My 6 Best Historical Weapons in Different Contexts - with

Zac Evans ( / @zacharyevans ) asks me what my weapon choices are for 6 different contexts!
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#medieval #swords #swordfighting

[@siqikrautman1999]

You can almost hear a Skallagrimmian "It depends!" radiate across the vastness of the aether in resonance.

[@GUNNER67akaKelt]

This is generally the answer to many, many, many things.

[@greyvr4336]

@@GUNNER67akaKeltIt is the correct answer, but it's never fun. Someone asked me the best sword in history, so I showed him the work of Patrick Barta at Templ. He didn't want to hear how it depended on so many things, he wanted a fun answer. (Next day I told him it depended.) Even so, I'm awfully tired of "Well, it all depends, it's what works for you, it's not good for all things, just another tool in the box, and you have to kinda do what works, and what works is what works for you, there is no normal it's whatever works...." no matter how true it might be in the grand scheme of things.

[@GUNNER67akaKelt]

@@greyvr4336 Truth or fun. Some prefer truth. Some prefer fun. The problem is the fun people come back and talk shit when they find out what they were told wasn't true. Sometimes it seems like they get their 'fun' only from pointing out that the person was incorrect, and that's only fun for one side, not the other. Which comes back around to the answer, 'It depends."

[@greyvr4336]

@@GUNNER67akaKeltCan be both. If you want to live in tired tropes that might be true but have bored generations to tears I certainly won't raise more then a post to stop you,

[@GUNNER67akaKelt]

@@greyvr4336 Cool.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

Sabers? Heck no, duel with matched weapons, I say Nerf bats. I don't wanna bleed!

[@Waggadudewagga]

Well, then it's going to be a loooooong duel if it's to the death... :)

[@user-ut7hh3zb2f]

@@Waggadudewagga Just to exhaustion :D

[@barbarossarotbart]

But that's a modern "weapon". I would prefer a quarterstaff.

[@not-a-theist8251]

Lmao

[@robertb6889]

Cardboard wrapping paper tubes? Wet noodles?

[@rags417]

Re: Climbing a ladder with a pavise. Years ago I ran a historically accurate RPG campaign. At one stage the players had to fend off an attack by an enemy assault force and I said that they were all carrying shields and swords. One player with a very strong engineering background argued against this saying that it was impossible to climb with a shield, let alone with both hand full. This went back and forth until I actually went outside his house and demonstrated how it could be done by climbing a 20 foot ladder with said weapons in hand, in fact we observed that by climbing and leaning into the ladder it is almost impossible to NOT cover yourself with the shield.

[@berkulese]

My first thought at that point in the video was "can you climb the ladder by hooking the rungs with the corner between the sword pommel and your hand/wrist", is this roughly how you did it?

[@johnladuke6475]

It may be possible to have the shield in hand, and as long as it provides actual cover it might not be a bad idea. Depending on the type of shield and the way it's gripped, I could picture it being cumbersome enough that simply strapping it and carrying it across the chest or the back would be much easier. Don't think I'd want my weapon in the other hand while I was climbing, though. I'd want it sheathed for quick access once I'm close to the top.

[@Warriorway101]

If you were a immortal in the highlander world and had to face other immortals who had different types of swords from all different eras What sword would you choose to carry

[@scholagladiatoria]

That right there is a question worthy of a whole video.. or even a video series.

[@zenhydra]

The correct answer is a 12 gauge shotgun. There can be only one... Blam! Blam!

[@seifer447]

​@@scholagladiatoria Go for it Matt! Highlander is such an interesting concept.

[@robertfaucher3750]

I know if it were me it'd be montante

[@Warriorway101]

I would personally carry An Oakeshott Type XVIIIc Alexandria sword if I was a immortal in the highlander world, it’s a strong sword and a great cutter and a good size to keep the opponent at distance.

[@benjaminportilla9297]

Fun thought experiment. I'd love to hear Zac's responses to the same idea under mounted scenarios, such as mounted charge, mounted close combat against unmounted opponents, mounted close combat vs mounted opponents, etc

[@jemdillon3620]

This is a fabulous idea for a video, I want to add about 100 scenarios to the list. Naval scenarios! Traveling incognito, but expecting serious fighting! Scouting/skulldugery behind enemy lines! Skirmishing in a small squad! Bodyguard for a young child walking the narrow streets of Venice! Fleeing a rout into woodlands on foot, pursued by mounted Mongol archers! Time traveler from the 16th century facing off against a small unit of 11th century Norsemen! Do more of these, I love kit hypotheticals.

