swordsmasher
First Post
Hello,
I was just curious what the main differences between the broadsword and the longsword are.
I was just curious what the main differences between the broadsword and the longsword are.
What are the differences between the Broadsword and the Longsword?
- Thread starter swordsmasher
- Start date
Mouseferatu
Hero
When you get right down to it, not much.
Historically, they were as often as not used to refer to the same weapon--that is, a sword designed primarily for slashing, longer than a short sword, primarily used one-handed (though two-hand use was possible on some designs).
Some people, however, do tend to use the descriptions at face value, with longsword having slightly longer but thinner blades, and broadswords having slightly shorter (albeit still relatively long) and wider blades.
In D&D mechanical terms, the differences should be pretty much nil.
Historically, they were as often as not used to refer to the same weapon--that is, a sword designed primarily for slashing, longer than a short sword, primarily used one-handed (though two-hand use was possible on some designs).
Some people, however, do tend to use the descriptions at face value, with longsword having slightly longer but thinner blades, and broadswords having slightly shorter (albeit still relatively long) and wider blades.
In D&D mechanical terms, the differences should be pretty much nil.
Illvillainy
First Post
Not much. IMC, broadswords cost 5 gp extra and have 'piercing or slashing' as a damage type.
Gentlegamer
Adventurer
I generally prefer to refer to the D&D "longsword" as broadsword, and call the "bastard sword" longsword. Probably not historically accurate, but a description that makes sense for the game. Also, "short sword" is just sword.
Ron
Explorer
I have the impression that they are the same thing. I recall that broadsword is a much latter term given by fencers and sword historians to refer the old swords, as they were much broader than the rapiers. During the medieval times, they were called just swords. However, the bastard sword was a different weapon and I think that it actually had that name.
Arrgh! Mark!
First Post
From what I know -
Your broadsword tends to be a older weapon, more often used single-handed and is better at hacking through things. Wouldn't want to stab with it. I think it was used mostly if not always with a shield - remnants of such swords have found they have little blade contact, so it's mostly against the shield.
A longsword tends to be a bit better at piercing, is a slightly longer blade with a pommel that can be used to grip. It's a later weapon, designed to deal with different fighting styles and armor.
From what little I know, anyway
Your broadsword tends to be a older weapon, more often used single-handed and is better at hacking through things. Wouldn't want to stab with it. I think it was used mostly if not always with a shield - remnants of such swords have found they have little blade contact, so it's mostly against the shield.
A longsword tends to be a bit better at piercing, is a slightly longer blade with a pommel that can be used to grip. It's a later weapon, designed to deal with different fighting styles and armor.
From what little I know, anyway
Krieg
First Post
Mouseferatu said:
Not to be too nitpicky but....
From a historical standpoint "longsword" was just a term used to distinguish newer (at the time) and longer (obviously) sword designs that came about due to the never ending arms race between weapons & armour. The newer sword designs had longer hilts and could be wielded with both hands to increase leverage. A "historical" longsword would actually would more accurately correspond to a D&D bastard sword or even greatsword. Likewise, the D&D longsword would actually have been referred to as a short sword after the introduction of longer blades or as just a "sword" prior.
Similarly "broadsword" was a later term invented by Elizabethan scholars to distinguinish the relatively narrow blades of the age from their wider predecessors.
From a purely period standpoint broadsword & longsword were terms that never saw use at the same time and their usage in RPGs in general (and D&D specifically) has little correlation with their real world counterparts.
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JVisgaitis
Explorer
Historically, broad swords are weapons with a basket hilt primarily used from horse back. Long swords are more of a footmen's weapon with a long blade and a long handle, hence the term long sword. The term broad sword is attributed a lot to broad bladed european swords, but this isn't accurate at all. Film and books have confused the historical accuracy of this. If you want a great resource and techniques for Renaissance Arts with incredible videos and actual western martial arts, check out this link: thearma.org.
Lars Porsenna
First Post
According to my references, the terms "Longsword," "Broadsword," and "Bastard Sword" are appelations applied to later (Victorian era) scholars. In-period, a "longsword" (which was regularly used from horseback...IIRC at the Battle of Bourgtheroulde in the early 12th C one of the few cavalry charges conducted with swords occured) would probably have been referred to as a "sword." When sword design diversified enough -- with "longswords" developing a pronounced point to allow for an armor piercing thrust, but still retaining its slashing capabilities -- "longswords" came to be known as Arming Swords (i.e. the sword you wore at your side when in armor -- your side arm or backup weapon), while "Bastard Swords" were known as War Swords (the weapon you would use in war if that was your primary weapon, i.e. in lieu of a pollaxe or similar).
There were other bladed weapons that existed during the period of the ordinary sword (roughly from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to around the end of the 13th C IIRC), though these were different enough that they had their own names, or local enough that they weren't a major influence on the wider European culture.
As for the earlier slashing longsword of the 11th-13th C (the Classic D&D Longsword), this weapon did have a tip and could (and indeed was) used to thrust upon occasion. In an illustration from a German source (Jungfrauenspiegel, ca. 1200) shows a German knight who is clearly thrusting with his sword (it also shows, incidentially, another knight using an ordinary arming sword in a two-handed grip), while at the Battle of Benevento (1266), French knights found it difficult to defeat the German's coat-of-plates (Splint mail in D&D terms), so they began using their longswords in a thrusting method, directed at the armpits of the German knights, where the coat-of-plates did not protect. These swords were still of the old type and had a fuller down its length (later Arming Swords, which I like to call cut-n-thrust swords, had a diamond cross-section for strength).
One thing to keep in mind about Medieval European weapons nomenclature, during the period in question, such names seem to be haphazard and indistinct. A Voulge could mean a number of weapons, from a pure axe-like weapon with a pointed tip, to a weapon resembling a halberd or other pole-arms. Most of these names were applied during a later period.
Damon.
There were other bladed weapons that existed during the period of the ordinary sword (roughly from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to around the end of the 13th C IIRC), though these were different enough that they had their own names, or local enough that they weren't a major influence on the wider European culture.
As for the earlier slashing longsword of the 11th-13th C (the Classic D&D Longsword), this weapon did have a tip and could (and indeed was) used to thrust upon occasion. In an illustration from a German source (Jungfrauenspiegel, ca. 1200) shows a German knight who is clearly thrusting with his sword (it also shows, incidentially, another knight using an ordinary arming sword in a two-handed grip), while at the Battle of Benevento (1266), French knights found it difficult to defeat the German's coat-of-plates (Splint mail in D&D terms), so they began using their longswords in a thrusting method, directed at the armpits of the German knights, where the coat-of-plates did not protect. These swords were still of the old type and had a fuller down its length (later Arming Swords, which I like to call cut-n-thrust swords, had a diamond cross-section for strength).
One thing to keep in mind about Medieval European weapons nomenclature, during the period in question, such names seem to be haphazard and indistinct. A Voulge could mean a number of weapons, from a pure axe-like weapon with a pointed tip, to a weapon resembling a halberd or other pole-arms. Most of these names were applied during a later period.
Damon.
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