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Bjorn is quite correct (your English is quite fine btw - better than my
Swedish by a long shot) and with some good source material as well.
Also there is no reason a 1 handed spear can't be used 2 handed
actually. It's just a shorter lighter spear that is primarily used with
a shield in the offhand. Sometimes it is best to go with a substitute
as I suggested <i>(This very argument btw was discussed during the
original writing of Runequest after my incident and several similar
episodes from a variety of folks)</i> because a GM may need to explain
what is going on or at the very least understand the fighting style
enough to describe and run situations plausibly.<br>
Skol,<br>
Sven<br>
<br>
On 7/22/2010 10:14 AM, Bjørn Are Stølen wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:BAY120-W21A05C273D916EC17F0A30BBA20@phx.gbl"
type="cite">
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a yelmalio, shields are perhaps valid, and by all means, it's your game
and you do what you find is best for your game but I hope you trust us
when we say that spear-parries are just as valid and logical as
spear-attacks. Don't let your (asumed) ignorance in historical
combat-logic be why you drop the 1h-spear-parry-skill! If you choose to
drop it for a shield-parry-skill, let it be because you think it will
be the coolest consept, the thing for a yelmalio, or whatever. I myself
have studied the medieval martial manual from Fiore di Liberi for some
8 years now, in addition to knowing a thing or two on I-33, Talhoffer,
Ringeck and Döbringer. It's hard to explain combat with text
(especially when english is not your native thounge), but I'll give it
a try anyway.<br>
<br>
Say someone wants to chop you with a sword, and you have a 1h spear.
You don't parry in this case, as you strike first (reflected in rq3
rules with strike-ranks). If he happens to be so quick that he gets
first strike, or if he have succeeded in closing in on you, you
then parry. <br>
There are two main ways of parrying with a 1h.spear: <br>
<br>
You can do as shown in this authentic medieval picture: <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.thearma.org/Manuals/Gladiatoria/12.jpg">http://www.thearma.org/Manuals/Gladiatoria/12.jpg</a> (place
the base of the spear in the ground in front of you, keeping the spear
vertical; in this way you get a strong-if static-defence that you can
follow up by stepping in to grapple or to attack with another weapon)<br>
<br>
Or you can do as shown here: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.thearma.org/pdf/dlr1.jpg">http://www.thearma.org/pdf/dlr1.jpg</a> (what
the dude do in the lower-right corner with a 1h-sword is just as
plausible with a 1h spear; you offset the attackers blade and thrust
him in the face)<br>
<br>
PS, I'm not trying to be rude or sound angry, blame it on my medicore
english-skill, and passion on this topic :)<br>
<hr id="stopSpelling"><br>
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