[@zirtd9256]

Naval scenarios - what time period and what is your role? a standart sailor during early sailing period - a saber - thats what they invented. with a small hatchet as a backup. if its later during 17th century+ then guns. muscet and several pistol with a hatchet as a backup traveling incognito - what time period, who is traveling, and disguised/incognito-ed as who? - basically small stabby weapons that you can hide. daggers, knifes. if your disguise is allowed weapons - then those. if its peasent - hatchet, hammers, shovel or other basic tools. and fighting against whom? steriotypical peasents turned highway-bandids? - any one handed slashing sword, shield and armor. if its assessins or hired mercenaries - run. Scouting/skulldugery behind enemy lines - what time period? but knifes, small swords, hatchets. anything small that can easely kill and you can run away and sneak with. or a bow! Skirmishing in a small squad - again, what time period? and skirmishing against who? but mostly large shield and spear. if your enemy is cavelry then pikes Bodyguard for a young child walking the narrow streets of Venice - cool scenario - who is the child and who is the expected enemy? noble child against normal basic disgruntled peasents or townspeaple? then full plate armor for me, heavy clothing for the child and a humongous shield and a mace or truncheon. we dont want to kill peasents that are armed with rotten fruits, basic clubs and cubble stones, now do we? if the enemy is deliberatly trying to kill the child - small shield and stabby sword. kill them befor they get to the child. Fleeing a rout into woodlands on foot - fleeing from whom? what kind of woodland? but basically - no polearms or large weapons, cuz trees. maybe bows. but shield and axe or machette pursued by mounted Mongol archers - my own horse, heavy armor and full body kite shield with a saber. if i'm not on a horse - poleaxe or halberd or spear. Time traveler from the 16th century facing off against a small unit of 11th century Norsemen - claymore and full plate

[@johanneszimmermann3299]

One of the most concise videos of Matt Easton.

[@Caldenor328]

I think the Zhanmadao “horse cutter” would also be a good choice against a troll, it has huge cutting power, leverage, and the handle has a full tang or similarity durable construction.

[@barbarossarotbart]

A dragon slayer would also a good choice. That's a 13' long and 22 lbs. heavy spear created by dwarves of Aventuria (from the German RPG Das Schwarze Auge) to fight against dragons (which are much more dangerous than ogres or trolls). Sadly you need a spear team of two to fight effectively. But with it ogres are really no problem.

[@stefthorman8548]

@@barbarossarotbart we're talking about things used by humans, sorry but 22lbs is grossly over weight for an weapon, at least make it 13lb also, 13'long? do you mean feet or inches, because 13 feet look is too long, the ogre can just grab it and yank it, and you have to remember, the ogre/troll can use weapons as well, it's best to get an oversized sword then an spear, remember, 2inches of penetration is nothing against an troll, since they're 8 feet tall and made of fat and muscle

[@shinjiikari1021]

@barbarossarotbart I was thinking you mean the 300lb plus thing that was much too big to be called a sword, it was more like a hunk of raw iron

[@barbarossarotbart]

@@stefthorman8548It is really 13 feet (~ 4m) long and completely made of steel. And that's the reason you need a team of two (dwarves). It was originally developed to fight against invading dragons and other wyrms, hance the name dragon slayer. And it is the most lethal melee weapon in the RPG, because no other melee weapon comes even close to the damage it can make.Its damage output is on par with (small) siege engines.If you see two dwarves charging at you with a long spear with a weird head, run, even if you are an ogre!

[@user-yo5eh7nt9u]

I usually just block trolls, seems to work fine

[@johnfisher7757]

"You'd need a really large turning circle to get around the canapés" 🤣🤣🤣

[@cadenceclearwater4340]

Shotgun !!! & termites, for the ladder 🪜

[@Halo_Nova]

Contexts! 🎉

[@twincast2005]

Ninja'd. 🥷 Congrats. 👍 Contexts! 🎉 indeed. 😁

[@tombearclaw]

Cinquedea deserves some love for formal dress. Especially since long blades were probably restricted in formal court settings unless you were part of the royal retinue or received some special dispensation

[@LokiLaughs2]

Defending the castle as they come up the ladder preferred weapon: My set of kettle bells and gravity.

