10:22 PM**

As I am returning to FFXIV this weekend and excited to be getting back into role playing. I remembered this post in all this downtime I have spent twiddling my thumbs waiting for Saturday to arrive. I have been on a long Hiatus because of school but am now finally able to return and apologize for not updating this sooner. But I have updated it and added Daggers!

Apologies if it is not as well done as the other ones as for whatever reason it did not show everything in colors, italics, and boldness as I typed it like I feel like I remember it doing before. So I had to quickly learn the alien letters that are trapped in [ ] boxes in order to add the new section on arrows and knives. I also could not reference the actual models for the knives in game and had to do so from pictures on the wiki. So I hope all the information is still accurate. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong on something and I shall fix it as soon as possible!

I again thank everyone who has given awesome information regarding weapons and how they can be used. I can't make any promises but with only one weapon type (Fist Weapons) to go. I hope I can get all of the disciple of war weapons down for everyone to reference and learn to use before the expansion comes out (And I am forced to add 2 more weapon types to my to do list) I hope you all can make use of my list and you all enjoy your role play to the fullest extent :3

Recoil · **01-22-2015, 11:05 PM**

Most of Rough Nomad's combat style is inspired by Philippine knife martial arts.

[youtube]r1CWSEAJT1M[/youtube]

Some of it's been modified for his benefit.

I want to say he's more inclined to weaving in cheap punches and lunches akin to the common street thug, but it would be easier to explain it with krav maga. The two fighting styles are hybridized to his benefit with a balanced emphasis on knife and body-oriented strikes or moves. He actually knows very little ninjutsu.

[youtube]vDofosaRUPc[/youtube]

Enzo · **01-22-2015, 11:10 PM**

(01-22-2015, 11:05 PM)Fuzz Wrote: Most of Rough Nomad's combat style is inspired by Philippine knife martial arts.

Some of it's been modified for his benefit.

I want to say he's more inclined to weaving in cheap punches and lunches akin to the common street thug, but it would be easier to explain it with krav maga. The two fighting styles are hybridized to his benefit with a balanced emphasis on knife and body-oriented strikes or moves. He actually knows very little ninjutsu.

That is super awesome! By no means are you bound by the limitations of the weapon alone. You can always use your body to aid you in combat in so many different ways I could not even begin to list them. My purpose is simply to help people understand their weapon a bit better :3 You all teach me more and more about fighting each time and I am happy for you all to share your knowledge with me.

Aaron · **01-22-2015, 11:36 PM**

I guess Aaron is a Kris user!

Although I did feel bad about leaving all my PLD sword memories behind. So I came up with a alternative.Â

When Aaron needs a little extra range close combat wise with his daggers he lengthens the edges by stacking ice along the blade till it's about as long as a sword.

I think it's pretty neat.

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The Pro's and Con's of each Weapon type for RP combat.

RPC has moved! These pages have been kept for historical purposes