LARP Combat Techniques

[doomscape]

Hey there folks, Locke here. Still looking to pick your brains about a subject that has me rather confused. Been to four LARPs now, very enjoyable - but! I'm the only person there using one sword, and I'm starting to think it's depriving me of that very special ability. You know, the one that keeps me from falling down dead all the time ;) I have all the regular choices, and play a rogue/fighter hybrid that's making less and less sense all the time. If anyone has any advice, specific or general, that'd be great. I'm very good at choosing my fights and I used to fence for about fifteen years before a knee injury. Thanks in advance for your advice and help!

[Crazeyal]

Well, it's more about experience and learning about swinging duct tape than anything else. I've known martial artists who get thwumped. Sheilds help. A LOT, but you have to learn how to use them. The main thing with using two swords is learning to use one for defense and a timely strike, not just flailing with both.

I'd suggest finding someone who beat you, and ask for pointers. Pride goeth before the fall.

I think I know a bit about THAT one...

[Plunder Down-Under]

I too have a question abou larp combat, are swords the only legal weapons? Would it be legal to use bizarre type weapons that are built to the same safety standards as the swords?

[Crazeyal]

Depends on the system and the individual LARP. Before I quit, I was making a boffer uprooted Tree.:dcool:

[Seolta]

I too have a question abou larp combat, are swords the only legal weapons? Would it be legal to use bizarre type weapons that are built to the same safety standards as the swords?


Commonly used weapons, at least in SOLAR: dagger, sword(various), spear, staff, mace/club, polearm.

Not-so common weapons I've seen in-play: frying pan, pointy stick, quartz shard(used that myself), lollipop, candy cane(both this and the lollipop were wielded by a faerie candy-maker), rocks(thrown), non-pointy stick...I heard there was a girl at the first one-shot who wore a flower tucked in her cleavage with a waylay widget on the end of the stem, but haven't seen it myself.

[Plunder Down-Under]

I was thinking of the weapons Illidan from Warcraft 3 uses

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7203/illidanswordsji8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Twinswords]

Basicly you choose what works for you.
I`m not that nimble so, when i play a full combat character, i wear armour and either sword and board or a staff weapon so i can make full use of my size and reach.

I also have fought weapon and spell as necromancer. If you learn to incorperate touch spells in your fighting style, you have a serious second weapon. But this depends on the system you are using.

You might want to look into extentions of the fencing style. Florentine or using a buckler. Or use reach with a staffweapon or greatweapon.
Basicly it depends on you. You try severals style in practice bouts against opponents. What ever feels fine for you and doesn`t get you killed, use it.

[Duncan]

In most LARP's like the ones discussed here swords predominate largely because they are the easiest to make and are generally the best design. There are other weapons in the games, such as clubs, hammers, maces, axes, and so forth. But they tend to be harder to make. Also, in a lightest touch system where any strike is as good as another, the advantage generally lies with the lightest and easiest to manuever weapon, which is generally a slim straight sword. Therefore most of the people that choose odd weapons are generally doing so for style and roleplay advantage, and not combat advantage.

One sword is going to be at a distinct disadvantage against nearly any other style you face in a stand up fight. It does have advantages in two situations. The first is when you are fighting a pure caster (less of a profile, easier to dodge) or if you are merely trying to sneak up behind people to get in a backstab/stun/waylay and then beat a hasty retreat. You obviously do a whole lot of that.

If I were you are would consider two options. Option one is to spend a few points on buckler. That is probably the cheapest way to get you a bit more survivability in a straight up fighting situation against another melee fighter. Hauling around a shield can be a pain at times, but at least you would have that option.

Option two would be to go with a two handed sword. Remeber that in Madrigal the Blade skill goes for everything from dagger length to max length two handed sword. A really long sword will allow you to fight with a fair amount of offense in a line fight while staying a half step out of harms reach. You can also use it to get in a stun from a bit further back. In a one on one fight it can be problematic, but it has considerable advantages over a single long sword in nearly ever other circumstance. And since you already have this skill, you can try it on for size just by borrowing a two handed sword rep without having to spend any points.

[Talen]

It really does depend on the rules system.

Enhancing a weapon does help- but a single one-handed weapon is a defensive tool, not an offensive one in terms of raw damage.

Now, if your system lets you pull off special maneuvers with your weapon (disarms, disabling blows to the limbs, etc.), you have one good option- equalizers.

Two swords are no better than one when the first thing you do is disarm one of them- and pick the thing up afterwards and stick it in your belt!

Twohanders work poorly when your opponent's right arm is a mangled mess, or you can leg em' and leave em'. Fencers didn't generally hack opponents to death- neither should you. A crippled opponent is just as good as a dead one, most of the time. If you're going to fight with a single weapon, think like that. The single sword is a method of keeping your opponent at bay and punishing him for getting in reach while you dance, not a method of allowing you to close and chop them to bits, which is what everyone ELSE is going to love to see you do. If you stand still in most of the situations you mentioned, you will learn to enjoy becoming one with the earth, likely by being laid out on it.

[idleknight]

I agree a second weapon/shield is the way forward

Normally in linear style adventuring you will be with a party, learn to work with them, never fight solo unless your experienced and have the skills/equipment for it. Also learn to use the enviroment your fighting in
a tree makes a great shield, brambles will slow people down, a dip will slow people down, it will all help.

Best tactic with a single sword is to flank the enemy who are focused on the other members of the party, be sneaky. Or watch your buddys side and keep them alive.

Generally the monsters will focus on the bigger threats in the PC party which means if you are lucky they will almost be ignoring you.

[sableagle]

Trees are good shields for a long, slender sword. They make quarterstaffs pretty much unusable, too, so if you're going with the quarterstaff you should be avoiding those things and if you're up against a quarterstaff you should try to get near something that will interfere with it.

A second weapon as a lightweight blocker if you can block well other-handed is fine, but if you're used to having a longer-than-average sword and taking people on from a comfortable distance you won't get a lot of chances to hit with a dagger. Two short swords or short sword and dagger make a better pair.

If you're fighting as part of a group, the trick is to protect a big arc of your mate, have your mate protecting a big arc of you (meaning stay close enough to prevent enemies slipping in between you), avoid interfering with each other (meaning stay arm's length apart) and force your opponents to try to fight on two fronts (meaning spread out to surround them).

How many of these you can achieve will depend on numbers and terrain. If it's just one enemy, surrounding it is a good idea. If it's two dozen svart alfar with daggers against five of you with swords and axes, you'll probably do better standing in a pentagram and fighting on smaller forward arcs. That prevents dodging far, though, because getting out of the way of an attack by two together can separate you from the formation.

I've never used a shield myself, but I've had shield-users on my side blocking the arrows and had to take out a couple of shield-users too. The bigger the shield, the more it blocks, including the user's vision, and the more it encumbers the user. Sometimes the sheer weight makes them fall over if you manage to "push" them backwards. Against a shield, that long second weapon coming in from your opponent's weapon-hand side is very handy ... but a couple of friends are better. If you've got a single sword and nothing else, you should probably join a friend in their fight to free them up to join you against the staff or shield.

*

Other weapons? Staffs, because they're even easier than swords, a couple of axes, which are a big crap due to size and balance issues and a bow. They had serious limits on bow use, to the extent that I heard the shot and parried the arrow with my sword once.

[Travellar]

1) wow, I finally figured out there was a comic associated with this sub-forum.

2) okay, I now understand much of what is going on.

3) Is duct tape the only thing you can make weapons out of, or is any suitably gentle construction good enough?

[Seolta]

3) Is duct tape the only thing you can make weapons out of, or is any suitably gentle construction good enough?


Depends on the game. For SOLAR, rules can be found here (http://solarinc.com/weapon.php) and here (http://solarinc.com/weapon2.php). Duct tape is good for beginners and basic weapons, but generally the nicer ones(for our game, anyways) are made with gaffers tape (http://www.thetapeworks.com/gaffer.htm) (aka gaff tape), which is much more flexible, lets air through better, and is easier to paint(and comes in lots of colors to begin with).

[Talen]

Duct and gaffer's tape are the general choice for most "boffer weapon" systems, though some use latex weapons instead (which are more "touch" than "boff"). A few allow both.

Your basic weapon is as easy as PVC, pipe foam, some open cell foam for thrusting tips, and duct tape. Really fancy variants end up using kitespar/carbon rods for "ultralight" weapons. What's legal varies by game, though. Always check with whoever you're going to play with -before- constructing a weapon (for construction rules/weapon length rules), and expect your first few efforts to need some help before being usable. :P

(And you'd be amazed at some of the things people make using even the basics.)

[Travellar]

Yeah, I think I'd go with something terribly basic, if I had the time to start. At least until I could figure out what all the lesser rules are.

So, I take it players get a certain number of points for thier charecter, to spend on skills, spells, equipment and such? (which presumably go up as you rise in level)

[sableagle]

Curtain rail (the cheap flat white plastic kind) and three layers of karrimat was the basic construction we used. Lots of glue and tape too, obviously, and no stabbing because end-on the rail will come through the padding and continue into the person beyond. My newer one's carbon-fibre and latex with a dragon hilt and hasn't been much used.

Generally, yes, players will get a number of points to spend on a character's various skills and attributes and you can raise your mana total and magic skills or your health total and sword skill. Some systems will actually make mixed skill characters more expensive so if you take non-mage-path skills like Backstab _and_ mage-path skills like blink (Phase Door to Moria/Angband fans) they cost more or you get the same skills available to you for the same cost but one level later, or give some classes fewer points to spend.

