Thr Damage of Swords

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by TheOneTrueClockWorK

For example, a thrusting broadsword deals thr+2, where a backsword, cavalry sabre, or katana deals thr+1.

As a general rule of thumb, a weapon with a single edge is more resilient (below resolution) and easier to make (lower cost) than one with two, but the tip can't be designed as well for stabbing*. Having a curve to the blade has a similar effect, and can exacerbate this. I have no good idea why there are some straight single-bladed weapons that suggest using the Thrusting Broadsword statistics, however. My best guess is that the authors wanted to convey that historical weapons weren't as clear-cut as the weapon tables would have you think.

*Although from what I understand there may actually be some decently-reliable tests out there that show katanas getting comparable or better stabbing results than double-edged broadswords. The only one I saw wasn't all that reliable IMO, however, as the katana maintained its form throughout the stab while the broadsword bent significantly (it sprung back to its original form just fine, but that doesn't look like a reliable battlefield weapon to me).

Originally Posted by TheOneTrueClockWorK

Another question, why doesn't the longsword deal extra swinging damage when two handed?

Two reasons - system resolution, and that the Low Tech authors were apparently required to keep the old weapons in. The Longsword is the more historical version of the Bastard Sword, but they couldn't give it the same damage (as it weighed and cost less) as that weapon, so either the swing or thrust had to take a hit.