Is this Quote from David Gemmell's Drenai Saga Realistic? (Swordsman vs. Axman)

[@Skallagrim]

Patrons and members are what allow me to be extra picky with sponsors and ignore the unrelated or questionable ones. If you'd like to help out too you can join to get extra content and other perks. www.patreon.com/skallagrim kzbin.info/door/3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFAjoin Or you can buy cool stuff and support the channel at the same time through these affiliate links: www.kultofathena.com/?koa=259 gamersupps.gg/Skall www.woodenswords.com/?Click=1799 beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD Amazon US - www.amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson Amazon Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA Thanks folks, I appreciate it!

[@AXharoth]

new video but 2 weeks old comment haha

[@arnijulian6241]

Sword=moderate ample slash & blow with some forgiveness to commitment if missed while decent at parrying. Axe=devastating cleave=slash & no thrust that is unforgiving if you miss with little ability to parry. Personally I prefer a long dagger or a short sword that could be prescribed as a dagger abut 8 to 20 inch blade. Long dagger/short sword= devastating thrust, moderate slash but limited reach while as nimble brilliant commitment as one can get with decent to great parrying coming in at most any position or angle. I see no advantage a Axe or sword other that a Cutlass. Falchion, Kopis or kukri does not offer if made to purpose. Large knifes bordering on short swords is were t is at. Mind the reach of a spear or a bayonet on rifle fulfils the opposite end to a short blade as reach is brilliant. Still to quote my Grandfather who fought in Korea & Kenya: ''If it can draw blood; it can kill''! His choice after resulting to bare hand from munitions spent & blades lodged in carcases was a Crow bar as it never blunted while practically indestructible while a useful tool. he quickly adopted a lightest single handed Crow-bar as his last result. Crow bar is like the best of a mace & war pick while a convenient tool that can be worn om the waste. Bayonet primary gun being preferably automatic, Large knife & a crowbar is my choice but before them all I'd choose 1 simple tool. A shovel as my Great grand father & father would taje the mick out of those from the USA by starting: ''this is my shovel; their are many like it but this one is mine'' A play on this is my rifle as what good is a rifle if you have already been taken out by artillery?

[@Randasio360]

Out of curiosity have you ever read the Eragon series?

[@ezrafaulk3076]

Not at all related to combat, but one videogame line that particularly stuck with me is one in the Forsaken DLC in Destiny 2 (before Bungie became a Sweet Baby Inc. client); it was a quote from one of the two villains. "Even *paradise* is a prison, when you can't *leave* ".

[@clancywilliams2585]

Can you do a review / reaction of the ultimate self defence champion season 2 shank tank . I Think you’d be quite impressed and surprised by some different strategies and outcomes

[@asameretali6639]

“Go touch rocks” -Skallagrim

[@jaxirraywhisper741]

ROCK AND STONE

[@W4iteFlame]

Well, at least I can touch rocks right at home

[@m0-m0597]

that's actually not a bad idea

[@m0-m0597]

@@jaxirraywhisper741 for crying out loud, it's everywhere

[@aquarius5264]

he basically took the question of "axe vs sword, which wins" and said "yes"

[@Alche_mist]

"Axe vs sword, which wins?" > "The one who doesn't get into this combat." A similar case is Knife vs knife - in modern terms, the winner is the one who dies to blood loss in the hospital and not on the spot.

[@CazadorSlayer]

Skall's viking blood is showing again! He yearns not for grass and field, but sea and stone!

[@tripweed]

Maybe he also likes ROCK AND STONE!

[@christianweibrecht6555]

Judging by how he looks just like Kraut, I believe he is also South German

[@bjornstenfors8455]

@CazadorSlayer Vikings yearn for grass and field - they already have sea and stone

[@IRON_KING_KNIGHT]

@@tripweedHE PLAYS DEEP ROCK?.???

[@tripweed]

@@IRON_KING_KNIGHT I hope so. Seems like something Skal might enjoy.

[@chadparsons9954]

Shotgun vs handgun. 9mm vs.45 Stopping power vs carrying capacity. Punch or kick? This exact conversation has been going on since men discovered fire and alcohol.

[@texasbeast239]

10mm was created to settle the caliber debate.

[@gargoyles9999]

If you take a 9mm you aren’t really in the best condition to continue so having more rounds means more chances to land a hit

[@goodbye7233]

​@@texasbeast23910mm was made first and cops couldn't qualify with it which is why we are now cursed with 40s&w.

[@KoishiVibin]

@@goodbye7233 skill issue tbh

[@kleinerprinz99]

What about Punchkicker?