Others may have two sets of points: class points and skill points. You get class points at creation only, and you put them into mage class, fighter class, druid class, scout class, cleric class or ... erm ... healer, merchant, maybe? Then you get skill points every level (including upon creation) to spend on skills that become available sooner if you spent more class points on that class. This makes it more free-form than having Fighter, Mage, Cleric, Fighter-mage, Rogue or go away and play something else. For instance, if you put it all in Fighter you get to do double damage with a particular weapon type e.g. long sword from level 4, and if you put it all in Scout you can do double damage with any weapon from behind or on immobilised opponent from level 3, but if you split the points between the two you get the sword double at 6 and backstab at 4 and if you put some into Druid as well you get sword double at 7, backstab at 5 and talk to animals as a free ability at 5 plus some druid spells like entangle and barkskin.

As character advancement is done between quests, it can be more complicated than all the in-action stuff like spellcasting and combat. You can't be rolling dice in a fight or keeping track in your head of 153, 214, 187, Crit-341, 166, 198 ...

I recommend starting right away writing down everything that's available and what it costs and what you've taken and The Plan, and editing as necessary, rather than making it up as you go along.

Equipment _might_ be part of the points system, but it can also be based on in-game money. You get money for finishing the mission or from selling loot, and you have to spend to stay alive and healthy and to acquire stuff you didn't loot. Rangers get a bonus to living cost because wild food is a bit easier to find for a ranger than for "some bespectacled easterner with a linen handkerchief and bad lungs" aka the cleric.

[Talen]

Everyone's systems vary in that regard. Read before you play, I always say. Most systems do allow for development over events, though- though it can be more fun NOT planning too far ahead.

I had a meant-to-be-once-off character that instead lasted 8 1/2 years due to having too much fun with him. Planning ahead happened, but never happened -well- thanks to the fact that most LARPs are unpredictable things. Apprenticed to a centuries-old elven sorceress? Tossed into Hell? Dead on your wedding day and reanimated into a living corpse? Gentle scholar gone mad from having Things Man Was Not Meant To Know forced into his noggin...so they make him a noble? Father of 4 (human kids) in one go?

These are things one cannot predict will alter one's character development, though they make for fine stories. Planning too far ahead can make people miss interesting things, solely because "they gotta save up for X and Y". Do what the character wants, and you'll have a ball.

[chango]

These are videos put together by the top fighters in Amtgard, some of the tactics involved aren't applicable to other games due to our shot calling system but the theories behind the feints and actual shots are universally applicable.



Single Sword

Kezgar's intro to Single Sword video on the IMU

http://theimu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=50

Sword & Board

Kezgar's Sword & Board video on the IMU

http://theimu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=50

Dalos's Advanced Sword & Board class from SKBC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UfVBajBo8c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9K29AHHO1A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye4yv3wWWc8

Advanced Sword and Board (Torches & Friends) SKBC backyard video

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6658461674507216130

Polearm

Tar'get's Advanced Polearm class from SKBC additional parts (featuring Val Kilmer and the "pose.. and nod"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_IdvWwwTcA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yix5uyhUolY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yVSodshAAE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAVcDRz5PoE

Madu

Brennon's Middle Madu class from SKBC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C4gwhWjJbs

Lefty Fu

Derek Roth's Lefty Fu class from SKBC

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8130057771842349546


Other

Zumat's intro to Off Hand fighting video on the IMU

http://theimu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=13&Itemid=50

Brennon's Stabs & Feints class from SKBC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBE7l0ylN60
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIvzfVeu7kk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke_X4VOzzrE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgkRx0pzkpA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILYrNc7Mbg

Clalibus's Body Mechanics class from SKBC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZzXn0EI11o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGPU25ij6KY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGQixQJbp6E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvXDCd3W7TE

Lief & Guy's class from SKBC

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/lief-and-guys-class-skbc-04-1/4086055034
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/lief-and-guys-class-skbc-04-2/2225249853
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/lief-and-guys-class-skbc-04-3/1238936
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/lief-and-guys-class-skbc-04-4/645624216

[Travellar]

From what I saw this weekend, I can make a couple of observations about staying alive, maybe even winning.

First, Shields are great, but with my height, they're of fairly limited value. I'd love to have someone standing maybe 5'6" on my left side with a shield though. I just can't reach far enough down to protect against cheapshots to my calf.

Probrably the hardest defence to get through is a 2 sword defence. It's a double threat, as while your opponet is being parried on one side, you've got a clear shot on the other.

One thing I saw of little to no use in single combat was a player with a spear and shield. (he was highly encouraged by another Barbarian present) Personally, I'd love to see about 5-8 players go forwards like that, dressed up into one or two ranks and marching forwards. Though I would reccomend the player on the right side of the ranks substitute a sword for thier spear.

The biggest problem of course, is someone willing to just step into your threat range, and start smacking away. It's kinda hard to deal with a threat suicidal enough to engage in a damage-chant speed contest. Also no fun.

[Duncan]

I believe after you have had a little more fights you will see why most people eventually tend to favor a shield over two swords. While theoretically two swords gives you twice the offense, in practice that isn't how it works. Since in the NERO game system you purchase weapon proficiencies by hand, your offhand will swing only base damage points. Against most medium to hard level monsters that just isn't enough to be a threat. So the offhand weapon becomes essentially a defensive parrying item. In that role a shield is far easier to use and more effective.

[Travellar]

true, but I tried to say too much at once and missed my own point. While a shield for most people is a better defensive tool, a short sword would be more effective for me. It's a question of reach. I'd have a hard time bringing a shield low enough to the ground to block, while I can reach a short sword all the way to the dirt quite easily. There's also the advantage of a sword being much easier to drop out if I need to start casting. With no casting involved, I'd probrably just make myself a shield of alternate diminsions that I can block with.

Also, thanks for putting the pics up. Too bad both pics of me with the banner I have it casually over the right shoulder as I reached for something else with my left hand.

[sableagle]

You can go for something a bit like both with a slightly longer, narrower kite shield. Just remember not to back-fist your opponent with it.

[LegacyTyphoon]

Do not hit someone repeatedly in the head with the wrong end of the sword if they are walking off the field after being killed. They may proceed to take your sword and slam you in the face with it.

[Plunder Down-Under]

You can go for something a bit like both with a slightly longer, narrower kite shield. Just remember not to back-fist your opponent with it.
Why not?

[sableagle]

Because if you do that the foam rips off or bends back and the wooden inside gets to poke into their cheek and leave a really ugly gouge over the cheekbone, or you hit them in the eye and even with the foam that hurts, or you catch them on the jaw and they spend the rest of the weekend holding it and glaring at you and complaining about not being able to chew.

You could probably make one with enough padding and sturdy enough wrapping to be safe for that kind of move but we had very limited budgets and had to be very gentle with the little four-foot kids.

[Travellar]

A discussion on the VALOR boards took a similar turn, regarding how points are best spent. several players suggested developing skill with thier off hands should be cheaper. While I disagree with thier feelings, it was worth noting they felt it safe to ignore the offhand weapons of most players, as who cares about the hand swinging 2 while the other swings 20? Personally, I believe unless you're up against something terribly brutal, swining 10/10 is the way to go.

[William]

Well on sunday i was shown how to better use both shield and ambidexing so i'll try and impart this as best as i can, basically shield is good and ambi is good and i use them both in two different systems

with two swords you want a long sword in your main hand and a shorter thicker sword in you off hand, you stance should be most of your weight on your back foot so if someone goes for a swipe at your leg you can flick your leg back without losing balance. Stand , if you a right handed, with your right leg forward and right arm forward so that it has the greatest possible reach and you are holding back the shorter sword to block if they get past your main sword ,vice versa if you are left handed. Never underestimate the effectiveness of feinting with your main blade especially against axe and hammer users as they don't have the same speed and flexibility as a sword due to being top heavy. Also there's a trick against novice shield users being feint high and if they aren't very good they will bring their shield up obscuring their vision and when they can't see what you're doing hit them in them in the legs.

Shields are much the same stance with your weight on the back foot to avoid the swipes at your leg. The stand with the shield held out from you at an angle , basically so it runs prarallel to your leg, if it is one which straps to your arm, if it is just a handle boss shield then hold it far out giving you the maximum amount of time to react to blows. Or if it looks like it's going to be a long fight and it's a big heavy shield hold it close until they start to strike so your arm doesn't drop off from exhaustion.

Well there's some tips on fighting with both ,yes you are putting yourself at a disadvantage using just one sword but there are merit's to that as well but seeing as ambi and shield seemed to be the ones being suggested i thought i would offer some advice on how to fight with them. Remember practice makes perfect as you will get wise to people's tricks against your particular fighting style eventually and you'll be able to counter them or avoid them altogether

[Travellar]

sorrey for the bullet format, it's to keep myself from rambling too much.

-two versus one weapon styles:
shields and second weapons are great if you're off to war. if you're just going to the market however, a single rapier will do just fine. Also, relying on just one hand to defend yourself has the advantage of keeping the other hand free, which is most useful if you decide to sling a couple of spells in there. (a fact which I've overlooked in my own two weapon fighting style.)

