Fighting Techniques -- Inspiration and referencing!

[Aaron]

I remember reading somewhere that icepick grip was a stance for either masters or amateurs

It is.

 

People assume only amateur use it but in reality as someone who's learned from my uncle reverse grip has certain advantages over standard (knife wise of course)

 

With swords it's utterly stupid to use.

 

Aaron would laugh his ass off at someone fighting with a longsword using the reverse grip.

 

Alternatively a blade grip, is pretty useful for anyone fighting with a European style great sword. The first 1/3 or so of the blade is likely dull, so you can grab it, and increase your power for close quarters fighting.

I didn't know that actually.  . Neat!

[111]

Natalie used more of a Roman style of fighting. I've always loved the sort of brutal, machine like nature of roman sword and shield fighting. Very efficient, not at all flashy, and incredibly deadly. Just get as close as you can, use your giant shield to press your enemy's arms and weapons against their body, and just start stabbing over, under, and around it. Obviously there is more to it than that, but it was my inspiration. I feel not enough people embrace the historical 'gladiator' when they play the gladiator class.

 

So, I totally didn't know this was a thing, but this is exactly how I have Sounsyy fight with shield and sword. Get in close with a shield, press it against them, and then slip her shortsword up into their side or down into their thigh or knee. It just made... more sense? Like I love flashy, but Sounsyy just isn't flashy. She's a practical, grisly survivor.

 

Sounsyy was a Noxius when she fought on the Bloodsands. Sure, she knew how to make a show of it, but she was there trying to survive, not get showered with money. The danger was incredibly real for a slave fighter. So when I picture a 5 fulm girl paired off with a Pieste or worse for sport, I always figured that shield would become the main focus. So I took what I learned from my experiences in MMA and Kuk Sool and applied that to a shield. Get in close inside your opponent, limiting their range of motion, and if you're going to throw a blow, make it a crippling one.

 

Yes! A good example can be seen in the opening of HBO's rome.

 

 

The legionnaires just wait for the enemies to charge into them, since their axes won't be useful in close range, and then just stab up, down, and around.

 

Obviously the style is slightly different when you aren't in formation, but it's beautifully mechanical. I think it's not that well known because it's less a style, and almost like a mathematical equation of how to kill people in melee combat the simplest way.

[Dogberry]

I don't have any specific fighters in mind, but I picture Dogberry's hand to hand fighting as very MMA Heavyweight inspired. Mostly just the striking, as holds tend to be a little godmodey in PVP fights.

 

For Lancer, I have a little bit of training in spears in Darkon/Dagorhir and some SCA fighting. It's nothing like what I'd call "realistic" combat, but Dogberry tends to fight much like I do. Triangular footwork, choking up and down on the shaft (hyuk hyuk), body checking and throwing my weight around when people get close.

 

I learned a LOT from Sword Knight Boot Camp videos.

 

[video=youtube]

[Gegenji]

Since we're getting into actual styles, I'm really hoping to get some more Aikido-style fighting with Chachan. The style is all about protecting one's self while also avoiding harming others, which I think really fits the little guy as a character. It's also all about redirecting momentum, which is how I feel a Lalafell would definitely have to deal with - say - a Roe or a Manlander bearing down on them. Plus, it's well-known oriental art that fits with his heritage of coming from Doma/Not-Japan.

 

Unfortunately, most of what I know of that particular style is what I learned in the aforementioned katana/naganata training at the fencing school I attended briefly. I'll definitely need to do more research if I want to incorporate it more into Chachan's combat style.

 

Alternatively a blade grip, is pretty useful for anyone fighting with a European style great sword. The first 1/3 or so of the blade is likely dull, so you can grab it, and increase your power for close quarters fighting.

 

I also make Chachan do this a lot, actually. Considering that his current (and most future) blades is blunt and relies on concussive force for damage, I have a lot of fun turning the blade briefly into almost a staff for cross-guards and the like.

 

Though... I still remember a move I was shown at the fencing school where someone basically flipped over a broadsword and brained a pumpkin with the guard like an impromptu hammer. Vicious stuff, and shows just how creative people can be with a weapon.

[111]

I remember reading somewhere that icepick grip was a stance for either masters or amateurs

It is.

 

People assume only amateur use it but in reality as someone who's learned from my uncle reverse grip has certain advantages over standard (knife wise of course)

 

With swords it's utterly stupid to use.