[@ChadislavBigbullbus]

In croatian language, the word snaga means strenght. I thought that was interesting and felt need to write it.

[@akiwi2827]

Very interesting, thx for sharing

[@LuxisAlukard]

I ja sam osetio istu potrebu =)

[@obionedogan]

Interesting! In old bulgarian снага(snaga) means human body.

[@richardfarrer5616]

My recollection about Druss is a comment by another character watching him him fighting. It went something like this but it's a paraphrase since it was probably thirty years ago. "See him! He is pure offence. Most fighters balance attack and defence because they don't want to die. But not him. Any good fighter could kill him if they were willing to die as well. But most aren't and so it is almost impossible to beat him".

[@Issblodh]

And the description of his scars. Only on the front. He always looked his opponents in the eyes.

[@TheLegendsmith]

Skallagrim read Gemmell! Hell yeah. Legend is good, but it was his first novel. He gets better, much better, as the Drenai saga goes on. The great thing is you don't need to start from the beginning: You can pick it up anywhere that doesn't have a number at the end (Read Waylander 1 before Waylander 2).

[@jimdigriz2923]

Loved the ending of Waylander 3, it brought the story full circle.

[@batteredwarrior]

Waylander is my favourite of the Drenai saga.

[@trifontrifonov4297]

Actually his very first novel is a neo-noir thriller written under different name, but it was not published, so he stopped writing and did other stuff untill he got cancer years later and wrote Legend.

[@MattTHX-io4tk]

They are bloody good I read them whilst working as a security night watch man on a bypass construction depo in 97 aged 17 awesome series books ..

[@sitrilko]

His Troy was also a fantastic read.

[@EriktheRed2023]

I won't go for originality. My favourite author, fantasy or otherwise, is Tolkien. One quote (of many) that stuck with me: "One who cannot cast away a treasure at need is in fetters." Highly pertinent to the story, to the scene, and to life.

[@Captain_Insano_nomercy]

That's an Aragorn quote from two towers right? It always stuck with me too

[@EriktheRed2023]

@@Captain_Insano_nomercy Yes, exactly.

[@heavenheathern]

Haven't read Tolkien in awhile but my favorite line from him is probably "His grief he will not forget, but it will not darken his heart, it will teach him wisdom"

[@Dragowolf_Rising]

Raymond Feist is a favourite of mine. He doesn't get lost in fight choreography but most fights involving melee weapons feel very life threatening to all involved. On a number of occasions he points out how difficult it can be to disable an opponent without killing them if they are trying to kill you. People bleed out. People die suddenly. There is also magic and other supernatural elements, though practitioners are fairly rare in the setting.

[@jazzyb4656]

Recently listened to the whole series on audiobook. It was just as great as I remember and the voice actor (Peter Joyce) did a really good job.

[@Rphone000]

David G. is one of my favorite authors. I appreciate how the skills of a seasoned and experienced fighter played into the fights. In the case of Axe vs Sword, the fighter with the greater skill will make better use of the advantages each of the weapons have.

[@Han-rw9ev]

I always liked the way David Gemmell described his battles, especially with characters like Druss, Waylander, Tenaka and Shannow. Legend was the first Gemmell book I ever read, almost forty years ago, and I've been a fan since. I kind of wish he was still around to continue his stories as well (of course I think the same about so many others). Incidentally while double-headed axes have their obvious issues (which ironically I only really learned about in the last few years (blame certain KZbin channels. We all know who they are 😊)), I'll make a completely unrepentant exception for Snaga (especially since it comes in a set with Druss. It's like the gladius and shield relationship).. It's pretty much my favourite fictional axe of all time. And yes, I wanted one. It WAS cool.

[@willbbwluvr]

Jon Shannow, all time fave character

[@jazzyb4656]

Can't forget Skilgannon The Damned!

[@maccaebus]

Really loving these more "Skall just talks a bit about things he finds interesting and likes" type videos. Skall is just a fun guy to listen to (and the beautiful coastline atmosphere is certainly nice as well).

[@JPBrooksLive]

"Touching rock and smelling sea air" giving Skall serenity just reinforces that he's a viking.

[@tommeakin1732]

Am I really the only one who's read enough 19th and 20th century history to know this kind of talk is directly tied to Nordic supremacist movements, and Nazism itself? Or does nobody care? We live in a culture where folks get called Nazi over nothing, while they're meant to be the ultimate baddie; yet this stuff is...fine? Weird, man. I guess there's enough steps of separation for it to not be clear to most. I guess this is what happens when you're a nerd. Just shut up and turn brain off.

