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Now shields can play merry havoc with polearms, but doing so requires good training (so that it's not just as unwieldy for the shield-bearer) and often requires a focus on defense; and if someone is bothering to turtle down in combat, it mostly means they're not going to win - they might survive, but they're not killin' the other guy what be tryin' ta kill 'em. And depending on the kind of shield, it might be useless anyway...Polearms dominated the Medieval battlefield: Why?At one point does he stop rambling and answer the question he asks in his video's title? Would rather have an article that I can skim to find the good parts.
BREAKING NEWS: I'm grumpy sometimes.
In my experience, shields are not a huge amount of help vs. polearms, especially if the polearm wielder goes for the legs. Shields are heavy and awkward and hard to move around quickly (plus the fact that you don't want to move it up and down and hence uncover the important squishy bits it's currently guarding).
Could be different in formation, of course; I do know that troops with swords & shields did a number on pike blocs on a couple of occasions, but only a couple, and they were soon dropped for being generally rubbish on a (Renaissance) battlefield in most instances.
The Romans were different, but that's not a period I know much about.
This is all super-true (and going for the legs was one of the caveats about needing to be highly trained) - but I'm also presupposing relatively poorly/quickly trained pole-arm conscripts which wielding a heavy long pole can be difficult to target more than the basic central core of a person.
Plus I was thinking of older formations and how they were structured, rather than medieval-specific.
But, yeah, a shield isn't very easy to move, shorter pole-arms are much faster than the longer ones, and you can end eeeeaaasily end someone's legs; also as noted, I grossly over-simplified stuff and am not an expert.
EDIT: not that kind of pole-arm!
*Gets fully dressed.*
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(1) Happy B-day, TS!
(2) It's amazing how much more infuriating you can make things just by taking them personally. That driver who cut you off? He probably didn't even notice you, or thought he had plenty of space; it's pretty unlikely he said, "Hey, let me mess with that other driver because I hate them for no reason."
Today's example is The Orange Chair. A few days ago, someone dumped a hideous orange office chair in our driveway. GothBard is incensed that someone is dumping garbage in our yard. Even worse, yesterday it moved from our house to our neighbor's house, but today it's back at our house. And she's saying, "Who the **** dumps their garbage at someone else's house?!?!?"
And, having been both a young boy and a teenage boy, I can almost guarantee that it was just some kids who found a chair, played with it for a while, and just left it wherever when they were done. There was no concept of, "Oh, we're dumping our junk at this person's house," it was just, "OK, we're done. Let's move on." Then someone else played with it and dumped it in front of the neighbor's house, and they had seen it in front of our house so just put it back.
I really don't particularly care. I'll disassemble it and throw it out this afternoon. No reason to get bent out of shape about a bunch of kids goofing off and dumping something ugly in your yard.
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In my experience, shields are not a huge amount of help vs. polearms, especially if the polearm wielder goes for the legs. Shields are heavy and awkward and hard to move around quickly (plus the fact that you don't want to move it up and down and hence uncover the important squishy bits it's currently guarding).
Could be different in formation, of course; I do know that troops with swords & shields did a number on pike blocs on a couple of occasions, but only a couple, and they were soon dropped for being generally rubbish on a (Renaissance) battlefield in most instances.
The Romans were different, but that's not a period I know much about.
This is all super-true (and going for the legs was one of the caveats about needing to be highly trained) - but I'm also presupposing relatively poorly/quickly trained pole-arm conscripts which wielding a heavy long pole can be difficult to target more than the basic central core of a person.
Plus I was thinking of older formations and how they were structured, rather than medieval-specific.
But, yeah, a shield isn't very easy to move, shorter pole-arms are much faster than the longer ones, and you can end...
Remember, a lot of polearms had a hook or spike that could go right over the top or around the side of a shield to pull it out of the way. You could then either go straight in for a stab from there, or one of your platoon mates could take the easy opening you just created.
Remember, a lot of polearms had a hook or spike that could go right over the top or around the side of a shield to pull it out of the way. You could then either go straight in for a stab from there, or one of your platoon mates could take the easy opening you just created.