[@HeadCannonPrime]

I have a good one. Fantasy medieval; What do you take into a cave to fight a variety of size monsters in varying degrees of enclosed space.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

first, primarily stabbing weapons because there isn't much room to swing, and a large shield since if you can find a choke point like a doorway it would make it very hard for enemies to get around you.

[@sawyere2496]

A bunch of hatchets for throwing and a buckler

[@MacDorsai]

flame-thrower, i.e. Greek fire.

[@DiotimaMantinea-qm5yt]

A magic sword which throws death rays?

[@robo5013]

Pretty much agree except for defending against ladders. I would choose an ax with a spike on top. It gives you the ability to thrust that Matt likes but I would mainly target the hands of those climbing the ladder first. Even with heavy gauntlets a good smash or two to the hands, especially when braced against a ladder rung, is going to hurt and might make them let go.

[@abytemonkey]

challenge settings: 1 in a dungeon maze 2 attacking a ship as a pirate, but cutlass or musket are not allowed 3 facing against a Klingon and an Romulan, equip yourself and a companion, only melee weapons before 1800 allowed (I assume they have their typical melee weapons with them)

[@Blokewood3]

1. In a maze, I choose a short sword so I have room (just like Theseus against the Minotaur). 2. Pirate: Venetian boarding sword. (An obscure but very cool looking sword) 3. Pre-1800 melee. Rapier.

[@stonedog5547]

I'm still not Matt, but 1: Bar flail and an Alehouse dagger. I've used these in LARPs for tunnel fighting, the flail 'folds' to fit the space and the dagger protects as well as a small buckler. 2: No cutlass, so I can't go Pringle Green. Boarding axe, dirk and a belt full of Barkers...... Oh, hang on. You said attacking a ship, not boarding one. Tomahawk, a big bag of grenades and a couple of cased slow matches. Maybe also bottles full of a mixture of over proof rum and Stockholm tar with a rag wick 3: Brigandines and Barbutes, a Poleaxe for one (bat'leth hit hard) and a longsword for the other.....A couple of large heavy knives each, like Bollocks or Bowies

[@jacobklunder8552]

As a fantasy roleplayer, here’s my question to Matt: From Early Medieval to Early Renaissance, disregarding firearms, what would your adventuring kit be in a standard fantasy world? Armor (head, body limbs), primary weapon, shield (yes/no, what type if any), backup weapon, any missile weapon?

[@mikolajgrotowski]

as a Pole, in the fifth question I almost expected the answer "Karabella", especially after I heard about the passion for sabers :-D Polish karabellas were often very decorated, together with the noble robe and the rest of the costume typical of a Polish nobleman, they often dazzled even rich visitors from the west. This is, of course, a slightly later period than the times of Henry the Eighth, but there was no time frame in this question 😀

[@zenhydra]

There are far too many beautiful Polish sabers.

[@bakters]

" *as a Pole [...] Karabella* " You sure you are a Pole? Regardless, it's "karabela". And I wholeheartedly agree that's the most stylish weapon ever! ;-)

[@TrueMentorGuidingMoonlight]

What is the difference between a szabla and a karabella?

[@bakters]

@@TrueMentorGuidingMoonlight Szabla means a saber. Karabela is a type of saber. A simple small crosshilt, "eagle's beak" style of a grip, fairly curved, often with a hatchet point.

[@SixDeadZeroHEMA]

