Fencer Archive
Thread: shields... anyone?
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decar
Fri Oct 15, 2004 6:43 pm
#14
As they said i disagree with shields and /wink need b 10 dodge not block
Dragonbanisher
Sat Oct 16, 2004 8:20 pm
#15
Fencers was just a title given to those who were "civilized" profesionals wtih actual styles and tactics to the use of the sword. Rather than being some madman footsoldier who just swings his sharp sword around till the other guy dies. A fencer was a professional swordman usually(not always) from good upbringing who used a style and tactic to their swordplay. For example, the Japanese samurai were fencers and practiced unique fencing styles that represents their own school/family/house. Rather than the ashigaru fodder who just swung weapons arounds till they died, the samurai were often leaders and their skill and prowess could often route non-samurai. Although this is just one little example. As far as shields are concerned, yes there are a couple styles of fencing which used bucklers as a form of defence to increase survivability. Although duel wielders were often known as duelists since the art of European dueling was your main weapon with whatever weapon you can use in your other hand and may the best man/woman win.
mikemousy
Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:59 am
#16
don't fencersare"duellist" at 4-0-0-0?
i still think it would look nice to wield a buckler
Daigoro202
Wed Oct 20, 2004 12:45 am
#17
Dragonbanisher wrote:
Fencers was just a title given to those who were "civilized" profesionals wtih actual styles and tactics to the use of the sword. Rather than being some madman footsoldier who just swings his sharp sword around till the other guy dies. A fencer was a professional swordman usually(not always) from good upbringing who used a style and tactic to their swordplay. For example, the Japanese samurai were fencers and practiced unique fencing styles that represents their own school/family/house. Rather than the ashigaru fodder who just swung weapons arounds till they died, the samurai were often leaders and their skill and prowess could often route non-samurai. Although this is just one little example. As far as shields are concerned, yes there are a couple styles of fencing which used bucklers as a form of defence to increase survivability. Although duel wielders were often known as duelists since the art of European dueling was your main weapon with whatever weapon you can use in your other hand and may the best man/woman win.
I agree with your points about the way social class defined fighting styles in Japan. The casewas truein Europe, except for the rise of cities.
The techniques usually associated with urban dueling (rapier, dagger, etc.) didn't actually start with the upper class. Before the rise of cities, there was only the upper class and the lower class. If the nobility went into battle they would have the heavy armor and the heavy weapons. The lower class wouldlive under eachindividual nobleman's territory. They really didn't need to defend themselves,but when they went into battle it would be as you describe, as lower grade footsoldiers.
When cities started to grow, a middle class emerged. That middle class needed to defend itself from criminals, and the use oflighter civilian weapons developed. These techniques weretaught in"Schools of Defence," or "Schools of 'Fence." That is where the term fencing comes from. Some involved knives, clubs, and quarter staffs, but they are primarily known for the sword.
It was essentially aform of urbanstreet fighting that evolved with the evolution of the working class, and the upper class adopted these techniques as they became fashionable. Just like suburban kids today who act like gangstas. From there formal dueling evolved as a social practice. Many of these concepts were found to be ideal for military use when naval conflict evolved, and as a backup with the emergence of the firearm.
The styles were eventually taught with safer "foiled" swords that were madebothblunt and flexible, since in a heated sparring session, even a blunt, but rigid sword could run someone through. Here you can see where it eventually evolved into a competitive sport.
In SWG they were not so much basing things directly on this, but this has kind of shaped the use of the term"Fencing" when it is not used to refer to Olympic fencing.Historically the term fencing has grown to denote any form of swordsmanship in which techniques are formally instructed, as Brainplay has stated. In many cases this use may not sound accurate, but the Western historians used to refer to Kung Fu andother Chinese martial arts as "boxing" too.
Our profession titles, and just the specificfighting style of the fencing profession, suggest that Fencer is more of an urban dueling profession and Swordsman is more of a battlefield, armor-defeating combatant.
By the way, watching some Olympic fencing this year, I'm surprised anyone wants this profession to be associated with it. Some reallyembarrassingbehavior, making some little touch point and then begging theofficial to make the call.
ghettoGenius
Wed Oct 20, 2004 11:16 am
#18
I had mentioned in one of my other posts the use of gun-gan style energy shields (like the ones seen in Ep I) that could reflect blaster fire. But it wasnt recieved so well. Link provided below.
See here
See here
Daigoro202
Wed Oct 20, 2004 8:59 pm
#19
ghettoGenius wrote:
I had mentioned in one of my other posts the use of gun-gan style energy shields (like the ones seen in Ep I) that could reflect blaster fire. But it wasnt recieved so well. Link provided below.
See here
Yeah, true, those shields were definitely more prominent than any other melee item in the films, including the long vibro axe seen in RotJ.
But I think there's two opinions that will oppose this idea:
1) People don't want SWG to become any more melee oriented
2) People don't like gungans.
I'm not really against it, but I would like to see it balanced so that using a shield or not using one are both valid choices. They wouldboth have pros and cons. Otherwise everyone will use it.
Might be interesting to see it in the game if the Gungans were ever a playable race, as a racial cert like the bowcaster. Then we'd really see how much people want to use shields.
Jaim_Darkstryder
Thu Oct 21, 2004 11:12 am
#20
Brainplay wrote:The modern day car antennae wire weenies are just one more version (albiet strictly sport).
Hehehe wire weenies... haven't heard that since my SCA days
Brainplay
Sun Oct 24, 2004 4:42 am
#21
Jaim_Darkstryder wrote:
Hehehe wire weenies... haven't heard that since my SCA days
Yeah I do some SCA on the side as well as someeuro-sword arts and regular hand to hand arts (lots of smithing though) I dont take the wire weenies too seriously until they can pick up a Del Tin and show some skill with it. Thats the closest thing to a saber allowed atm but the rules around it are still hampered since alot of the "light" fighters abstain from any form of hard armor. Geez, there's a reason they still wore breastplates and metal lined hats in the 1600's and it wasn't for the sake of bullets.
Armor is your friend as long gunpower isn't involved. I consider myself a "heavy" fencer. My sword cuts deep (I did the lamb tests....it rocked!!)
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