[@segothgalont23]

Loved the video, “Only a fool or a maniac is never afraid; only a child or a coward lets his fear master him.” ― William King, Gotrek & Felix: The First Omnibus

[@callejunkkari2076]

I've only read "The King Beyond the Gate" in the Drenai-series, but it is one of my favourite books, mainly because I read it the first time when I was 12 or 13, and I still every few years re-read it.

[@DwarfElvishDiplomacy]

Oh wow, the second this video got publicised i heard Matt Easton screaming "CONTEXT"

[@DwarfElvishDiplomacy]

And i live in germany

[@blondebeard6335]

I've always enjoyed RA Salvatore, his fight scenes are quite elaborate.

[@Dragowolf_Rising]

Elaborate and entertaining but highly unrealistic. Drizzt spins like he's a Star Wars prequel jedi/sith.

[@caseco4979]

​@@Dragowolf_Risingdrizzt spins like he's a hyper badass once-in-a-setting fantasy elf

[@terrydavis5924]

Salvatore worked as a bouncer before being an author and I think it shows. That said, some of his ideas were outright silly, like a crossed low stab being an unbeatable sword maneuver that forces you to give ground, rather than completely exposing the face. Drizzt pulling off the spins and acrobatics was explained, he found a Bracelet of Haste that made his hands faster. But he realized that swinging faster without footwork was a liability, so he wore them on his ankles for fast footwork and regular swings.

[@paulmitchell7512]

@@terrydavis5924 It's been a real long time since I read those books, but the thing I remember about that crossed swords low stab is it was countered by smashing them in the face. The silly bit was how long it took all these sword-masters who went through lethally competitive training into a life of near constant dueling and skirmishing to work that out.

[@Crangaso]

David Gemmel, thanks Skall. Love me some fantasy novels.

[@iainpearce6379]

Ah David Gemell my all time favourite fantasy author,, the Drenai saga is an epic tale and I've read and re read the tale of the fall of Dros Delnoch I love the idea of the 30 too ,, great video skal cheers my friend

[@raphaelperry8159]

I was just about to write "sounds like something David Gemmel would write" when I saw the first line of the video description and decided to write it anyway.

[@serpentsembrace782]

I'm in a Western style Viking martial arts group, and I can attest to the brevity of Dane axe v. Sword and shield, at least. The Dane is long and powerful, but round shields are extremely good at defending against it in the right hands. On top of that, the sword is indeed far more agile. I'm still learning Dane (and the matchup ofc), but thus far, spars tend to end within a minute either with an axe strike at long range, or a sword thrust at shorter range. I imagine that against a greatsword or longsword, it would be a more symmetrical matchup, but with just as much danger to each combatant with every exchange. Dane is SUPER fun though, and I'd love to see more content on it!

[@pupper5580]

My experience: Greatsword beats the crap out of shield + sword. My guess: Greatsword beats the crap out of 2h axe (because I don't fight against Dane Axes, I fight against Polearms, which are superior technology to Dane Axe) My experience: Greatsword vs spear - greatsword beats the crap out of the My experience: Greatsword vs very skilled polearm (Polearm has spear tip and butt spike) user - who knows how to use butt spike with expertise - is quite equal or favours the polearm. My experience. Greatsword vs polearm user who does not know how to use butt spike with mastery - greatsword is heavily favoured. Back to Dane Axe: Dane axe does not have a spear tip nor a butt spike - therefore greatsword will definitely beat the crap out of Dane Axe.

[@Hersir_Egil]

@@pupper5580 My experience (13 years viking reenactment, 1 year 15th century combat and 1 year HEMA longsword). Greatsword is faster than shield + sword sure, but be careful if the shield controls the blade, so be quick on your feet if the opponent lunges. Greatsword vs spear : I don't really know. Spear have tipically more reach, but can only thrust. I guess the longsword can attack from more angles but you still need to get in the zone where you can be stabbed. Greatsword vs poleaxe : I'm not very experienced with the poleaxe (yet), but I can get a 50/50 with HEMA swordsmen that are a bit more experienced than I am in poleaxe. I can control the blade better, I have equal or more reach, I can parry with the haft and the tip of the axe. And btw dane axe can absolutely thrust. There is no spear tip, but most of them are pointy enough and really sharp. I've tried a sharp dane on chainmail and layers of wool, it goes through. And there is no butt spike, but you can still pummel the opponent with the butt x) (source : sagy.vikingove.cz/en/two-handed-axes/) My final guess is that it's not about the weapon; it's the wielder that does the difference. Give someone a weapon he's comfortable with, against someone who does not know how to use what he has in his hands, and my bet goes for the first guy. Skill beats steel.

