Two Sabers vs. Long Spear | HEMA Sparring

[@FightCommentary]

This is awesome!

[@battleoflegions]

Paul and Kirk tends to engage one at a time, that gives the spearman excellent chance to take them out separately. Fighting as a team is much harder than one might think.

[@kirk.m.]

It was the first time we did teams, so we definitely need more practice if we are to be more effective.

[@nickworth3808]

I feel like multiple times they attempted this, but spearman can attack while circling towards one of the swordsmen. It isn't difficult at all to do against a stationary opponent, but it is incredibly difficult to do while the opponent is strafing. Paul was definitely too aggressive though.

[@battleoflegions]

@@nickworth3808exactly why training is needed

[@epremeaux]

Spearman is excellent. Its actually much harder for him in this confined space, without a lot of room for him to "run and gun". The saber guys need to be more coordinated with attacks. They are still fighting as if they were in a single combat dual with the spearman. When one attacks, the other should also be pouncing. This also kind of goes without saying but avoid the tip, as its the only part that kills. That means closing the distance really fast. Getting in close is really hard, especially with a well trained spearman. So a charge is usually fatal. But when you sacrifice yourself, you should hope that your partner is right there running the spearman down. In all fairness to them though, even if they were better coordinated, practical results with skill on both sides is roughly 50/50.

[@epremeaux]

That stat by the way is a demonstration of why spears are so effective. If one guy with a very simple weapon can tie up two or three people, its a strategic advantage from a numerical disadvantage. Archery = same deal.

[@kirk.m.]

As one of the swordsmen we did have the rush in plan but when one was hit often the other would hesitate. You have no idea how fast the spear is until it’s coming for your face. Also it being the first time we tried this we had little coordination.

[@theprancingprussian]

This is more of a default spear than a long one These ones have just enough reach to reliable outrange blades whilst being very manoeuvrable whilst 8 foot or so spears do start getting slightly unwieldy

[@kirk.m.]

There is advantages in short range combat with the average size spear.

[@theprancingprussian]

@kirk.m. i wonder what feasibly is the longest spear they could use, one handed underarm use being still effective here, there certainly is a sweet spot where it is faster than the swords but still out of range

[@kirk.m.]

@ I believe it depends on the surroundings,who all is fighting, and where you are positioned in the fight.

[@devinmillican2873]

Kirk showed how to beat it the first time around.

[@kirk.m.]

Unfortunately Philip was far more cautious of the same trick twice.

[@Corvid_Games]

Circle the spear man. Blade can only be on one side at a time. 😊

[@TheVoidstrider]

Wait, did Philip get Kirk with that first stab where he grabbed it immediately after? Hard to tell. They definitely should be allowed to grab the spear as long as it's the haft and not the blade. Philip also has a bit of an advantage since they're in a relatively closed space. They can rotate around each other, but to really take advantage of their numbers, they should fight in a space where each of the swordsmen can be on opposite sides of the spearman. That will really test the Spearman's ability to stay mobile and keep them both in front of him.

[@epremeaux]

circling the spearman is a good tactic, but only if they still coordinate their attacks. If they dont, then it plays out like a classic martial arts film. All the enemies in a circle around the hero, but they still get taken out one by one, because they fight one by one.

[@kirk.m.]

He didn’t get me with the first stab. It was the first time we worked in a pair so the coordination wasn’t there yet.