In my experience, shields are not a huge amount of help vs. polearms, especially if the polearm wielder goes for the legs. Shields are heavy and awkward and hard to move around quickly (plus the fact that you don't want to move it up and down and hence uncover the important squishy bits it's currently guarding).
Could be different in formation, of course; I do know that troops with swords & shields did a number on pike blocs on a couple of occasions, but only a couple, and they were soon dropped for being generally rubbish on a (Renaissance) battlefield in most instances.
The Romans were different, but that's not a period I know much about.
This is all super-true (and going for the legs was one of the caveats about needing to be highly trained) - but I'm also presupposing relatively poorly/quickly trained pole-arm conscripts which wielding a heavy long pole can be difficult to target more than the basic central core of a person.
Plus I was thinking of older formations and how they were structured, rather than medieval-specific.
But, yeah, a shield isn't very easy to move, shorter pole-arms are much faster than the longer ones, and you can end...
Very true!
When did those hooks start become common practice?
I know they proliferated throughout the medieval period, but I'm not sure when that started (I'm not well-educated enough).
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Given that many polearms were adapted from farm implements, and many farm implements have a curved blade, I would imagine the addition of hooks began early.
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Wasnt it the bill hook that everyone went gaga over?
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But the shipping and handling must be obscene.The question is, should one of my fencing groups buy a ship or not?
It's £10,000, which none of us have, and we don't need a ship by any stretch of the imagination, but all the same...
If you have to ask,...
Then the answer is YES. Always. ;)
You've met us, then.
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Remember, a lot of polearms had a hook or spike that could go right over the top or around the side of a shield to pull it out of the way. You could then either go straight in for a stab from there, or one of your platoon mates could take the easy opening you just created.
In my experience, shields are not a huge amount of help vs. polearms, especially if the polearm wielder goes for the legs. Shields are heavy and awkward and hard to move around quickly (plus the fact that you don't want to move it up and down and hence uncover the important squishy bits it's currently guarding).
Could be different in formation, of course; I do know that troops with swords & shields did a number on pike blocs on a couple of occasions, but only a couple, and they were soon dropped for being generally rubbish on a (Renaissance) battlefield in most instances.
The Romans were different, but that's not a period I know much about.
This is all super-true (and going for the legs was one of the caveats about needing to be highly trained) - but I'm also presupposing relatively poorly/quickly trained pole-arm conscripts which wielding a heavy long pole can be difficult to target more than the basic central core of a person.
Plus I was thinking of older formations and how they were structured, rather than medieval-specific.
But, yeah, a shield isn't very easy to move, shorter pole-arms are much faster than the longer ones, and you can end...
Very true!
When did those hooks start become common practice?
I know they proliferated throughout the medieval period, but I'm not sure when that started (I'm not well-educated enough).
Middle to late Mediaeval, to the best of my knowledge, and they seem to have reached their full development around the same time as mass formations of heavy infantry, i.e. trained, semi-professional or professional foot-soldiers or dismounted men-at-arms in as much (plate) armour as they could afford.
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In other Important Rules Questions News, has anyone bothered to determine what happens if you break wind while in gaseous form?
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In other Important Rules Questions News, has anyone bothered to determine what happens if you break wind while in gaseous form?
Pretty sure you disperse yourself.
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I believe the closest analog is sneezing while pooing.
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In other Important Rules Questions News, has anyone bothered to determine what happens if you break wind while in gaseous form?Pretty sure you disperse yourself.
No. Wait. It's a form of enhanced movement.
No.
Teleportation.
Wait.
Dispersal was right the first time.
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I believe the closest analog is sneezing while pooing.
I'll mark that as a second vote for dispersal.
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In other Important Rules Questions News, has anyone bothered to determine what happens if you break wind while in gaseous form?Pretty sure you disperse yourself.
On the contrary, this is a known phenomenon. You become unable to produce any of your own air effects. It coincides with an increase of apathy: you don't give a flying fart.
