bastard sword specialist [Archive] - Wizards Community

bastard sword specialist [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
jack haas
08-10-03, 11:00 PM i've developed a bastard sword specialist using the specialist fighter "kensai" from the most recent dragon magazine. he's a very cool character when you look at the numbers but now i need a background and history for this awesome set of stats.

can anyone tell me the history of the bastard sword? i'm specifically interested in what cultures developed and used the sword so i can create a realistic master of the bastard sword. any information would be most appreciated.
Tzor
08-11-03, 11:10 AM http://home.comcast.net/~kohlerfolk/mbc/history.html

http://students.ou.edu/P/Jeremiah.D.Powell-1/texts/medivial_iron/iron_history.html
jack haas
08-11-03, 07:52 PM thanks tzor. much more useful than the lame admonishments to ask my dm that i seem to be getting elsewhere.
Veii
08-12-03, 02:33 PM I do have some experience on this as I have had many bastard sword Kensai types in my gaming. (Bastard sword is my favorite weapon by far).

Well, I think it really depends on how you want to approach the Kensai variant you've chosen. The entire concept of the Kensai is rooted in Oriental Adventures. Even in 3rd edition OA there is a prestige class called the Kensai (its exactly the same as S&F Weapon Master). The Kensai often shares a mystical bond with his chosen weapon by why would he choose the bastard sword? How does he wield it, one or two handed? If two handed, maybe he feels shields to be for the unskilled. Maybe its a cultural bias, maybe he is from an upper class family in a society where the shield is looked at as peasant equipment. My characters always admired the bastard sword for its superior balance, versatility and ease of use. If you find longswords to stock and trade and greatswords too bulky, the bastard sword is the one for you.

Historically, the typical bastard sword was no more than a "longsword" with an extended hilt for extra leverage. That extra leverage allows the wielder to swing the sword more accurately and with more force (at the expense of a shield).
Leap
08-17-03, 10:33 AM From both a role playing and an historical perspective, the bastard sword is an excellent option; the longsword is historically a soldiers weapon (used with a shield) for fighting in-the-line, whilst the 2 hander is a peasant mower (but is VERY fast when used properly [something old dnd completely missed - too much hollywood me thinks ;) ] ), whilst the b-sword allows two weapon use, especially when combined with a dagger that can be thrown (allowing you to concentrate on the sword)............much more ranger or barbarian I suppose (check out LOTR when Aragorn is fighting with the Nazgul at Weathertop - in the film he has a torch in his off hand and a b-sword in his main).

2 cp worth - my own prefered combination is Sabre/Scimitar in right hand and shortsword/stilleto in off hand (having fought with all the above swords in real life (I live in a rough area ;) ] I certainly find either that or the b-sword to be the most devastating and flexible......

:)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jack haas 08-10-03, 11:00 PM	i've developed a bastard sword specialist using the specialist fighter "kensai" from the most recent dragon magazine. he's a very cool character when you look at the numbers but now i need a background and history for this awesome set of stats. can anyone tell me the history of the bastard sword? i'm specifically interested in what cultures developed and used the sword so i can create a realistic master of the bastard sword. any information would be most appreciated.
Tzor 08-11-03, 11:10 AM	http://home.comcast.net/~kohlerfolk/mbc/history.html http://students.ou.edu/P/Jeremiah.D.Powell-1/texts/medivial_iron/iron_history.html
jack haas 08-11-03, 07:52 PM	thanks tzor. much more useful than the lame admonishments to ask my dm that i seem to be getting elsewhere.
Veii 08-12-03, 02:33 PM	I do have some experience on this as I have had many bastard sword Kensai types in my gaming. (Bastard sword is my favorite weapon by far). Well, I think it really depends on how you want to approach the Kensai variant you've chosen. The entire concept of the Kensai is rooted in Oriental Adventures. Even in 3rd edition OA there is a prestige class called the Kensai (its exactly the same as S&F Weapon Master). The Kensai often shares a mystical bond with his chosen weapon by why would he choose the bastard sword? How does he wield it, one or two handed? If two handed, maybe he feels shields to be for the unskilled. Maybe its a cultural bias, maybe he is from an upper class family in a society where the shield is looked at as peasant equipment. My characters always admired the bastard sword for its superior balance, versatility and ease of use. If you find longswords to stock and trade and greatswords too bulky, the bastard sword is the one for you. Historically, the typical bastard sword was no more than a "longsword" with an extended hilt for extra leverage. That extra leverage allows the wielder to swing the sword more accurately and with more force (at the expense of a shield).
Leap 08-17-03, 10:33 AM	From both a role playing and an historical perspective, the bastard sword is an excellent option; the longsword is historically a soldiers weapon (used with a shield) for fighting in-the-line, whilst the 2 hander is a peasant mower (but is VERY fast when used properly [something old dnd completely missed - too much hollywood me thinks ;) ] ), whilst the b-sword allows two weapon use, especially when combined with a dagger that can be thrown (allowing you to concentrate on the sword)............much more ranger or barbarian I suppose (check out LOTR when Aragorn is fighting with the Nazgul at Weathertop - in the film he has a torch in his off hand and a b-sword in his main). 2 cp worth - my own prefered combination is Sabre/Scimitar in right hand and shortsword/stilleto in off hand (having fought with all the above swords in real life (I live in a rough area ;) ] I certainly find either that or the b-sword to be the most devastating and flexible...... :)