thegirlsclub

Wu Yun · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:47 pm Post subject: Padded Vs. Unpadded

For the ladies of the list who fight with polearms, does your kingdom allow unpadded polearms? Have you fought with both? What do you think of the difference?

In Meridies, the only unpadded polearm that is legal is a split glaive. I personally feel split glaives and padded polearms in general to be unsafe. Split glaives because they are more prone to breakage and tip failure, padded glaives because they require that they be swung with more force than an unpadded.

What are your opinions?

Cunian · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:14 pm Post subject:

In Atlantia, similarly, we don't do solid rattan unpadded poles. But I haven't noticed any breakage issues with the split ones which are recently very popular. I am cautious about polearms generally though. A couple weeks ago a pretty solidly built fellow got his arm broken by one. (Never block with your arm.)

Isabella E · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:23 pm Post subject:

They are all allowed in Atenveldt and I don't think that padded vs unpadded is any less or more safe. Safety is relative with most of our weapons to that hand of the user imo. I have used both rattan and fiberglass spears, and padded and unpadded pole weapons and I think you just need to be conscious of hitting people with appropriate authority instead of swinging for the fences.

From an aesthetics standpoint I prefer padded polearms because with proper construction they look nicer. My old unpadded glaive looked like a stick with a thrusting tip on the end. I much prefer 'Hubert'. I don't have to swing Hubert any harder than an unpadded polearm. It doesn't clack, but you sure as hell will feel the impact. I think the bigger risk to padded pole weapons is more than you are adding mass to it. If you put more weight on the end of a big lever you're going to increase the force it strikes with using the same amount of effort. My understanding of some basic physics anyway.

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Wu Yun · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:52 am Post subject:

I see what you're saying Isabella. It has been my experience, however, that I have to swing much harder with a padded glaive. I'm 5'4 and shorter than just about everyone I fight with. With the lower center of gravity I find I have to swing from my toenails.

audax · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:32 am Post subject:

I have used padded and unpadded weapons. I like them both for different situtations.

The keys with padded weapons are to use the right kind of padding and to not use too much padding. You can also add a layer of heavy leather, maybe even hardened leather to give it sound effects.

The architechtural foam sold by Windrose works fine. Also the rubber Talhoffer head from Revival hits plenty hard without a great deal of effort. I've even needed to dial it back a bit.

An unpadded weapon can be given some shape by adding wings to the base. Makes it look something like a boar spear, which weapon was used by nearly every spear using culture on the earth.
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Martel le Hardi
squire to Meser Lyonel Oliver Grace, fostered to Sir Gaston de Clermont
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Wu Yun · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:39 am Post subject:

I haven't tried the Windrose padding. I intend to, as my polearm counterpart in Thor's Mountain has suggested it with much enthusiasm. I actually don't like the leather edges because for some reason after I add it the marshals tend not to pass the weapon as being too stiff. (I suspect it may be a question of marshaling with personal preference instead of the rules, but meh...)

audax · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:22 am Post subject:

The trick to getting passed is going to someone you know, not random idiot marshal. If one bounces you wait a bit and go to someone else.

Honestly, if an unpadded pole will pass, why the hell would a hard but padded pole not pass? It's stupid.
_________________
Martel le Hardi
squire to Meser Lyonel Oliver Grace, fostered to Sir Gaston de Clermont
-------------------------------------------------------

The Minstrel's Champion

Wu Yun · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:15 pm Post subject:

broinnfinn · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:14 pm Post subject:

I fight with a split glaive and have never had it break. There is some risk of the tape holding the top of the split together failing, but that's why we maintain and regularly inspect our weapons. Nor, in my relatively informed opinion as both a polearm fighter and a former (Meridian, in fact) marshal, are they any more unsafe than an unpadded greatsword.

A stick is just a stick. It doesn't DO anything that the idiot behind it doesn't intend.

Bri.

Isabella E · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:58 pm Post subject:

Mine originally had just a leather edge but after some consideration I added foam to the striking edge because I thought leaving it with just leather would probably be overkill.
_________________
It's not the most powerful animal that survives. It's the most efficient. -Georges St-Pierre
http://windyvalleybanners.blogspot.com/

audax · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:09 am Post subject:

broinnfinn · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 2:40 pm Post subject:

Wu Yun · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 2:49 pm Post subject:

Audax, I understood what you meant by the word "trick". I'm just saying I don't agree with the idea of marshal fishing, as Bri has pointed out.

I apologize if that's how you interpreted my post.

Isabella E · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:45 pm Post subject:

I know some people carry a copy of the rules with them because not all marshals are as informed as we would all like of changes in the rules or what have you. I've had tons of people look at my finger gauntlets and ask me if they ground out, believing that grounding finger gauntlets are still required under the rules for example. I think if you want a cool padded polearm, you need to be able to adequately describe your construction method and know the rules well enough that you can explain how you made it and why it should pass.
_________________
It's not the most powerful animal that survives. It's the most efficient. -Georges St-Pierre
http://windyvalleybanners.blogspot.com/

audax · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 11:00 pm Post subject:

I frankly don't give a crap about the Aveloc issue. I didn't bring it up.

If I am there to fight, I'm gonna get to a marshal that knows what they are doing rather than tolerate the delaying bullshit of an incompetent.

I'll run it up the flagpole later but when I'm there to fight, I'm there to fight.

You feel free to put pillows on sticks and put up with ignorance. That is not my way.
_________________
Martel le Hardi
squire to Meser Lyonel Oliver Grace, fostered to Sir Gaston de Clermont
-------------------------------------------------------

The Minstrel's Champion