Comments on: Use of Weapons: The Armoury of Epic Fantasy

By: Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 10:24:39 +0000

You’re right: I think that particular omission probably *does* count as a “get home free card.” ;-)

By: Paul (@princejvstin)

Paul (@princejvstin) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:27:59 +0000

“I *told you* to take the Wizard’s Staff!” –Grima Wormtongue

By: Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 10:52:59 +0000

You are! Staves & staffs are definitely part of the epic armoury, & staves with magic earn ‘extry’ bonus points: I suspect those that come with warrior armies for added protection are as good as a “get home free” card. ;-)

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 03:35:43 +0000

Am I allowed to say “Wizards Staff”?

Not only is a staff a practical sort of weapon (unless you are fighting armoured opponents), it also speaks of nameless powers and awesome forces (take your pick!).

Plus Wizards do tend to be surrounded by actual warriors to do the actual fighting – and that is definitely my preferred approach to world saving quests.

By: Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:27:46 +0000

A mace is definitely a weapon to be reckoned with, as is a morningstar, but I do have a fondness for the glaive myself–a weapon with considerable reach–which is why I “had’ to work it into “The Gathering Of The Lost!” ;-)

By: Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:21:50 +0000

“Prospero’s Daughter” is fun in that respect. :) I tried to think of a gladius or spatha with a personality, but I suspect the Romans were too brutally practical–all their swords were purely functional.

By: Helen Lowe

Helen Lowe — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:19:01 +0000

I knew you would go for sword, Ellie! Mind you, in terms of swords with personality, there *is* Elric’s Stormbringer, which is the kind of conversation one might not care for. ;-)

By: Paul (@princejvstin)

Paul (@princejvstin) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:34:29 +0000

Bloodsounder (a flail,not a mace, I think) is distinctly different in not being a typical magic sword, absolutely.

By: Betsy Dornbusch

Betsy Dornbusch — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:24:34 +0000

Yeah, I love the sword. Got one of my own in EXILE. But I’m also partial to Jeff Salyard’s mace in Scourge of the Betrayer.

By: Paul (@princejvstin)

Paul (@princejvstin) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:31:56 +0000

One of my favorite scenes in L. Jagi Lamplighter’s Prospero’s Daughter series is set in the family vault. Being pursued by demons, Miranda has a choice and starts rattling off ideas on *which* of the many famous weapons they have might be a good idea against the demon…

I have a soft spot for some of the swords in the Book of Swords series by Fred Saberhagen, myself.