NationStates

Sonitusia wrote:Look, don't ask me about how it's designed or not, but the khopesh itself focused around hooking the opponent's blade out of their hands (this required long amounts of studious training, hence only the Egyptian royal guard typically used this weapon)

http://media.moddb.com/images/groups/1/4/3656/Signature.jpgd61ec68a-675a-4e97-869f-1562329a0e9cOriginal.jpg

The one who made the concept art may have taken inspiration from a kopis as well, but in its basic form this weapon is a khopesh (and they even titled it as such), that being:

A typical khopesh is 50–60 cm (20–24 inches) in length, though smaller examples do also exist. The blunted edge of the weapon's tip also served as an effective bludgeon, as well as a hook...

The blade is only sharpened on the outside portion of the curved end.

I know, but that hook doesn't look like it could catch a weapon out of it's enemy's hands unless held sideways (Which could be done if the weapon was held at a 90 degree angle to a thrust), though the incoming weapon would have to be aligned at a downward cut or be, in essence, a rapier. In the former situation it's useless, as a simple edge misalignment would mean the enemy has levered your weapon against his, possibly getting it out of your hand. The latter also negates this as a rapier is so flimsy one could probably withdraw it and the blade would simply snake out of the hole. Also, man, that guard (And handle).

That stated, 10/10 shiny grip.

Ormata wrote:

Sonitusia wrote:Look, don't ask me about how it's designed or not, but the khopesh itself focused around hooking the opponent's blade out of their hands (this required long amounts of studious training, hence only the Egyptian royal guard typically used this weapon)

http://media.moddb.com/images/groups/1/4/3656/Signature.jpgd61ec68a-675a-4e97-869f-1562329a0e9cOriginal.jpg

The one who made the concept art may have taken inspiration from a kopis as well, but in its basic form this weapon is a khopesh (and they even titled it as such), that being:

I know, but that hook doesn't look like it could catch a weapon out of it's enemy's hands unless held sideways (Which could be done if the weapon was held at a 90 degree angle to a thrust), though the incoming weapon would have to be aligned at a downward cut or be, in essence, a rapier. In the former situation it's useless, as a simple edge misalignment would mean the enemy has levered your weapon against his, possibly getting it out of your hand. The latter also negates this as a rapier is so flimsy one could probably withdraw it and the blade would simply snake out of the hole. Also, man, that guard (And handle).

That stated, 10/10 shiny grip.

Allow me to be the one to point out something...
Does this really matter, who cares if it's a kopis or khopesh, for really, it's the rule of cool and an rp with transforming weapons and literal super-human hunters

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:Thank you!

Well, now that our characters are officially a team, I suggest that we apply for Leika's escort mission, given that it is the only one of the fieldwork opportunities remaining.

Works for me, though give the others a chance to weigh in, as there's still the bounty.

Sonitusia wrote:

Ormata wrote:
General sword shape says it's a kopis and the hook makes absolutely no sense. What's that used for, anyhow?

Look, don't ask me about how it's designed or not, but the khopesh itself focused around hooking the opponent's blade out of their hands (this required long amounts of studious training, hence only the Egyptian royal guard typically used this weapon)



The one who made the concept art may have taken inspiration from a kopis as well, but in its basic form this weapon is a khopesh (and they even titled it as such), that being:

A typical khopesh is 50–60 cm (20–24 inches) in length, though smaller examples do also exist. The blunted edge of the weapon's tip also served as an effective bludgeon, as well as a hook...

The blade is only sharpened on the outside portion of the curved end.

I'm afraid to say that the artist got the name wrong - as said, it is a relatively easy mistake to make. In terms of the bludgeoning edge and hook, the feature depicted by the artist can be nothing more than decorative, since it's on the wrong side of the blade - any attempt to use it would leave the wielder completely open to attack as they tried to reach around the opponent's weapon - while the fact that the sharp edge is the inward-facing edge is true of any forward-curving bladed weapon, such as the Dacian falx (both types) and the more widespread sica.

If you'd like further evidence that the weapon depicted is a kopis, look no further than the hilt. The prominent hook on the hilt's end that both secures the weapon in and serves as partial protection for the hand is absolutely typical of a kopis' hilt's design - here is one example for reference, though you can find many more with a quick Google search.

