But the stereotype is they use axes and hammers and things you need a lot of room to swing around. What's up with that?
Spears don't seem to exist in fantasy. At all.
Ephraim from Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones
Camus from Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
Geoffrey from Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Altenna/Areone from Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Plenty more throughout the entirety of the series.
This is much more relevant and interesting to me than x>y. I'm not going to say "this side is right and all naysayers are retards" but the industry prefers swords. consider the prevalence of spears (I mean all pole arms in general, not just explicitly spears) in history and in games.
how many games have swords but not spears; how many games have spears but not swords? If we looked quantitatively, I think swords would be the obvious winner. (
IS there an example of a game with spears but not swords?)
Historically speaking, how many armies, countries, or just individuals carried swords or used swords, but not spears; and once again, vice versa. I don't really know, but I doubt it's as lopsidedly in favor of swords as the game (and fantasy) industry.
Not that fantasy should mimic reality, but I prefer spears and I feel a bit ignored that IF they are included it usually feels like an obligatory consolation inclusion or a second thought.
As for the armor debate (which I don't really care to get into):
Picks! because dead is dead whether it's from a 1/4 inch hole in the brain or a foot long gash in the chest.