2015/11/04 [TTM #12] - How to blunt thy sword

[Eboreg]

Wouldn't androids have some high-tech blackmetal protection around the neck? Failing that, there is the backup power supply, which should give enough surprise to let the cavalry come in. Or maybe the cavalry isn't going to come in and Niall is going to get recovered after his headless android body, with head, is tossed out the back. (Reports of my death were... exaggerated)

Another thing to note is that Amber did mention how hard it is to keep a soul intact when transferring it from body to body but I wouldn't put it above Yak(ovlev) to find a way to automate the process and, basically, create a soul-harvesting script/machine/robot that does it better than any organic. After all, before the 'droid bodies (and Dark Pegasus), there never really was any reason to perfect the process like this.

[Tapewolf]

Another thing to note is that Amber did mention how hard it is to keep a soul intact when transferring it from body to body but I wouldn't put it above Yak(ovlev) to find a way to automate the process and, basically, create a soul-harvesting script/machine/robot that does it better than any organic. After all, before the 'droid bodies (and Dark Pegasus), there never really was any reason to perfect the process like this.

Yeah, I have retconned that since the DMFA present day, they've discovered a way to perform lossless transfers (or perhaps a way to minimize the loss and repair the 'leak'?) but I haven't gone into detail.  It features more in Epsilon because that was actively being written when this fact became known.

That's only for transfers, mind - eating a (non-artifical) soul will still pollute yours, though.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

I do find it interesting that nobody seems to be at all trained in hand-to-hand. You'd think that, in a world where Creatures are hated and feared, and Adventurers capture them with these bangles all the time, someone would have considered training to cope with such a situation.

Perhaps it's just me. >.>

[Tapewolf]

I do find it interesting that nobody seems to be at all trained in hand-to-hand. You'd think that, in a world where Creatures are hated and feared, and Adventurers capture them with these bangles all the time, someone would have considered training to cope with such a situation.
Perhaps it's just me. >.>

Well, the situation with Niall here is a bit of an unusual one, in that he was handed over on a plate.

But yeah - it's not usually just a matter of sticking the bangles on them - you have to stun them first, and there are limits to how much training can help you against a surprise attack.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Well, the situation with Niall here is a bit of an unusual one, in that he was handed over on a plate.

But yeah - it's not usually just a matter of sticking the bangles on them - you have to stun them first, and there are limits to how much training can help you against a surprise attack.

True. Spears, however, are not a close-quarters weapon. Fists are. If you can get past the spear (which isn't too hard, unless they're very skilled) you're close enough that they can't use the spear very well against you, and you can go to town on them while they're fumbling to drop the spear out of the way. And the two unarmed guys - sure, the armour helps, but it also hinders by being heavy and slowing you down, unless you're well-trained in dealing with the weight.

It does make it harder to attack someone in it, mind, but I guess the feeling is that anytime some guard comes in, the comic seems to have the captured party immediately fold, rather than, say, fighting - or at least struggling - for freedom. Perhaps it's just harder to demonstrate without having the comic run for extra panels on end, which is an acceptable artistic licence, I grant you.

[Tapewolf]

True. Spears, however, are not a close-quarters weapon. Fists are. If you can get past the spear (which isn't too hard, unless they're very skilled) you're close enough that they can't use the spear very well against you, and you can go to town on them while they're fumbling to drop the spear out of the way. And the two unarmed guys - sure, the armour helps, but it also hinders by being heavy and slowing you down, unless you're well-trained in dealing with the weight.

Very true regarding the spears.  If I'd thought about it I'd have specced swords or stun-guns or something.  As it happens this page was quite rushed and in any case I only gave a very brief outline to the artist.

However...

I guess the feeling is that anytime some guard comes in, the comic seems to have the captured party immediately fold, rather than, say, fighting - or at least struggling - for freedom. Perhaps it's just harder to demonstrate without having the comic run for extra panels on end, which is an acceptable artistic licence, I grant you.

With Jakob he usually wants to talk things out - the running theme in Heads.  However, in this instance, Niall is acting as a distraction so running out of the office wouldn't really work and he's probably used to using his wing-tentacles in a fight which isn't going to work anymore.

[Eboreg]

If you can get past the spear (which isn't too hard, if they're half-braindead)

Fixed.

What?

Listen, buster, "getting past the long pointy thing" is not as easy as you might believe due to things like "mass" and "inertia". Trying to "get past" the spear stands a risk of your arm getting whacked with the pole or worse, the tip. In most cases, that would be followed up by a stab to the chest but here, even if he does get past the spear, the wielder can point the spear to the side instead of at the target and give him a good old fashioned copper beatdown.

Also, Tape isn't good at action scenes, so he tends to avoid them.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

If you can get past the spear (which isn't too hard, if they're half-braindead)

Fixed.

What?

