Official ICE Forums
Systems & Settings => Rolemaster => RMC/RM2 => Topic started by: RustyHarlequin on March 12, 2017, 05:36:55 AM
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Rolemasters to hit tables of various weapons has always been a major plus point in its favour, the understanding that certain weapons are more effective against certain armours and/or inflict specific damage has been well done. However the world of archaeology and historical research, although often slow and methodical, does sometimes come up with some serious changes as to how we believe items were used or acted – in this case the falchion. In the past it was presumed by the widening of the blade towards the tip that the weapon was effectively a heavy counterpart to the machete, and therefore effective against heavier armour types…… however more recent research has shown that although the blade widens its cross section thins, resulting in a weapon that is not so tip heavy but is also far sharper at the widening part of the blade. This results in a blade that is actually far less effective against heavier armour (the thinness of the blade crumples when hitting metal armour), but is far more effective against lighter armour types – specifically the most common armour worn by the average feudal troops of the 12th – 14th century (padded jacks and other fabric/or in RM terms Soft leather). Most pictorial evidence of falchions shows them in the hands of knights, and although often shown cleaving mail armour (reinforcing the belief they were designed for such) current evidence shows the opposite.
See the following for details:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WaE9AqrIAU
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Interesting stuff. I'd always assumed the falchion was better against lighter armors (kind of like a Scimitar) due to the curve, which made it better for slashing. So I was right... but only out of sheer ignorance.
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Very interesting. Thank you for the info and link.