Two-handed Axes fighting mech

[Faoldorcha]

Hey!

My little grain of salt...

I did too change the big daneaxe-like axes in my game via Morgh's tools (one "war axe", one "2h axe" and, of course, "my wife") to polearms. Their length is, even if a bit shorter than regular polearms, quite similar to the (much later) pollaxe, which cannot be wielded like a regular "2 handed" weapon. I recently acquired a replica of a dane axe, and you definitely cannot use it which two hands at the bottom of the shaft. Both grip and techniques are much more similar to polearms than two-handed.

As for changing only animations, it does work, but only in one way: you can have a 2h weapon attacking like a polearm, but it will still be gripped (when not attacking) with two hands at the bottom. A shame, really, for you'd want shorter 2h axes to be gripped like polearms, and attack with devastating 2h animations. I did settle with changing only the parry animations to polearms for them, and I am quite happy with the result.

So I did test: real dane axes as full-fledged polearms, and other big 2handed axes as 2h, but with polearm parry animations. I am currently to day 400-ish and quite happy with the result.

[Magnus Maximus]

for those interested Hurstwic has some good articles on Great Axes and axe-techniques.

[Idibil]

for those interested Hurstwic has some good articles on Great Axes and axe-techniques.

I like this web 

Hey!

My little grain of salt...

I did too change the big daneaxe-like axes in my game via Morgh's tools (one "war axe", one "2h axe" and, of course, "my wife") to polearms. Their length is, even if a bit shorter than regular polearms, quite similar to the (much later) pollaxe, which cannot be wielded like a regular "2 handed" weapon. I recently acquired a replica of a dane axe, and you definitely cannot use it which two hands at the bottom of the shaft. Both grip and techniques are much more similar to polearms than two-handed.

As for changing only animations, it does work, but only in one way: you can have a 2h weapon attacking like a polearm, but it will still be gripped (when not attacking) with two hands at the bottom. A shame, really, for you'd want shorter 2h axes to be gripped like polearms, and attack with devastating 2h animations. I did settle with changing only the parry animations to polearms for them, and I am quite happy with the result.

So I did test: real dane axes as full-fledged polearms, and other big 2handed axes as 2h, but with polearm parry animations. I am currently to day 400-ish and quite happy with the result.

Mm, with change animation only all run fine? You cannt cause thrust damage then.

[Faoldorcha]

Apparently you can do thrust damage if and only if you have the corresponding animation. I added thrust damage (small but still there, the protuding horns of the head are there for this) to the dane axes, just by adding thrust polearm animation (and a non-zero value to thrust damage, obviously). For 2h axes, I only changed the parry animation, so no problem there.

I didn't observe any bug or problem, I was even quite surprised with the transitions between 2h grip and polearm parries.

[geala]

for those interested Hurstwic has some good articles on Great Axes and axe-techniques.

A really great page, pure pleasure to read! I would jump for joy if a similar topic would exist with late Celtic background (Irish, Picts, Britons).

[Magnus Maximus]

the protuding horns of the head are there for this) to the dane axes

not really.
the "horns" on great axes, and the "beard" of bearded axes, were to create a larger cutting edge without unbalancing the weapon with a heavy axe head. see that the edge are crescent shaped, somewhat like a sabre.
the shape of an axe head and the style of its edge is a good clue to wetter an axe were primarily a tool or a weapon. wood cutting tools have no particular benefit from such curved edge and the head usually thicker. axe weapons often had the edge in an angle compared to shaft and some later variants had the shaft bent at the head, this to emphasise the weapons cutting(hack and slash) ability.
also consider that the later halberd had a spear tip used for poking, suggesting that the protruding tip were not intended as a stabbing feature or at least not very useful for such.

[Faoldorcha]

I agree that they weren't there "for that", I was a bit carried there, but trust me, a thrust with these can make quite a lot of damage, and a nasty triangular-shaped wound (no, I didn't try that on any human or animal, don't worry). A good technique (I found) is to launch a swift upward thrust while turning your hands, followed by a strong cut. But yes, later halberd tips are more efficient for thrusting --- deeper wounds, but perhaps less wide --- but requires a totally different forging technique and fastening to the handle, which I'm not sure they had at this time.

Totally with you for the difference in shape of weapon/tool axes, though!

[Letissier]

the protuding horns of the head are there for this) to the dane axes

not really.
the "horns" on great axes, and the "beard" of bearded axes, were to create a larger cutting edge without unbalancing the weapon with a heavy axe head. see that the edge are crescent shaped, somewhat like a sabre.
the shape of an axe head and the style of its edge is a good clue to wetter an axe were primarily a tool or a weapon. wood cutting tools have no particular benefit from such curved edge and the head usually thicker. axe weapons often had the edge in an angle compared to shaft and some later variants had the shaft bent at the head, this to emphasise the weapons cutting(hack and slash) ability.
also consider that the later halberd had a spear tip used for poking, suggesting that the protruding tip were not intended as a stabbing feature or at least not very useful for such.

And i can add that some of the shapes of the axeheads were to save iron that was in short supply during that time.