| From: | Steve Collins einan@*********.net |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Scythe (was Re: Weapon Idea) |
| Date: | Tue, 20 Jun 00 11:15:16 -0500 |
A Scythe looks like this
|
|
|
|__
A Pole Arm looks like this
+
+
+
|
|
|
|
If you take that Scythe Blade and rotate it 90 degrees so it is parrallel
with the rest of the shaft it becomes a Pole Arm and not a scythe anymore
so I'm going to ignore that arguement.
With a Pole Arm I can generate a Lever arm equal to the length of the
shaft plus the blade (usually about 6 to 8 feet or 190 to 240 Cm).
With a Scythe I can generate a Lever arm equal to the length of the blade
(usually about 60 to 80 CM) or maybe by holding it at a 45 degree angle
with the target of Length of the shaft * (SQRT2/2) which is going to come
out to effectively about 100 CM.
I suppose this does put it into the range where it would qualify for a
reach of 1
On 6/20/00 4:40 am, Aristotle said:
>>>>Grim Shear : wrote a post pointing out that the scythe would make a bad
>choice of weapons. He suggested that it have a damage code of (Str -1)S,
>reach of 0, and concealability of 2.
>
>>>>Grzegorz Ruminski : sited that the scythe has been used as a weapon and
>that he believed it should have a damage code of (Str +2)S, reach of 2, and
>concealability of NA.
>
>I have to say I side with this second example. The scythe has been used by
>a weapon in the real world and therefore should be able to be used as one
>in role playing. I think it would definitely fall into the category of
>'pole arm' and would definitely not be a common weapon. Weapons of this
>sort would definitely draw attention to you and would not be the best
>choice for those who wish to keep things discreet. However I see the
>shadows as a diverse place that hold folks of this discreet nature as well
>as more eccentric characters who like to show off with signature weapons
>and outlandish stunts. I'm not going to comment on which folks have the
>longer lifespan, just that the shadows are home to all sorts.
>
>Just my $0.02,
>Travis "Aristotle" Heldibridle
>
Ok so I want my weapon of choice to be a Folding Chair, or a Barstool, or
a Snow Shovel, or a Broken Bottle, or a Guitar or a Nail Gun, or any of a
dozen improvised weapons. Yes a Scythe has been used as a weapon almost
exclusively (please note I said almost don't start quoting the oddball
exceptions from history to prove me wrong) by local Millitia units who
had no weapons and so they took up what they had. That still does not
make it effective or easy to use. I do believe trere are rules for using
improvised weapons somewhere (FoF?, CC?).
The weight and balance is all wrong, it is very difficult to get the
blade in place to be used on your enemy, All of your moves will be
telegraphed to your opponent because the balance is so far off, it is
Very easy to break the Blade off the shaft leaving you with an undersized
and off balance staff, for the same reasons a woodsmans Axe makes a poor
choice of weapons. Yes they certainly can be used as weapons but not
anywhere near as effectively as something which was designed to be used
as a weapon and that is my point. Also as far as the Scythe being a
"Terrible Weapon" so are a Battle Axes and Pole Arms. They can EASILY
sever an armored Human Leg at the Hip and I would not give a Scythe even
as much damage potential as a Battle Axe therefore the (Str-1)S Damage
code although I could also see a (Str + 2 or 3)M damage Code as being
realistic.
Steve