1 - open ground, duel, matched weapon - longsword, for the same reason Matt chose sabre... it's the weapon i have the most experience with, and therefore the best chance of survival 2a - defending a castle, from the rampart, against hand weapons - the sensible answer is a bow or projectile weapon of some sort but perhaps that's against the spirit of things, so i'll say spear. Maybe a hybrid answer is appropriate... give me a big barrel of throwable spears. 2b - when they're climbing up the ladders - probably a warhammer with a spike on the top so i can sweep, hook and poke. would like a shield if possible (Matt says pavise - that's very clever) 3 - i'm climbing up the ladder and attacking the castle - i'm gonna need one handed stuff for sure. i want a shield of some description to protect me against strikes from above, and i need a weapon that i can carry in my shield hand to keep it ready. i hate to be vague but a "short sword" in the vein of a viking sword is what i'm going to want for that. i'll also be carrying a sheathed arming sword and as many other one handed axes, daggers etc as i can bear the weight of... or afford 4 - a sidearm while travelling for personal defence in medieval europe - i'm going to interpret that as /late/ medieval and say sidesword. it's in the name, if i'm wandering around then i want a spada at my lato for sure. longsword would be a little too cumbersome for EDC so it's edged out here 5 - looking good at a formal event - well, that's a sidesword again, but this time with a complex hilt. i'd be happy with a true rapier also as a later period sword could be even fancier 6 - fantasy, fighting an ogre - it's got to be a polearm - the general answer is a poleaxe as it can cut, stab and hammer, however, it depends on the size of the ogre. if they're more than like 9 feet tall, i want something longer than a poleaxe. or, fantasy - i'll learn some spells and deal with it from afar :) was very interesting to hear Matt go totally opposite on my reasoning - forget maximising distance and go with the adaptability of a poleaxe lol note, i made a choice and justified it before watching Matt's answer, but in some cases I have edited my initial response slightly to include context from the video

[@gunblade7610]

I want to see that formal dress rapier and dagger outfit. Matt needs to also have a powdered wig with a cavalier hat. And lots snd lots of lead-based makeup

[@nevisysbryd7450]

We had the same thought on the ogre! Harpoons if you have enough people to restrain it, pollaxe otherwise. The one I might disagree on is the battlements, although it depends on the details of the battlements and if there are any other defenders with me. Provided there were other defenders, I would go for a combination of swords, spears, and two-handed flails in the manner of the Hussites. Battlements minimize or negate a _lot_ of the problems of flails while making them quite potent at snapping at people below you.

[@nevisysbryd7450]

Could you do a video on those smaller packages and carry methods that you mentioned?

[@derstoffausdemderjoghurtis4346]

Nice to see Zac on your channel again!

[@theg0z0n]

This was a great video, thanks for doing it!

[@dlatrexswords]

Brilliant lads! This is such a fun format. I’d absolutely love to see it become a series. Brain games are always fun, and this is a great way to look at our precious arms and armour in another light. Kudos!

[@matthewneuendorf5763]

Siege defense: Roman liquid fire hand siphon. Siege attack: Axe of some kind, preferably capable of hooking and whatnot. Fantasy: I think I'd want a bow, but if the quarters are guaranteed to be tight, a two-handed sword. Scenario: Naval action, boarding ship to ship. Scenario: Forlorn Hope trying to force a breach in a wall caused by mining.

[@user-sz2kf9tf3e]

Thank you, very interesting video. What’s about the next situation: some nobleman (i.e. count or bishop) enters the Medieval town and you are one of his guards. Citizens do not like your employer, but come to see him in a great number making a big crowd, so you need to clear the passage for the train trying not to provoke a fight and at the same time you should be able to resist if some locals try to attack you. What weapon and armor will you choose in this case?

[@YesItsChris.]

This video was a very fun watch

[@AndICanTalk2]

This was fantastic! Loved it

[@SuperThodin]

That was a great video actually - fun to see Matt react on the spot, having such a reputation for thoughtful and prepared videos (which are great btw).

[@spamboli]

the perfect format for Matt - tap into his vast knowledge, but also keep him on target. he does tend to get down into the weeds

[@adamtennant4936]

#6 - Single combat against large fantasy opponent: Armour and a short weapon is the absolute worst combo against a very large, incredibly strong enemy. If something like an ogre or troll hits you you'll be turned into a crushed tomato can. And if you try to block an attack you'll end up with two broken arms and/or a shattered weapon. Your only chance is to stay mobile and stab it a lot, hopefully in the face/eyes, and do lots of voiding. That or use a short bow and pepper it with arrows while kiting it. Assuming suspension of physics that stops such things existing, they would be a nightmare opponent for humans. Things like a ballista would be the best way to deal with them.

[@rileyernst9086]

New nightmare. I'm holding a wall during a siege. Ladders are set. An armoured man climbs over the wall in front of me. It's Matt with a dagger, and he is dagger crazy.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

I see your rapier and rise a schiavona. There are many portraits of northern Italian gentlemen (so in their best gear) where the rapier is replaced by a schiavona.

