| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Aaron L |
Posted - 05 Jun 2006 : 21:09:10
Just a weird question. I know it doesnt make a lick of difference, but Ive read descriptions of Realms elven swords being primarily curved in several places, but all the illustrations Ive seen have them as straight (I envision them as in LotR, similar to Hadhafang.)
What does everyone think, elvish blades usually curved or straight? I envision elven longswords being curved, and rapiers (since theyre rapiers, after all) being straight. Thinblades just throw me for a loop, but since they are heav rapiers, after all, Id think theyd have to be straight. Piercing with a curved blade is a bit awkward (yes, I know you could, but at least more awkward than with a straight blade).
I like fiddly little details. |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 07 Jun 2006 : 11:15:28
quote:
Originally posted by CrennenFaerieBane
The elves are not a conglomarate.
C-Fb
They're not? Dang, there goes my Elves, Inc. idea...   |
| Crennen FaerieBane |
Posted - 07 Jun 2006 : 07:02:59
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Yeah, I wouldn't assume that all elven swords are the same style either. Gold, moon, and wood elf weapons might all be similar if the families involved come from Myth Drannor, but an moon elf that live in the Moonwood and is decended from Earlanni elves likely has a slightly different syle of blade construction than a Gold elf family native to Evermeet does.
Even in LOTR, if you look at the diference between Arwen's sword and Sting, for example, or even the difference between Aragorn's knife and Legolas', there is a pretty good variety of elven blades, though there were some similarities between them as well.
Agreed.
As there are as many wood elf, gold elf, silver elf, and wild elf villages, towns, or fortresses - there are styled blades. I think to pigeon-hole any "Style" of blades would be foolish. The elves are not a conglomarate.
C-Fb |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 06 Jun 2006 : 18:55:24
Hm, that being said, it would be an interesting idea to maybe at least skim the surface of the field and detail some examples of elven sword-design. Maybe I should give it a shot and try to think up something just for fun.
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| Faramicos |
Posted - 06 Jun 2006 : 18:29:01
precisely... With a world the size of ours (FR), it is impossible to give a general description of a "typical" sword of any type. Because there is no such thing. And that is the beauty of a dynamic and evolving world with a multitude of nations, cultures and religions. I love it... Viva the Realms. |
| warlockco |
Posted - 06 Jun 2006 : 12:43:11
quote:
Originally posted by Faramicos
I picture an elven longsword for an example as a sleak and more delicate version of the standard longsword. Whether or not it is slightly curved or has other special elvish features depends on era, nation and the single smith. As i see it. It is an area that leaves plenty of room for the creativity of the DM...
Agreed.
Just take the Longsword itself.
There are double-edged, single-edged, straight, slightly curved, basket-hilted, plain-hilted, etc versions.
Same goes for the Short Sword. |
| Kaladorm |
Posted - 06 Jun 2006 : 11:37:46
Races of the Wild has pictures of Elven swords and they are all curved slightly |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 06 Jun 2006 : 08:31:20
A quick brainstorming on the subjekt.
I think I see the more common swords as being curved, with a number of more specialized blades in different shapes. for example straight shortswords for finding the weak points of armour and straigth heavy warblades in the tradition of western two-handed swords, against platemail and for heavy mounted combat.
The elves, living spread out over the whole continent and seperated into several different cultures would in my opinion evolve a great number of blade-designs based on both culture and the nature of their oponents. Different figthing-styles would allso need different sword-designs.
In the northern elven kingdoms figths with different giant peoples and dragons would need heavy choppingblades. The southern elves, figthing lightly armoured humans and beholders would prefer a different design.
In adition to the nature of the opponent factors like subrace and fashion would to a degree dictate the the swordshape.
In general I see the Sun elves using the more heavy straight blades as their armour makes for a more stationary figthingstyle with heavy chops more than gracefull cuts, where as moon elves would use a ligther curved blade (variants of long-, broad- and schimitar-type swords. being the most flexible of the elven races I can allso see the Moon elves as being the least tied to a single style of blade, both by individual taste and the nature of the oponent. As the Moon elves are the race most often met by humans and the race most likely to bee seen out of war gear, this would make their blades the elven blades mostly seen by humans. In my mind I see these as being more like the straight moorish swords or the chinese longswords when it comes to design, but they could just as well be curved blades, either with an inward curve or an outward curve.
With the Sea elves and Green elves I think that enviromental factors would be the deciding factor.
Underwater combat would give the Sea elves a more stabbing-based figthingstyle and straight swords would therefore be preferable. Armour would also play a lesser role .
The Green elves live in a hunter-gatherer type culture and would in my opinion therefore mostly use equipment with a practical use outside of combat. Therefore i see them mostly with heavy single-edged shortswords, more like the realworld Samiknife and Ghurkaknifes, that could be used for butchering or branch cutting if necessary.
With all these things to consider I would think it logical that Faeruns elves would evolve as many (if not more) sword-designs as Earth. The combination of time, geography, opponents, technologi and fashions would in both cases make it imposible to point to one specific style and say "human sword" or "elven sword". in adition to the factors of Earth, Faerun would in all probability evolve a number of "monster-swords" designed for figthings specific bodyshapes and armours.
Sorry for the lengthy post, it is easy to get caried away when one is having fun.
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| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 06 Jun 2006 : 00:48:21
Yeah, I wouldn't assume that all elven swords are the same style either. Gold, moon, and wood elf weapons might all be similar if the families involved come from Myth Drannor, but an moon elf that live in the Moonwood and is decended from Earlanni elves likely has a slightly different syle of blade construction than a Gold elf family native to Evermeet does.
Even in LOTR, if you look at the diference between Arwen's sword and Sting, for example, or even the difference between Aragorn's knife and Legolas', there is a pretty good variety of elven blades, though there were some similarities between them as well. |
| Faramicos |
Posted - 06 Jun 2006 : 00:05:42
I picture an elven longsword for an example as a sleak and more delicate version of the standard longsword. Whether or not it is slightly curved or has other special elvish features depends on era, nation and the single smith. As i see it. It is an area that leaves plenty of room for the creativity of the DM... |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 05 Jun 2006 : 22:24:11
In general I would think blade style suits the culture and time. As you notice the rapier itself has had diffent deffinitions base on time. Trying to aplly RW to Realms or D&D in general present problems. A combat of dice is not a combat with blades. The game sword works often much better against armor and at times (roll a 1) can not harm a level 1 Com with 1 hit point that is flat footed.
There are basic weapon designs for image reasons, a curved blade with the same d(dice) will do the same damage as a straight and will do the same type of damage (if so describred with the ability to both slash and pierce). This is a factor of game design more detail rules can exist and be developed for 3.X that might provide the details you desire (in fact perhaps there might be some d20 books that looked at this issue in greater detail, what a weapon should be called and varible damage based on type f attack made.) |
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