The draw was another advantage, but curved swords do leave the body easier so that’s another advantage.
Yes a Rapier is lighter (and longer) than an arming sword, that is why the rapier would have finesse, but an arming sword would not.
A scimitar was frequently slightly shorter and heavier than a saber, the major difference came from the types of people they were used against and their armament. Scimitars were typically used by people who fought lightly armored opponents so the extra force would have been an advantage. Sabers were primarily used later in history after other advancements had made armor more obsolete. Those who wielded the saber were mostly using them against unarmored opponents. You tried to never hurt an opponent’s horse if you could avoid it. A dead horse would have just been meat. I living horse taken from a fallen opponent was way more valuable for a ton of reasons.
Some weapons (like the rapier) were specifically designed to be thrusting weapons, while others (like the saber) were designed to be more cutting weapons. What you are describing is a classification of swords known as cut-and-thrust swords. Certain generals did train their legions to use their Gladii (plural of Gladius) as slashing weapons. One in particular (I forget which) specifically had a new style of gladius specifically invented to be more useful as a cut sword. The Italian Side-Sword had absolutely no edge and was purely a thrust weapon. So were daggers like the Stiletto and the Main-Gouché. Other “shortswords” (historically any primarily thrusting sword shorter than 3 feet could be considered a shortsword, there are literally too many to count) like the Basket-Hilted Sword (commonly referred to as a “Broadsword”) or Backsword were specifically designed to be cut-and-thrust weapons.
You can learn more from these guys as they are true experts. Here is another great video.
Yeah, that too bad. I always think that any class that gets proficiency in the Shortsword should also get proficiency in the Scimitar.
Yeah the difference in these weapons are weird. Mechanically, the only difference is damage type, everything else is the same. But the scimitar costs 15gp more and weighs an extra pound. And like you pointed out proficiency in shortswords is more readily given.
What is so special about slashing damage?
I'm convinced the difference in proficiency is based on who they want to be able to use a scimitar of speed. Not that I'm bitter about one dropping for my rogue and having to give it to someone that could actually use it.
Yeah, that too bad. I always think that any class that gets proficiency in the Shortsword should also get proficiency in the Scimitar.
Yeah the difference in these weapons are weird. Mechanically, the only difference is damage type, everything else is the same. But the scimitar costs 15gp more and weighs an extra pound. And like you pointed out proficiency in shortswords is more readily given.
What is so special about slashing damage?
I'm convinced the difference in proficiency is based on who they want to be able to use a scimitar of speed. Not that I'm bitter about one dropping for my rogue and having to give it to someone that could actually use it.
Yeah. I don’t care about that personally. Any Class that grants proficiency with a Shortsword I houserule also grants proficiency with the Scimitar.
The draw was another advantage, but curved swords do leave the body easier so that’s another advantage.
Yes a Rapier is lighter (and longer) than an arming sword, that is why the rapier would have finesse, but an arming sword would not.
A scimitar was frequently slightly shorter and heavier than a saber, the major difference came from the types of people they were used against and their armament. Scimitars were typically used by people who fought lightly armored opponents so the extra force would have been an advantage. Sabers were primarily used later in history after other advancements had made armor more obsolete. Those who wielded the saber were mostly using them against unarmored opponents. You tried to never hurt an opponent’s horse if you could avoid it. A dead horse would have just been meat. I living horse taken from a fallen opponent was way more valuable for a ton of reasons.
Some weapons (like the rapier) were specifically designed to be thrusting weapons, while others (like the saber) were designed to be more cutting weapons. What you are describing is a classification of swords known as cut-and-thrust swords. Certain generals did train their legions to use their Gladii (plural of Gladius) as slashing weapons. One in particular (I forget which) specifically had a new style of gladius specifically invented to be more useful as a cut sword. The Italian Side-Sword had absolutely no edge and was purely a thrust weapon. So were daggers like the Stiletto and the Main-Gouché. Other “shortswords” (historically any primarily thrusting sword shorter than 3 feet could be considered a shortsword, there are literally too many to count) like the Basket-Hilted Sword (commonly referred to as a “Broadsword”) or Backsword were specifically designed to be cut-and-thrust weapons.
You can learn more from these guys as they are true experts. Here is another great video.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Don't even get me started on spear versus trident...
Yeah, why is the Trident so much more expensive for the same stats? (Sorry, couldn’t resist poking the bear. Please ignore me.)
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
damage types, especially at low level, should make more of a difference. and tridents should be able to grapple targets or something.
I am an average mathematics enjoyer.
>Extended Signature<
I'm convinced the difference in proficiency is based on who they want to be able to use a scimitar of speed. Not that I'm bitter about one dropping for my rogue and having to give it to someone that could actually use it.
Yeah. I don’t care about that personally. Any Class that grants proficiency with a Shortsword I houserule also grants proficiency with the Scimitar.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting