Xvi Cent. Italian Partisan and Spetum

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Xvi Cent. Italian Partisan and Spetum XVI CENT. ITALIAN PARTISAN AND SPETUM SOURCES ACHILLE MAROZZO, Opera Nova, book IV, 1536 ANTONIO MANCIOLINO, Opera Nova, book VI, 1531 FRANCESCO ALTONI, Monomachia, book II, XVI cent RELATORS Andrea Morini & Devis Carli – SALA D'ARME ACHILLE MAROZZO Polearms are metal weapons put on a very long wooden shaft (which can be reinforced by metal strips) in order to increase their offensive and defensive distance. Their shapes heavily depend on the type of polearm, place and date of fabrication. Dimensions vary depending on the type of weapon. Since the shafts were made of wood, which is a very perishable material, we don’t have many original weapons. Most of them are blades put on a new shaft, or blades alone. The peculiarity of these weapons is their length, which influences offensive, defensive potential and wielding. Agriculture tools were used in war even without modification, but were only slightly improved to reach their full performance as weapons. In the treatises is fairly common the use of: poleaxe, halberd, bill, spetum, partesan, big partesan, spear and pike. ANDREA MORINI & DEVIS CARLI XVI CENT. ITALIAN PARTISAN AND SPETUM PARTISAN Pietro Monte (Book I, Chap. 1) tells us the partisan is a roughly two meters long weapon, that is to say the distance from ground level to the raised hand of a man. The partisan had a simple triangular blade, put on a square or octagonal (says Francesco Altoni) shaft. Both its edges were sharp. Two prongs (curved little wings) were later added in the blade’s base. The first kind of partisans (without prongs) disappeared during the XVII century, while a lot of the second kind (with prongs), with maybe a better finish and slightly more decorative, managed to survive. The partisan is used mainly to thrust, but also to cut. HEMAC Dijon 2014 page 2 of 14 all rights reserved ANDREA MORINI & DEVIS CARLI XVI CENT. ITALIAN PARTISAN AND SPETUM Partesan Guards Marozzo uses three guards for this weapons, named First, Second and Third, based on the order of presentation in the techniques of the treatise. The complete position of these guards is extrapolated from the text; following the execution of parries and thrusts, we can deduce the position of chest and arms. I GUARD First guard has the left foot in leading position, towards the opponent. The right foot is at 90° relative to left foot, the distance between the two feet is about two feet. The legs must always be slightly bent, for quick movements, advances and retreats. Right arm is flexed at 90°, hand and shoulder approximately following the same horizontal line, elbow must not be positioned too much behind the chest. The right hand wields the shaft near the extremity, with the palm directed downwards. Left arm is near the body. Left hand is positioned at about half shaft, palm upwards. Torso is in 3/4 position. The weapon is straight in front of you: the blade is towards your left side, in a “wide guard”. Flat of the blade is downwards. II GUARD Second guard is similar to the previous guard, but the right foot is in leading position, towards the opponent. The change of feet, passing from First to Second Guard, modifies the position of the chest. Now it is exactly in front of the opponent, and the shoulders are equally far from him. Moving from these guards, you risk to shift the arms to your left. So Marozzo suggests to keep with your arms well straight on the right side (“con le tue bracie ben disteso per lo dritto”). This is to say you must keep the left arm central on your chest, and the right arm exactly as it was in the first guard. The resulting guard is quite uncomfortable. III GUARD Third guard in the flipping of the first one, with right foot and arm in leading position. • Althought Achille Marozzo and Antonio Manciolino use the partesan in an analog way, the former keeps the front hand with the palm directed upwards, while the latter uses it with the palm directed downwards. • Marozzo deals with the concepts of “inside” and “outside” of the guard. “Inside” is the part of your body you invite your opponent to hit. Eg: If your weapon is on the left, then the “inside” is your right part of the body, and viceversa. HEMAC Dijon 2014 page 3 of 14 all rights reserved ANDREA MORINI & DEVIS CARLI XVI CENT. ITALIAN PARTISAN AND SPETUM Partesan