-My fighting style:
I'm being very stubborn and independant about my own fighting style. I'm taking two axes into combat, and can't be talked out of it, even by myself. That said, I'm also systematicly devising my own combat style specificly around those two axes. I've solicited no small amount of advice, most of which (as predicted) I've disregarded. Knowing other's views on two weapons, and various combat 'tricks' has given me a few insights into what any potential opponet may try, which gives me plenty of time till the next gathering to figure out what I should do to counter.
The advantages are that I'll be using a combat style NOONE else is familiar with, and which due to it's uniquenes will not be worthwhile for anyone else to devise specific counters to. Also, every move I make, I understand why I'm making it, and how it affects the other things I can do. The disadvantages are that because I'm essentially starting from scratch, there is no long, refined evolution to my techniques. many elements will be quite crude, and open to exploitation, or simply not as efficient as many other combat styles. The other disadvantage is that because it is a two weapon style, I'm cutting myself off from casting spells.

[Talen]

Axes have their advantages- it's a much more able style for "entangling" weapon strikes that can pull a weapon or shield off-line- works nice with a partner. For a single weapon, I actually prefer an axe- you also can get some interesting parrying options with a grip that would shear off fingers with a sword.

Swords are the most common LARPing weapon in NERO-type LARPing because they're easier to make and take less thought on what to hit people with.

[Travellar]

also because of thier minimalist approach. many players buy into the hyper competitive side, where lighter is better, and everything else is an unwanted disadvantage. This has the disadvantage of causing far to many players to run around with padded rods.

[Landsknecht]

also because of thier minimalist approach. many players buy into the hyper competitive side, where lighter is better, and everything else is an unwanted disadvantage. This has the disadvantage of causing far to many players to run around with padded rods.

That's why I prefer a game with more accurate weapons and higher calibration. Plus the fact that someone with proper technique will defeat someone who only relys on speed a majority of the time.

[Talen]

also because of thier minimalist approach. many players buy into the hyper competitive side, where lighter is better, and everything else is an unwanted disadvantage. This has the disadvantage of causing far to many players to run around with padded rods.

One reason why our game doesn't use ultralight construction (carbon/fishing rod) weapons. PVC, + CPVC for small weapons only or to reinforce a long weapon. You can make some lovely well balanced weapons, but you don't have weapons that weigh so little a strong breeze can throw off a swing.
Besides, it's fun chopping people who have a wisp of a weapon with an axe or polearm...their "parries" have a tendency to end with the axe blade firmly in contact with their body. It's like trying to block a battleaxe with a foil, very realistic that way. :)

[Landsknecht]

One reason why our game doesn't use ultralight construction (carbon/fishing rod) weapons. PVC, + CPVC for small weapons only or to reinforce a long weapon. You can make some lovely well balanced weapons, but you don't have weapons that weigh so little a strong breeze can throw off a swing.
Besides, it's fun chopping people who have a wisp of a weapon with an axe or polearm...their "parries" have a tendency to end with the axe blade firmly in contact with their body. It's like trying to block a battleaxe with a foil, very realistic that way. :)


Been there, done that. Took their T-shirt! (evil laugh!):dgrin:

[DrT]

That's why I prefer a game with more accurate weapons and higher calibration. Plus the fact that someone with proper technique will defeat someone who only relys on speed a majority of the time.

It's what disgusted me out of Amtgard after all was said and done: the 'ultralight' trend.

When you try your bestest to reproduce a accurate look alike weapon (within the limits of rules that favorise heavy padding and bulky things) and you get in a conversation with a guy who BRAGS about is 'done in two minutes' fishing rod/gold rod + fun noodle + USPS tape. And is FIGHTING STYLE (god I'm sick to even remember) which involves arm estension and flick of the wrist...
:repuke:

When in comparision you see what people do with foam and latex, the beautiful things they produce...
Ah well. I just let it go and am waiting for someting better.

[Travellar]

I suppose I could let it get me down, but my combat style is improving at a rapid pace, and I get so many positive comments about my axes that I figure I must be earning far more costuming points, for whatever that's worth. I think it'll get me coffee for 50 cents. Too bad I don't drink coffee.

I worked out a series of moves I can do with two weapons that keep me relatively well protected, then practiced them frequently with a pair of iron rods cut to the same size. Challenging one of the faster players to spar prior to the event, I found that my practiced technique is of little value as it doesn't protect against the blink of an eye snap techniques, and I'd included no offensive series of moves.

So, before June, I will need to devise and practice a series of attacks, and some one handed techniques which will allow me to cast while fighting.

[Landsknecht]

I suppose I could let it get me down, but my combat style is improving at a rapid pace, and I get so many positive comments about my axes that I figure I must be earning far more costuming points, for whatever that's worth. I think it'll get me coffee for 50 cents. Too bad I don't drink coffee.

I worked out a series of moves I can do with two weapons that keep me relatively well protected, then practiced them frequently with a pair of iron rods cut to the same size. Challenging one of the faster players to spar prior to the event, I found that my practiced technique is of little value as it doesn't protect against the blink of an eye snap techniques, and I'd included no offensive series of moves.

So, before June, I will need to devise and practice a series of attacks, and some one handed techniques which will allow me to cast while fighting.

The German school of thought towards armed combat, as per Johannes Liectenauer, it to sieze the initiative and keep it! If you lose it, get it BACK!
Attack Attack Attack! If your enemy is defending then he isn't attacking you.:al:

[John Northman]

The German school of thought towards armed combat, as per Johannes Liectenauer, it to sieze the initiative and keep it! If you lose it, get it BACK!
Attack Attack Attack! If your enemy is defending then he isn't attacking you.:al:

Ah but it is not that simple. A skilled fighter can transform a defence into a counterattack if the opponet does as he predicts :cool:
Thats why I like to dual-wield swords. Makes for a good defence when needed (exept from those pesky chained weapons)
And a lightning fats counterattack if the opponet does one wrong move.

[Plunder Down-Under]

And if the opponent doesn't, he dies.

[Evandril]

Most martial arts that are focused on practical uses (Self defense, and the like) tend to agree with the 'stay on offense' route. If you want to fight defensively in LARPs, get a shield :P

[DrT]

Ah but it is not that simple. A skilled fighter can transform a defence into a counterattack if the opponet does as he predicts :cool:
Thats why I like to dual-wield swords. Makes for a good defence when needed (exept from those pesky chained weapons)
And a lightning fats counterattack if the opponet does one wrong move.

I'm a toss up between dual swords and sword+dagger. The two swords are nice, but most rules with restrict their lenght, and they can get in the way of each other.
A dagger can be kept close to the body as defense and move more freely there, then it can strike lightning quick. And it's too small to be really notice :D

I'm really not a shield person. I had the chance to try a couple of times but it takes more than that to be really skilled with it. I'll definately give it a chance if I'm lucky enough to find good LARP around where I live.

Incidently, and to broaden the subjet: a short spear can kick ass buy the bucket load.
And I'd love to make a latex quarterstaff to see how that can go. The staffs we had in Amtgard were too cumbersome, and I hadn't had proper training.

[Evandril]

*sighs* I wish I could get a workable staff for LARP combat...All I've found are either too flimsy to block with, too thick to hold/move easily...Or are a *bit* too dangerous for use *shrugs* The ones with handgrips don't count as a staff to me, btw ;)

[DrT]

I'll have to check the rules of wherever I'm going. Right now I can't because of the firewall (piece of crap that thing).

For me a staff is a rod, generally made of wood in RL, and that's it really.

The amtgard staff, for those willing enough to try, was a bit hunk of a thing, very unwieldy, and pokes were not allowed (yes, you read right).
ie: take away half the potential of the weapon from the start, another quater or potential due to bulk and you have????
a piece of crap.

[Evandril]

Aye, that's the problem...You take a stick of wood that's strong enough to take a blow...and you've got a weapon ;)

Last time I got the chance to do any bopper combat...They told me I wasn't allowed to stab with a sword *sighs* Made things fun for me, since my only formal sword training was fencing ;)

[DrT]

"not allowed to stab with a sword"

That statement would have gotten me in such a mood...


Anyway I talked to a friend doing a lot of LARPing in France and yes ! They allow the quarterstaff !

[Talen]

Aye, that's the problem...You take a stick of wood that's strong enough to take a blow...and you've got a weapon ;)

Last time I got the chance to do any bopper combat...They told me I wasn't allowed to stab with a sword *sighs* Made things fun for me, since my only formal sword training was fencing ;)

One thing I've noticed with some folks...they don't put thrusting tips on their weapons. That's one thing with many latex weapons that drives me up a wall. I can't *poke* people with the pointy end. :P

For folks that "snap" swing- the rapid movement is all (literally) at the wrist, usually bringing the weapon into alternating points of contact (high/low or back/front, for example- and frequently on both sides at once.). Two-swords types are the biggest pain in the rear this way, because that's trying to deal with at least 4 places to parry. The LARP I usually play has a reasonable solution or three in the form of tagged skills, but if you don't think you can parry....don't. Just trade hits. You may not win, but it's a heckuva lot better than simply being smacked repeatedly...which people getting hit rapid-fire tend to do whilst flailing about and trying to parry (too slowly). Armor is your friend here.

A decent shield tends to reduce the ability to let people like that get in close enough to throw that many swings at you, which tends to muck with florentine-style fighters. Polearms -in multiples- works as well, but that takes numbers.

[sableagle]

My fencing successes tended to be based on responses. It's amazing how many people overdo the lunge and can't recover to a defensive position quickly enough. Let them come, deflect it and then roll over them.

With LARP swords and no thrusting, it varies a lot with terrain and relative weapon lengths. If you've got two short swords and you're squared off with an opponent wielding one two-handed broadsword, the only way you stand a chance is to get in to where you can reach him and he doesn't have room to use that thing. You have to attack. If you've got the longsword and you're up against three goblins with short swords, manouevre around them to take one or two at a time and keep them out of short-sword-range, and strike opportunistically. Short spear and shield combo works best in units with cohesion. There, your stance is dictated largely by whether you're slightly too far forward or back at the moment. Those formations are supposed to stay drawn up around the healers and archers. Then there's the heavy cavalry ... but I really doubt you can ever adequately pad a horse, so that's not an issue in LARP.

[Travellar]

I did quite a bit of thrusting in my first game, but had traded the sword in for axes by the second game.

[Talen]

Yep. NERO has thrusting-safe weaponry, so in that system, it's perfectly legal.

It's one of those cases I <3 boffer over latex...nearly all boffer weapons have thrusting tips, but most latex ones I've used lack it.

[DAPorter]

The sword style I was trained in emphasized using the edge of the blade to slice, with the edge of the blade drawn along the skin much as you would slice a tomato, not chop or stab. The practice swords we used in training had padded blades and a water soluble dye would mark the contact areas.
Maybe not so practical in RL combat, but would it be useful in LARP combat?

[sableagle]

*pounce*

Possibly, but people with fancy costumes might not like it if the dye can't be removed without damage.

[DAPorter]

*pounce*

Possibly, but people with fancy costumes might not like it if the dye can't be removed without damage.

I wasn't considering using the dye.
I'd probably get lynched!
What I was wondering about was the style of swordplay.

[Travellar]

probrably very useful in Real Life, but no more or less useful in LARPs than any other style.

On the other hand, actual training in anything beats many of the 'styles' out there. Just watch out for the 'twitch' fighters, who are all about snap and contact.

[KiaKat]

Peeks nose out of room. ZOMG! It's a NEWBIE!!!!!

Thumpa Thumpa Thumpa Thumpa

*runs past newbie*

cRaSh

grrr

*Pushes off wall*

*Aiming at noobie...*

You see a small creature smiling maniacally, and feel fear. This is something you've never encountered before, and it looks as though the creature is probably crazier than the Cheshire Cat.

Mwuahahahaha

And here we go...

Aiming...

Wiggle-butt...

Tail-twitch...

Runs at newbie...

Bypasses newbie, going at Mach 2, flies around corner...

Runs back around corner, putting the fear of Kitten into all watching...

POuNce dA nOobIE!!!!!

*saunters off to resume licking the pudding off of Tipouf*

[DAPorter]

*Digs catnip out of belt pouch*
*Produces chocolate from belt pouch*
Here kitty kitty kitty...:evilgrin:

[sableagle]

The draw-cut is for blades that curve back, like scimitars and katanas. It's particularly for slender, razor-sharp blades. The broadswords and leaf-shaped ones with the weigth distribution approaching that of an axe are weighted that way to allow you to use them as axes. Pulling back in the cut is also going to give you an advantage in that you're already on your way back to a defensive stance rather than standing there all stretched out and off balance like a fool.

In LARP, though, a hit is generally counted as a hit, with no pressure sensors or anything like that involved.

[DAPorter]

The draw-cut is for blades that curve back, like scimitars and katanas. It's particularly for slender, razor-sharp blades. The broadswords and leaf-shaped ones with the weigth distribution approaching that of an axe are weighted that way to allow you to use them as axes. Pulling back in the cut is also going to give you an advantage in that you're already on your way back to a defensive stance rather than standing there all stretched out and off balance like a fool.

In LARP, though, a hit is generally counted as a hit, with no pressure sensors or anything like that involved.

See, this is the kind of useful advice I need badly since I am going to get into LARPing.
Heh, I am already going over the rules about weapon construction. It's going to take me a while to figure out how to do it properly.

[Ruestir]

The sword style I was trained in emphasized using the edge of the blade to slice, with the edge of the blade drawn along the skin much as you would slice a tomato, not chop or stab.
What ryu?

[DAPorter]

What ryu?

None, I was taught swordplay by an old friend of the family.
The type of sword that we trained to use was a modified Scimitar. And for a secondary weapon we used a similarly shaped dagger.
I have also studied Shodokan Aikido more or less informally while I was on active duty in the US Navy. (My girlfriend's father was an instructor)
I have done some fencing with a rapier, but that was long ago in my high school days.

