Swords in science fiction -- why?

[Sundog]

Well, that was basically why the cutlass was developed. A short, hacking blade with a usable thrusting point for close-quarters operations, particularly boarding and counter-boarding ops.

 

[Zeropoint]

Yeah, the line between "long dagger" and "short sword" is kind of blurry.

[tkdguy]

What do you think of this one?

 

 

[Sundog]

I love that reimagination. And it shows some of the problems with cramped, tight confines - if they hadn't been using lightsabers, there were a number of instances when they would have been blocked or hooked up by their weapons impacting walls or other terrain.

 

[Ninja-Bear]

On 5/15/2020 at 7:03 PM, Zeropoint said:

Yeah, the line between "long dagger" and "short sword" is kind of blurry.

Technically there is no historical line between the two.

[pawsplay]

The Star Was re-imagining is cool. One pet peeve of mine: why do Jedi do that weird backhand parry thing? It looks so weak. A fencer would have their forearm cocked a little.

[GibNawe]

I had notes for my ATU in which the 'marines' are starport police, enforcers, and repo-men for the interstellar commerce Authority. They use cutlasses in addition to guns. For collecting heads and hands, you see. The bank keeps a collection of severed heads of deadbeats on public display.

[tkdguy]

12 hours ago, GibNawe said:

I had notes for my ATU in which the 'marines' are starport police, enforcers, and repo-men for the interstellar commerce Authority. They use cutlasses in addition to guns. For collecting heads and hands, you see. The bank keeps a collection of severed heads of deadbeats on public display.

 

Interesting idea! I only use the Marines as security details and boarding parties on naval vessels.The army plays the role of the police in my Traveller universe.

[tkdguy]

 

[tkdguy]

Also, even sci-fi characters look cool doing this.

 

 

[Tjack]

On 3/6/2020 at 6:42 PM, Beast said:

This guy

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/09/the-man-who-fought-in-wwii-with-a-sword-and-bow/

       And his grandson’s name is John Rambo.

[tkdguy]

On 5/15/2020 at 4:03 PM, Zeropoint said:

Yeah, the line between "long dagger" and "short sword" is kind of blurry.

 

The gladius is classified as a sword, but it has always looked more like a long dagger to me.

[Spence]

On 5/26/2020 at 10:04 PM, tkdguy said:

 

Interesting idea! I only use the Marines as security details and boarding parties on naval vessels.The army plays the role of the police in my Traveller universe.

 

I use the Marines in their traditional roles as specialized shipboard and amphibious (but from space) combat troops. Since firing normal weapons can be as deadly to themselves as the enemy, they are also proficient with blades suitable for confined spaces (Cutlass, Short Sword, etc.) and non-penetrating weapons such as shotguns and other firearms with frangible rounds. 

[IndianaJoe3]

Does this count as a sword?
 

 

[tkdguy]

1 hour ago, IndianaJoe3 said:

Does this count as a sword?
 

 

 

I guess, although it's more like a glorified torch. It can't parry another sword, although it may melt through it. However, if somebody swung a real sword at full speed, would this be able to melt the blade in such a short time?

 

Having said all that it reminds me of the protosaber.

[IndianaJoe3]

11 hours ago, tkdguy said:

 

I guess, although it's more like a glorified torch. It can't parry another sword, although it may melt through it. However, if somebody swung a real sword at full speed, would this be able to melt the blade in such a short time?

 

Having said all that it reminds me of the protosaber.

 

They've done several similar builds, and they'd noted the resemblence to the protosaber.

[Ninja-Bear]

On 10/18/2020 at 4:39 PM, tkdguy said:

 

The gladius is classified as a sword, but it has always looked more like a long dagger to me.

Because technically speaking there is no definitive length as to where a dagger stops and a sword starts. 

[Scott Ruggels]

On 10/18/2020 at 7:25 PM, tkdguy said:

 

I guess, although it's more like a glorified torch. It can't parry another sword, although it may melt through it. However, if somebody swung a real sword at full speed, would this be able to melt the blade in such a short time?

 

Having said all that it reminds me of the protosaber.

I watched both videos. The build other than triggering my eye twitch at the gratuitous steam punk aesthetic, the build was fascinating.  The use however was...lacking. The heating speed made it a less than poor defensive weapon, and the infrastructure either limited it to five minutes, or feathered it to a oxy-acetylene line and it’s pair of five foot tanks. Facing a wildly waving 1 meter or less torch would be terrifying, but it would allow a defender to run away. Os shoot the torch Wielder.  If you are going to fight in a confined space,?you would do better with a sharpened old school E-Tool. 

[tkdguy]

Keep in mind this lightsaber was just for show; it was never meant to be a practical weapon. If I were forced to use it defensively, I'd probably use it as a gun and shoot at my assailant's face. We'll never be able to create lightsabers as they appear in Star Wars.

[tkdguy]

But while we're on the subject of lightsabers:

 

 

[tkdguy]

On 10/20/2020 at 3:57 PM, Ninja-Bear said:

Because technically speaking there is no definitive length as to where a dagger stops and a sword starts. 

 

I just found this one. Seems like there's more than just blade length to consider.

 

 

[Duke Bushido]

On 5/17/2020 at 10:39 AM, Sundog said:

I love that reimagination. 

 

 

I almost do, too.

 

Keeping in mind that this was the first movie-- the setup for all the mythos, etc...  without that little speech (strike me down / stronger blah blah blah), Kenobi's death is pointless in terms of plot relevance, and a considerable amount of interest and tension in that scene is lost. 

 

Maybe it's because I'm more of a reader than a movie-goer, but no matter how fancy your effects are, character interaction is where a story is made, and the success or failure of that story will always depend far more on that than the amount of CGI you pump into the visuals.

 

 

[Spence]

1 hour ago, Duke Bushido said:

Maybe it's because I'm more of a reader than a movie-goer, but no matter how fancy your effects are, character interaction is where a story is made, and the success or failure of that story will always depend far more on that than the amount of CGI you pump into the visuals.

 

Yes, and yes.  Yes a thousand times yes.

The story is something that movie makers seem to have forgotten.  That and good character interaction. 

 

They do seem to have latched onto the concept of "deep dark grim dark conspiracy", but then failed to realize that a conspiracy story requires even more in-depth character development and well crafted story. 

 

Modern US TV has devolved to having literally every drama is a "deep dark conspiracy" with half a$$ed characters and a plot you can see from miles away including being able to identify "the secret villain" by episode 2. 

 

Bah!  Humbug!

[cbullard]

Why swords (or other bladed weapons) in sci-fi settings?

I'll just go with a comment from one of Terry Pratchett's books:  "His gun will run out of bang before my knife runs out of sharp."

[tkdguy]

Let's not forget the value of intimidation. Someone coming at you with 3 feet of sharpened steel is a pretty scary sight (Yes, the guys in the video are using sticks, but that's for practice and demonstration purposes). Extra points for being loud. Edit: This style is Jigen Ryu.