Plays I PLAY Francesco Altoni explains how to “fight the weapons of the opponent”, shifting them from the line. Cap[ito]lo XIII Levasi questa arme di guardia spignendola a terra, o da destro, o da sinistro, appoggiando il filo che sta come si è detto da canti a l'aste sotto il ferro del nimico, e si cresce da quel lato che l'arme avversaria è sospinta, tirandoli una punta per la vita, come per esempio, se io ho sospinta l'arme inimica dal lato sinistro debbo crescere col sinistro piede, se ho sospinta da lato destro crescere col piè destro, e mettersi in atto da potere ire innanzi et al traverso come meglio venga a proposito. Description First Guard, with the point towards the opponent's chest With the right edge, push the opponent's shaft towards the right, and step with the right foot to the right OR With the left edge, push the opponent's shaft towards the left, and step with the left foot to the left Thust to the body II PLAY Extremely simple technique: force the opponent to attack the leg, then parry and respond. Seconda parte Hora essendo arrivato apresso del tuo inimico per farte avertito, che quando te trovasse a uno simile parangone, io voglio che sempre mai tu pigli la Partesana tua manescamente: cioè li nodi della tua mano dritta seranno a l'insuso e l polso della detta a l'ingioso volto, e li nodi della mano mancha seranno volti a l'ingioso, e l polso serà volto a l'insuso al contrario luno de l'altro, e farai che volendo tu essere paciente, io voglio per migliore tuo parato, che tu abbassi la tua mano mancha e la dritta voglio che tu l'alci per modo, che la ponta della sopradetta serà apresso terra, e lì anderai astrengiando il tuo inimico: cioè fa ch'el piè dritto caci il mancho per fino a tanto che lui tirerà, o d'alto, o da basso. Ma io voglio prima preponere, che lui te tirre da basso una ponta a quella gamba mancha, e tu presto con l'asta tua tu la butterai inentro verso le tue parte dritte, e sì li darai a lui de una ponta, passando un poco del tuo piè mancho inanci in el petto, o in la facia non lassando mai la Partesana tua con la mano mancha, e pure aritornando in quella medesima Guardia, e lì serai un'altra volta paciente. Description First guard (left foot forward) Pressing the opponent with half steps Thrust to left leg Parry towards your right Lunge with left foot and thrust to the face or chest Return in First guard HEMAC Dijon 2014 page 4 of 14 all rights reserved ANDREA MORINI & DEVIS CARLI XVI CENT. ITALIAN PARTISAN AND SPETUM III PLAY Same tactic as previous technique, expose upper body, then parry and respond. Tertia parte Ma sappi che essendo tornato in quella Guardia come prima te dissi in nella parte precedente, tu te metterai con la Partesana tua, pure come io te amaiestrai in la prima parte di questo, e de qui voglio che tu abassi forte la ponta della tua sopradetta, in verso terra, aciochè le tue parte di sopra sieno discoperte, e questo facio solo ad effetto, aciochè lui habia causa legitima de tirarti alle bande sopradette de sopra. Ma sappi che tragandote in quello luoco de ponta, o de taglio, tu li darai de l'asta tua in la botta che lui tirerà, cioè inentro verso le tue parte dritte, faciandoti intendere che quando tu farai tali parato, l'è di bisogno, che tu abassi la tua mano dritta tirandola a te, per fino alla cintura non movendo la mancha, e parato che tu haverai la detta botta, tu li darai a lui de una ponta, dove tu vederai il discoperto suo passando in tal tempo uno poco della tua gamba mancha inanci lassando giocare l‟asta tua sempre per la mano mancha non l'abandonando mai, fatto questo tu te tirerai dui, o tri passi indrieto, e sì te assetterai con la tua gamba dritta inanci ben polito per traverso con le tue bracie ben disteso per lo dritto, tenendo pure la ponta della detta Partesana inverso terra, & lì serai agiente, e paciente come a te piacerà. Description First Guard, point of the partesan pointing downwards, to urge the opponent to attack upper target. High thrust or cut Parry towards your right Lunge with your left foot and thrust to the opponent, wherever he’s unguarded Take two or three steps back Second Guard HEMAC Dijon 2014 page 5 of 14 all rights reserved ANDREA MORINI & DEVIS CARLI XVI CENT. ITALIAN PARTISAN AND SPETUM IV PLAY First part uses the normal parry and response, but, should the opponent parry, you can change direction and strike the lower body. Quarta parte Essendo rimaso con la gamba dritta inanci, io voglio che tu sie paciente, perché le tue bande manche seranno discoperte, e imperò l'è forcia che lo inimico te tire al ditto descoperto, ma sape che tragandoti lui de botta alcuna da basso, o da alto, tu te reparerai con l'asta tua, fermo le tue gambe, s'entende che tu butti la Partesana del nimico inverso le tue parte dritte, e parato che tu haverai la botta sua, tu crescerai della gamba tua mancha per lo dritto del nimico, e sì li darai de una ponta per la facia, ma guarda ben che quando lui butterà per paura della detta ponta, via la Partesana tua infuora verso alle tue parti manche tu li darai de uno taglio, o ponta in nella sua gamba mancha, o dritta che serà inanci, e per tuo areparo, tu tirerai presto la tua gamba mancha apresso della dritta, e sì andarai in guardia polito con la ponta della Partesana tua a terra, buttando in uno tempo presto la gamba mancha tua de drieto dalla dritta, in tal buttare io voglio che tu scambi le tue mane per utilitade: cioè tu butterai dinanci la dritta a l'asta tua e la mancha de drito, & a questo modo tu serai de dentro, e l'tu nimico serà di fuora, e de qui tu puoi essere agiente, e paciente secondo che li acaderà.
Recommended publications
  • The European Bronze Age Sword……………………………………………….21
    48-JLS-0069 The Virtual Armory Interactive Qualifying Project Proposal Submitted to the Faculty of the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation by _____________________________ ____________________________ Patrick Feeney Jennifer Baulier _____________________________ Ian Fite February 18th 2013 Professor Jeffrey L. Forgeng. Major Advisor Keywords: Higgins Armory, Arms and Armor, QR Code 1 Abstract This project explored the potential of QR technology to provide interactive experiences at museums. The team developed content for selected objects at the Higgins Armory Museum. QR codes installed next to these artifacts allow visitors to access a variety of minigames and fact pages using their mobile devices. Facts for the object are selected randomly from a pool, making the experience different each time the code is scanned, and the pool adapts based on artifacts visited, personalizing the experience. 2 Contents Contents........................................................................................................................... 3 Figures..............................................................................................................................6 Introduction ……………………………………………......................................................... 9 Double Edged Swords In Europe………………………………………………………...21 The European Bronze Age Sword……………………………………………….21 Ancient edged weapons prior to the Bronze Age………………………..21 Uses of European Bronze Age swords, general trends, and common innovations
    [Show full text]
  • Interpretation of Fiore Dei Liberi's Spear Plays
    Acta Periodica Duellatorum, Hands On section, articles 131 Interpretation of Fiore dei Liberi’s Spear Plays Jakub Dobi Ars Ensis [email protected] Abstract – How did Fiore Furlano use a spear? What is the context, purpose, and effect of entering a duel armed with a spear? My article- originally a successful thesis work for an Ars Ensis Free Scholler title- describes in detail what I found out by studying primary sources (Fiore’s works), related sources (contemporary and similar works), and hands-on experience in controlled play practice, as well as against uncooperative opponents. In this work I cover the basics- how to hold the spear, how to assume Fiore’s stances, how to attack, and how to defend yourself. I also argue that the spear is not, in fact, a preferable weapon to fence with in Fiore’s system, at least not if one uses it in itself. It is however, a reach advantage that has to be matched, and thus the terribly (mutually) unsafe situation of spear versus spear occurs. As a conclusion, considering context and illustrations of spear fencing, I argue that the spear is only to be considered paired with other weapons, like dagger, or sword. In fact, following Fiore’s logic, we can assume he used the spear to close the distance to use a weapon he feels more in control with. Keywords – Fiore, Furlano, Liberi, Italian, duel, spear, Ars Ensis I. PROCESS OF RESEARCH The article itself is largely devoted to trying to point out the less obvious points to make about this specific style of spear fencing.