 

Aaron would laugh his ass off at someone fighting with a longsword using the reverse grip.

 

Alternatively a blade grip, is pretty useful for anyone fighting with a European style great sword. The first 1/3 or so of the blade is likely dull, so you can grab it, and increase your power for close quarters fighting.

I didn't know that actually.  . Neat!

 

I've showed this before, the sword fighting starts around the halfway mark. If your opponent is in armor, and/or a shield, swinging isn't going to do anything but tire you out. However if you shorten your grip, your ineffective slashing thing is now a shield, staff, stabby spike, leverage, and everything in between.

 

[Aaron]

For reference Aaron H2H fights like Yushin Okami

lyDfw0JybOU

 

Not as good as him though! But i flow it in with my knowldege from my own MMA practice & knowledge of sword & dagger combat

[Warren Castille]

At the Grindstone, Warren's probably a cross between Greco-roman grapple control and Sambo-style takedowns. He's honing how to survive without sword shield or armor when he's there, so his focus is on dispatching, not necessarily harming.

 

With a weapon and armor, he doesn't really lend to a form or stance I guess. His priorities are always going to be disarm or incapacitate before killing, which is funny given the size of his weapon. It's likely very medieval-knightish; Heavy armor to absorb blows, heavy shield to deflect them and heavy sword to end things quickly. He's not really looking for flash, just substance. Strike decisively and true, that sort of nonsense.

 

Grindstone's more fun.

[Melkire]

Most inspirations and references for Osric are drawn from sources so far removed from the real thing that it would be more appropriate to call it third-hand information rather than second-hand (read: I draw on historical fiction, sword-and-sandal fantasy, and countless historical accounts and practical video sources).

 

The character's philosophy when it comes to close quarters combat is more or less informed and influenced quite heavily by Krav Maga: put the other guy down as fast and as soon as possible, even if it means resorting to inflicting serious injury or fatal wounds, then haul ass to get the hell out of there. Holds even more true for a character who engages you at distances of arm's reach or less: he has to close the distance, and then keep it closed, else he's screwed.

 

The closest I've ever come was two month's worth of Wushu, but that's exhibition sport and as far from practical martial arts as modern fencing is from practical, historical swordsmanship. That said, if I ever find myself near a HEMA academy for an extended period of time, I'll be attending classes for rapier.

 

Translation: idk wtf I'm doing, send help.

[Aaron]

I remember reading somewhere that icepick grip was a stance for either masters or amateurs

It is.

 

People assume only amateur use it but in reality as someone who's learned from my uncle reverse grip has certain advantages over standard (knife wise of course)

 

With swords it's utterly stupid to use.

 

Aaron would laugh his ass off at someone fighting with a longsword using the reverse grip.

 

Alternatively a blade grip, is pretty useful for anyone fighting with a European style great sword. The first 1/3 or so of the blade is likely dull, so you can grab it, and increase your power for close quarters fighting.

I didn't know that actually.  . Neat!

 

I've showed this before, the sword fighting starts around the halfway mark. If your opponent is in armor, and/or a shield, swinging isn't going to do anything but tire you out. However if you shorten your grip, your ineffective slashing thing is now a shield, staff, stabby spike, leverage, and everything in between.

 

Now I got something to look into lol this is actually pretty cool.

[Verad]

At the Grindstone: Minimum realism, maximum farce. I would much rather pull from comedic interpretations of combat rather than realism. Verad's ability to harm anything other than his opponent with a bow and arrow is well-known at this point, and even when he uses knives, with which he is actually skilled, he still looks like an idiot thanks to presentation and appearance. 

 

Outside the Grindstone: Eh. I'll let people describe a style for me on their own time, based on their own perceptions, and nod and tap my nose as if they've discovered a secret.

[Telluride]

I take a lot of inspiration from a fantasy series that not everyone's had the chance to read - the Gord The Rogue novels by Gary Gygax.

 

The character of Gellor was my inspiration for the concept of a warrior-bard: a musician and swordsman of gregarious nature but serious, purpose-driven mind. There are several scenes that demonstrate how bards use music for combat inspiration, D&D Style (it IS Gygax...); for example, one of my favorite scenes with the character involves him in combat with demons, using his Frost brand, and shouting a battle chant to time and attune his strikes and parries to the rhythms, in a very Western fashion.

