Forget DF: what about normal melee combat tactics??

fredtheobviouspseudonym · 05-04-2012, 01:50 AM

IIRC in Malory's version of King Arthur two good swordsmen could fight all afternoon without a decisive result.

While this was fiction remember that Malory was writing for an audience in the late 15th century that did know more than a little about hand-to-hand combat. If his work was WAY off line he'd lose his audience. [Said audience would include upper class folks -- lower class ones were less literate. So it's a crowd of nobles, warriors, well-to-do merchants and clerics; and odds are the latter two groups have fighters somewhere in their family or circle of acquaintances.] So I'm inclined to suspect that there was a grain of truth in his writing. Not to mention Sir Thomas M. was a knight himself, so should have had at least training in swordsmanship if not practical experience.

Also -- saw an acquaintance of mine, who is a martial arts student and a member of ARMA, practice a drill from a c. 1500 fechtbuch. Was far faster and more dramatic than anything I've ever seen in a movie.

What I liked most about the Princess Bride clip is that both men started slow and a bit cautious. Makes sense -- you want to know just how good the other guy is before you try to get fast & creative in your own work.

05-04-2012, 01:50 AM	#21
fredtheobviouspseudonym Join Date: May 2007	Combat, time and Malory -- IIRC in Malory's version of King Arthur two good swordsmen could fight all afternoon without a decisive result. While this was fiction remember that Malory was writing for an audience in the late 15th century that did know more than a little about hand-to-hand combat. If his work was WAY off line he'd lose his audience. [Said audience would include upper class folks -- lower class ones were less literate. So it's a crowd of nobles, warriors, well-to-do merchants and clerics; and odds are the latter two groups have fighters somewhere in their family or circle of acquaintances.] So I'm inclined to suspect that there was a grain of truth in his writing. Not to mention Sir Thomas M. was a knight himself, so should have had at least training in swordsmanship if not practical experience. Also -- saw an acquaintance of mine, who is a martial arts student and a member of ARMA, practice a drill from a c. 1500 fechtbuch. Was far faster and more dramatic than anything I've ever seen in a movie. What I liked most about the Princess Bride clip is that both men started slow and a bit cautious. Makes sense -- you want to know just how good the other guy is before you try to get fast & creative in your own work.