Don't worry, though - the kopis is just as cool a weapon. It was used as one of two types of sidearm sword by Greek hoplite spearmen in situations in which their unwieldy two-metre bronze-tipped poles were ineffective or broken, the other being the xiphos (the type of sword that Pyrrha uses), and was a perfect weapon for hewing off limbs in close quarters due to the fact that the forward-curving, bulging edge concentrated weight towards the end of the blade.

Can I alter my character's personality to be slightly less sad and negative? Like adding optimism or being cheerful? Bleu Nostradamus, is my character and it seems I sort of made him moody and kind of full of negativity in terms of his psychological problems.

I honestly don't really care, the fact standing that it's a khopesh with a lengthened blade that ends up making it look like a kopis.

If it's a khopesh mixed with a kopis, fine. Allow me to agree to disagree, because I just don't like the kopis' simplicity.

Kuhlfros wrote:

Ormata wrote:
I know, but that hook doesn't look like it could catch a weapon out of it's enemy's hands unless held sideways (Which could be done if the weapon was held at a 90 degree angle to a thrust), though the incoming weapon would have to be aligned at a downward cut or be, in essence, a rapier. In the former situation it's useless, as a simple edge misalignment would mean the enemy has levered your weapon against his, possibly getting it out of your hand. The latter also negates this as a rapier is so flimsy one could probably withdraw it and the blade would simply snake out of the hole. Also, man, that guard (And handle).

That stated, 10/10 shiny grip.

Allow me to be the one to point out something...
Does this really matter, who cares if it's a kopis or khopesh, for really, it's the rule of cool and an rp with transforming weapons and literal super-human hunters

I do! Aspiring student of ancient history here.

Durmatagno wrote:

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:Thank you!

Well, now that our characters are officially a team, I suggest that we apply for Leika's escort mission, given that it is the only one of the fieldwork opportunities remaining.

Works for me, though give the others a chance to weigh in, as there's still the bounty.

I'm afraid to say that the slot filled up while we got the team sorted.

Sonitusia wrote:I honestly don't really care, the fact standing that it's a khopesh with a lengthened blade that ends up making it look like a kopis.

If it's a khopesh mixed with a kopis, fine. Allow me to agree to disagree, because I just don't like the kopis' simplicity.

I am not disagreeing with your use of the weapon depicted; I am merely disagreeing with the term that you are using to describe it. The artist has created an image of a kopis and mislabelled it khopesh, which is why I am asking for us to refer to it with the correct terminology: kopis.

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:

Sonitusia wrote:I honestly don't really care, the fact standing that it's a khopesh with a lengthened blade that ends up making it look like a kopis.

If it's a khopesh mixed with a kopis, fine. Allow me to agree to disagree, because I just don't like the kopis' simplicity.

I am not disagreeing with your use of the weapon depicted; I am merely disagreeing with the term that you are using to describe it. The artist has created an image of a kopis and mislabelled it khopesh, which is why I am asking for us to refer it as a kopis.

It doesn't even look like a kopis for god's sake, it's like a gladius with a bit more curve. The kopis reminds me more of a schimitar than it would of this blade.

Sonitusia wrote:

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:I am not disagreeing with your use of the weapon depicted; I am merely disagreeing with the term that you are using to describe it. The artist has created an image of a kopis and mislabelled it khopesh, which is why I am asking for us to refer it as a kopis.

It doesn't even look like a kopis for god's sake, it's like a gladius with a bit more curve. The kopis reminds me more of a scimitar than it would of this blade.

(Note: A gladius is a straight sword primarily intended for stabbing (in the Imperial era, at least); a scimitar, meanwhile, is a backward-curving sword, not a forward-curving sword - backward-curving swords only actually came into use in Europe and the Middle East in the 9th century AD.)

Here is a modern replica (I'm not sure that those fullers are accurate, though I may simply be not recognising a historically faithful feature of the weapon) of a kopis - admittedly somewhat on the straighter-side than most, but I'll get to that - alongside the artist's blade which I've edited to appear as it would if it were lying flat, both poorly copied into Paint. One immediately begins to see with a side-by-side comparison that there are incredibly significant similarities: the hilts, as I mentioned previously, match, and the handle in both cases lies slightly behind the point, whose rearward edge curves noticably forwards.