[@pupper5580]

@@Hersir_Egil Your comment on greatsword vs shield = clueless Your comment on greatsword vs spear = clueless Your comment on greatsword vs poleaxe = clueless Dane axe thrusting = trash. (Edit: For matchup against greatsword) Agree on it not being about the weapon but it being about the wielder. But if you have two identically talented people fighting, it becomes about the weapon. Therefore, your comment again = clueless. Edit: Your "experience" means nothing if you have no experience in using greatsword - or polearm. Getting 50/50 against HEMA swordsman - does this mean 1 handed sword or longsword? I can get 100% winrate against 1 handed sword or longsword user while using polearm or spear (or greatsword). No chance whatsoever. Doesn't matter how skilled my opponent is. Can be closed space or open field, the matchup is so easy that the terrain makes no difference. I am extremely unimpressed with HEMA. My friend went to HEMA and he beat the best guy in the group, with 10 years of experience, 10-0 - with zero experience in HEMA. The fight was with steel swords. I beat this friend of mine easily the last time I fought him (and I had not trained for a year, and was not able to access half of my techniques because of this - while my friend had been training actively for this entire time and was in his prime).

[@daemonharper3928]

Glad I'm not the only one who remembers random lines from books read decades ago!

[@waterslethe]

Great video. I loved David Gemmell books as a wee lad, and Druss and Snaga were some of my favorites. Awesome view of the sea by the way!

[@Troikaverse]

My first David Gemmel was Swords of Night and Day

[@theehumanshield]

Remember it is not about how long you haft is, but how you use it.

[@Steponlyone]

How long you use it

[@Kamamura2]

@@Steponlyone it gives leverage to your pommel to accelerate and end your foe rightly.

[@Brandonsherrell-zv3pc]

My haft is 1 inch soft 6 hard 💪🏿

[@DaimonTrilogy]

​@@Brandonsherrell-zv3pc😂

[@tamaiofthesea]

Oh my goodness, video starts and I get a Gemmel reference! What a legend, love him and you Skall

[@A_Medieval_Shadow]

I try to include castle ruins in most of my newer videos and you outmatched me with this beautiful scene forever🫡

[@tracywinge6691]

Any of the Hawk & Fisher by Simon R. Green lead my love of axes. And it's a great series of books as well. Great video overview of the two fighting styles.

[@abnunga]

When I was young, I watched Disney's Black Arrow quite a few times. I always remember "Properly used, the staff is mightier than the sword". I always wondered. The movie is on youtube. About 20 minutes in. After a duel with crossbow vs longbow

[@kuesdav]

You could make an argument for that, I suspect, in unarmored fighting, but armor, especially plate harness, probably makes it much more difficult to argue.

[@Candlemancer]

​@@kuesdav I'd say the opposite. In armour, a staff is much more threatening than a sword because it delivers blunt force impact that can still severely wound you through your armour, where a sword does so much less effectively and loses its benefits of being able to cut or thrust effectively.

[@Bubben246]

@@Candlemancer If we're discussing striking where the armor IS. then, based on my limited Buhurt-style experience (we were less concerned with "authenticity" than actual Buhurt), then the staff would TECHNICALLY be better, but still wouldn't get results, particularly on the larger plates. If we're only concerned with striking where the armor ISN'T, or with grappling being a part of the strategy, then I would again favor the sword, as it is either more wieldy for the awkward angles required to strike around armor, or its shorter length and greater versatility in half-swording makes the grapple easier.

[@pcfree4994]

Speaking of realism, can we take a moment to appreciate the giant blood fountain that came out of that skeleton at 09:39?

[@Zalgardis]

Vandal Hearts did not know subtlety in its combat animations.

[@Tennouseijin]

The skeleton had a side-job as a field medic and was carrying a full canister of blood for transfusions. Sadly, it took the brunt of the hit.

[@duffelbach9039]

God dang it's very rare to see Vandal Hearts refrenced anywhere these days! It's pretty much my favourite game of all time!

[@bentrieschmann]

Brent Weeks is my favorite Fantasy Author. Especially the Night Angel series.

[@Adurnis]

Me too

[@brengund9881]

Yay! More rambly content. Like I had said on your livestream. It's my fav.

[@faust8218]

I always liked the fantasy trope of the barbarian with a big axe and little to no armor or regard for their own well being. Whenever I play an RPG that allows me to create my own character, that's the build I go for.

