Why did people use swords? #fantasy #dnd #medieval #dejatwo

[littlebigcubing]

I would also say that most people overestimate how common swords were and their main use cases, they were mainly sidearms that would rarely be used over a polearm, not to mention they are expensive to make (much more so than a spear head), so they saw much more use by civilians, as they wouldn’t have to deal with armor in civilian contexts.

[Krystalchan]

This is a reminder for majority of military history, you had to buy your own armor as well which is why the knights and upper ranks had plate because they were nobles.

[awesomechaos]

People in the future are gonna say “Well if pistols were so ineffective, why didn’t they all use high caliber rifles?” Lmao.

[KitsuneRogue]

People tend to assume that because the modern fighting militaries are all uniform in their equipment and outfits, the same must have been true in the era before gunpowder weapons

[kadmii]

"if a machine gun is useless against a tank, why do tanks have a machine gun mounted on them?"

[gizmo_gadgets]

Swords are basically big knives, so it makes sense that they would be used in civilian life and as a 2nd resort weapon

[tomvanbaarle]

The years to learn part is also fairly misleading it takes years to gain mastery but using swords effectively takes significantly less probably only 1 to 2 months

And two other benefits are that they are pretty light and sharp which means it is significantly less exhausting to use a sword to deal damage then a mace or hammer

Source i do historical European martial arts

[lampshade]

Love this. So many people say "why isn't he in knights amor." When talking about media. Like that shit just falls of trees.

[cthonicaidoneus]

i believe knights would also carry around daggers they could jam into the crevices of an opposing knights armor if they bested them in sword based combat

[modemheinzmain]

Thats like saying Assault rifles are usless against tanks and IVFs so why are solider still carrying them.

[DavidVillaTorre]

I mean we're back to square one. Gambeson and chainmail are both extremely effective at blocking sword cuts, and they were usually worn together as well.

[anarkizt]

Something important to note about weapons and armor for your average medieval military is outside of your standard issue gear (usually some sort of tabard so people know what side you’re on. A spear a shield sometimes a helmet) soldiers are responsible for procuring their own equipment.

[leiakasta]

I think people also need to realize that chain mail also has some weight to it. Like I don’t know how it compares to plate because I haven’t tried to pick up plate but I have tried to pick up chain mail and it’s got some heft to it. You definitely have to be in shape to be wearing this stuff.

[davidhouseman]

When they were common (which wasn't always) it was as a second weapon.
I'd also they can be used to defend better than many alternatives.

[famvirious]

Swords were sidearms in warfare anyway. You had a spear or polearm if you could and those could definitely harm someone in armor. Not always but piercing and blunt force will do just fine with enough hits or a good placed hit

[cubert]

They were also often used as sidearms. Same way a soldier now might have a pistol, the smaller caliber may not be as effective as a rifle might be but it was better than nothing if you lose you main weapon.

[derekcook]

This combines my childhood interest in middle age weapons with my current interests of world history and sex appeal.

[jonathanmoody]

European swords were also designed to be the Swiss Army Knife if the battle field, not amazing at anything, but good at everything, able to stab, slash, or even bludgeon using techniques such as Mordhau.

[johndope]

Don't forget about the technique known as "half-swording", good for grappling and getting an opponent to the floor, where you can stab them.

[ProjectEchoshadow]

The best thing about swords back in the day was that if you walked around with one it was seen as self defense but if you went around with a mace people wondered if you were out to kill