LARPers...

[MrSparkle001]

I watched it again and realized it's like watching real life Chivalry: Medieval Warfare. A bunch of people running around in confusing whacking each other with big weapons, except there's no beheadings or blood (that I can see).

They're definitely a few steps above SCA and renaissance faire stage fighting, which are themselves steps above LARPing (lightning bolt! lightning bolt!). The only thing I've seen more real than this was a short-lived series a year ago about real life jousters who'd break their hands and suffer nasty concussions when they fell. Brutal shit.

[Clark]

Originally Posted by MrSparkle001 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

there's no beheadings or blood.

[Ahldagor]

why no hammers? swords don't do shit to plate.

[MrSparkle001]

Originally Posted by Ahldagor [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

why no hammers? swords don't do shit to plate.

I wondered that same thing. It's probably because swords don't do shit to plate.
They're mimicking tournament melees where knights wore full suits of plate and used giant swords to subdue their opponents and win their armor, horses and maybe even a ransom. You actually didn't want to damage their armor too much, so large swords were fine.

By the time that heavy full plate was in use, battle swords were designed for thrusting, with thick diamond-shaped cross sections that reinforced the point and limited the cutting edges. The most popular battlefield weapons of the days of full articulated plate were pikes and primitive firearms, often used together in formation. It wasn't armies of knights in full plate armor hacking away at each other with swords. Warhammers and axes were also used. I do believe in some parts of Germany and northern Europe there were gigantic two-handed swords used against armored opponents.

[Skittlez]

Originally Posted by Ahldagor [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

why no hammers? swords don't do shit to plate.

Blunt weapons aren't really allowed unless its a special case. A well placed hammer will break your ribs and crush in that plate so you can't breathe.


I asked my self the same thing so I looked it up.

[MrSparkle001]

Originally Posted by Skittlez [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Blunt weapons aren't really allowed unless its a special case. A well placed hammer will break your ribs and crush in that plate so you can't breathe.


I asked my self the same thing so I looked it up.

Yeah there's no way they'd be able to use the true historical weapons because they'd be effective (IE dangerous and possibly deadly). That's why I said above that it's probably because they don't do shit vs plate that they're using them. If they were swinging maces and warhammers at each other it would quickly turn dangerous and maybe deadly and would actually become Chivalry: Medieval Warfare.

These guys are still badass though and I'd love to try it.

[Skittlez]

Originally Posted by MrSparkle001 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Yeah there's no way they'd be able to use the true historical weapons because they'd be effective (IE dangerous and possibly deadly). That's why I said above that it's probably because they don't do shit vs plate that they're using them. If they were swinging maces and warhammers at each other it would quickly turn dangerous and maybe deadly and would actually become Chivalry: Medieval Warfare.

These guys are still badass though and I'd love to try it.

I wonder if any Americans have started doing events like these.

[MrSparkle001]

My guess is no. It would probably cost a fortune in insurance and might be downright illegal regardless. Full Metal Jousting is the closest I've seen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh5tsGQ9KLQ but like I said some of those guys were getting hurt bad. I don't think the show was renewed, but I'd love to see new seaons. The jousting on that show brutal, nothing like Medieval times or renaissance faire jousting.

[Zadrian]

Originally Posted by Skittlez [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I wonder if any Americans have started doing events like these.

Actually they have, but I don't know where. There is a world tournament called Battle of Nations and I believe the US participated last year. I just don't know where the US team is from.

Edit: here you go http://usaknights.org

[Ahldagor]

basically they want the experience of fighting medieval style, but none of the brutality that was actually present. just put on the foam and get fucked up. drunk knights flailing about with foam weapons would be more entertaining. would vomit count as an attack?