[@faust8218]

Also, what's the tactical RPG (?) at 9:30?

[@yewtewbstew547]

@@faust8218 I think it's Vandal Hearts.

[@megavore97]

Hell yeah the “berzerker” archetype is one of my favourite fantasy archetypes as well.

[@faust8218]

​@@yewtewbstew547 Oh sick, is it worth playing?

[@Kamamura2]

@@faust8218 Yeah, they are good fodder for arrows...

[@DJTechnosapien]

I really enjoyed this! I play a ton of bannerlord multiplayer I use spears for their reach, people don’t expect it. I use axes to create a “wall” of blade around me. Sadly the game is so dead, the remaining players are very competitive

[@Kamamura2]

Bannerlord is a sad and unfinished game. I enjoyed Warband quite a lot back in the day, but I refuse to touch Bannerlord.

[@soneca798]

Try chivalry 2 if you like that, you'll probably enjoy it

[@DJTechnosapien]

@@soneca798 yeah I tried it, but nothing ever compares to the absolute filth and sweat that comes out of bannerlord tdm. It used to be an addiction (ok still is)

[@VK-sz4it]

I think Bannerlord is the best game of its subgenre. It easily surpassed Total War. Problem is, medieval setting game cannot be realistical. Realistically depicted skirmishes would be unplayable and not interesting and unsettling.

[@xLoLRaven]

Ah! It took me a bit to remember, but I've read Legend before! It really was an amazing book, especially the "conversation" Druss has on the wall.

[@One_foot_in_the_Grave]

Its cool to watch your old videos, and compare them to now. You have come along way ! You have always had a calm demeanor , Which is preferred by most people over the manic ravings and huge" i know everything" chip on ones shoulder that "some" of your contemporaries have...

[@SeeThomasHowl]

I second the Gemmel recommendation. Still one of my favorite fantasy authors all the way to today

[@Downhaven]

David Gemmell with his silver tongue and gift of gab (his bio was the first place I heard those phrases as a kid) is still one of my all time favorite authors. Skilgannon the Damned was who I based several early dnd characters on.

[@pougetguillaume4632]

David gemell was the first author i got hooked to back when i was a kid (mid/late 2000s) good to see him mentionned. My favorite was the troy trilogy... Well not the last chapters when a character becomes literally moses, that was weird (tbf a lot of different people claim they have roots from troy like charlemagne, still weird tho) Rip

[@adwarfsittingonagiantsshoulder]

Strange that not much comments mentions the Troy serie, as it is really good (I'm only half way into the second novel). I did not even knew that the author died. In fact, I only discovered David Gemmel in the mid 2000s whith the book Legend. I really liked it but, as Skall, I drifted away from such fantasy because of the lack of realism (not from Gemmel in particular, but from modern fantasy in general, with some exceptions such as George RR Martin) and read more and more historical fiction. I don't remember what fantasy books I was reading, but I had two fantasy books in a row where a sword was beiing made out of melt steel cast in a mould, and I thought I was done with fantasy... for the cast aluminium sword in the start of Conan the Barbarian, I pardon it as it was a great film and that I like the Conan books. But for modern fantasy I was done, I non the less picked up the first book of the Troy serie as it was not in your typical Tolkienesque setting. I must say that I had low expectations... but was really surprised by how GOOD it was !

[@TimFavorite-ql8si]

Gemmell is so under-rated, thanks for shining the spotlight on him

[@jamesgoodman186]

Finally, some love for the Drenai books! I haven't heard them mentioned anywhere since my dad gave me his copies to read. Legend might not be the best of his books technically, but it is my favorite. I think my favorite quote from it would probably be this exchange between Rek and Ulric. " 'Stopping you is not important,' said the Earl. It never was' 'Then what are you doing?' 'We are trying to stop you' The underlying theme being fighting against the inevitable, even without hope, simply because it's the right thing to do. Fun fact, the seige of dros denloch was ment as an allegory for his battle with cancer. With the nadir attackers being the cancer cells attacking his body.

[@ooomooo2186]

Great job. The scenery is beautiful

[@LordOfSweden]

I've always been an axe-man myself, in fantasy games and so on. Im scandinavian, so I guess it's in my blood. Though I really like germanic swords as well from the iron age. Even bronze age swords look really cool.

[@Sathrenor]

As much I didn't read too many books (I blame school for that :D), one fantasy novel called "Tales of the Kin" by Douglas Hulick got stuck in my mind when I was teenager. Back then it astonished me with the technical details on thievery and swordsmanship, where in its climax my brain couldn't even catch up with rendering the scene of that duel. I just though I needed to give it a shout-out.

