[rpavers]

Hello, new player question.  When reading the entry of highland forged claymore, can non trolls use the weapon?  Was reading the entry and was getting a little confused by it.  Thanks.

[Namikaze]

Yes, anyone can use it.  The reference to trolls was purely a fluff thing.

[LionofPerth]

Yes, anyone can use it.  The reference to trolls was purely a fluff thing.

Pure fluff, nothing to really worry about.

[Dinendae]

Yep, much like the fluff in the Terracota(sp?) Arms sniper rifle entry about even some trolls struggling to use it.

[DWC]

The claymore would never have become a household name in the 20th century if they couldn't be wielded by non-trolls.

[Kincaid]

The claymore would never have become a household name in the 20th century if they couldn't be wielded by non-trolls.

It was a household name long before the 20th century

[farothel]

There's also a mine with that name: 

A Claymore mine is an ingenious and therefore extremely nasty device. It is a small metal box, slightly curved. On the convex side is written "THIS SIDE TOWARDS THE ENEMY" which explains why literacy is a survival trait even with US marines. The box is filled with explosive and 600 steel balls. It has a tripod and a trigger mechanism, which can be operated either by a tripwire or, when the operator doesn't want to miss the fun, manually. When triggered, the device explodes and showers the half of the world which could have read the letters with the steel balls. Killing radius 100 ft., serious maiming radius a good deal more. Used to great effect in Vietnam by both sides.

[Ghoulfodder]

Got to try (well hold) a German dueling Zweihander at the weekend.

It was bigger than I am (not that hard) and it was surprisingly light. A replica obvs, so I'm not sure how much of a difference that makes. That must be pretty similar to a Claymore though and I really wouldn't want to be facing off someone holding one. It was practically a spear it was so long!

[LionofPerth]

Got to try (well hold) a German dueling Zweihander at the weekend.

It was bigger than I am (not that hard) and it was surprisingly light. A replica obvs, so I'm not sure how much of a difference that makes. That must be pretty similar to a Claymore though and I really wouldn't want to be facing off someone holding one. It was practically a spear it was so long!

No chance you could post some pics of it? Almost bought a piece from the 15th century a few years back.

[Ghoulfodder]

Got to try (well hold) a German dueling Zweihander at the weekend.

It was bigger than I am (not that hard) and it was surprisingly light. A replica obvs, so I'm not sure how much of a difference that makes. That must be pretty similar to a Claymore though and I really wouldn't want to be facing off someone holding one. It was practically a spear it was so long!

No chance you could post some pics of it? Almost bought a piece from the 15th century a few years back.

Didn't get a piccie of it, I'll see if I can google something similar. I do have a stage broadsword (and a rapier) if you're interested in seeing those. Obviously they're not genuine, but I think they're quite nice.

It's behind the lady in the second picture on the only set in the 2014 gallery here: http://www.swordsofchivalry.co.uk/Gallery%20Lee%20Valley%20park%202014.html

[JimmyCrisis]

Actual medieval combat-use swords weigh very little.  I've got a reproduction longsword that weighs about 2 pounds, and it's 4 feet long.  Claymores are a foot or two longer, typically, and average 4-8, I believe.  It's not any worse than a splitting maul to wield.

[Ghoulfodder]

Actual medieval combat-use swords weigh very little.  I've got a reproduction longsword that weighs about 2 pounds, and it's 4 feet long.  Claymores are a foot or two longer, typically, and average 4-8, I believe.  It's not any worse than a splitting maul to wield.

I've always found fencing swords to be the killer even though their lightest, because of the constant arm extension. Everthing's done from the shoulder and wrist, not from the core. Although that's just the training really.

[The Wyrm Ouroboros]

If you're doing everything from the shoulder, elbow, and wrist with a rapier, you're missing about 85% of its utility.  Being 6'4", I can start out refused, with my tip pointing towards my opponent yet more than 8' away from him, and with one foot and a full-body lunge - yes, including shoulder and wrist - cover that distance in one movement.  Sure, it's like watching a moon shot come in - takes all day - but people who think they're well outside my range at 5-6' away find themselves in for a big surprise.

Fencing - like almost every martial art - finds its first and finest expression in movement.  Yes, there's lots you can do - and very subtle things indeed!! - with only wrist and shoulder, and not just in fencing.  But if you focus on that to the detriment of core- and footwork, then a maneuver-capable individual, even if they're less competent with wrist and shoulder, will force you into disadvantage after disadvantage ...

[LionofPerth]

Didn't get a piccie of it, I'll see if I can google something similar. I do have a stage broadsword (and a rapier) if you're interested in seeing those. Obviously they're not genuine, but I think they're quite nice.

I wouldn't mind seeing those to be honest, though my preference would be for the German blade. See how it compares to what I almost owned (sniff, hell of a sword, I still want it).

As for swords, I've used a few modern pieces, been lucky enough to get my hands on some older pieces, I laugh at anyone who says swords are particularly heavy. If anything, regardless of the era, I've found that one handed weapons range in the two to three pound area, two handed, five to eight pound range.

The thrust in fencing, done right, that's a lot of reach. It's a lot fun practising some stances in high school, when your school doesn't have any fencing. Getting mocked for it, and being that six foot away, still able to knock a guy's hat clean off.

[Ghoulfodder]

Yeah I wouldn't say any swords are heavy per se, but I did a lot of theatrical training with stage swords in my younger days and I can tell you that after swinging the blighters 7 hours a day for 4 days, you feel even a couple of pounds as like a ton.  And I'm not the biggest or fittest shall we say.

And the fencing weapons were the worst (for me anyway) because you spend half the day with your sword arm at least partially extended as you drill, or wait for the teacher to go round and check if everyone's lunge is correct.

Can't work out how to make the file size small enough to post a photo of mine, sorry.