[@DemianX6x6x6X]

in the wisdom of a certain lads words; it depends

[@colinpower6562]

Great video lads! Really fun thought experiment would like to see more like it

[@JeffersonMills]

What a great set of questions and answers!

[@foowashere]

Very interesting and amusing! Thank you for making and sharing. 👍

[@daemonharper3928]

Great vid! Love your reasoning! I'd go type XIV and a viking shield for pretty much everything, but a Goedendag for fighting the folks on ladders and a mahusive glave for the trolls.

[@tanewoodley9806]

Great video, more scenarios would be good to hear.

[@ludovic1607]

Very fun video! Here is a possible hypothetical for you Matt. It is 1901, a mad scientist has selected you to test his time machine, you will be transported back in time to early 1400s Europe. Your potential foes range from lightly armoured brigands to plate armoured knights. To aid you in this journey you are to select one model of European sword dating from 1780-1901. Which sword do you take?

[@ramibairi5562]

If you were a cavalry officer in the Indian mutiny facing Khandas , Tulwars and Firangis what type of sword would you carry ?

[@JustGrowingUp84]

Excellent video, great idea Zach!

[@screenaholic]

Here's a scenario I've been thinking about lately. If you wanted to carry a dedicated melee sidearm, in a modern military context. By dedicated melee weapon, I mean NOT a multi-purpose tool that can be used as a weapon (like a knife or hatchet,) and I do not mean a bayonet that you can use to turn your rifle into a melee weapon. A single object you are carrying along with your rifle that has the sole purpose of being a melee weapon.

[@phillip0537]

Love this, so much fun and very interesting.

[@KamiSeiTo]

I really hope there are more in this series! It was fun and interesting. n_n

[@keagancollins3243]

Fun video, would enjoy more content like this

[@willinnewhaven3285]

"Look, Scholargladitoria knocked a punchbowl off the table. The Queen is glaring at him."

[@scaw29]

Why didn't he ask him about a fully-armored duel smh

[@chaoticnotions]

It'd be a poleaxe, I'd bet my left leg on it

[@thormusique]

I love this! So very cool, and these were all great questions and answers. Cheers, Gents!

[@hrodvitnir6725]

Love how the title is "(...) in different context" haha

[@dadventuretv2538]

That was super fun. Do more.

[@brassbandmission1643]

More of these would be interesting to hear.

[@corvanphoenix]

Hard fail on the fancy rapier. The classiest, most appropriate period weapon for a fancy event, is clearly the bollocks dagger.

[@ricebrown1]

Thumbs up for the Medieval Cinematic Universe crossovers. For #2 I'd take an axe or hammer. After dispatching the foe, you could then go to work on the ladder and try to break their rungs or hooks.

[@bakters]

Those scenarios are fun, you guys should make it a series. With that said, I'd choose a beltfed in most of those.

[@agogecoach8790]

That was fun, thank you gentlemen.

[@WritingFighter]

Fun one! Please do again soon.

[@lewishudson231]

I really enjoyed this segment, I reminded of an Alan partridge interview.

[@WhatIfBrigade]

My picks: Open ground duel: Metal fan. I doubt my opponent will know how to use it. Defending the ramparts: I think a boar spear because I want to use leverage to remove them from the ladder. Climbing the ramparts: Large shield as Matt said, and I think a Tomahawk so I can hook, pull and also hit around my shield or their shield. Civilian travel: A short messer and buckler because I'm best with short swords. Fancy party: I dislike bumping into things so I'll go with a fancy main gauche and an expensive fan. Against an Ogre I'd prefer to engage at long range with a crossbow. At short range I'd like a pavis and a crow's beak poleax as Matt said.

[@romanista77]

This is great! More of these please! Also, what are Zack’s answers!?

[@LoganMPierce]

I loved this!

[@PahaLukki]

Against the ogre, a Dane axe.

[@user-gi9zg9ns5s]

A lot of fun and edcational hearing you and your friend's conversation. Really enjoyed it. Thanks, but I forgot about my cocktail as I was so engrossed. Well, back to my drink, I'll be tuning in later.

[@picrust314]

Last question was the best!