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I have a digger's meeting tomorrow, whatever that is.
The important thing is I'm getting paid for being there and it's at the Marriott.
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I have a digger's meeting tomorrow, whatever that is.
The important thing is I'm getting paid for being there and it's at the Marriott.
I have an idea...I have a digger's meeting tomorrow, whatever that is.
The important thing is I'm getting paid for being there and it's at the Marriott.
Not even remotely the same thing, but "close enough" for my brain, so: I've been enjoying this one, recently!
Given that many polearms were adapted from farm implements, and many farm implements have a curved blade, I would imagine the addition of hooks began early.
This sounds reasonable, but I don't see that much in ancient art. Most of them are of the pointy stick variety. I'd imagine that by medieval times-
Middle to late Mediaeval, to the best of my knowledge, and they seem to have reached their full development around the same time as mass formations of heavy infantry, i.e. trained, semi-professional or professional foot-soldiers or dismounted men-at-arms in...Remember, a lot of polearms had a hook or spike that could go right over the top or around the side of a shield to pull it out of the way. You could then either go straight in for a stab from there, or one of your platoon mates could take the easy opening you just created.
In my experience, shields are not a huge amount of help vs. polearms, especially if the polearm wielder goes for the legs. Shields are heavy and awkward and hard to move around quickly (plus the fact that you don't want to move it up and down and hence uncover the important squishy bits it's currently guarding).
Could be different in formation, of course; I do know that troops with swords & shields did a number on pike blocs on a couple of occasions, but only a couple, and they were soon dropped for being generally rubbish on a (Renaissance) battlefield in most instances.
The Romans were different, but that's not a period I know much about.
This is all super-true (and going for the legs was one of the caveats about needing to be highly trained) - but I'm also presupposing relatively poorly/quickly trained pole-arm conscripts which wielding a heavy long pole can be difficult to target more than the basic central core of a person.
Plus I was thinking of older formations and how they were structured, rather than medieval-specific.
But, yeah, a shield isn't very easy to move, shorter pole-arms are much faster than the longer ones, and you can end...
Very true!
When did those hooks start become common practice?
I know they proliferated throughout the medieval period, but I'm not sure when that started (I'm not well-educated enough).
... someone who knows better can snipe me! :D
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I have a digger's meeting tomorrow, whatever that is.
The important thing is I'm getting paid for being there and it's at the Marriott.
Maybe you'll work the land in common, and make the wasteland grow.
Or maybe you won't.
While I am absolutely glad others like it, the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is super-definitely not for me.
It's not terrifying.
It's not even all that interesting.
There's something mildly amusing about the idea that people "curse" by saying things like, "What the Heaven!" or "Let's get the Heaven out of here!" (though I'm waiting for, "Shut the Chaste up, jerk!" or something similar) or whatever, but for the most part it's all just dark and mood-lighting with "hey everything's the reverse of what seems normal how waaaaaaacky~!" and no matter how good things go bad comes to follow and it's just not interesting after a while. There is potentially interesting cosmology, but it's dragged through so much slog of the show it becomes kind of boring.
Basically, it's like The Magicians if I hated it even more than that show and without the actual redeeming moments of The Magicians (though The Magicians has worse language and actual real life bad things that happen to people, so that can knock it down a few pegs; I'm really enjoying Season 3 and 4 so far).
EDIT: all of this is to say that I'm glad it works for people. The humor just doesn't land for me for the most part, and I'm just tiiiiiiiiiired watching it. I'm unfortunately invested into the story, but just exhausted from the complete lack of fun (for me). It's quirky, sure, and it seems to presuppose that's all that's needed, and it's really... not. At least not for me. It's just, "ew, gross, aren't we quirky, hah-hah!" and I just want the show to be oooooooover (for my purposes; not for others') so I can stop caring about it and get to things that make me happier.
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If it helps I can't even get through the first episode without losing interest.
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Truth be told, I also have no interest in The Mandolinian or whatever it's called, I tried watching the first episode but other than Carl Weathers I had a hard time caring about anyone.