[@widgren87]

The quote from Gemmell's books that has nested in my head is "May all your dreams but one come true, for what is life without a dream?" Then from time to time this quote re-surfaces from my memories “By nature of definition only the coward is capable of the highest heroism.”. I love Gemmell's books and would have loved to see more of his Rigante books because in them he made one of my all-time favorite villains in the character simple refereed to as "The Moidart" with his unusual disdain for war. Going to give them another read now ;-)

[@richstone2627]

Link to axe used in sparring segment. In 1984 no one was reading that book. We read Conan and Elric books. Good video. Thank you

[@Tonnex]

That helmet is such beauty

[@juliancain6128]

Excellent video! David Gemmel's Legend is one of the best fantasy novels ever written.

[@joltrail3588]

David Gemmell. One of the authors I have on my To-do list. Up until now I only read "Knights of dark renown" which is at least seated in the mentioned universe :D but I have it in good memory. And if it counts two books released under the name of Stella. Regarding the most realistic fight scenes in any fantasy setting I would name the Kings & Fools series. Although I only read the first book, the author seems to be in a way like Skall :D Personally I don't mind if it's realistic or not. The overall package must fit. If it does then details can be amiss for me

[@sybransnoeck6987]

Lovely seaside!

[@0num4]

The granite shores of northeastern NA (New England, Nova Scotia, etc.) are wonderful. I always appreciate your chats from those rocks a *bit* more than otherwise.

[@tetsubo57]

Gemmell was fun. Drus the Axe still lives in my head.

[@M.M.83-U]

Great video, and thanks for the reading suggestion, I found out almost all of Gemmell's books are translated in Italian. As for a couple great authors: Katherine Kurtz for the more realistic side and Laurell K. Hamilton for the "fun" approach.

[@zpopinfresh]

I re-read a few Gemmel books that I loved as a teenager (over 40 now) and found that I had kinda grown beyond them. Except for "Echoes of the Great Song". For some reason, I still loved that one.

[@styxspeedrun]

The Drenai series is my absolute favorite series! The sheer willpower of Druss is inspiring!

[@SquishyFletcher]

David Gemmell was one of the best authors to ever live. I love most of his books (minus some of the more unusual ones). Some of his best is the Troy series, but the Drenai series are the best example of his style. To quote an old saying, "There are old soldiers and there are bold soldiers, but there are very few old, bold soldiers." The same tends to apply to axemen; an axeman can't be timid, success with the weapon doesn't allow it; which has an unfortunate tendency to shorten the axeman's lifespan. One of the best things about Druss was that his mere existence was a warning; because he was an *Old* Axeman. Now I'm going to have to get my books out of storage and read them all again...

[@brandon_crow1291]

Every time you make a video by the coast I always get a little jealous lol. Like ya I can go to many of the beaches by me but it's just not the same as being out in nature by the coast with a forest behind you.

[@gheleorm8894]

David Gemmel's Legend & Druss

[@YourHandleHere84]

That’s such a beautiful view and amazing location for your video.

[@wavetactics13]

As someone (very slowly) trying to write a fantasy novel, I do want my setting to be fairly well grounded in realism. Particularly the combat. Even the limited magic abilities I'm making inherent to my characters is something I want to have make sense in its use.

[@jodycarter7308]

I just saw a vid with a hooded katar, it would be an awesome parrying/bladetrapping second weapon. Also check out a caged buckler. The cage traps blades.

[@paulkerr7320]

A quote for you Skall from one of my favourite Gemmell books, one of his few standalone novels Morningstar "There are two types of swordsmen,those who long to win and those afraid to lose. Both can be good, even great, but in a contest between them thewre can only ever be one winner."

[@derskalde4973]

Just love that Lego minifigure was included.

[@michaeldrinkard678]

I always pronounced Gemmell the same way you did. Oh well. At least we agree on how awesome his books are. Yeah, he DID have a tendency to put in something needlessly depressing at the end at times, but still great stories. Great video as well!

[@LordPhoenix140]

I reread that series every few years, it's very well done.

[@CAARaeed]

I have not heard that name in a long time, Skall. Thank you for reminding me about Gemmell. I used to read his books back in school

[@aethlwulf777]

"You have to be realistic." Logen Ninefinger, The First Law

[@NeutralDrow]

Sorry, I was paying attention, but 8:29 distracted me. That's a beautiful location, and I couldn't tell if that was a rainbow or just the sea's iridescence! Haven't read the Drenai series, might check them out (although the epilogue warning makes me think I'd have to Lemony Snickett them). Speaking of, I don't have the books in easy reach, but I still remember _The Elenium_ having a surprising number of knightly axe-wielders in its main cast, only one of whom came close to "stereotypical Norseman" depictions. There's even a scene where he gets into a duel with another one-handed axe wielder, and the protagonist Sparhawk is fascinated by how unexpectedly technical the fight was. Iirc, it still ended with the bad guy's head cleaved in half, but still.

