Questions about Bastard Swords

[Carlos Cox]

Hi ARMA Researchers!
I have been researching about the Bastard Sword, and have come across a few questions, that i am sure you guys are the only ones who can help me with.

I also have been reading some negative view about the "misguided groups" who have helped popularize the misconceptios about swords and medieval combat in general, so im not so sure if its ok if i say that i am an Rpg player and my questions are an attempt to bring the game closer to reality. But i can say that if werent for the interest that the game sparkled within me, i would have never come here and wouldnt have imagined how mistaken i was about lots of things on swords and martial arts...
(excuse my english as well, by the way, i am Brazillian)

Anyway, we were discussing somethings about the Bastard, and after i found out that the sword is in essence, a long sword with handle for 2 hands, i imagined that it would be as easy to use with 1 hand as the Long sword. (By the way, i do realize how i should avoid generalizations, such as using a term to put all swords in the same categories, but i don´t know how else to aproach the subject) A friend of mine, an archaelogist, said that, even if the length of the blade is the same, the handle would be adding to the weight of the sword, for it would be much heavier, since it would have to have a diferent balance, than a simple handle. That would possibly make it unbalancing to be wielding in just one hand, making the Bastard, a less manuverable weapon than the Long when used in such a manner. Also, even if the sword is more manueverable than the greatsword, when wielded in 2 hands, it would possibly not deal the as much damage, and the length of the blade being shorter, could also be a problem in the aspect of Reach.
My basic questions are:
1)Is a Bastard Sword, with the length of a long sword, more dificult to handle with one hand, than the long sword?
2)Is it as effective as the Great Sword when wielded with 2 hands?
3)If not, what are the differences in comparison to those weapons?

Also, in the game, the Bastard Sword is described as sword longer than the long sword, and shorter than the great-sword, that can be wielded with either 1 hand or 2 hands.
It is easy to assume that such weapon will be harder to handle with 1 hand and so it would affect the skill of the wielder negatively when used in such way. (as it is on the game). And since it has a shorter reach than the Great Sword, it also affects the proficiency with which is used.
I have been arguing that a blade with those charateristics, will indeed be harder to handle with 1 hand, but it would probably be as effective if not easier to manage than the greatsword, deserving a bonus to the ability of the wielder, when used in such way.

Another factor, in the game (Merp, an adaptation of the Rolemaster system) is the "critical hits", which described as internal damage dealt by a specificaly well landed blow. Long swords have only a primary slashing critical, but Greatswords have a primary slashing critical and a secondary Crushing critical as well (but the blow should be a very good one to deal both crits), i imagine that the game bases itself in the half-dull weighty versions of the Greatsword found in museums, or else it wouldnt have a crushing after effect.
And when i considered a Bastard that would be somewhere in between the Long and the Greatsword, i thought it could deal a similar, though much lighter, crushing effect, and possibly being easier to use with 2 hands than the greatsword...
my questions on this one are:
1) Were there really Bastard Swords that were longer than Long swords and shorter than Greatswords?
2) Could they be used in just one hand, possibly in conjunction with a shield?
3)How did it compare to the Longsword?
4)When Wielded with 2 hands, how did it compare to the Greatsword?

That sums up all my doubts, but i will probably have some more of them in the near future. I hope that i am not doing something wrong, in asking these questions on this forum, and also that i won´t be taking much of your time...
I appreciate all the help i may get.
Thanks

[Casper Bradak]

I'll give it a try.
A bastard sword, by medieval definition apparently, was basically a longsword, but with a very tapered blade suited more to thrusting. You should be able to find most of the info you need just looking around this site.
Also, of any given type of sword in europe, there was a huge variety and many specializations, you won't get any hard and fast definitions or rules.

...or else it wouldnt have a crushing after effect.

I must stress that swords (edge wise) were cutting weapons. They "crushed" only if the cut failed to penetrate entirely for some reason (armour, lack of follow through, etc.). Maces and hammers were crushing weapons.

1)Is a Bastard Sword, with the length of a long sword, more dificult to handle with one hand, than the long sword?

Given the differences, some may even be somewhat easier to use in one hand than a longsword with a cutting blade.

2)Is it as effective as the Great Sword when wielded with 2 hands?

Well, it's a different weapon. It will still kill people very effectively, but it has different use and application.

3)If not, what are the differences in comparison to those weapons?

The greatsword is a more specialized strategic weapon, longer, and will deliver a more powerful cut. The bastard sword has more finesse, and is easier to use against armours when shortened.

1) Were there really Bastard Swords that were longer than Long swords and shorter than Greatswords?

Given that there are no hard and fast definitions and a large variety of each type, there must have been some.

2) Could they be used in just one hand, possibly in conjunction with a shield?

Absolutely.

3)How did it compare to the Longsword?

See the definition of the weapon earlier in my post.

4)When Wielded with 2 hands, how did it compare to the Greatsword?

Like a longsword. Shorter, more agile, and oriented to the thrust.

http://www.thearma.org/terms4.htm#Medieval%20&%20Renaissance%20Sword%20Forms%20and%20Companion%20Implements

I hope my very brief answers help.

[JeanryChandler]

The most potentially confusing thing here is that what we mean in Western Martial Arts as a longsword (a hand and a half sword) is different from what they call a "longsword" in role playing games (a single sword or arming sword). Caspar did point this out but it may not be noticable unless you are looking.


Jeanry

(PS this is also confusing because the same term is used in ancient spathology to differentiate longer celtic single swords as of the La Tene period from earlier shorter versions)