[@steevemartial4084]

Cool video idea. It's simple and fun

[@nathankearney3180]

This is the best video idea

[@frosty3693]

Quite fun and informative, especially for a weapons dilettante such as myself.

[@angelmeier4382]

I have two questions. 1. Modern day, year 2024. Any MELEE weapon that's available and that you can legally own and carry, that would be useful for self defence and wouldn't raise suspicions. I like the topic of modern melee weapons. 2. Early modern period, what we can describe as the Age of Sail. You are a shipwreck survivor on an island with lots of wildlife as well as an indigenious population that's hostile to you and would attack you on sight. You'll spend at least the next couple of years on this island and this very weapon is the only item you have when you survive being shipwrecked.

[@stonedog5547]

I'm not Matt but if I was, 1: This is England, so none 2: Boarding Axe

[@angelmeier4382]

@@stonedog5547Is this really as bad in England? I'm not from there and where I live people normally carry telescopic batons for self defence.

[@Leftyotism]

1:39 a Dagger 2:42 a big ole Canon 4:59 a shield and a sword 7:14 a Kriegsmesser, because that would be legal to carry haha - and always a dagger 9:05 I would not attend such a thing, and I would be too poor anyways 10:15 quick acting poison darts, and lots of them with lots of very strong poison

[@rylie8989]

A scenario I'd be interested in your take on would be: you're going to be in a duel, you cannot wear armor, but you don't know whether the other person will be wearing any armor or what type if so, or what weapon they will be using?

[@lukeman9851]

Open ground, unarmored duel, matched weapons: I'll go with pool noodles, maybe a water pistol, since it wasn't specified that somebody had to die in this duel.

[@mythosboy]

Fantastic list! All I am missing is the Pavese and the poleax. More exotic and fantasy lists, please!

[@johnladuke6475]

That ogre question makes me want to quibble a bit. A greatsword might be a good choice in that situation. A pollaxe isn't a bad choice at all, but the greatsword is almost a synthesis between that and the benefits of a spear. I'm not sure I'd go with a rapier as a fancy-dress sword, either. The hilts are beautiful of course, but the length (Matt said _forty-five_ inches?!?) seems terribly impractical for a party. Plenty of sabers have pretty hilts but don't require a 3-foot radius to turn around.

[@robertneal4244]

I would defend the ladder with buckets of hot oil. Good luck even making it to the top.

[@beepboop204]

i need Zac and Matt and a chariot

[@rippertrain]

You slayed the dragon rescued the damsel and got drunk on mead. You come home at 3 am, what do you tell your wife? And what do you use to defend yourself vs a cast iron skillet?

[@MynameisBrianZX]

“matched weapons” *puts away FN FAL*

[@wesleyjarboe9571]

Questions for another video: 1. In an 15th century fantasy setting, you're fighting an oriental ogre. In addition to being eight feet (about 2.5 meters) tall, and unbelievably strong, they're also highly intelligent and have magical abilities, such as the ability to turn invisible at will. What weapon and armor combination would you choose? 2. In the above scenario, what weapon and armor combination would you choose if you were the ogre fighting a human adventurer? 3. In a 15th century fantasy setting, what weapon and armor combination would you choose for your human army if you had to face Tolkien's elves of Rivendell? 4. Back to the real world, if you were a 17th century pirate captain, planning for boarding actions againts everything from merchant sailors with improvised weapons to repelling boarding actions by the British Royal Navy, what hand weapons would you choose for yourself and your crew? (Firearms are outside the scope of this question.)

[@pRahvi0]

2. Does the invisibility include the equipment I'm wearing and holding? If not, I'd fight naked with bare fists to take full advantage of my invisibility.

[@wesleyjarboe9571]

@@pRahvi0 It's been a while since I read the oriental legends but, if I recall correctly, the invisibility covers armor, weapons and equipment, but doesn't include inaudibility so clanking armor is out.

[@LeonM4c]

Love it!

[@BreakChannelZero]

Me: "Longsword, the type commonly called a "bastard sword." For EVERYTHING."

[@pperrinuk]

Brilliant! :)

[@NDOhioan]

If we're doing hypotheticals, just for fun I'm gonna go full "mall ninja" and ask what historical weapon you would choose in a zombie apocalypse scenario (aside from firearms, obviously.)

