The Forge Archives

Inactive Forums => The Riddle of Steel => Topic started by: Richard_Strey on March 24, 2004, 03:44:52 AM

Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Richard_Strey on March 24, 2004, 03:44:52 AM
Now, we are all torlerant people. I like that about this forum. I, myself, am a tolerant person -and in Cologne, as you know, everyone is- who spends about ten hours a week practicing the killing of fellow Colonians with different bits of steel. And sometimes, without.
And threads like this (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?s=447156edb2baab23f09d8d0ba53c5660&threadid=111319) one on RPG.net are exactly why I *love* Jake for making TROS. :)
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: clehrich on March 24, 2004, 04:26:01 AM
Oh my god.  Apologies for the "me too" sort of post, but that's deeply, deeply sad.  I got through 4 full pages of that stuff, giggling occasionally, before finally having to click it off.

Chris Lehrich
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Valamir on March 24, 2004, 04:55:04 AM
Yeah...and the scary part is, these are people who ENJOY that...

Forget the sillyness of hacking hundreds of people with impunity.  Just read the page after page of esoteric knowledge about how feats interact with the combat rules and AoO...high level 3E is worse than Advanced Squad Leader for crissake.  Its insane.

And I don't care,

any game in which the most effective killing weapon for a trained warrior is a spiked chain is stupid.  Period.

Not to mention piss poorly playtested.
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Malechi on March 24, 2004, 08:50:49 AM
*twitch*...

*twitch* *twitch*

*shudder*

*twitch*

sorry.. after only reading a page and one post I felt compelled to go into involuntary spasms.  I have no idea how anyone could enjoy that (more power to them), or how anyone can say its simple.. or indeed more simple than TROS...

*twitch*
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Richard_Strey on March 24, 2004, 11:40:13 AM
Sort of like Big Brother, isn't it? Horrible, but you just can't stop watching. *g* On another note, I do have respect for people who can play a game like that. Gamism at its finest.
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Tash on March 24, 2004, 11:57:49 AM
I'll admit, I am one of those who not only enjoys D&D but gets into the bizarre details of the game system and all tis esoteric little details.

Example:  the other day my wife and I were at a friend's house watching a movie.  I was thumbing through a book (actually a D&D supplement that I don't own) as the opening credits started.  My friend shut off the lights, I continued reading by the light of the TV (I have extremely good nightvison).  My wife just chuckled, she's used to me doing that.  The rest of the people in the room were shaking their heads saying "Umm. how can you see?".  My said "He has infravison".

I immediately responded by saying "No, you can't read with infravison, words don't create heat".

I think its a bad sign when 3 people, all of who can quote the saving throw DC for any spell in 2nd or 3rd edition D&D all turn to you at once and say "You are such a geek!"
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Richard_Strey on March 24, 2004, 03:01:10 PM
On the note of being torlerant (misspled it the first time, might as well stick to it...), I also like this (http://64.224.111.216/archives/kki/1986/mar86/weapons/weapons.html) article a lot. :)
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: tauman on March 24, 2004, 06:19:17 PM
Geeze, it looks like he's wielding a street sign!

While I'm sure it's effective, it just looks silly, is hard to carry (how would I fit that in my car) and can not be carried around easily. Using that as a primary weapon would be like using a bazooka (WWII version) for self defense :)

Quote from: Richard_StreyOn the note of being torlerant (misspled it the first time, might as well stick to it...), I also like this (http://64.224.111.216/archives/kki/1986/mar86/weapons/weapons.html) article a lot. :)
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Valamir on March 24, 2004, 06:49:58 PM
I have trouble accepting that site as being legitimate.  A 20 pound pole arm being whipped about like a staff?  Not likely.   Not to mention how this thing would react if you swung it too close to the ground...you'd probably disarm yourself.

On the wall in the Chicago Museum of Fine Art there is a sword.  Its over 20 pounds, the blade is about as wide as two hands side by side.  the cross guard is as broad as your shoulders and its about 8 feet long.  Its very clearly marked as a ceremonial sword carried like a banner at the head of processions.

But no doubt if some fan boy got ahold of it, it would suddenly become "a mighty weapon wielded only by the strongest of knights, capable of hacking clean through both a knight and his horse in one mighty swing".  Shortly thereafter it would show up in some d20 guide to weapons as a two handed sword requiring an 18 strength and the exotic weapon feat, to wield, doing 3d10 damage with a crit threshold of 5.

