From: Stefan_Muench@un.maus.de (Stefan Muench)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Warrior Winner!!!
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 92 05:37:00 GMT
Organization: MausNet
X-Gateway: MausGate/News 1.11

Thou art wrong.

A twohanded weapon is swung by both hands, regardless whether
it is swung overhead or sideways. It can't be swung one-handed.
This is not so much a question of strength and dexterity (or
any other stats) as a question of how the weapon is balanced.
See 'Two-Handed Sword' below.

Knowing shields, it is quite easy to see that a shield would hinder the
swinging ...

On shields (taken from the AD+D 2nd Arms and Equipment Guide):

Small shield: a small shield is usually round and is carried on the forearm,
gripped with the shield hand. Its light weight as compared to a medium
shield permits the user to carry other items in the hand, although he cannot
wield or carry another weapon. A small shield (is) approximately 2'
(2 feet, 1 feet is aprox. 30 cm) in diameter. [....]

Medium shield: a medium shield is carried in the same way as a small
shield. Unlike the small shield, however, its weight prevents the character
from using his shield hand for anything other than carrying the medium
shield. Medium shields are usually made of metal, range from 3' - 4' in
diameter, and can be of any shape, from round to square to a spread
dragon's wings. [....]

The Guide also refers to the 'buckler' or target shield, a tiny (1' diameter)
shield used by archers and crossbowmen with no hindrance, and to the
body shield (aka kite, tower shield), a 6' tall mighty _defense_ tool - that
hinders attacking (except maybe with polearms). [...] stand for AD+D-special
information left out.

This is what is said about the 'Two-Handed Sword':

The two-handed sword is a derivative of the long sword. Weaponsmiths have
always looked for ways to improve existing wepons. In an effort to improve
the long sword, the blade was lengthened (having a longer reach than one's
enemy is always preferable). Eventually, the handle had to be extended and
two hands became necessary to properly swing the sword. The promary
function of two-handed swords is cleaving mounted knights and breaking up
pike formations.

The blade on the two-handed sword is a long, double-edged blade. The blade
point may be sharp or rounded. The hilt has straight or slightly curved
quillons. The pommel may be faceted, triangular, or pear shaped, though
whatever the shape, it tends to get larger toward the top, as a
counterbalancing measure.

As its name implies, this sword is a two-handed weapon and cannot be used
in one hand, even if the wielder has high strength. The weapon and its
hilt are balanced for two-handed use. A fighter wielding a two-handed
sword cannot use a shield.

An average two-handed sword measures five to six feet in length. It is a
favored weapon among foot soldiers. [....]

The Guide quotes Finnegan Bospur, a Paladin:
' This is a sort of weapon that makes a statement to all who see the
wielder, and the statement is _beware_. The two-handed sword is
correctly associated with lots of damage. In fact, wearing such a sword
slung across your back may make the impression that the wielder is not
so much interested in saving his own neck (since he cannot use a shield
and is consequently easier to hit) as he is in relieving an enemy of his
head.' [he then discusses the advantages of the bastard sword to the
two-handed, I leave this out]

see ya, sm
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria