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Old 07-31-2014, 12:44 AM   #1
D10
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: In Rio de Janeiro, where it was cyberpunk before it was cool.
Default Is there any advantage to using a saber ?

I have been looking around all the books I have but so far I have found nothing that justifies using a saber over other fencing weapons or even other weapons, its cutting damage can be compensated by an edged rapier and I saw nothing that is exclusive to saber use to make it a competitive choice when figuring out which weapon to buy. You have less reach, etc.

Is there any reason at all to pick a saber over a rapier ?
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Old 07-31-2014, 12:52 AM   #2
mr beer
 
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Default Re: Is there any advantage to using a saber ?

The sabre is lighter and has a lower ST requirement. Also, maybe you can't get a rapier with a cutting edge.

This is aside from situations where the PC may not have a choice in the matter or the sabre is Very Fine/magical or something.
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Old 07-31-2014, 12:56 AM   #3
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Default Re: Is there any advantage to using a saber ?

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Originally Posted by mr beer View Post
The sabre is lighter and has a lower ST requirement. Also, maybe you can't get a rapier with a cutting edge.

This is aside from situations where the PC may not have a choice in the matter or the sabre is Very Fine/magical or something.
Thanks, I was hoping there was something more than that, but it seems not.
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Old 07-31-2014, 01:19 AM   #4
David Johnston2
 
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Default Re: Is there any advantage to using a saber ?

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Originally Posted by D10 View Post
I have been looking around all the books I have but so far I have found nothing that justifies using a saber over other fencing weapons or even other weapons, its cutting damage can be compensated by an edged rapier and I saw nothing that is exclusive to saber use to make it a competitive choice when figuring out which weapon to buy. You have less reach, etc.

Is there any reason at all to pick a saber over a rapier ?
Edged rapier? Where's that?
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Old 07-31-2014, 01:30 AM   #5
D10
 
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Default Re: Is there any advantage to using a saber ?

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Originally Posted by David Johnston2 View Post
Edged rapier? Where's that?
Gurps Martial Arts 229
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Old 07-31-2014, 02:20 AM   #6
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Default Re: Is there any advantage to using a saber ?

A fencing saber isn't a good sword, and there's no real reason to take one outside of dueling(where it's mainly a style thing, and style is real important for duelists). A military saber on the other hand is probably a broadsword, with +1 to fast draw from sitting or horseback.
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Old 07-31-2014, 04:29 AM   #7
gilbertocarlos
 
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Default Re: Is there any advantage to using a saber ?

Cheaper, so, it's easier to buy a balanced\fine/very fine one.
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Old 07-31-2014, 07:39 AM   #8
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Default Re: Is there any advantage to using a saber ?

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Originally Posted by Verjigorm View Post
A military saber on the other hand is probably a broadsword, with +1 to fast draw from sitting or horseback.
Yeah, I think the only real advantage of a curved blade on the battlefield is that it is easier to maneuver from horseback.
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Old 07-31-2014, 08:44 AM   #9
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Default Re: Is there any advantage to using a saber ?

For most PCs without Wealth, $700 (saber) vs. $1,000 (edged rapier) is a huge deal. At TL4 ($2,000 starting money), that $300 means having 30% more armor. Also remember that longest reach – not current reach – penalizes close combat. A rapier gives -8 to attack/-4 to defend there, while a saber gives -4/-2. From a purely gamist stance, then, a saber leaves more resources free for other gear and penalizes you less in the bind.

In concrete terms, if two fighters with the same cash and skill levels fight with these weapons, the one with the saber is going to be better-protected than the one with the rapier, and will have the option to charge in close and fight at an effective +4 advantage. Of course, the one with the rapier will have +1 cutting damage and the reach advantage, so he might be able to win the fight before it's in his face. Based on hex-map battles I've run, it's very close to a toss-up.
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Old 07-31-2014, 10:08 AM   #10
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Default Re: Is there any advantage to using a saber ?

I was told somewhere that saber emphasized reflexes while foil has more strategems. I remember watching some of Mariel Zagunis' bouts and they were usually short fluries of motion before the buzzer rang. Nothing like the stereotyped Dread Pirate Roberts vs Inigo Montayo kind of thing.
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