Post by The Librarian on May 22, 2008 18:45:53 GMT -7
By: Legion
Alot of people underestimate the effect short weapons have in battle and even on a persons psyche in battle. Psysical battle, ok. But, hitting a persons mind with completely physical intrsuments? Impossible. Yes, technically it is impossible. Theoretically, however, it's a different ballpark, and I've figured it out.
I was always the one playing the Rogue in DnD or something similar to it like a Ranger or whatever that always needed shorter weapons for the full extent of their potential to be shown. The books gave the explainaton that other weapons would be too heavy. Thus, the fighter couldn't move fast enough to perform moves such as the famous Sneak Attack. Through years of playing, I've come to appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of short-ranged melee weapons.
First, the dagger is a very vercitile weapon. It could be used, if one were fast enough, to block oncoming attacks with ease. This usually gave the host more time to venture closer to their opponent- more than their advisary would like. You see, short-ranged weapons when used at the right distance can hinder almost another wepon useless or extreamely hard to use effectively. Accuracy is also improved a great deal when dealing with vital areas of a body because the host is closer to it's enemy.
Although I was not able to find actual styles of weapon-play like the Chinese and the Japanese had developed, I'd still pick up things in movies I've watched or games I've played. For example, one of the most capturing game cinematics of all time, in my opinion, is the "Knife Fight" between Krauser and Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil 4. Each used a custom knife mounted on the front of their shoulder. As I watched them, the more I picked up on their strategy. They'd make an attack, more to compell the enemey to react than anything. Depending on what the enemy did, they'd switch the knife over to the other hand and catch their advisary off-gaurd. This happend a few times in the cinematics. I was compelled to watch this scene over and over and analyze this style they used. Although they used pulses of their own strength to shift the weapon from hand to hand, when they found themselves in a tight spot, they'd let gravity itself control their weapon untill they could snatch it from the air. The disadvantages to this is that one needs to be quicker than normal to dodge on-coming attacks in order to strike successfully with their weapon. The upside is that they're fast no matter what.
There is also another style I've developed (and am still in the processs of developing) that allows the host to use two daggers or knives. In one hand, one holds the dagger regularly with the hand-gaurd towards the top of his hand. The dagger in the other hand is held opposingly with the hand-gaurd towards the bottom of the hand. The host of this style doesn't have to be as fast as the host of the first style of because of both of his weapon enabling him to block effectively and attack corropsonding to the situation. The downside is you aren't as fast as you probably want to be, but the upside is that you really don't need to be.
The design of the weapon you use is also worth looking into when using a short-ranged weapon. Serrated blades cause pain, while straight blades are used for quick movemnts and getting the job done quick. Whatever one chooses os their choise. However, I've found it useful for one use a blade with a few grooves on it to actually hook onot others weapons and manipulate them thusly.
People have to be smart to use these styles. They were hard for me to get used to. They're not about strength, and alot of others styles mainly focus on. Although strength is a factor, it is a minor. A persons wits constitues how much damage they do to an advisary. If you can think strategicaly and be smart about what you do, you'll be nearly unstoppable.
In my opinion, the second style is better and is the style I use with a character of mine- Sassha.
As said before, this has an impact on the psyche of who you fight, although not much. At first, they'll think you're good, but you can be beaten. You probably can, but not without a hell of a fight. When they see you don't go now easily, they panic and begin to think irrationally, which begins to have an effect on how they fight. If you stay calm, this gives you more of an upper hand, which lowers the enemies moral more and more untill they have no will to go on, they make a mistake and they die.
Like I said, I still have to develope the technique more to perfect it. This is only the basic blueprints. However, something that works well with this style of fighitng is the anatomy of your enemy. If you can deliver a blow that severs a major vein or artery, the enemy is pretty-much done for.
Alot of people underestimate the effect short weapons have in battle and even on a persons psyche in battle. Psysical battle, ok. But, hitting a persons mind with completely physical intrsuments? Impossible. Yes, technically it is impossible. Theoretically, however, it's a different ballpark, and I've figured it out.
I was always the one playing the Rogue in DnD or something similar to it like a Ranger or whatever that always needed shorter weapons for the full extent of their potential to be shown. The books gave the explainaton that other weapons would be too heavy. Thus, the fighter couldn't move fast enough to perform moves such as the famous Sneak Attack. Through years of playing, I've come to appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of short-ranged melee weapons.
First, the dagger is a very vercitile weapon. It could be used, if one were fast enough, to block oncoming attacks with ease. This usually gave the host more time to venture closer to their opponent- more than their advisary would like. You see, short-ranged weapons when used at the right distance can hinder almost another wepon useless or extreamely hard to use effectively. Accuracy is also improved a great deal when dealing with vital areas of a body because the host is closer to it's enemy.
Although I was not able to find actual styles of weapon-play like the Chinese and the Japanese had developed, I'd still pick up things in movies I've watched or games I've played. For example, one of the most capturing game cinematics of all time, in my opinion, is the "Knife Fight" between Krauser and Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil 4. Each used a custom knife mounted on the front of their shoulder. As I watched them, the more I picked up on their strategy. They'd make an attack, more to compell the enemey to react than anything. Depending on what the enemy did, they'd switch the knife over to the other hand and catch their advisary off-gaurd. This happend a few times in the cinematics. I was compelled to watch this scene over and over and analyze this style they used. Although they used pulses of their own strength to shift the weapon from hand to hand, when they found themselves in a tight spot, they'd let gravity itself control their weapon untill they could snatch it from the air. The disadvantages to this is that one needs to be quicker than normal to dodge on-coming attacks in order to strike successfully with their weapon. The upside is that they're fast no matter what.
There is also another style I've developed (and am still in the processs of developing) that allows the host to use two daggers or knives. In one hand, one holds the dagger regularly with the hand-gaurd towards the top of his hand. The dagger in the other hand is held opposingly with the hand-gaurd towards the bottom of the hand. The host of this style doesn't have to be as fast as the host of the first style of because of both of his weapon enabling him to block effectively and attack corropsonding to the situation. The downside is you aren't as fast as you probably want to be, but the upside is that you really don't need to be.
The design of the weapon you use is also worth looking into when using a short-ranged weapon. Serrated blades cause pain, while straight blades are used for quick movemnts and getting the job done quick. Whatever one chooses os their choise. However, I've found it useful for one use a blade with a few grooves on it to actually hook onot others weapons and manipulate them thusly.
People have to be smart to use these styles. They were hard for me to get used to. They're not about strength, and alot of others styles mainly focus on. Although strength is a factor, it is a minor. A persons wits constitues how much damage they do to an advisary. If you can think strategicaly and be smart about what you do, you'll be nearly unstoppable.
In my opinion, the second style is better and is the style I use with a character of mine- Sassha.
As said before, this has an impact on the psyche of who you fight, although not much. At first, they'll think you're good, but you can be beaten. You probably can, but not without a hell of a fight. When they see you don't go now easily, they panic and begin to think irrationally, which begins to have an effect on how they fight. If you stay calm, this gives you more of an upper hand, which lowers the enemies moral more and more untill they have no will to go on, they make a mistake and they die.
Like I said, I still have to develope the technique more to perfect it. This is only the basic blueprints. However, something that works well with this style of fighitng is the anatomy of your enemy. If you can deliver a blow that severs a major vein or artery, the enemy is pretty-much done for.
