07-16-2016, 11:16 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Aug 2011
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West Point Cadet Sword
I have been looking at this sword online for a character of mine, but I can't seem to figure out how it would be classified in GURPS.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_P...adets%27_Sword It's the sword issued to cadets at the US Military Academy. |
07-16-2016, 11:32 AM | #2 | |
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Re: West Point Cadet Sword
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-- MA Lloyd |
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07-16-2016, 12:07 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Vermont
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Re: West Point Cadet Sword
It's a Spadroon, which they might have stats for in Low Tech, but IDHMBWM.
If not, I'd treat it as a Smallsword that can also do Swing-1 Cut, or as a Saber if you're feeling generous.
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My ongoing thread of GURPS versions of DC Comics characters. |
07-16-2016, 12:48 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Southeast NC
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Re: West Point Cadet Sword
Could it really survive a serious swing, or would it be more of a tip slash?
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RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats. |
07-16-2016, 01:22 PM | #5 | |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: West Point Cadet Sword
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By Skill description from Basic this should be covered by Smallsword but for specific stats you go to the "Light Edged Rapier" on p.229 of Martial Arts. Unlike some of the chimeras on the weapon tables (i.e. blunt-tipped broadswords) Thrust-only Smallswords did exist. They were not necessarily the most common type though and were never issued by the military to my knowledge. Sir Richard Francis Burton says that they were difficult to temper and frequently bent. I've never actually seen a "Dress Smallsword" and am uncertain of their reality. Maybe those bendy Thrust-only blades are what we should call Dress Smallswords. If you're worried about the sword breaking that's Cheap Quality or worse if you want to make up rules for it. At any rate the OP is unlikely to want his character to carry a Cheap replica so what he wants is that Light Edged Rapier. If you wonder, I've never seen a Thrust-only Rapier either.
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Fred Brackin |
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07-16-2016, 01:35 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Re: West Point Cadet Sword
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For official statistics, the light edged rapier does get that sw-1 cut, but it's also 2.25 lbs, more than twice as heavy. Edit: It rather depends on what you are asking though. There are some reputable looking places that will sell you something that probably qualifies as an actual sword rather than a piece of jewelry that they claim meets the regulations standards for dress uniforms. So no, your issue cadet sword isn't a real weapon, and probably should use the statistics for cheap dress smallsword, possibly with a damage penalty because it isn't necessarily even sharpened properly, but if you are willing to pay twice as much for it and live with an extra pound of encumbrance and a little bit more maintenance, you probably can have a good quality edged light rapier that will pass inspection.
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-- MA Lloyd Last edited by malloyd; 07-16-2016 at 01:48 PM. |
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07-16-2016, 02:21 PM | #7 | |
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Vermont
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Re: West Point Cadet Sword
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As other's have said, it's likely to be of cheap quality, but not necessarily. It's about as thick as a rapier, and those can certainly be used to deliver powerful cuts and survive. Yeah, this might be an appropriate stat-line. It's lighter and shorter, but would still qualify for reach 1.
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07-16-2016, 02:45 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Mar 2008
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Re: West Point Cadet Sword
If the character is a cadet or former cadet having a family heirloom from back when the swords were still expected to maybe be used for real could justify a heavier version and still be official. Wearing great-great uncle Foo's sword is both the sort of sentiment that the school would appreciate and it was official issued just quite a while ago.
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07-16-2016, 03:36 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central Europe
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Re: West Point Cadet Sword
The Wiki page does not have good photos and length/weight/cross section data, but starting with a Dress Smallsword would be one reasonable approach.
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He owns a lot of 19th century swords and practices 18th and 19th century fencing, so I respect his opinion.
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"It is easier to banish a habit of thought than a piece of knowledge." H. Beam Piper This forum got less aggravating when I started using the ignore feature Last edited by Polydamas; 07-16-2016 at 03:54 PM. |
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07-18-2016, 08:13 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: The Land of Enchantment
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Re: West Point Cadet Sword
If you want a sword for a modern military background, Cold Steel makes a U.S. Army officer's saber that's a real sword, not a ceremonial one. Well, "real" in that it used decent steel, has a sharpened edge, etc. It's a sort of light saber. Well, not a Light Saber, but a saber that is not heavy.
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I'd need to get a grant and go shoot a thousand goats to figure it out. Last edited by acrosome; 07-23-2016 at 01:37 PM. |
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