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Truth be told, I also have no interest in The Mandolinian or whatever it's called, I tried watching the first episode but other than Carl Weathers I had a hard time caring about anyone.
The Mandolanolin. It's a series about bards and their carnal relations with sheep.
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I love both Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and The Mandalorian.
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They have Goat Simulator for free on PlayStation plus this month (which is almost over).
This has been a welcome morale boost for the General and the kids, who have all been battling the flu.
I love the Mandelorian.
I find it a fantastic time.
That's what I mean about being glad The Chilling Adventures work for some people. Those people just ain't me.
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I love the Mandolorian.
"I have Spoken."
:)
(OR as it is also known, THE BABY YODA SHOW!)
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Truth be told, I also have no interest in The Mandolinian or whatever it's called, I tried watching the first episode but other than Carl Weathers I had a hard time caring about anyone.The Mandolanolin. It's a series about bards and their carnal relations with sheep.
The Mandolinian. It's about bards and their hopefully entirely professional relations with small stringed instruments.
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Maybe it's a story about a minstrel that self identifies as a mandolin and their journey to teach the world to accept them for who they are, with punching.
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Or an Awakened stringed instrument that has been forced to take a job as a bounty hunter as it can't play itself.
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Mandelorean, the adventures of a time-traveling bard.
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Mandalothlorien - the most ambitious geek-culture crossover.
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If I don't get a mandalorian armor, no one gets it!
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If I don't get a mandalorian armor, no one gets it!
MY armor! I saw it first! WIZARD DIBS!
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Work has been hell and I'm tired and stressed and headachy.
Sorry to hear that.
My job (usually) only gives me headaches when 'others' make it more difficult than it needs to be.
Which they do. Frequently.
>_<
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Speaking of jobs and pointlessness, Impus Minor has hit THAT age; He's always been a good student, but now he's seeing the sheer pointlessness of a lot of the homework and choosing not to do it.
Except... it got him two Ds on his last report card, which is unacceptable.
So, I have NEVER held a job where I wasn't required to do some percentage of work that I considered pointless and annoying. If you refuse to do things because you find them pointless, you will quickly find yourself unemployed and unemployable.
Convincing a 16-year-old of this fundamental-but-annoying truth is hard.
Speaking of jobs and pointlessness, Impus Minor has hit THAT age; He's always been a good student, but now he's seeing the sheer pointlessness of a lot of the homework and choosing not to do it.
Except... it got him two Ds on his last report card, which is unacceptable.
So, I have NEVER held a job where I wasn't required to do some percentage of work that I considered pointless and annoying. If you refuse to do things because you find them pointless, you will quickly find yourself unemployed and unemployable.
Convincing a 16-year-old of this fundamental-but-annoying truth is hard.
Bitter, bitter pill.
Work has been hell and I'm tired and stressed and headachy.
I'm so sorry!
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Funny enough, work stress doesn't give me a headache, it makes me fart.
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If I don't get a mandalorian armor, no one gets it!
MY armor! I saw it first! WIZARD DIBS!
I don't need the armor, I just wanted to be a part of the group.
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Work has been hell and I'm tired and stressed and headachy.
what you said. But without the headaches.
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Funny enough, work stress doesn't give me a headache, it makes me fart.
upset stomach counts too.
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Turns out yesterday was Monday and today is Tuesday.
The digger's meeting is Wednesday.
Fortunately I realized this yesterday.
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If I don't get a mandalorian armor, no one gets it!
MY armor! I saw it first! WIZARD DIBS!
The arcane spell failure % on that will be horrific, just so you know.
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Migraine this morning, but now down to just a headache. Might have something to do with helping Aiymi get her car out of a snow/ice/mud issue (she overshot on the back end of our U-shaped driveway.
I was trying to get a 4'x8' piece of plywood under her spinning tire. I gave it a push, and my feet flew out straight behind me. I landed on the underside of my chin. Then my sternum.
I'm...what're the words...hateful of all life right now? Yes. That sounds right.
And it didn't work.