[DAPorter]

*sighs* I wish I could get a workable staff for LARP combat...All I've found are either too flimsy to block with, too thick to hold/move easily...Or are a *bit* too dangerous for use *shrugs* The ones with handgrips don't count as a staff to me, btw ;)

I have no idea if it would be allowed but;

Maybe you could take a piece of PVC pipe and glue disks of the same material inside, sort of like a man-made bamboo. That would certainly add to the strength of the staff.

I am just a rank newbie at this so you'd have to ask someone a whole lot more familiar with the rules.

[Silverharp]

*Digs catnip out of belt pouch*
*Produces chocolate from belt pouch*
Here kitty kitty kitty...:evilgrin:

Let's keep him.

[Silverharp]

A lightweight core is good, bandshoppe poles work awesome for me
As for the rest, my group has a simple rule: If you can feel pipe by applying decent pressure to the foam on the striking surface, it needs to be rebuilt.
I'd check with the group that's local to you and ask who makes the best weapons, see what materials they use

[Ruestir]

The type of sword that we trained to use was a modified Scimitar. And for a secondary weapon we used a similarly shaped dagger.
Ok, the type of cutting you described, and I think somebody else mentioned this, is typical of how katana cutting is taught. Anyway, cool stuff!

[DAPorter]

Ok, the type of cutting you described, and I think somebody else mentioned this, is typical of how katana cutting is taught. Anyway, cool stuff!

In one of my books I had one of my characters using a katana is just such a manner.
I asked my daughters Sensei for advice about that scene.

[tenebrous_kindred]

Hey there folks, Locke here. Still looking to pick your brains about a subject that has me rather confused. Been to four LARPs now, very enjoyable - but! I'm the only person there using one sword, and I'm starting to think it's depriving me of that very special ability. You know, the one that keeps me from falling down dead all the time ;) I have all the regular choices, and play a rogue/fighter hybrid that's making less and less sense all the time. If anyone has any advice, specific or general, that'd be great. I'm very good at choosing my fights and I used to fence for about fifteen years before a knee injury. Thanks in advance for your advice and help!

Wow, guess theres always one guy at every park that decides to go single sword. Everyone HAS to hide behind a shield or a second sword or they dont want to fight...

Anyway, I fight single sword too (and im the only one at my park that does so...) and have learned a few things along the way. However, since the date on this post is a year old, and i doubt this will be seen, i will be brief.

Invest in a hand guard. Its like the basket hilt of a rapier. Parries that just barely failed before will now be stopped. Invest in a cross-guard, the pieces that stick out perpindicular to the blade near the handle. These will stop strikes from sliding down your own sword blade and hitting your arm. With enough skill and timing, you may deflect a feeble thrust with a flick of your wrist. Best material for these is a rectangle of reinforced flip-flop (yes, the shoe).

[Talen]

You'd be surprised, it's slow enough here that even necro-posting gets noticed.

(Besides, we're all used to dealing with zombies here.)

Far as it goes- even a rudimentary crossguard (or ring around the bottom of the sword- anything that'll "catch" a weapon a bit) + handguard goes a long, long way. I'm more fond of a slightly light "basket" hilt- for a LARPing weapon, that's easily done with strips of pipe foam wrapped in tape. That it'll help stop those stinging whaps to the knuckles is nice too, but a little less weight to go with the protection is aces. :)

[Londubh]

In like fashion, since i intend to fight in the tradition of Murchad, son of Brian Boru, with a sword in each hand, I am looking to upgrade my gauntlets and make a set of quillions (cross guard) for my sca swords.

[sableagle]

*pounces the kindred newbie*

Hi.

Hand guards are good, but if you plan on wearing the sword on your belt you might want to avoid the HUGE DRAGON hand guard I have on one of mine. Also its tail hits my wrist when I extend.

My other sword's got a more sober design, quite a minimalist sort of guard and a chunky pommel that doesn't stick out far in any direction.

[Falconess]

*perches on a high-rise and sniffs the air* I think I smell newbie

*tips head to the side and looks around* Yes, I see one there

*launches from her perch and comes screaming down out of the sky*


*vroooooooooooom*

*pooooouuuuuuunce*

*nose to beak* Welcome to the Devil's Panties. May ye be warned, we are a strange bunch *nose lick*

Is your life insurance paid up? *takes off to wait for another newbie to pass by*

[sableagle]

Ouch.

Kindred, excuse me while I demonstrate the use of this latex-coated carbon-fibre sword as a spanking device.

Falconess, get your arse down here.

*points at his knee*

[KiaKat]

*points at the chat room toybox*

You really don't spend much time in there, do you?

There's a reason we call Fal 'Goddess.' Most of those belong to her... and she knows how to use them.

[sableagle]

*points at the chat room toybox*

You really don't spend much time in there, do you?Only one woman has ever made a habit of putting me in her toybox.

[KiaKat]

>.<

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damnyou.