[@paulkerr7320]

Ah, Ulath. That fight is not in the Elenium however it is in the Tamuli against a warrior brought forward in time. I believe it was Dryctnath

[@NeutralDrow]

@@paulkerr7320 Oh, really? Man, it's been a while, I thought it was in the first series before the archprelate election, against a commander of the church soldiers. (Maybe I was mixing it up with Bevier chopping down a commander, then immediately starting a prayer circle for his soul.) But regardless, yay, someone got it!

[@mani21axe40]

Eyyyy, I was hoping I would find someone in the comments regarding any of David Eddings books.

[@davidribeiro1064]

Most of Gemmel's books are still worth it even with those Epilogues. Just keep in mind that he wrote Legend while suffering from cancer and he seems to have been fascinated for themes of impermanence and aging.

[@cp1cupcake]

Speaking of Bevier with regards to this, there is also the constant mention about how his axe is praticuarly scary (mostly by swordsmen), with the added bonus that the BBEG in the first trilogy has that feeling despite not being in any danger from it.

[@jazzyb4656]

I read Gemmell's book over 20 years ago. I've listened to the whole series on audiobooks just recently, and they were great. The voice actor they used for most of them (Sean Barrett) did a really good job. I highly recommend listening to them.

[@viridian10]

My dad gave me this book to read I am 31 but he used to read it to us as kids. I’ll for sure have to read it now Edit: donated a few bucks because I am super into the more HEMA oriented video games and dream of making one myself someday. This channel inspires me and has great content

[@David_Alvarez77]

Good video and an interesting topic. Also, I like the fact you included scenes from Vandal Hearts. Such a fun game. A fantasy author that I used to really like was David Eddings, especially the Belgariad and Mallorean series. Good characters and great dialogues. His last few books were not as good, though, perhaps.

[@Loves2smoodge]

David Gemmell was a historian who studied battles. I particularly liked his retellings of Alexandar the Great, Troy, and King Arthur. A character's wife dying of some mundane event (such as the one you mentioned) showed that life affected them like everyone else even after all their heroics and saving the world. There was rarely, if ever, a happy ending.

[@Bakubakuba]

For sure: Steven Erikson - Malazn Books of the Fallen. It's dark and high fantasy in the same time, and the author is an archeologist so there is a lot of realism there, alongside philosophy, and perspectives of everyone from a soldier of every side of the conflict, of slaves and lords, to heros larger than life. I love it so much.

[@DarthXentus]

Favorite author would be Brandon Sanderson (thanks to you, Skal, for introducing me to the Stormlight Archive) A quote that has stuck with would have to be "I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine. But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say. That is truth."

[@Poohze01]

There's a place in the Royal National Park on the southern edge of Sydney, on a high cliff, where you can sit on the grass or under trees and look out over the rocky shore and the Pacific Ocean. My favourite picnic spot in the world!

[@content1016jersey]

Each time you post, it's a treat!

[@Benjamin-nf2ir]

Legend is SO good. I'm gonna have to reread that one. I still have it! Thanks for reminding me.

[@samuelferrell9257]

A quick point, axe handles don't just break. I've seen working axes that are many, many years, decades in some cases old and still have original handles. As long as you don't hit the handle, a good , well built, oiled, sealed, taken care off axe handle will last longer than you.

[@batteredwarrior]

I love David Gemmell and Legend! Druss is an awesome character.

[@RyzawaCh]

Gotta appreciate Skall's cloning abilities in his thumbnails (and even his actual videos sometimes), truly a force to be reckoned with.

[@lancephillipsonline]

Legend is still one of my favourite books and Druss is my favourite character of heroic fantasy. I have every Gemmel book written in old fashioned tree bark. For me the best things about his books are the anti-heros, flawed, fighting their own demons yet ultimately striving to do good. The books are good old fashioned sword/axe fantasy with mystical powers rather than magic, easy reading and enjoyable.

[@xact13]

Great setting!

