News:

There is also the shroud of turin, which verifies Jesus in a new way than other evidences.

Main Menu

Medieval and fantasy fight scenes

Started by jumbojak, February 28, 2018, 05:43:33 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

jumbojak

I've been watching Kingdo of Heaven for the past few nights and while I have a few issues with the film there's one thing I really appreciate. Namely, that in actual fights most of the characters take appropriate measures to protect themselves and their measures actually seem to work!

They wear armor, and helmets, and many of the even carry shields. I recently saw a Game of Thrones episode where a large battle took place. One side had no real armor, no shields, and were very nearly wiped out. The dumb bastards even had a giant which they failed to equip with any  means to defend himself. Towards the end he smashed a castle gate with his hands. He would've been UNSTOPPABLE  with a shield. Just smoosh the puny humans while their arrows stick harmlessly into the barn door he could've held outstretched.

I guess swords slicing through and thrusting through armor makes for a more exciting scene than tow guys wrestling each other to the ground and trying to pass a dagger through each other's eye sits but I think it could be done.

Show the guys in fancy, high quality armor getting carted off for ransom while the common soldiers are executed. Hell, show the struggle to get through a vulnerability to cause a fatal wound. Something. Anything really.

"Amazing what chimney sweeping can teach us, no? Keep your fire hot and
your flue clean."  - Ecurb Noselrub

"I'd be incensed by your impudence were I not so impressed by your memory." - Siz

Tank

Your version of seeing a Chaffe with a Swastika painted on the side of the turret? :grin:
If religions were TV channels atheism is turning the TV off.
"Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt." ― Richard P. Feynman
'It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.' - Terry Pratchett
Remember, your inability to grasp science is not a valid argument against it.

jumbojak

I've never noticed one before but now I'll be looking for them!

"Amazing what chimney sweeping can teach us, no? Keep your fire hot and
your flue clean."  - Ecurb Noselrub

"I'd be incensed by your impudence were I not so impressed by your memory." - Siz

xSilverPhinx

Interesting topic.

Realism is a plus in some cases I think, and having armour, shields etc in close-quarter battles (without firearms) certainly go a long way in securing a victory. The odds definitely aren't even when one opponent is armoured and the other is not. But I'm just stating the obvious here.

However,  two things:

1) Weren't good armour, shields, helmets etc., expensive? Commoner fighters just didn't have access to them. Maybe a wooden shield or something similar, or looted chain mail suits...  :notsure: Seems like in many cases they were battle fodder.

2) What about societies where personal bravery and honour meant fighting with no armour? Didn't some ancient fighters fight butt naked to try and intimidate their opponents? I read some Ancient Roman accounts of tribes who did this, but I can't remember which right now. ::)


I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


Ecurb Noselrub

No one has ever superseded King Arthur's victory over the Black Knight in "The Holy Grail".  That was the best fight scene of all time.

xSilverPhinx

Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on March 02, 2018, 07:08:54 PM
No one has ever superseded King Arthur's victory over the Black Knight in "The Holy Grail".  That was the best fight scene of all time.

Yes, especially since it only resulted in few flesh wounds. :smilenod:
I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


Ecurb Noselrub

Quote from: xSilverPhinx on March 02, 2018, 08:25:16 PM
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on March 02, 2018, 07:08:54 PM
No one has ever superseded King Arthur's victory over the Black Knight in "The Holy Grail".  That was the best fight scene of all time.

Yes, especially since it only resulted in few flesh wounds. :smilenod:

Running away, eh?  You yellow bastard!!

jumbojak

Quote from: xSilverPhinx on March 02, 2018, 02:49:22 PM
Interesting topic.

Realism is a plus in some cases I think, and having armour, shields etc in close-quarter battles (without firearms) certainly go a long way in securing a victory. The odds definitely aren't even when one opponent is armoured and the other is not. But I'm just stating the obvious here.

However,  two things:

1) Weren't good armour, shields, helmets etc., expensive? Commoner fighters just didn't have access to them. Maybe a wooden shield or something similar, or looted chain mail suits...  :notsure: Seems like in many cases they were battle fodder.

2) What about societies where personal bravery and honour meant fighting with no armour? Didn't some ancient fighters fight butt naked to try and intimidate their opponents? I read some Ancient Roman accounts of tribes who did this, but I can't remember which right now. ::)

Armor was a lot more common than you might think. Cities like Milan and Cologne had an international arms trade going supplying what was known as munition armor to kings and cities across Europe and the Middle East. The Milanese even went so far as to devise fast methods of decorating armor when the Holy Roman Empire prohibited sales of arms to France intended for battle. They were selling hundreds of complete suits for infantry and archers at a time. Huge inventories were stockpiled and distributed.

Shields are so simple and so useful that just about every society on earth has developed them at one point or another.  Mail was also readily available and used extensively. But helmets and shields seem to develop very early. If the shield protects your body and the helmet protects your head the chances of survival increase greatly.

"Amazing what chimney sweeping can teach us, no? Keep your fire hot and
your flue clean."  - Ecurb Noselrub

"I'd be incensed by your impudence were I not so impressed by your memory." - Siz

xSilverPhinx

Quote from: jumbojak on March 02, 2018, 09:28:53 PM
Armor was a lot more common than you might think. Cities like Milan and Cologne had an international arms trade going supplying what was known as munition armor to kings and cities across Europe and the Middle East. The Milanese even went so far as to devise fast methods of decorating armor when the Holy Roman Empire prohibited sales of arms to France intended for battle. They were selling hundreds of complete suits for infantry and archers at a time. Huge inventories were stockpiled and distributed.

Do you know when this was more or less?

QuoteShields are so simple and so useful that just about every society on earth has developed them at one point or another.  Mail was also readily available and used extensively. But helmets and shields seem to develop very early. If the shield protects your body and the helmet protects your head the chances of survival increase greatly.

Definitely. There are a few pop culture examples of how important shields were: the Saxon shield wall; the Spartans, who were told to either come back with their shield or on it (this apparently is true, not just a line in the 300 movie  :P ).

And it's an arms race on both sides, offense and defense. When offensive weapons are better able to pierce defensive armour and shields, they are upgraded, either in design or material or something else. I think when firearms finally came medieval armour became obsolete, much like city walls became rather worthless for defensive purposes once canons and other heavy artillery could easily shoot them even the thickest amongst them down. 

I am thinking just how uncomfortable it must have been to be in a suit of armour on a hot day. :haironfire: And what if nature called after you were all geared up? :o
I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


jumbojak

I'll doube check my sources for the rest but leave this here in the meantime...


https://youtu.be/40P8bqA0eHg


"Amazing what chimney sweeping can teach us, no? Keep your fire hot and
your flue clean."  - Ecurb Noselrub

"I'd be incensed by your impudence were I not so impressed by your memory." - Siz

xSilverPhinx

I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


xSilverPhinx

#11
Maybe what medieval battles need is one of these:

Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.


*edited to fix image link
I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


Dave

I was ignoring this thread because I thought it was about a game or summat.

Silly me!

Out of interest this link gives an idea of the cost of living, and death, in medieval and later England.

http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/medprice.htm

Just imagine what an Earl's income of £11000 a year really meant in those days!  It seems to work out to about £8 million a year in today's value in terms of an income on one site. But he would be expected to tun his patch and maintain men at arms out of that.
Tomorrow is precious, don't ruin it by fouling up today.
Passed Monday 10th Dec 2018 age 74

Magdalena


"I've had several "spiritual" or numinous experiences over the years, but never felt that they were the product of anything but the workings of my own mind in reaction to the universe." ~Recusant

xSilverPhinx

I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey