02-03-2023, 09:21 AM | #11 | |
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
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Re: Steel lance rules?
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A lot of XIX century steel lances have hollow shafts in order to cut down the weight, and for the same reason solid shafts made of metal are usually much thinner than wooden shafts. |
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02-03-2023, 10:29 AM | #12 | |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: Steel lance rules?
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Anyway, while the Uhlans lance is used one-handed it's not truly "couched". It's for spearing fleeing infantrymen and giving the user a little more reach than a saber. If soemone did make a chivalric lance out of metal it would have to be hollow to keep the weight down to something a human could hold with one arm. If it was used to charge another horseman at full speed and to strike his armor or shield forcefully there would be 3 possible outcomes: 1. The hollow metal tube bends rather than breaks 2. The lance is kicked out of the user's grip by the impact 3. The user manages to hold on but his arm gets broken by the impact. "User retains grip on undamaged lance and can pull it out of his foe and charge the next guy." isn't one of the possibilities though the Uhlans lance can theoretically do this but it's used with Spear Skill and does no more damage than the User's ST allows.
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Fred Brackin |
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02-03-2023, 11:11 AM | #13 |
Join Date: Dec 2020
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Re: Steel lance rules?
Remember that a lot of pre WWI lances had predetermined breaking points, like a part of the lances shaft behind the head made of lacquered cardboard. The lance should be able to penetrae a foot soldier not a metal armor or even dismount yourself. There were no longer special saddles that helped to stay mounted.
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02-03-2023, 11:59 AM | #14 | |
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
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Re: Steel lance rules?
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During the XIX century, European cavalry units armed with long spear use them with an underarm grip, switching to an overhand grip in some situations. That's it, Spear skill. If the couched lance technique was still in use (Lance skill), then its use was occasional at best, for all the reasons that you have quoted. Talking about XIX century warfare, a long spear is still useful on horseback for three reasons: 1) It gives a massive advantage in charge over enemy cavalry having only swords as melee weapons; 2) It makes easier for the cavalryman to fight against isolated enemy infantrymen equipped with a bayonet-tipped musket: 3) As you said, it makes easier for the cavalryman to kill fleeing infantrymen. About the stats for the weapon, I would give those for a Fine All-Steel Long Spear with Butt Spike: $160 ($60 for Long Spear, +$20 for Butt Spike, +1 CF for All-Steel construction; Fine quality is for free because TL5), 5 lbs. (2 kg), DR 6, HP 13, -1 to odds of breakage. One hand: thr+3 imp / Reach 2, 3*/ Parry 0U / ST 11 Two hands: thr+4 imp / Reach 2, 3*/ Parry 0 / ST 10† One hand, Butt Spike: thr+2 imp / Reach 2, 3*/ Parry 0U / ST 11 Two hands, Butt Spike: thr+3 imp / Reach 2, 3*/ Parry 0 / ST 10† |
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02-03-2023, 12:45 PM | #15 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wellington, NZ
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Re: Steel lance rules?
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The quality costs change at TL7, not TL5, surely? (B274)
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Rupert Boleyn "A pessimist is an optimist with a sense of history." |
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02-03-2023, 01:57 PM | #16 |
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
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Re: Steel lance rules?
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02-03-2023, 02:44 PM | #17 |
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
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Re: Steel lance rules?
You WANT a couched lance that can break. If you hit the wrong way and the lance doesn't break, you will be taking some serious damage. No, you won't go flying off the back of the horse - the high saddle cantle will keep you seated so you can absorb all of the impact through your body. A wooden lance acts as a circuit breaker. Any stats for a steel couched lance should include a life threatening injury on a critical failure.
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Compact Castles gives the gamer an instant portfolio of genuine, real-world castle floorplans to use in any historical, low-tech, or fantasy game setting. Last edited by DanHoward; 02-03-2023 at 02:59 PM. |
02-04-2023, 01:13 AM | #18 | |
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Re: Steel lance rules?
Way too heavy.
Per this site, Quote:
I'd treat it as a Fine-Quality Spear with a Butt-Spike, available at Good-Quality prices at TL6. Maybe give -1 to standard spear damage but Armor Divisor (2) due to the narrow, chisel-like point. Give it a -2 penalty to be thrown. No boost to HP because of the lighter weight and hollow shaft. It probably wasn't used like a lance since AFAIK Ulhans didn't use the high-cantled medieval war saddles typically require to use Lance skill. |
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02-04-2023, 06:36 AM | #19 | |
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Re: Steel lance rules?
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Steel tube tool handles thin enough to have the same weight as wooden ones have roughly the same yield strengths, or a bit less. This is why the high end stuff leans toward fiberglass or carbon composite, though shock mitigation does play some role too.
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-- MA Lloyd |
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02-05-2023, 03:58 AM | #20 | |
Join Date: Dec 2020
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Re: Steel lance rules?
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