[@michaelshelton5488]

Favorite fantasy authors are the obvious ones- Tolkien, Robert Jordan, and George R.R. Martin. But I also really enjoyed this fantasy series I read in the 80's called The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper, based on Arthurian and Celtic (especially Welsh) mythology. I loved it when I first read it as an 11 or 12 year old and then went back and read it again a couple of times as an adult and loved it just as much. Oh, and you can't go wrong with Michael Moorcock's Elric and Eternal Champion books

[@heaththeemissary3824]

James Silke's and Frank Frazetta's "Death Dealer" novelizations of the latter's paintings were great reads. They describe Gath of Baal as "feeding the handle of his long axe to the sword swing." Though Gath was portrayed as having an oversized bearded axe, it made me wonder if staff defense techniques could be used with Dane axes.

[@johnno4127]

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card "In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. I think it's impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves."

[@whyjay9959]

Haven't actually read Lord of the Rings but I like the quote 'oft evil will shall evil mar'.

[@christiankalk4668]

Gemmell was the first author I read who dealt with the phychology aspect of combat, not just "Our hero was o'ermatched by the raw power of his adversary, but by virtue of unyeilding courage and strength of will, was victorious against all odds." Reading how Druss or Skilgannon could win a fight before it began through sheer intimidation was a refreshing change.

[@FattyMcFox]

A piece of a quote from Robert Jordan has always stuck with me, and it was something like "The only time *Venerated swordmaster* lost a fight was against a farmer with a staff from the two rivers." The context was to not underestimate your enemy, and that the sword didn't make you invincible, you still have to keep your wits about you. This made me fall in love with the fighting staff as a concept, and I have always wanted a main fantasy protag who is a staff fighter.

[@cp1cupcake]

Speaking of old books, your mention about skill with axes reminds me of segement of a David Eddings book where there is an axe duel and pretty much everyone is stunned in how much skill actually exists.

[@funwithmadness]

As someone who enjoys rock climbing, I can confirm that touching rock is just as good, if not better, than touching grass. It's certainly better than touching air, which typically means you're falling.

[@pangopod2969]

Kinda off topic but i love when you're filming in the wild :)

[@CreepyMF]

Beautiful scenery and engaging topic, whats not to like.

[@michaelkelly1267]

I like the format of chatting next to the sea.

[@DahVoozel]

The dead axeman hewed the swordsman in two through sheer momentum.

[@НиколайЛамберт]

Thats not how muscles and blood pressure work.

[@irrelevantfish1978]

Just in case you didn't understand what Skall was _actually_ talking about, what he was really referring to was an _almost_ dead axeman hewing swordsmen in two. With pre-modern weapons, even wounds that are 100%-guaranteed to be fatal are unlikely to be immediately incapacitating, at least not physiologically. Even a stab wound to the heart takes at least a few seconds to become physiologically debilitating, and that's ample time to take a vengeful swing or two. Of course, _psychological_ effects are frequently fight-stoppers, and damage to peripheral nerves or the musculoskeletal system can cause instant loss of function, but those are generally viewed as too unreliable/unpredictable for life-or-death situations, and it's best to assume an opponent is still a threat until something very obvious and very unpleasant has happened to their brain.

[@josephjagusah8668]

​@irrelevantfish1978 ah yes. We all remember from the proncess bride that *almost dead* is not the same thing as *completely dead.* I'm going to half-hand my sword just to be safe.

[@kaizen5023]

Those books were fun, action-packed, quick reading! We must have read them around the same time.

[@HS-su3cf]

Nice landscape.

[@ronjohnson6916]

I reread Gemmel recently. Druss holds up well as a character and so does the general scenario in Legend. Parts of it, well it's a first novel and occasionally this shows. I loved Legend when I first read it and I just can't read it uncritically now. If I encountered Legend the first time now, well I think I'd still like it, but I doubt it would capture my imagination the way it did all those years ago. And yes, I agree that part of the charm is that he'd given some thought to the practical side. An aging man not a machine. Still formidable but in dire need of a good massage on the bad days. And those bad days are getting more frequent. A man with no gift for overall command.

[@Wild_Speaker]

Steven Erikson gets the role of favourite author for me, as the Malazan series has the best books I've ever read It has everything I've been looking for in books, and I still need to read all the "spin off" stuff that Erikson and his buddy (Ian Esslemont) wrote in the same setting, that add even more detail to some events or to the word building in general

[@radianman]

I read that book before you were born. I have been waiting for a movie ever since. Still waiting.

[@LuxisAlukard]

3:00 Fun fact: Snaga means power or strength in Serbian (and probably some other Slavic languages)

[@willbbwluvr]

Means "hook" in Magyar

[@josephjagusah8668]

​@@willbbwluvrthat's whare it means in English too