    [Show full text]
  • World Builder Part 1
    Table of Contents Book One: Stock-in-Trade 5 1:7 Cloth Patterns 45 Armor 8 1:8 Furs 48 Weapons 18 1:9 d20 Lodging & Board 55 Measurements 40 1:11 Ship’s Cargo 62 The Bazaar 43 2:1a Type of Rain & Visibility 64 The Tavern 56 2:1b Rainfall by Hour and Day 65 Transport 60 2:2 Ice Strength 66 2:3 Type of Snow & Visibility 66 Book Two: Geographics 63 2:4 Wind: Beaufort Wind Scale 66 Geography 64 2:5a Wind Pressure 67 Flora 82 2:5b: Wind Pressure on Sea 67 Fauna 100 2:6 Land Productivity 71 2:7 Water Spring Production 73 Book Three: Dwellings 103 2:8 MOH’s Hardness Scale 75 Materials & Construction 104 2:9 d20 Birth Stones Planet, Luck 76 Buildings 117 2:10 d20 Birth Stones 77 Rooms & Furnishings 127 2:11 d20 Metal/Stones/Gems 78-79 Populace 139 2:12 LA Metal/Stone/Gems 80-81 2:13 d20 Magical Affects of Herbs 97 Appendix A Random Generator 147 2:14 d20 The Horse 102 Appendix B Human Generator 155 2:15 d20 Other Common Animals 102 Appendix C Structures Generator 163 3:1 Tensile Strength Metals 105 Appendix D Colors 163 3:2 Melting Points Metals 105 Appendix E Light from a Flame 165 3:3 d20 Magical Metals 106 Appendix F Unusual Names 166 3:4a d20 Metals Value 107 Appendix G Gems 167 3:4b LA Metals Value 107 Appendix H Crimes Defined 174 3:5 Workmanship Value Addition 107 3:6 Hardness Scale (Extended) 108 Index 177 3:7 Common Uses for Wood 109 OGL 180 3:8 Materials Resistance to Crush 109 3:9 d20 Door Composition 110 Tables 3:10 d20 Weight of Things 112 1:1 d20 Armor 16 3:11 d20 Randomiz Concealment 114 1:2 d20 Head Covering & Helmets 17 3:12 Rope Strengths 114 1:3 d20 Shields 17 3:13 Construction Costs 115 1:4 d20 New Weapons 34-37 3:14 Computations 116 1:5 LA New Weapons 38 3:15 Person Based Measurements 120 1:6 LA Identifying Weapons 39 3:16 Cistern Capacity 124 3:17 Noble Coronets 140 Gary Gygax’s World Builder ARMOR PIECES AND GARMENTS Chausses: The close-fitting leg pieces of a suit of plate mail.
    [Show full text]
  • Military Technology in the 12Th Century
    Zurich Model United Nations MILITARY TECHNOLOGY IN THE 12TH CENTURY The following list is a compilation of various sources and is meant as a refer- ence guide. It does not need to be read entirely before the conference. The breakdown of centralized states after the fall of the Roman empire led a number of groups in Europe turning to large-scale pillaging as their primary source of income. Most notably the Vikings and Mongols. As these groups were usually small and needed to move fast, building fortifications was the most efficient way to provide refuge and protection. Leading to virtually all large cities having city walls. The fortifications evolved over the course of the middle ages and with it, the battle techniques and technology used to defend or siege heavy forts and castles. Designers of castles focused a lot on defending entrances and protecting gates with drawbridges, portcullises and barbicans as these were the usual week spots. A detailed ref- erence guide of various technologies and strategies is compiled on the following pages. Dur- ing the third crusade and before the invention of gunpowder the advantages and the balance of power and logistics usually favoured the defender. Another major advancement and change since the Roman empire was the invention of the stirrup around 600 A.D. (although wide use is only mentioned around 900 A.D.). The stirrup enabled armoured knights to ride war horses, creating a nearly unstoppable heavy cavalry for peasant draftees and lightly armoured foot soldiers. With the increased usage of heavy cav- alry, pike infantry became essential to the medieval army.
