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Old 03-21-2023, 11:22 AM   #1
hcobb
 
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Pacheco, California
Default He's not heavy, he's my sidearm

The "great sword" weight ITL 109 is from a fnording parade sword.

To rescale we'd have:
Knife (1d-2), ST 6, 0.25 pounds
Dagger (1d-1), ST 8, 0.5 pounds
Main Gauche (1d-1, stops 1 hit, no DX penalty if Fencer), ST 8, 1 pound
Rapier (actually Smallsword) 1.5 pounds
Sabre 2.0 pounds (US military is 23 oz, but of modern steel)
Shortsword (Gladius) 2.5 pounds is slightly heavy.
Broadsword 3 to 5 pounds historically, but anything above 3 should be considered another category.
Bastard sword 4 pounds
2-handed sword 6 pounds
Greatsword 8 pounds
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Old 03-21-2023, 02:04 PM   #2
phiwum
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Boston area
Default Re: He's not heavy, he's my sidearm

If you change these weights, you'd better change the rule that says that one can wear only two 2lb. or heavier items on the belt, with no limit for those items weighing less than 2lbs. I guess it's not a huge deal, but your weights allow one to wear six rapiers on the belt.
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Old 03-22-2023, 09:24 PM   #3
David Bofinger
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Sydney, Australia
Default Re: He's not heavy, he's my sidearm

I think it's important to remember what an encumbrance weight is. Yes, it's the weight of the sword. But it's also the weight of anything you're carrying because you're carrying a sword, starting with a scabbard, and also including a vial of oil to stop it rusting, a rag to wipe off excess oil, another one to wipe off the blood, a belt to hang it off (or at least a heavier belt), etc. OK, a lot of that doesn't add up to much, but the scabbard is quite likely significant.

Secondly, we need to apply the halberds and sofa cushions guideline from ITL 67. There's a big difference between carrying a sword in your hand, or dangling down around your legs where is can bump into things, and carrying it strapped onto a backpack. You will never see an olympic athlete running with a sword attached, even in the modern pentathlon. And a two-handed sword or polearm is just a pain to carry, even if it's not that heavy, partly because you've got nowhere to put it.

So I think all your weights should be a good deal larger than you have. Perhaps TFT isn't so far off.
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Old 03-22-2023, 09:33 PM   #4
David Bofinger
 
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Default Re: He's not heavy, he's my sidearm

Perhaps the rule should be: no more than your ST in pounds at your belt. Or something along those lines. Also the backpack-shedding rules are too harsh, and the advantages of a backpack over a bag or sack are neglected.
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Old 03-23-2023, 07:28 AM   #5
Bill_in_IN
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Indiana
Default Re: He's not heavy, he's my sidearm

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Bofinger View Post
I think it's important to remember what an encumbrance weight is. Yes, it's the weight of the sword. But it's also the weight of anything you're carrying because you're carrying a sword, starting with a scabbard, and also including a vial of oil to stop it rusting, a rag to wipe off excess oil, another one to wipe off the blood, a belt to hang it off (or at least a heavier belt), etc. OK, a lot of that doesn't add up to much, but the scabbard is quite likely significant.

Secondly, we need to apply the halberds and sofa cushions guideline from ITL 67. There's a big difference between carrying a sword in your hand, or dangling down around your legs where is can bump into things, and carrying it strapped onto a backpack. You will never see an olympic athlete running with a sword attached, even in the modern pentathlon. And a two-handed sword or polearm is just a pain to carry, even if it's not that heavy, partly because you've got nowhere to put it.

So I think all your weights should be a good deal larger than you have. Perhaps TFT isn't so far off.
That's a valid point that deserves verification. However, I think that the weights for the two-handed weapons are a bit high even if you take the weight of their holsters into account. However, in all fairness, I shouldn't dig my heels in on that one until the numbers are run. Based upon the robustness of the carrying apparatus, I'm certain that there will be much variance.
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Old 03-23-2023, 10:13 AM   #6
hcobb
 
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Default Re: He's not heavy, he's my sidearm

Note that I have increased weights on the low end.
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Old 03-26-2023, 07:11 PM   #7
JohnPaulB
 
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Default Re: He's not heavy, he's my sidearm

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Bofinger View Post
.... polearm is just a pain to carry, even if it's not that heavy, partly because you've got nowhere to put it.
You need to get a 6 foot collapsible polearm. Wood very strong. 3 sections.
ITL p 67
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Old 07-12-2023, 10:46 AM   #8
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Default Re: He's not heavy, he's my sidearm

The shield weights (and axe/mace above Hammer) are also insane.
A full Pavise is only 17 pounds.
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/23333
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Old 07-14-2023, 11:57 AM   #9
David Bofinger
 
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Default Re: He's not heavy, he's my sidearm

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Originally Posted by hcobb View Post
The shield weights (and axe/mace above Hammer) are also insane.
A full Pavise is only 17 pounds.
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/23333
Sometimes less. But again, an inconvenient shape.
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Old 07-14-2023, 08:34 PM   #10
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Default Re: He's not heavy, he's my sidearm

That (1d-1) damage suggests a full pound or more Pugio Dagger.
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