Scythe Fighting

[WickedCricket]

Well, No one's posted here for a while, I'm not even sure if anyone is still active. But, I would like to ask advice on spear fighting for a new character I'm creating. Anyone know how to effectively use such a weapon?

[baane]

1. Find your scythe.

2. Detach the blade and then weld it back on so the blade is parallel to the shaft.

3. Use it as any other polearm.

4. Now you have a polish warscythe - the weapon which spawned the myth that scythes in their basic form are effective weapons.

[WickedCricket]

Well, that was quite simple. You're telling me there is no effective way to wield a scythe?

[baane]

Well of course you can simply hit them with it. But with the blade being positioned perpendicular to the haft, and the edge facing inward back towards the wielder, it isn't exactly an optimal weapon system good for much more than looking menacing.

Unless, of course, your opponent is kind enough to allow you to extend the scythe blade behind his head and then pull it back th cause a laceration of his neck and spine.

[WickedCricket]

Mhm. Well, I'll go with something else then.

[Fenris]

scythes in general in my experience are not very effective weapons. They are meant as farming tools, but I recognize the unique look and interest in them. Regardless I would say wield the scythe something like a cross between a spear and an axe but thats being vague, but like I said I dont think they are very good weapons.

[Styles]

Scythes, as Wolfprince stated, are not effective weapons at all. They're extremely unwieldy, have easily recognizable patterns, and often times function horribly with the body's natural motions.

They're a tiresome waste of material. At very best, they are an intimidating weapon, meant mostly for Single-Strike Kills, once taken from farmlands.

[Fenris]

Also the shape narrowness and posistion of the scythes blade makes it very hard to get a decisive cut much less an actual STAB. Though you can use this to your advantage in a feint the scythe is just not a very effective weapon, the blade is meant to reap thin stalks of wheat, not human bone, sinew, and muscle. Its possible to make a scythe an effective weapon the same way its possible to wield a lead pipe effectively but that doesnt mean its a weapon of war, and learning how to use a scythe in practical ways in combat will be an uphill battle in comparison to just using a normal polearm.

[Styles]

Definitive rhetoric aside....

Scythe's are hardly comparable to polearms. Though in suggestion to the former, in mentioning it's ability to cut...

The shape and curvature to the blade actually makes it prime to slice easily through tissue, and perhaps deeply lacerate muscle and fat. Stabbing with it...I don't see that as a good idea in any scenario...because then you'v got to withdraw it, and if there're multiple enemies abound, then....well you're pragmatically fucked. Through bone...perhaps it may break or embed itself (seeing as bone is 'harder' than wood), but not likely to cleanly cut through unless a very significant amount of force behind the swing was applied. (in retrospect, telegraphing the entire offensive, thus, feinting is a waste of energy and movement as a whole) I say swing because...that seems to be the only truly effective option for utilization of the 'weapon'.

And though Scythe's were not originaly intended for utilization outside of battlefield, there have been many alterations made to let them be effectively allowed into an arsenal, though not so much militaristically. But the practicality of using such a thing is near-null, imho, they take up too much space and offer danger to anyone around, friend and foe alike.

Definitive Rhetoric reinstated....

Bottom line, the Scythe is just not a good weapon. Skilled or not with it....pick something else and hop off the fucking bandwagon.

[Fenris]

I cant see a scythe blade (a conventional one not one like a warscythe.) being super effective at tearing flesh etc. The problem is when you hit with the blade its gonna be at a weird angle no matter what, sure you can cut with it, but it wont have the direct force of something like an axe or a spear, which is why it probably wont cut past armour, and also make it hard to be very accurate with the blade. As far as feinting i simply meant something like thrusting the blade and then pulling the sword back, basic shit, but I cant see too many great techs with a scythe anyway.

[Styles]

Agree to disagree on the Scythe's ability to cut effectivelt. Had a citation ready, but misplaced it and am not sure where I found it to begin with. If i find it, I'll post it.

However....

I wholly agree that any -respectable- tech combatant wouldn't be caught using a Scythe in the midst of a battlefield, or even a one-v-one.