    [Show full text]
  • The Virtual Tour
    Worcester Polytechnic Institute Digital WPI Interactive Qualifying Projects (All Years) Interactive Qualifying Projects April 2012 The irV tual Tour Elizabeth Laura Mayor Worcester Polytechnic Institute Justin Henry McLaughlin Worcester Polytechnic Institute Kai He Worcester Polytechnic Institute Seth Michael Lipkind Worcester Polytechnic Institute Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/iqp-all Repository Citation Mayor, E. L., McLaughlin, J. H., He, K., & Lipkind, S. M. (2012). The Virtual Tour. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/ iqp-all/2641 This Unrestricted is brought to you for free and open access by the Interactive Qualifying Projects at Digital WPI. It has been accepted for inclusion in Interactive Qualifying Projects (All Years) by an authorized administrator of Digital WPI. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Virtual Tour Interactive Qualifying Project Submitted to the Faculty of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation by Runzi Gao Kai He Seth Lipkind Elizabeth Mayor Justin McLaughlin Professor Jeffrey L. Forgeng, Major Advisor ii iii Abstract This project integrated technology and history to transform the visitor experience at the Higgins Armory Museum. The team upgraded the museum’s “Virtual Armory” website, creating a Virtual Tour with interactive and multimedia content for over a dozen pieces in the Higgins collection, including videos, animations, interactive graphics, and a Flash-based minigame. The team
    [Show full text]
  • Fantasy Imperium
    Fantasy Imperium Name: Emmet Fox Player: Profession: Clothier / Brewer / Soldier Income / Savings: £25 / £5 Characteristics Combat Factors History Appearance Strength 72% Hits 137 Nationality Irish Sex Male Endurance 65% Shock 46 Social Class Middle Class (3) Age 26 Dexterity 88% Morale 35 Siblings 2nd of 5 Height 6’ Intuition 86% Winded 65 Birth Date Aug 12, 995 Weight 210 Self Discipline 42% Exhausted 130 Birthplace Drogheda Skin Cauc. Reasoning 60% Burnout 195 Residence Drogheda Hair Black Ego 63% Power 0 Religion Christian Eyes Brown Awareness 45% Fate 5 Movement Encumbrance Magick Resistance Presence 90% Luck 15 0 Walk 2” Light 36 Ceremonial 13% Attractiveness 93% Piety 60% 1 Jog 4” Medium 72 Natural 12% Extra Damage +1 Spirit 75 2 Run 5” Heavy 144 Extrasensory 14% Speed Bonus +3 Initiative -5 5 Sprint 11” Extreme 360 Black Magic 12% Possessions Celtic Helmet Tailor shop Wealth: £20 Ringmail Tunic Roundshield Celtic Sword Celtic Spear Dagger 1 Fantasy Imperium Melee Weapons Weapon Skill % H Throw Wt. Mat. Break % Sharp. I F Parry Parry % Damage Celtic Sword 64% 1 -35 3 Iron 14% -3 4 +11 43% 4d6 E P Celtic Spear 68% 1.5 -5 3 Wood 1%2 -3 3 +13 47% 4d6 P E Dagger 68% 1 -2 1 Iron 8% 0 1 +2 36% 1d6 P E Missile Weapons Weapon Skill % Ammo Wt. Pull Load I F S M L X Damage Celtic Spear 43% 1 3 0 1 -3 3 5 10 20 30 4d6 P Dagger 36% 1 1 0 1 0 1 3 5 10 15 1d6 P –0% –25% –50% –75% Armor Name & Material Wt.
    [Show full text]
  • 11101.0 Money 1102.0 Goods, Services and Equipment 53
    11101.0 MONEY 1102.0 GOODS, SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT Nippon's economy is based on the rice crop. All finances are counted in terms of the "Koku," a measure of rice sufficient to feed While adventuring through Nippon, the characters will find one man for one year (at a subsistence level). This is about 5 bushels themselves in need of various goods, equipment and services from in Western measurement. time to time. The availability of such things will depend on the location. The exact availability and price may be decided arbitrarily Currency is in copper or bronze, silver, and gold. Gold is rarely by the Gamesmaster, or he may use the suggested base prices given seen outside of the coffers of Daimyo, and even they usually conduct here and determine availability and price modification using the their business in silver. Values of this coinage have shifted over the chart below. centuries, and there is no fixed way to set up a "historical" currency in the game. The following system is used to impose a uniform value To use the chart, cross-index the type of location in which the on currency in the campaign: characters find themselves with the class of goods desired. The A copper coin is the basic unit of money. We will refer to coppers, chart will yield two numbers. The first is the percentage chance of or copper pieces, in talking about them. A copper represents the cost finding the desired goods. The second is the percentage of the base of a bowl of rice and a cup of cha (tea), which is viewed as the bare price that is being asked for the goods.
    [Show full text]
  • Martial Arts of the Middle Age
    IQP JLS-0072 Martial Arts of the Middle Age Interactive Qualifying Project Report Submitted to the Faculty of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation by Andrew Aveyard ___________________ Jason Cardwell ___________________ Brad Davison ___________________ Daniel Haggerty ___________________ May 6, 2014 _______________________________ Professor Jeffrey L. Forgeng, Advisor 1 Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 5 History of European Martial Arts ................................................................................................................ 10 Medieval Time Period ............................................................................................................................. 10 Environment of the Medieval Age ...................................................................................................... 10 Knightly Combat .................................................................................................................................. 12 Masters and their Manuscripts
    [Show full text]
  • Pietro Monte
    THE COLLECTION OF RENAISSANCE MILITARY ARTS AND EXERCISES OF PIETRO MONTE A TRANSLATION OF THE EXERCITIORUM ATQUE ARTIS MILITARIS COLLECTANEA BY MIKE PRENDERGAST AND INGRID SPERBER THE COLLECTION OF RENAISSANCE MILITARY ARTS AND EXERCISES OF PIETRO MONTE Translation © 2018 Mike Prendergast Translation by Mike Prendergast and Dr. Ingrid Sperber. This translation is freely available for non-commercial use. THE TRANSLATORS MIKE PRENDERGAST Mike Prendergast has been researching, practising and teaching historical strategy and martial arts since 1999. His main focus is on the art of fencing of Renaissance Italy. Initially studying Bolognese fencing, he moved to specialise in the system of Fiore dei Liberi (c. 1410) and the rapier style of Nicoletto Giganti (1606), before embarking on his study of Monte. Having initially started with Japanese martial arts, Mike discovered historical European fencing through the international medievalist group, the Society for Creative Anachronism, where he has received the society's highest award for research, the Laurel. In 2015 he was appointed one of the three premier Masters of Defence for the European branch of the society. Mike instructs in rapier and longsword with SCA Dun in Mara and interprets and teaches the martial arts of Pietro Monte, as chief instructor with the Historical Combat Academy, in Dublin, Ireland. He also teaches internationally at Historical European Martial Arts events and hosted the 2015 International Rapier Seminar. Mike competes internationally in tournaments and has taken medals in a variety of weapon forms including gold in rapier and sword & buckler. He also trained for several years in Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu, the traditional Japanese style of swordsmanship founded by the famous duellist and strategist Miyamoto Musashi.
    [Show full text]
  • Armour & Weapons in the Middle Ages
    & I, Ube 1bome Hnttquarg Series ARMOUR AND WEAPONS IN THE MIDDLE AGES t Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/armourweaponsinmashd PREFACE There are outward and visible signs that interest in armour and arms, so far from abating, is steadily growing. When- ever any examples of ancient military equipment appear n in sale-rooms a keen and eager throng of buyers invariably | assembles ; while one has only to note the earnest and ' critical visitors to museums at the present time, and to compare them with the apathetic onlookers of a few years J ago, to realize that the new generation has awakened to j j the lure of a fascinating study. Assuredly where once a single person evinced a taste for studying armour many | now are deeply interested. t The books dealing with the subject are unfortunately ' either obsolete, like the works of Meyrick, Planche, Fos- broke, Stothard, and others who flourished during the last L century, or, if recent, are beyond the means of many would-be students. My own book British and Foreign Arms and Armour is now out of print, while the monographs of I Charles ffoulkes, the Rev. Charles Boutell, and | Mr Mr Starkie Gardner are the only reasonably priced volumes j now obtainable. It seemed, therefore, desirable to issue a small handbook which, while not professing in the least to be comprehensive, would contain sufficient matter to give the young student, y the ' man in the street,' and the large and increasing number of persons who take an intelligent interest in the past just j that broad outline which would enable them to understand more exhaustive tomes upon armour and weapons, and 5 ARMOUR AND WEAPONS possibly also to satisfy those who merely wish to glean sufficient information to enable them to discern inac- curacies in brasses, effigies, etc., where the mind of the medieval workman—at all times a subject of the greatest interest—has led him to introduce features which were not in his originals, or details which he could not possibly have seen.
