From:	Paul J. Adam ShadowRN@********.demon.co.uk
Subject:	Scythe (was Re: Weapon Idea)
Date:	Tue, 20 Jun 2000 19:57:24 +0100

In article <4.1.20000620051241.009497a0@***.mindspring.com>, Aristotle
<antithesis@**********.com> writes
>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.

How many armed forces made scythes issue weapons? I've seen a polearm
where a scythe blade was mounted on and parallel to, a straight shaft to
create a sort of naginata... but very few cases of scythes being used in
their standard form.

Recall, many peasant levies went to war armed - quite literally - with
sticks and stones, with farm implements being pressed into use when
available. Those that could acquire swords, axes, or other purpose-
designed weapons did so whenever possible.


I'm not saying you _can't_ use it as a weapon... but if you say it's got
(for instance) the reach and damage of a combat axe, why did anyone
bother with axes, when they could just borrow a scythe from a peasant to
get better results?

--
Paul J. Adam