The great sword is one of the epic icons of the fantasy genre. And true fantasy great swords are accompanied by great backstory. What old world power does your great sword carry?
Types of Great Swords
- great sword, two-handed sword, heavy sword, shoulder sword (not typically carried on the belt or in a sheath… too darned big), slaughter sword, double-hander, battle sword, flame blade (wavy one),
- claymore, zweihander, bidenhander, flammenshwert, dopplehander, flambard,
- similar to: bastard sword, montante, longsword,
Great Sword Stuff
- about 4-8 pounds (2 – 4 kg) and anywhere from 4 to 6 feet (1.3 – 2 meters) long; grip takes up about 10 inches… but you can design it however you want.
- blade can be: long, broad, grooved, channeled, shaped, serrated, wavy, double-edged, pointed, rounded, thin, thick, etched, engraved,
- grip can be: two-handed, hand-and-a-half, wrapped, grooved,
- crafted by masters, elders, ancients, artisans, demi-god forgers from higher planes of existence, Jimmy the Blacksmith who does reasonable work at fair prices,
- might have parrying spurs on the blade near the cross guard, ricasso (unsharpened part of blade above the hilt,
- could have holes to lighten it,
- can have enchantments, blessings, words of power, divine touch, curse, magic power, despised enemies (that the blade lusts after), linked mind with the wielder,
- hilt, cross guard, cruciform, quillons with side ring guards, forward inclined quillons, basket hilt on smaller models, compound hilt, s-guard,
- pommel, ferrule, ring, spike, chain connected to armor, spiked ball,
- baldric, strap, belt, back harness,
Actions with a great sword
- manipulate, hack, knock aside polearms
- lead the charge against infantry, cutting a wide swath; reach and cleave enemy standards and musicians and HQ companies to demoralize enemy ranks;
- parry and block with the sub-hilt, parrying hooks, and 12 inch guard; grip the ricasso to get further up the blade; pummel with the spiked or knobbed pommel;
- clean, oil, polish, re-grip, repair, sharpen, hone, straighten, modify,
- train, practice, study,
- kiss your blade, talk to it, pray with it, perform rites and rituals with it; have others kiss your blade to swear loyalty,
Backstory for your Greatsword
- forged in elvish flame, dwarf furnace, dragon fire, masterwork forge, artisan’s smith shop,
- famed sword of a great order,
- drawn from a well of infinite power,
- blessed by a deity,
- enchanted with dark power; may only be wielded by the dark hearted,
- passed down from parent to parent in a long line of brave warriors; house sigil sword; family icon;
- lost and found again
- broken and reforged,
- firm oaths have been sworn by this sword,
- cursed; bears the heavy scent of death; burdened with epic sorrow; used in an act of great betrayal;
- buried to rid the land of a dark curse, now risen again,
- buried with a great king, stolen, and now found again,
- has seven ancient powers, one for each of the blessed directions of the world (sounds sooooo epic, doesn’t it)
Notes
- if you’re taking a great sword, you should have a short sword of some kind strapped to your belt for when you get into close quarters.