Now, I said that this kopis was straighter than most, but in actuality that doesn't matter too much - the defining feature of a kopis is the sweeping S-shaped forward cutting edge (I like to think of the kopis blade's shape as akin to a bird's wing). As such, I've taken the liberty of badly tracing each blade's cutting edge; one can immediately see the fact that they are nigh-on identical and are both shaped in this way. This, for me, is the clearest evidence that the blade depicted is based on the Greek kopis, not the Egyptian khopesh (which, obviously, looks entirely different), and that the artist has simply muddled the names up.

I am snek

Icrum wrote:I am snek

Oh really?

So, Team CLAL, are we all up for the escort mission given that it's the only one available?

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:So, Team CLAL, are we all up for the escort mission given that it's the only one available?

We have no choice, and besides, it seems easy enough since we only have to protect a single target.

Sonitusia wrote:

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:So, Team CLAL, are we all up for the escort mission given that it's the only one available?

We have no choice, and besides, it seems easy enough since we only have to protect a single target.

What do you do when you're not doing missions, and chewing bubble gum, but out of both?

Apror wrote:

Sonitusia wrote:We have no choice, and besides, it seems easy enough since we only have to protect a single target.

What do you do when you're not doing missions, and chewing bubble gum, but out of both?

I really hope there are other missions too, or if other teams can participate in the same missions, because I don't want my team (SHAD) to just sit around doing nothing after they are newly formed following after the Dance Arc.

Sonitusia wrote:

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:So, Team CLAL, are we all up for the escort mission given that it's the only one available?

We have no choice, and besides, it seems easy enough since we only have to protect a single target.

Also - kopis? (I know, I'm pressing the issue, but it really would give me a certain satisfaction to have the accurate term used.)

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:

Sonitusia wrote:We have no choice, and besides, it seems easy enough since we only have to protect a single target.

Also - kopis? (I know, I'm pressing the issue, but it really would give me a certain satisfaction to have the accurate term used.)

No.

Sonitusia wrote:

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:Also - kopis? (I know, I'm pressing the issue, but it really would give me a certain satisfaction to have the accurate term used.)

No.

Despite all of the evidence that I provided above? (As an aside, I did a bit more research; the falcata was a Spanish blade of the same period with a practically identical shape, so you could use that name instead if you'd like.)

To be honest, I'm a bit confused as to why this is such a problem; all that I'm suggesting is that we use the best, most accurate term to describe a particular weapon's design.

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:

Sonitusia wrote:No.

To be honest, I'm a bit confused as to why this is such a problem; all that I'm suggesting is that we use the best, most accurate term to describe a particular weapon's design.

My same thoughts.

I'm going with the name given by the artist, along with the basic description of a khopesh. If it hurts your perfectionism so much, I will change the damn blade into a normal khopesh.

That is all.

Sonitusia wrote:

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:To be honest, I'm a bit confused as to why this is such a problem; all that I'm suggesting is that we use the best, most accurate term to describe a particular weapon's design.

My same thoughts.

I'm going with the name given by the artist, along with the basic description of a khopesh. If it hurts your perfectionism so much, I will change the damn blade into a normal khopesh.

That is all.

I apologise; my intention was and never is to cause conflict. I just happen to know and care a fair bit about the subject of ancient military history! I tell you what, though - given that you are going out of your way to accommodate my particular quirks, the least that I can do is to help by finding a new image for you.

Or, as it turns out, finding and then editing a new image for you! It isn't rendered or as detailed as the other, obviously, but I think that I've done a fairly good job and made the style look similar. I hope that this is satisfactory to some degree!

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:

Sonitusia wrote:My same thoughts.

I'm going with the name given by the artist, along with the basic description of a khopesh. If it hurts your perfectionism so much, I will change the damn blade into a normal khopesh.

That is all.

I apologise; my intention was and never is to cause conflict. I just happen to know and care a fair bit about the subject of ancient military history! I tell you what, though - given that you are going out of your way to accommodate my particular quirks, the least that I can do is to help by finding a new image for you.

I can look for a bloody picture myself, thank you very much.

Sonitusia wrote:

Former Citizens of the Nimbus System wrote:
I apologise; my intention was and never is to cause conflict. I just happen to know and care a fair bit about the subject of ancient military history! I tell you what, though - given that you are going out of your way to accommodate my particular quirks, the least that I can do is to help by finding a new image for you.

I can look for a bloody picture myself, thank you very much.

It seems that I try in both senses of the word, then. I am sorry.