 

For Marauder, the character of Chert makes a great inspiration; the stories describe his axework, and his magic weapon, Brool, was empowered to "strike true" upon the shouting of its name. Thus, most of Chert's fights are loud, boisterous, butchering affairs, very much like FFXIV's Curious Gorge.

 

The protagonist, Gord, remains to me a powerful example of how to do a "Ninja" without using a single Asian influence or trope to do it. Gord was an incredibly gifted Thief-Acrobat, trained in sword/dagger duel wielding, who incorporated his acrobatics into his combat in a way that a lot of kids of the time would not see until Anime put ninjas everywhere.

 

Now, my good bard Nathan is not like any of them. I have avoided making him too much like some fictional god-archer like Legolas or Robin Hood. I have drawn from two examples for him, though: Odysseus from THE ODYSSEY and Subotai from the CONAN THE BARBARIAN film. The idea is that, as an archer, Nathan relies more on the natural strength of his bulk to pull a very powerful bow and do as much damage as possible with a single strike, rather than the stick-and-move archery of more flamboyant heroes; his style is very practical and direct, with little showmanship, comparable to Subotai. This is in fact a contrast to Nathan's performance and social personality - he takes the idea of using arrows to kill things with a calm seriousness not found in other aspects of his character...

 

...including his hand fighting. Nathan is also quite a decent brawler, and I discount all the "chakra" business in playing his Monk abilities. Nate learned unarmed fighting with and from his long-deceased troupe, and so his moves rely on a lot of grappling and haymakers, putting a lot of gusto into each one. He's not the sort to go the distance, but prefers to incapacitate or clobber senseless an opponent as soon as possible. This means that small, quick and skilled opponents could wear him down quite handily if they fought with those tactics in mind, but they should expect no mercy if he gets his hands on them. My best vision of him in unarmed combat would be something between Indiana Jones and Fezzik from THE PRINCESS BRIDE - a bravado-laced performance that might seem laughable to ninjas and monks, until they get their noses cracked or end up in a hammerlock from failing to take him seriously.

 

In short, I don't like Eastern influences for Nathan.

[Coatleque]

You people and your weapons. I thought this thread was called "Flirting" techniques. I am disappoint.

[Zyrusticae]

I will shamelessly admit most of what I think of for my character's fighting style comes from video games and anime and the occasional live-action martial arts movie.

 

That being said, I love the Wushu fighting style and pretty much model her spear fighting in that particular mold. Visual example:

 

Even the in-game spear fighting has some elements of this with the Impulse Drive attack chain (Chaos Thrust is the best!).

 

T'rahnu practices most extant fighting styles to some degree, however, so I can point at pretty much anything (that isn't wildly obscure) and say she knows at least a bit of it. As for what she uses in actual combat, it depends. For competitions she'd much rather please the crowd with whatever's flashiest and most impressive at a glance, which means lots of wasted movement and choreographed attacks. In those instances, "winning" is all about getting the biggest crowd impression, not about subduing the opponent.

 

Even when fighting for survival, however, she has a rather bad habit of egging her opponents on by keeping them from getting anywhere near her and not going for a finishing blow even when the opponent presents an opportunity for her. When she has her spear in hand, trying to get in close enough to nullify her reach advantage can be an exercise in frustration (and may be futile since she's willing to drop it and pull out a dagger or two when the situation calls for it and is skilled in hand-to-hand combat regardless).

 

Speaking of hand-to-hand, I did say she practices most everything to some degree, but when it comes to what she actually uses in mortal combat? Kali is doubtlessly a pretty big influence there. She'll gun immediately for a disarm or, if that's not necessary, a quick takedown grapple that uses the entire weight of her body followed by a sleeper choke. She also has no qualms about targeting joints, so if someone gives her reason to, she'll snap at elbows and knees without hesitation. Really piss her off and she'll gladly resort to the absolute dirtiest tactics in the book: kneeing people in the crotch, stepping on ankles, poking out eyes, etc., though this rarely happens in actuality since you'd have to do something really personal to her to cross that threshold.

 

I should note that I don't do RP combat outside of stuff where the outcome has been predetermined. T'rahnu is just too bloody overpowered for anything involving another player. That being said, the most effective route to defeating her is probably to take her by surprise at the very beginning of a fight. The fact that she's willing to run, retreat, and resort to dirty tactics as soon as she recognizes she's on the losing side makes her very difficult to pin down.

[Melkire]

It is.

