From:	acjpenn@******.com acjpenn@******.com
Subject:	Scythe (was Re: Weapon Idea)
Date:	Tue, 20 Jun 2000 12:40:23 -0500

A scythe has many disadvantages as a weapon. Note that we're talking (at
least, I think we're talking) about a European/American farmers wheat or
grain scythe, about 6-7' long, with a long curved blade.
First off, it's heavy. It's meant to be. A scythe is meant to be swung
back and forth, low to the ground, in a rythym. The staff part, or shaft,
is bent to accomodate this action. Also, a handhold is provided about
three of four hands down a the shaft. Even being used in it's designed
capacity, it takes a while to get used to.

So we have a heavy, ackward device that takes special skill to be used. A
skill which not many people have anymore, btw.

With that in point, let's take a look at some of the points that have been
brought up.


>
> I hear a bunch of people stating that the scythe is a bad weapon because
the
> blade is only sharp on the inside,

Not just that.

now if I were going to use a scythe as my
> weapon of choice, I would make sure that every millimeter I could get
sharp
> was as sharp as I could get it, inside and out,

having a sharp surface area doesn't make a weapon dangerous unless you can
use it.

and don't forget that you
> don't have to use it *JUST* for cutting, you could use it to stab people
as
> well,

Disagree with you here. You can't stab with a curved blade.

>my feeling is a reach of 1

I'm going to go with the reach of zero. First off, the shaft is only six
to seven feet long, and meant to be held close to the body. The blade is
long, heavy, and offset. This gives you a cutting range of maybe three
feet in front of you. Don't forget, you have to get someone INSIDE of that
three feet, for this to be effective.

>(STR + 1)S using polearms skill,

Considering how difficult it is to get the blade in position to hit a
moving, humanoid target, I'm going to say str+2M. It's nowhere near as
effective as a polearm (Str+3S, SR3)

I think
> (at least I hope) the person who suggested reach of 0 conceal 2 and
(str-1)S
> had to be thinging of the smaller scythe, meant to be used 1 handed,

The Asian weapon called a kama. Okinawan in origin. I'm going to say
Conceal NA for the scythe we're talking about here. The Egyptians also had
a kama-like sword called the Kopesh. Effective, but lost to straight-edge
weapons, once metalurgy pushed technology past bronze, and could provide a
sharper edge.

Tig Da Pig



> -Necron "Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one"
>
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