Listen, buster, "getting past the long pointy thing" is not as easy as you might believe due to things like "mass" and "inertia". Trying to "get past" the spear stands a risk of your arm getting whacked with the pole or worse, the tip. In most cases, that would be followed up by a stab to the chest but here, even if he does get past the spear, the wielder can point the spear to the side instead of at the target and give him a good old fashioned copper beatdown.

Also, Tape isn't good at action scenes, so he tends to avoid them.

Uh. You know what I do on weekends, right? A spear-based martial art. I know whereof I speak - unless the guy you're fighting is very good, it's surprisingly easy to get past a single spear, if you have any training at all. Particularly if it's just being used as a pointy thing on a stick.

Certainly I know -I- wouldn't have too much trouble, for the most part. Not without risks, but... certainly doable if you're prepared to take the risks, and/or a small hit.

Spearmen work well in groups, in European forms. Less well by themselves. Strength in numbers.

[Eboreg]

Uh. You know what I do on weekends, right? A spear-based martial art.

...and I've had the lights beaten out of me both on the street and in the dojo. Unless your instructor encourages you to wear safety equipment while sparring and not shy away from inflicting pain, I ain't hearing it.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Uh. You know what I do on weekends, right? A spear-based martial art.

...and I've had the lights beaten out of me both on the street and in the dojo. Unless your instructor encourages you to wear safety equipment while sparring and not shy away from inflicting pain, I ain't hearing it.

Now, where would the sense be in not using pain as a teaching method? It's extremely effective.

[Eboreg]

Uh. You know what I do on weekends, right? A spear-based martial art.

...and I've had the lights beaten out of me both on the street and in the dojo. Unless your instructor encourages you to wear safety equipment while sparring and not shy away from inflicting pain, I ain't hearing it.

Now, where would the sense be in not using pain as a teaching method? It's extremely effective.

It happens way too much in martial arts instruction.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Now, where would the sense be in not using pain as a teaching method? It's extremely effective.

It happens way too much in martial arts instruction.

Avoiding it? That's not instruction, though, that's sport. Pain teaches you not to do things again. Many people -only- learn from pain, in moderation. Wouldn't make sense to teach someone how to fight but not deal with pain. -sigh-

[Eboreg]

ANYWAYS... I actually follow a guy on Youtube who regularly practices various Historical European Martial Arts surrounding all sorts of weapons, and he seems to know what he's doing. He actually claimed that a beginner spearsman could easily prevent an intermediate swordsman from getting past the point and knowing what I know about martial arts, i.e. blocks should hurt, not just redirect; use every weapon available, just because you have a knife doesn't mean the rest of your limbs don't count; dueling is 10% technique and 90% guts and aggression; getting whacked in the arms with a hefty wooden pole bleedin' hurts; I can definitely see where he's coming from.

The video is here.

[Kuzma Volkov]

Uh. You know what I do on weekends, right? A spear-based martial art. I know whereof I speak - unless the guy you're fighting is very good, it's surprisingly easy to get past a single spear, if you have any training at all. Particularly if it's just being used as a pointy thing on a stick.

Certainly I know -I- wouldn't have too much trouble, for the most part. Not without risks, but... certainly doable if you're prepared to take the risks, and/or a small hit.

Spearmen work well in groups, in European forms. Less well by themselves. Strength in numbers.

It's funny even when I was in college and we had PVC pipes encased in pool noodles for LARPs... I learned really quickly how easy it is to evade and counter a spearmen. Unless the pole is bladed or something it's an easy weapon to take away and use against the attacker. What was funnier was how quickly we'd always go from "safety" to full force shots to the ribs.

[Eboreg]

It's funny even when I was in college and we had PVC pipes encased in pool noodles for LARPs... I learned really quickly how easy it is to evade and counter a spearmen. Unless the pole is bladed or something it's an easy weapon to take away and use against the attacker. What was funnier was how quickly we'd always go from "safety" to full force shots to the ribs.

A nerd in plastic armor does not a trained warrior make.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

ANYWAYS... I actually follow a guy on Youtube who regularly practices various Historical European Martial Arts surrounding all sorts of weapons, and he seems to know what he's doing. He actually claimed that a beginner spearsman could easily prevent an intermediate swordsman from getting past the point and knowing what I know about martial arts, i.e. blocks should hurt, not just redirect; use every weapon available, just because you have a knife doesn't mean the rest of your limbs don't count; dueling is 10% technique and 90% guts and aggression; getting whacked in the arms with a hefty wooden pole bleedin' hurts; I can definitely see where he's coming from.

The video is here.

Skallagrim is awesome, but not always correct. Even he admits to that. In this case... he's talking specifically about European Martial Arts, and specifically about battlefield use. In which case, I point out I mentioned friends - you're unlikely to be alone on a battlefield, mostly (although recent discussions about Leo Major provide counterpoint); also, I've watched him and his friends spearfighting, and have been mildly disappointed about the lack of technique they appear to have.

He does have a point... but I'm still disagreeing with where you're taking it.