    [Show full text]
  • BLACK DAWN - Equipment [Manufacturers]
    BLACK DAWN THE ROLEPLAYING GAME THIS BOOK IS INTENDED AS A STAND ALONE PRODUCT THAT ALLOWS A COMPREHENSIVE, YET SIMPLE, ROLEPLAYING EXPERIENCE IN ANY UNIVERSE WHERE MAGICK, FASTER THAN LIGHT TRAVEL AND EXTRA TERRESTRIAL RACES COULD BE A REALITY. BLACK DAWN - Equipment [Manufacturers] CORE RULES CHARACTER GENERATION Each character has 8 main statistics, 8 secondary statistics and 4 combat statistics. The combat stats are each used in separate ways and change during the course of action, influenced by wounds and exhaustion etc. The way to generate these statistics is only dependant on the 8 primary stats. The rest are the result of an equation that usually involves only the primary statistics. The best way to generate statistics is based upon the power level of the campaign to be undertaken. This power level is an abstraction of the level of competency for the starting characters. The GM should be careful to ensure the characters can actually make it to the main gist of the campaign. Killing off characters that are „too weak‟ when you as the GM assigned their „power level‟ is bad form. When assigning power levels to the characters an amount of character-points are given with which to generate primary STATS. Remember that the human average for a primary STAT is 10. There is an exception to the secondary statistics. That is Appearance. This is purposefully left to the agreement of GM and player. A general guideline to the APP stat is to remember it should be within 5 or 6 points either side of the CHA stat.
    [Show full text]
  • Weapon Damage Range Type Weapon Group Hands Qualities Size Weight Price Adze 1D6 --- Piercing, Slashing Axes 1 One-Hand Small 4 Lbs
    Weapon Damage Range Type Weapon Group Hands Qualities Size Weight Price Adze 1d6 --- Piercing, Slashing Axes 1 One-hand Small 4 lbs. 3 gp Awl Pike 1d8 --- Piercing Polearms, Spears 2 Brutal, Reach, Two-hand Medium 12 lbs. 10 gp Axe, battleaxe 1d8 --- Slashing Axes 1 Brutal, One-hand Small 6 lbs. 10 gp Axe, double orc axe 1d8/1d8 --- Slashing Axes 2 Brutal, Double Medium 15 lbs. 60 gp Axe, dwarven waraxe 1d10 --- Slashing Axes 2 Brutal,One-hand Small 8 lbs. 30 gp Axe, greataxe 1d12 --- Slashing Axes 2 Brutal, Two-hand Medium 12 lbs. 20 gp Axe, hand axe 1d6 --- Slashing Axes 1 Brutal, Off-hand Small 3 lbs. 6 gp Axes, Light Blades, Light Axe, throwing 1d6 10 ft. Slashing Thrown 1 Off-hand Tiny 2 lbs. 8 gp Bardiche 1d10 --- Slashing Axes, Polearms 2 Brutal, Reach, Two-hand Medium 12 lbs. 7 gp Bludgeoning, Hammers, Picks, Bec de Corbin 1d8 --- Piercing, Slashing Polearms 2 Reach, Two-hand Medium 10 lbs. 8 gp Belaying Pin 1d4 --- Bludgeoning Maces & Clubs 1 Off-hand Tiny 2 lbs. 2 cp Bill 2d4 --- Piercing, Slashing Axes, Polearms 2 Reach, Two-hand Medium 15 lbs. 7 gp Heavy Blades, Bill-guisarme 1d10 --- Piercing, Slashing Polearms, Spears 2 Reach, Two-hand Medium 15 lbs. 7 gp Blowgun 1d3 10 ft. Piercing breath 2 Small 2 lbs. 5 gp Bo Stick 1d6 --- Bludgeoning Staffs 1 One-hand Small 4 lbs. 5 cp Bolas 1d4 10 ft. Bludgeoning Whips, Ropes & Chains 1 Tiny 2 lbs. 5 gp Bolas, two-ball 1d4 10 ft. Bludgeoning Whips, Ropes & Chains 1 Tiny 2 lbs.
    [Show full text]