Misc > The Sage's Guild - Historical Discussion

Dual wielding

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ThePuska:
This goes here, no?


Anyways, I was thinking about that basic, or not so basic, fantasy element. Dual wielding. Mainly, does it work, or does it not work? And why?

I just can't figure out a stance in which the dual wielder could:
1. use both his weapons for attacking, or the other one for effective deflecting
2. keep his chest and head area safe

If the dual wielder has two longswords, and he wants to use them both for attacking, he must face straight towards the opponent - chest will be very vulnerable and he'll have a hard time deflecting any quick thrusts. Neither can he move towards the opponent left arm first and hope to be able to land a strike with the sword in the right hand, like would be the case with a shield, because he doesn't have any protection on his left side (other than the sword, which can't be used to actually block anything). Ugh.

What I'm trying to say, I don't see a point in using two swords, because you'll never be able to use them both at the same time, unless you somehow manage to pin the opponent's sword with one of yours. Then you could, possibly, slice him open. But he could also come closer and grapple you, and then your shiny extra sword wouldn't help a bit.


Sorry, it's late already. Feeling a little sleepy.


modifyedd:

Hmm, possibly you could do it much in the same fashion as boxing. Left hand strikes first, right hand follows. You do need to twist your body while striking with right hand, though, but if you managed to get your opponent off-balance with the first strike, the following strike would be an easy hit.

I don't know, I'll have to try it some time. :)

Ursca:
Sometimes a 'case' of rapiers were used in fencing.
This site and this site may provide some insight into it, at least in fencing.

Ursca:
Well, he did ask how it could theoretically work.
I never said it was sensible.

Iguana-on-a-stick:
Note that longswords are hand-and-a-half swords. That makes it a very bad idea to try using two of them at once. Two swords designed purely for one-handed use would be better, I think. But it would probably still suck.

Rapier and dagger was used as a style, though. But that was for duels, not for the battlefield.

I'd say there's only one type of "dual wielding" that's effective: a sword (or axe or whatever) in the right hand, and a shield in the left. The shield can be used as a weapon, to bash people and knock them off balance, and provides excellent protection to boot.

Archonsod:
The problem is attacking with both at the same time. In most paired weapons intended to be used together then the secondary weapon is usually intended for a purpose other than blocking. Even those which have an offensive purpose tend to have specific situations in which they are used (usually those in which the main weapon would prove unwieldy, for example the rapier and dagger combination).

 I couldn't see two longswords being used. Practical considerations aside, the second sword would neither allow you to do something the other sword couldn't, nor add anything to using the other sword.

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