Striking with the flat of the blade

[Anders]

So my players are about to go up against skeletons and they'll want to do crushing damage. Can they strike with the flat of the blade or the back of the axe to do this? I seem to remember something about this in Campaigns but I can't find it.

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by Anders

So my players are about to go up against skeletons and they'll want to do crushing damage. Can they strike with the flat of the blade or the back of the axe to do this? I seem to remember something about this in Campaigns but I can't find it.

Personally, I'd allow it and just change the cutting damage to crushing. The only in-character reason I can think of for not doing that is the worry that it might damage the blade.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Anders

S... against skeletons and they'll want to do crushing damage. Can they strike with the flat of the blade or the back of the axe to do this?

B401, box "Subduing a Foe", paragraph Turn your blade.

[Nereidalbel]

There really is zero reason cutting damage will be reduced against skeletons. Remember, it's piercing and impaling that fail horribly against skeletons, not axes!

That said, reality (and history) allows for holding your sword by the blade and bashing some skulls with the guard.

[simply Nathan]

Originally Posted by Nereidalbel

There really is zero reason cutting damage will be reduced against skeletons. Remember, it's piercing and impaling that fail horribly against skeletons, not axes!

That said, reality (and history) allows for holding your sword by the blade and bashing some skulls with the guard.

Some skeletons have Vulnerable (Crushing) x2. Particularly, those in Magic.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by simply Nathan

Some skeletons have Vulnerable (Crushing) x2. Particularly, those in Magic.

Those are the ones I'm going with, basically. I've modified the templates somewhat, but that's the basic idea.

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by Nereidalbel

There really is zero reason cutting damage will be reduced against skeletons. Remember, it's piercing and impaling that fail horribly against skeletons, not axes!

That said, reality (and history) allows for holding your sword by the blade and bashing some skulls with the guard.

There are videos on that (this one by Skallagrim, for example), if you want to show your players.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Nereidalbel

There really is zero reason cutting damage will be reduced against skeletons. Remember, it's piercing and impaling that fail horribly against skeletons, not axes!

Creatures with Vulnerability (Crushing). As mentioned, skeletons. But also some birdlike creatures, among other things.

Originally Posted by Nereidalbel

That said, reality (and history) allows for holding your sword by the blade and bashing some skulls with the guard.

Do note that this is likely to change the skill required to Axe/Mace due to making the weapon Unbalanced (U-Parry).

[Anthony]

Realistically, striking with the flat of your blade should result in a substantial reduction in damage; swords are not meant to be used that way.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Realistically, striking with the flat of your blade should result in a substantial reduction in damage; swords are not meant to be used that way.

That seems to amount to 1-2 points of damage on a normal sword (the amount that can be attributed to sharpness of a sword as opposed to just its mass×velocity; compare to a stick of a similar mass, with no edge).