02-05-2019, 02:46 PM | #11 |
Join Date: Aug 2017
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Re: Dwarves and Axes
Never really thought much of it. I just thought of it in the context of miners with pickaxes and mallets (to bust rocks), and it seemed a reasonable extension.
It's not that dwarves expect to get into lots of fights with pickaxes. It's just that's what they happen to have if they're assaulted while working.... |
02-08-2019, 11:55 AM | #12 |
Join Date: Sep 2018
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Re: Dwarves and Axes
I've never imagined a Dwarven home as being claustrophobic. An ax isn't so impractical in a cave with 90 foot ceilings and columns spaced 20 yards apart. Even if there are doorways or other narrow passages a spear for a guy with very short arms isn't so dynamic a weapon.
I can see shortswords and shields, they favor a Dwarven build. However pretty much anywhere I can fight effectively with a shield I can swing a pick or an axe pretty comfortably. if I had the strength of someone twice-to-three-times my size it would be ridiculous to pass up a hatchet for ranged attacks. I hope we can all agree on Crossbows. |
02-08-2019, 01:23 PM | #13 | |
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Re: Dwarves and Axes
Quote:
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02-08-2019, 01:24 PM | #14 | |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: Dwarves and Axes
Quote:
However, goblins don't make their ceilings very high at all and if you can't chase retreating goblins down that puts sharp limits on how much of a victory you can achieve.
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Fred Brackin |
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02-09-2019, 08:27 AM | #15 | |
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alsea, OR
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Re: Dwarves and Axes
Quote:
Poleaxe - used for chopping limbs. Bill hook - a pruning tool. basic hook: used for pulling branches down for harvest, or knights off horses Glaive - literally a seax-on-a-stick, and the seax is a utility sword, essentially a cleaver with a thrusting point Picks and hammers - adapted from the named tools to be better weapons. |
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02-09-2019, 09:42 AM | #16 | |
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: The plutonium rich regions of Washington State
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Re: Dwarves and Axes
Did they?
Gimli had an axe, but Thorin Oakenshield carried a sword. And after Thorin's company barricaded themselves in Erebor, they had bows to shoot at the man and elf "invaders". It's been too long since I read The Hobbit to remember what the other dozen dwarves used. And in the description of the room of Balin's tomb in Khazad-Dûm, we have Quote:
So - some of Tolkien's dwarves preferred axes, and other preferred other weapons? Luke |
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02-09-2019, 10:41 AM | #17 |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: Dwarves and Axes
From the Silmarillion (IIRC) we have two battle cries which are described as being some of the only known phrases of the otherwise hidden language of the Dwarves.
These were "Baruk Khazad!" and "Khazad ai Menu!" which were transalred as "The Axes of the Dwarves!" and "The Dwarves are upon you!". So yes, the link between Tolkien's Dwarves and axes would appear to be very strong.
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Fred Brackin |
02-10-2019, 05:48 AM | #18 |
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Re: Dwarves and Axes
A weapon can be culturally iconic without being universally used. Vikings have Danish axes. Franks have francescas. Saxons have seaxes. Japanese have katanas. Lakota have tomahawks. Turks have scimitars; Indians, tulwars. Dwarves have axes. That doesn't mean they only ever use that weapon. But they might well put it in their battlecry.
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02-10-2019, 07:38 AM | #19 |
Untagged
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
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Re: Dwarves and Axes
Most of those are iconic, because they were visually distinct and unique to said cultures. What was unique about dwarven axes? How could someone tell them apart from human made axes?
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Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check. |
02-10-2019, 08:11 AM | #20 |
Doctor of GURPS Ballistics
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Lakeville, MN
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Re: Dwarves and Axes
They're all bearded?
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