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[Zrk2]

Phalanxes used sarissas, I'm not sure what the spear used by hoplites was called, though.

*facepalm*

The Hoplites were what made up a phalanx...

False. Hoplites fought in something akin to a shield wall with 15ft spears. Phalanxes fought in a phalanx/spearwall using 18ft pikes.

[Mictlantecuhtli]

Rhomphaia [And the Falx] > Every other Bladed Weaponry.

For note: The Romans had to change their entire strategy and upgrade their armor to deal with these weapons.

I guess hacked-off limbs made Trajan squeamish.

[kerlc]

Phalanxes used sarissas, I'm not sure what the spear used by hoplites was called, though.

*facepalm*

The Hoplites were what made up a phalanx...

False. Hoplites fought in something akin to a shield wall with 15ft spears. Phalanxes fought in a phalanx/spearwall using 18ft pikes.

*double facepalm*
Hoplites fought in a phalanx. Phalanxes is the plural of Phalanx. Macedonian Hoplites fought in Phalanxes with their Sarissas. Greek Hoplites fought in Phalanxes with their Dorys.

Phalanxs is a tactic, not the name of a soldier.

[Trollheiming]

Phalanxes used sarissas, I'm not sure what the spear used by hoplites was called, though.

*facepalm*

The Hoplites were what made up a phalanx...

False. Hoplites fought in something akin to a shield wall with 15ft spears. Phalanxes fought in a phalanx/spearwall using 18ft pikes.

*double facepalm*
Hoplites fought in a phalanx. Phalanxes is the plural of Phalanx. Macedonian Hoplites fought in Phalanxes with their Sarissas. Greek Hoplites fought in Phalanxes with their Dorys.

Phalanxs is a tactic, not the name of a soldier.

*triple facepalm*

A phalanx is a knucklebone, guys. I am currently assaulting this board with a force of thirty phalanges.

[MonkeyHead]

How meta(carpal).

[kerlc]

Rhomphaia [And the Falx] > Every other Bladed Weaponry.

For note: The Romans had to change their entire strategy and upgrade their armor to deal with these weapons.

I guess hacked-off limbs made Trajan squeamish.

ouch, that looks like a nasty piece of blade.

[MonkeyHead]

Rhomphaia [And the Falx] > Every other Bladed Weaponry.

For note: The Romans had to change their entire strategy and upgrade their armor to deal with these weapons.

I guess hacked-off limbs made Trajan squeamish.

ouch, that looks like a nasty piece of blade.

I quite like the look of a Falchion

[Zrk2]

Phalanxes used sarissas, I'm not sure what the spear used by hoplites was called, though.

*facepalm*

The Hoplites were what made up a phalanx...

False. Hoplites fought in something akin to a shield wall with 15ft spears. Phalanxes fought in a phalanx/spearwall using 18ft pikes.

*double facepalm*
Hoplites fought in a phalanx. Phalanxes is the plural of Phalanx. Macedonian Hoplites fought in Phalanxes with their Sarissas. Greek Hoplites fought in Phalanxes with their Dorys.

Phalanxs is a tactic, not the name of a soldier.

I am aware of that. Alexander and his successors employed soldiers called phalangites. Who used sarissas and fought in a phalanx, as I said. Hoplites used larger shields and shorter spears.

[Trollheiming]

Without their shields Roman swords would be of not much use. Also the classical "throw a pilum at that dual wielding barbarian at point blank".

Yep, that's what the entire Roman Strategy was built as. the Shield Wall technique, with the pilum being used to thin out the charging enemy armies, then intercepting the mass of the people invading with your mighty shields and chopping your opponents up with your Gladius. The only bad thing about this strategy is its weakness to flanking attacks, but that was countered by using either Auxilia or more legionarries, and in later stages of the combat, if the situation was favourable, the legionarries stationed at the sides would move towards the mass of enemies in the middle, trapping them in a pincer movement.

Chopped bits of the Germanic Tribes, anyone?

Missed this before...

Actually, the Roman system, post-Marian, was far from a shield wall. The maniples were staggered for purposes of maneuverability. And gladii do not cut nor chop. They stab. As Vegetius says,

"They were likewise taught not to cut but to thrust with their swords. For the Romans not only made a jest of those who fought with the edge of that weapon, but always found them an easy conquest. A stroke with the edges, though made with ever so much force, seldom kills, as the vital parts of the body are defended both by the bones and armor. On the contrary, a stab, though it penetrates but two inches, is generally fatal. Besides in the attitude of striking, it is impossible to avoid exposing the right arm and side; but on the other hand, the body is covered while a thrust is given, and the adversary receives the point before he sees the sword. This was the method of fighting principally used by the Romans, and their reason for exercising recruits with arms of such a weight at first was, that when they came to carry the common ones so much lighter, the greater difference might enable them to act with greater security and alacrity in time of action." -- De Re Militaris

[Another]

Rhomphaia [And the Falx] > Every other Bladed Weaponry.

For note: The Romans had to change their entire strategy and upgrade their armor to deal with these weapons.

I guess hacked-off limbs made Trajan squeamish.

ouch, that looks like a nasty piece of blade.

I quite like the look of a Falchion

Side note: were the swords in the original for this image http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Chest_of_Courtrai_-_Falchion_w.jpg really painted blue, green and red (well - purple) or is it an anonimous prank?

[GlyphGryph]

Blade polearms like the Falx and Naginata are definitely awesome.

[Darvi]

Blade polearms like the Falx and Naginata are definitely awesome.

^

[lemon10]

Rhomphaia [And the Falx] > Every other Bladed Weaponry.

For note: The Romans had to change their entire strategy and upgrade their armor to deal with these weapons.

I guess hacked-off limbs made Trajan squeamish.

ouch, that looks like a nasty piece of blade.

I quite like the look of a Falchion

Side note: were the swords in the original for this image http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Chest_of_Courtrai_-_Falchion_w.jpg really painted blue, green and red (well - purple) or is it an anonimous prank?

I believe that the falchions were highlighted in the image for the purpose of showing what they look like and making them easy to see.

[Mlamlah]

I'll just try to address a bunch of the points i just saw mentioned.
The Katana: It is capable of cutting european style armor, in the very least a basic breastlate, this has been demonstrated.
The Katana taken all by itself is not a versatile weapon, this is why the style surrounding the katana is centered around footwork and positioning to allow fluid striking. It's not a very good defensive weapon, so it forces wielders to defend by being aggressive. Both of these strategies help to shore up the weaknesses of using the weapon, but it's most effective in short battles. Fortunatly, few of the kinds of battles samurai engaged in lasted very long.

European Medieval Armor: A lot of people seem to assume that medieval europe was always technologically backwards, that things like screws and interlocking plates at joints was something that was just beyond them. This is not true, such technologies did not spring instantly into existence. I don't know much about roman armor, but medieval plate armor is not cumbersome, i keep seeing that generalization made.
As i said, i don't know a whole lot about roman armor, so i'm curious about what you folks have to say about it.

[Darvi]

The Katana: It is capable of cutting european style armor, in the very least a basic breastlate, this has been demonstrated.

Sauces please.