Maybe its just the cynic in me...but I suspect the item in the picture either has a ceremonial use...or is simply a hat rack.  Super secret martial art weapon taught only by the direct decendents of its ancient master?

...sounds like another Spiked Chain to me...
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Caz on March 24, 2004, 07:30:46 PM
Hehe looks like it'd make a good tv antenna or wether vane.  Just needs a rooster on top.
   Obviously they don't know how to convert pounds.  There's no such thing as even a usable 10 pound pole arm.  
   I don't believe even that huge ceremonial sword could weight that much unless it was 1/4 inch thick and made of lead.
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Tash on March 24, 2004, 10:59:56 PM
Quote from: ValamirSuper secret martial art weapon taught only by the direct decendents of its ancient master?

Anytime I hear this phrase, or something like it, I get the overwheelming urge to whip out my lightsaber, declare myself openly to the last of the Jedi knights, and kill the dumbass on the spot.
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Jake Norwood on March 25, 2004, 12:06:05 AM
Uh, fill me in here, what thread?

Jake
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Edge on March 25, 2004, 12:07:34 AM
there are two links in the posts above that are being referenced
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Jake Norwood on March 25, 2004, 12:16:12 AM
Ah, gotcha.

THanks.

Jake
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: timfire on March 25, 2004, 05:13:38 AM
Quote from: Richard_StreyOn the note of being torlerant (misspled it the first time, might as well stick to it...), I also like this (http://64.224.111.216/archives/kki/1986/mar86/weapons/weapons.html) article a lot. :)
Is it just me or does that "spear" look Photoshop'ed?
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Blankshield on March 25, 2004, 06:29:00 AM
If it is photoshopped or otherwise faked, it's a good one.  It's inserted into an archives site of Martial Arts magazines, and the credited author was a fairly legit-seeming Sifu from California who's published more than one book on martial arts.  

The oriental martial arts, esp. the chinese varients are known for producing some pretty esoteric weapons, not all of which are necessarily stunningly practical.  So I suspect it's legitimate for what it's worth.  Now, as to how effective it would be, I'm reserving judgement.  I suspect the best check would be to watch the guy winging it around a few times in a fast practice form.  If he hasn't killed himself, he's probably dangerous with it.  That's usually a good metric for the oddball chinese weapons.

James
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Tash on March 25, 2004, 01:17:02 PM
Quote from: timfire
Quote from: Richard_StreyOn the note of being torlerant (misspled it the first time, might as well stick to it...), I also like this (http://64.224.111.216/archives/kki/1986/mar86/weapons/weapons.html) article a lot. :)
Is it just me or does that "spear" look Photoshop'ed?

No, I'm pretty sure I saw a weapon like this once...on Star Trek...in a Klingon gladitorial arena....being used to fight mutant space boars!
Title: A Fight is a Fight is a Fight. Or is it?
Post by: Tash on March 25, 2004, 01:22:16 PM
Quote from: BlankshieldIf it is photoshopped or otherwise faked, it's a good one.  It's inserted into an archives site of Martial Arts magazines, and the credited author was a fairly legit-seeming Sifu from California who's published more than one book on martial arts.  

The oriental martial arts, esp. the chinese varients are known for producing some pretty esoteric weapons, not all of which are necessarily stunningly practical.  So I suspect it's legitimate for what it's worth.  Now, as to how effective it would be, I'm reserving judgement.  I suspect the best check would be to watch the guy winging it around a few times in a fast practice form.  If he hasn't killed himself, he's probably dangerous with it.  That's usually a good metric for the oddball chinese weapons.

James

Your certainly right with the assertion that China's martial traditions have created more than a few strange weapons.  I'm still pretty skeptical about some of the quoted "facts" regarding this weapon though.  Especially the 20 pound weight and the references to a "secret" fighting style.

EDIT:  The fruits of a quick Google search:  another site that says a few more thigns about the weapon, seemingly indicating that it is actually a symbolic/cerimonial weapon used only by the Grand Masters of a psecific system.  

http://www.plumblossom.net/ChoyLiFut/9dragon.html