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Author Topic: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp  (Read 12091 times)

Loud Whispers

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Re: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp
« Reply #15 on: December 08, 2012, 12:21:56 pm »

Also, on the general topic at hand:  Obsidian swords are traditionally not primarily made from obsidian, they are wooden swords with hunks of obsidian embedded along the edge, and are less for slicing and more for rending and ripping through things (difference being that one is a clean cut and the other, well, isn't), so it doesn't really matter if it dulls from its excessively sharp state, so long as it's still jagged enough to rip through flesh and light armor.
An account of a Spaniard details in glorious excess of seeing one of his mate's horse get its head chopped off in one stroke with a macahuitl.
Those same accounts also demonstrate the superiority of metal armour over nekked time.

Owlbread

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Re: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp
« Reply #16 on: December 08, 2012, 12:26:13 pm »

Let's not forget that the Aztecs also had spears/polearms based on the same idea, called tepoztopilli.



Maybe they could look like Inca ones that (I think) looked a bit like this Aztec guy's spear:



"The Inca army also made use of a 'macana spear'. It consisted of a wooden shaft with a heavy metal or stone object at the end. This object was often in a star shape, to maximise the potential to break bone. They were the most common weapon in the Inca arsenal, and it is possible that gold or silver was used for the star for high-ranking officers."

Let's not forget the obsidian knives:



Or, if you think that looks fragile, try a shortened tepoztopilli.



Then again, I suppose I am just in favour of stone weapons and such.
« Last Edit: December 08, 2012, 12:39:13 pm by Owlbread »
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Lord_Phoenix

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Re: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp
« Reply #17 on: December 09, 2012, 06:04:43 pm »

Also, on the general topic at hand:  Obsidian swords are traditionally not primarily made from obsidian, they are wooden swords with hunks of obsidian embedded along the edge, and are less for slicing and more for rending and ripping through things (difference being that one is a clean cut and the other, well, isn't), so it doesn't really matter if it dulls from its excessively sharp state, so long as it's still jagged enough to rip through flesh and light armor.
An account of a Spaniard details in glorious excess of seeing one of his mate's horse get its head chopped off in one stroke with a macahuitl.
Those same accounts also demonstrate the superiority of metal armour over nekked time.

It doesn't exactly say that.  They give two separate accounts: one where a horse was struck once in the neck and fell dead (doesn't say anything about total horse decapitation, just wounded enough to die immediately) and another where a group attacked a rider and horse, immobilized them both, and severed the horse's neck badly enough that it only hung by the skin.

Could it?  Possibly, they're big heavy swords likely wielded by big strong men.  However, they don't necessarily have to be precision edges and slice cleanly to do it.
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C27

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Re: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp
« Reply #18 on: December 10, 2012, 01:18:10 am »

I like the idea of obsidian being useless against even leather armor, however, able to slice through cloth and flesh like lightly microwaved and pre-sliced butter. Without durability this seems like the next best approach.

I'd also like to see obsidian used in spears, daggers, giant axe blades, and bolt tips.

Oh, and where's our flint?
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Owlbread

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Re: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp
« Reply #19 on: December 10, 2012, 12:27:10 pm »

It would make sense for animal men and things like troglodytes to use flint and other stones. What's to stop a Dwarf tying a bit of stone to a stick to make a club?
« Last Edit: December 10, 2012, 02:52:56 pm by Owlbread »
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Loud Whispers

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Re: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp
« Reply #20 on: December 10, 2012, 01:10:17 pm »

Also, on the general topic at hand:  Obsidian swords are traditionally not primarily made from obsidian, they are wooden swords with hunks of obsidian embedded along the edge, and are less for slicing and more for rending and ripping through things (difference being that one is a clean cut and the other, well, isn't), so it doesn't really matter if it dulls from its excessively sharp state, so long as it's still jagged enough to rip through flesh and light armor.
An account of a Spaniard details in glorious excess of seeing one of his mate's horse get its head chopped off in one stroke with a macahuitl.
Those same accounts also demonstrate the superiority of metal armour over nekked time.

It doesn't exactly say that.  They give two separate accounts: one where a horse was struck once in the neck and fell dead (doesn't say anything about total horse decapitation, just wounded enough to die immediately) and another where a group attacked a rider and horse, immobilized them both, and severed the horse's neck badly enough that it only hung by the skin.

Could it?  Possibly, they're big heavy swords likely wielded by big strong men.  However, they don't necessarily have to be precision edges and slice cleanly to do it.

The Incan swordsman strikes the horse in the head with the ☼obsidian macahuitl☼, and the severed part sails off in an arc!

Probably seems more to be legend than historical account though. Still, entrails hanging out. Not good for hoersez.

Tirion

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Re: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp
« Reply #21 on: December 10, 2012, 02:46:59 pm »

It would make sense for animal men and things like troglodytes to use flint and other stones. What's to stop a Dwarf typing a bit of stone to a stick to make a club?

Dwarven pride and [insert lenght of worldgen here] years of metallurgy, for one. :P
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Owlbread

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Re: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp
« Reply #22 on: December 10, 2012, 02:54:59 pm »

It would make sense for animal men and things like troglodytes to use flint and other stones. What's to stop a Dwarf typing a bit of stone to a stick to make a club?

Dwarven pride and [insert lenght of worldgen here] years of metallurgy, for one. :P

But if you have no metal, why not? Pride is one thing, survival is another. I think at least adventurers should be able to do that.
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nanomage

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Re: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp
« Reply #23 on: December 11, 2012, 07:28:30 am »

It would make sense for animal men and things like troglodytes to use flint and other stones. What's to stop a Dwarf typing a bit of stone to a stick to make a club?

Dwarven pride and [insert lenght of worldgen here] years of metallurgy, for one. :P

But if you have no metal, why not? Pride is one thing, survival is another. I think at least adventurers should be able to do that.
I don't know how high dwarves value pride, but survival is obviously absolutely worthless for them.
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werty892

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Re: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp
« Reply #24 on: December 11, 2012, 07:45:09 am »

They flying *Obsidian Bolt* strikes the Forums in the *Obsidian weaponry* riddled torso, and the the *Obsidian bolt* Lodges into the wound!
The Forum Vomits!X999

So yeah, this has been discussed to death. Honestly yes. Brittle but sharp is good.

Owlbread

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Re: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp
« Reply #25 on: December 11, 2012, 07:47:25 am »

I don't know how high dwarves value pride, but survival is obviously absolutely worthless for them.

I take it you are being humorous.
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Loud Whispers

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Re: Obsidian Weapons Should be Brittle, but Sharp
« Reply #26 on: December 11, 2012, 02:49:59 pm »

I don't know how high dwarves value pride, but survival is obviously absolutely worthless for them.
I take it you are being humorous.
My Dwarves sacrificed 5 Dwarves for fish ;-;
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