Melee Weapons in Emirikol

[subplotkudzu]

Obviously if we're going to have a swashbuckling game we need to have swashbuckling weapons. This leads to some of the laws surrounding who can carry weapons, what that means to the culture, and what it means to the equipment list.



A bunch of weapons are just disappearing - morning stars, flails, amces and a bunch of other things are being removed because no one uses them. They're not legal to carry and no one makes them, so don't bother. A few other things are being added to give a broader bladed weapon range.
Axe- throwing, Boarding axe, Club, Crossbow- heavy, Crossbow- light, Cutlass, Dagger, Dart, Gauntlet, Greatclub, Greatsword, Halberd, Halfspear, Hammer- light, Handaxe, Knife- Long, Knife- Fencing, Longbow (exotic weapon), Longbow- composite (exotic weapon), Longspear, Longsword, Quarterstaff, Saber, Rapier, Sap, Scimitar, Shortbow (exotic weapon), Shortbow- composite (exotic weapon), Shortspear, Sickle, Sling, Sword- bastard (exotic weapon), Sword- short, Whip

When it comes to legality, there are a few rules:
"For folk of the common sort, lacking both land and titles, none are to carry a weapon whose edge is longer than the circumference of the emperor's hand." 1

This means commoners can carry daggers, knives, spears and axes of various sorts - the last with an understanding that the guards will want to confirm that these are carried in town for use as a tool that day. Spears are kept in the home but are legal to own.

Some time ago one enterprising smith began making Long Knives: blades roughly one foot long, reinforced on one side to back up slashing by the single edge. When the guard came to confiscate the weapons the smith pointed to the wording of the law - the only limit is edge length - and was allowed to continue making the blades. Long Knives (and their fencing counterparts) are now common. This should tell you something about the nature of the law and its enforcement in Emirikol

Commoners with violent professions will carrier rapiers whose edge runs from the point to 12" down the blade. This too is legal, but rather than laugh it off the guards will usually keep an eye on the fellow until they can legally move against him for some other infraction.

"For gentle folk, the wearing of a blade is allowed. Such a blade can be no longer than 40 inches, saving only in times of war or with imperial writ to the gentlefolk's family."

"When in the manor house of another person of gentle birth, only with the permission of the manor's lord shall gentlefolk wear any blade longer than the span from the Emperor's fingertip to his elbow. To do otherwise would be an insult worthy of a duel."

Given the nature of the game, this means all PCs will be allowed to carry anything up to the length of a longsword or rapier legally, but have a reason to keep a long knife or shortsword around to have something they can wear into a manor house. Mind you, manor houses are increasingly rare, since they require the gentleman to still own their ancestral manor. Still, there are such manors in the city, so it might come up.

Comments

[netcurmudgeon.livejournal.com]

with good cause - a skilled longbowman can fire three arrows into a target in the time it takes to load and fire a crossbow - who would allow those wandering around the city?

...Queitly and more accurately, too. :-)

A side question, does Emerikol have that pesky moral problem that the Europeans had -- it's OK to volley fire into a mass of the enemy, but targeting individuals is not ...? That one lasted right up through the American revolution, but died an ugly death once breech-loading rifled guns made everyone drop for cover and give everyone the accuracy to bust heads at 100+ yds.

[brianrogers.livejournal.com]

I would expect not. I wasn't aware of that tendency, so I hadn't been planning for it. The guardsmen will certainly be taking aim on individual miscreants (though they might fire a mass volley into that one guy...).

[netcurmudgeon.livejournal.com]

though they might fire a mass volley into that one guy...

Hee. :-)