[@Zbigniew_Nowak]

Against a monster like ogres, it would probably be good to have armor with spikes, which were supposedly used to protect against bears.

[@inregionecaecorum]

Captain Context comes around the corner waving a sabre at me, what is my weapon of choice? I reckon I'll do 'im with a dane axe.

[@koosh138]

I think against the Ogre/Troll, having a chu ko nu with venomed tips for multiple distant/safe shots.

[@jayrey5390]

More of these please! I would ask what would you arm yourself, with a primary, secondary, shield (if wanted) or third weapon (Such as rondel), and armour (late 14thC, you are mid class man at arms level) tasked with 10 compatriots, jwho are armed as they please, to hold a 15 metres wide street from an incoming wall breach of a city? What if you could choose what everyone else was armed with as well individually and had 2 days to train them?

[@jacobmosovich]

Was there ever a historical precedent of a sieging forve building a ladder that twists? The basic idea is to cover one side of the ladder against attack and you climb up on the underside of the ladder until you reach the top and twist onto the top side. Less people get shot off or hit on the way up

[@GaryChurch-hi8kb]

1. Sabers (same weapons, unarmored one on one). Myself: smallsword. 2. Pavise and arming sword (defending castle ramparts). Myself: Spear. 3. Medium armor and heavier shield and spear and dagger (assaulting ramparts). Myself: Sword and buckler. 4. Cut and thrust one handed long bladed sword and buckler (traveling in a carriage in medieval age). Myself: Sword and buckler. 5. Jewel encrusted Rapier and dagger (at court). Myself: I would not be at court. 6. Poleaxe (Ogre). Myself: I don't believe in Ogres.

[@steveaustin2686]

LOL #6. But the Ogres in a fantasy setting believe in you. ;)

[@die_buecher7090]

1. Longsword 2. Arqebuus and Sword and Buckler 3. Foot combat plate armour, a Dagger and a Polearm 4. Longsword 5. A greatsword

[@user-zr1dr7nz8e]

I live with a couple ogres, I can assure you they're real.

[@themonarch8251]

Good fun!

[@Goshin65]

Marvelous.

[@LCCWPresents]

The falcion of the middle Middle Ages is definitely useful in multiple situations.

[@klevinduck]

After playing my one medieval game for a long time I reckon the best weapon to defend against enemies climbing up siege ladders is a really big hammer or a dagger and you get them right as they reach the top. If you peer over the side there’s a chance you get hit by a projectile.

[@zenhydra]

I've always thought a brown bear was the best IRL analog for an ogre-y/troll-y creature, but with an aggressive male chimpanzee behavior and physiology. No sane person would want to go one-on-one against this sort of thing, but if I did need to I'd want a stout long-bladed polearm like a glaive. I'd want to be able to easily perform deep cuts to tendons, while having a blade long and sturdy enough to reach the vitals of huge a large opponent. I'd almost certainly die unless I wasn't doing this alone, and preferably had a pack of mastiffs to harry it.

[@-RONNIE]

Some good choices 👍🏻

[@blakebailey22]

If I had to pick one sword to carry for any time period and any scenario, I would have a hard time choosing between a longsword and a Scottish Basket Hilted Broadsword

[@user-km2mo1yg2t]

a halberd would give you reach and stabbing while also letting you push the ladder away from the wall

[@elliotsmith9812]

You and your servant are heading to one of the earlier Crusades in late spring. You get one pack animal. What is it carrying?

[@allenmciver1888]

Brilliant!

[@cadenceclearwater4340]

More please 😁

[@2bingtim]

v Foes coming up a ladder: Got to be a forked long pole to push the ladder back & over! Saves all the exposure & time & effort trying to reload your crossbow & take shots without getting an arrow in your throat from the attackers covering bowmen/crossbowmen. Failing that a ruddy great lump of stone or two to knock several off the ladder as it goes down., Oli poured down, even cold, will make climbing the ladder very dangerous simply to cling on & step up, It could then be set alight too. Quicklime if it's to hand & the wind isn't blowing it back into your face. Late C15th-Also grenades-black powder in clay pots, including shrapnel. Lob then over towards the base of the ladder & at least you'll devestate most waiting to come up & several starting-you might also break up the bottom of the ladder itself😊 Scatter a load of caltrops along the base of the wall too. They can't fight you if they never get up the top of the ladder!