 

People assume only amateur use it but in reality as someone who's learned from my uncle reverse grip has certain advantages over standard (knife wise of course)

 

With swords it's utterly stupid to use.

 

Aaron would laugh his ass off at someone fighting with a longsword using the reverse grip.

 

Alternatively a blade grip, is pretty useful for anyone fighting with a European style great sword. The first 1/3 or so of the blade is likely dull, so you can grab it, and increase your power for close quarters fighting.

I didn't know that actually.  . Neat!

 

I've showed this before, the sword fighting starts around the halfway mark. If your opponent is in armor, and/or a shield, swinging isn't going to do anything but tire you out. However if you shorten your grip, your ineffective slashing thing is now a shield, staff, stabby spike, leverage, and everything in between.

 

Now I got something to look into lol this is actually pretty cool.

 

See image below for reference. The blade is actually wrapped just above the main guard so that you can grip it there.

 

[Telluride]

You people and your weapons. I thought this thread was called "Flirting" techniques. I am disappoint.

 

But then you offered us no flirting techniques, my dear Ser Crofte, so it is US that are disappoint.

[Aaron]

The dreaded Skyrim steel greatsword

[111]

The dreaded Skyrim steel greatsword

 

Normal steel is for poors. Skyforge steel or get out.

[Gegenji]

You people and your weapons.  I thought this thread was called "Flirting" techniques.  I am disappoint.

 

But then you offered us no flirting techniques, my dear Ser Crofte, so it is US that are disappoint.

 

Chachan has no flirting techniques. He does not know how to girl.

[111]

You people and your weapons.  I thought this thread was called "Flirting" techniques.  I am disappoint.

 

But then you offered us no flirting techniques, my dear Ser Crofte, so it is US that are disappoint.

 

Chachan has no flirting techniques. He does not know how to girl.

 

Step 1: Be a lalafell

Step 2: Wait for cuddles

[Telluride]

You people and your weapons.  I thought this thread was called "Flirting" techniques.  I am disappoint.

 

But then you offered us no flirting techniques, my dear Ser Crofte, so it is US that are disappoint.

 

Chachan has no flirting techniques. He does not know how to girl.

 

To bring this back to topic, flirting and fighting are NOT mutually exclusive.

 

Wait... did I just finally concoct a reason for Nathan to learn GLD or NIN? *ponders* Because RPing this scene out, or a version of it, would be.. awesome.

 

[video=youtube]

[Gegenji]

You people and your weapons.  I thought this thread was called "Flirting" techniques.  I am disappoint.

 

But then you offered us no flirting techniques, my dear Ser Crofte, so it is US that are disappoint.

 

Chachan has no flirting techniques. He does not know how to girl.

 

Step 1: Be a lalafell

Step 2: Wait for cuddles

 

Chachan's perpetually on Step 2, then. :lol:

[Warren Castille]

You people and your weapons.  I thought this thread was called "Flirting" techniques.  I am disappoint.

 

But then you offered us no flirting techniques, my dear Ser Crofte, so it is US that are disappoint.

 

Chachan has no flirting techniques. He does not know how to girl.

 

I guess Warren's claim to not knowing how to girl is no longer valid, huh?

 

PUPIL. YOUR MASTER CANNOT TEACH YOU THESE SECRETS, FOR EVEN HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THEM. /brushes willowy kung-fu beard

[Coatleque]

To bring this back to topic, flirting and fighting are NOT mutually exclusive.

 

If only Crofte could fight someone quite as ... vigorous.

---

Her fighting style is not derived from any one source. She aims low, dodges what she can, and tries to subdue rather than kill.

 

The worst injury I've ever caused in the corse of an RP battle was to hamstring an NPC to take him out of the fight. (Also, killing Voidsent doesn't count)

[C'kayah Polaali]

To bring this back to topic, flirting and fighting are NOT mutually exclusive.

 

If only Crofte could fight someone quite as ... vigorous.

 

Come at me, Coat...

[Gegenji]

To bring this back to topic, flirting and fighting are NOT mutually exclusive.

 

[video=youtube]

 

Oddly enough, this is quite in line with the NPC character I also play using Chachan as the... "base model," I suppose would be the best term. I'm using the same character in game, but treating him as a completely different character.

 

Hohoyoho is a consummate showman, and loves to get reactions and rises out of his opponents. So there's a lot of flirting, showboating, and generally distracting moves and ploys. It's almost like stage-fighting, except adapted to be used in actual combat.