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Weapon Combat
Physical combat is controled by Strength, modified by Warfare & Endurance. Strength is the brute force element of combat in any form. Especially the hand to hand, unarmed variety. Warfare can effect the style, depth, and tactics of combat. Endurance determines the amount of punishments a person can take and the length of time they can dish it out.
There are a variety of basic approaches that can be simply outlined. There are also an extensive collection of sword forms that may be useful in modifying combat.
Sword Forms.
This list is a collection of Sword forms for the Wheel of Time. When considering this list what I want a person to get is a sense of combat. In Jeweled Amber we have two types of understandings of combat. We have players from Dragon's Fang that understand these forms and their use in a game format. We have players familiar with SCA combat and its forms. I would like to encourage this game to be more combat oriented then my last amber game. So use these forms and the descriptions of their actions to beef up combat.
I recommend that when play is going that the players keep this page open, or have a printed copy, to get prompts for combat, and perhaps Cut & Paste into the ICQ program. I do not expect players to use form names. These forms are for the sword, obviously, but they can be modified for any other type of melee weapon.
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The key to this form is to stay loose and to move slowly and confidently. The blade is held at chest height while in a guard stance and can be used in many different strikes. This is a very versatile technique and is very effective against multiple opponents or in the event of an ambush. Pivoting to the strong side of your opponent, you pull your sword down and through using your shoulders and arms for power. This downward strike to any open area is a deadly blow if not blocked. |
A simple slash, meant to take off an opponent's head. Begins at midbody level and arcs to neck, then ends back at guard stance. From the ground, a low crouch or on one knee, The blade will move from the strong side in an upwards arching angle, to the week side of the opponent. The intention is to sever the opponents stomach or lower chest area. This is also effective against opponents that are on horseback, when you are not. |
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This is faster paced version of The Cat Dances On The Wall and is a better choice for multiple opponents. This is a great form to combine with Apple Blossoms in the wind. Using good positioning, the feet are shifted from left foot forward to right foot forward , then pivoting away while thrusting the blade down at the opponents strong side and then followed with a horizontal slash. |
This is a good move to have in your bag of repetoire! Excecuting a very fast and powerfull over hand downward slash it is meant to split the head of an opponent. Is most commonly used with Bundling Straw. |
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The sword sheathing technique. The blade is smoothly swung around from guard stance and sheathed, all in one motion. |
A circular motion when blades are locked, used to disarm an opponent. This form is used to attack and defend. |
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A powerful movement. Begin with boths hands on the hilt of the sword, leaning slightly forward, with your knees bent in the ready position. In one movement the blade is unsheathed by performing unfolding the fan and brought overhead and a strike with all your power is concentrated downward. |
Starting in a horizontal guard position. A form similar to The Falling Leaf. The blade will move up and down according to the threat, while moving horizontally to continously offer new threats. A good basic form. Attacks from this position should include Lightning of Three Prongs and Lizard in the Thornbush. |
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Can be performed from any stance including sitting. Most commonly starts from a low crouch. A diagonal slash, bringing the blade up using a reverse grip from low to high and rising cleanly. Most commonly used to return to a guard stance after a form such as The Grapevine Twines or Lightning of Three Prongs. |
A vertical arc after a horizontal, tentative slash. The blade should begin and end in the same position near the waist. |
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More of a concept than a sword form, this is used when what you can gain is greater than or equal to what you may lose in the process of gaining it. This might be using Heron Wading in the Rushes like Rand Al'Thor, or it might be using Lizard in the Thornbush to take down two major opponents when you know a third, less important one is coming up behind you. |
The medium difficulty version of Boar Rushes Down the Moutain. A good mainstay of a battle, this form is useful for both parrying and attacking. The sword should begin at least at shoulder height and come down. |
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THISTLEDOWN FLOATS ON THE WHIRLWIND A short-range jumping spin-swipe, used for beheading. Best if done by surprise. An opening move in most cases. The sword should not move more than a foot or so; the main force is provided by the spin of the body. The blade should be close to the body, approximately chest high. |
A Powerful series of vertical slashes, starting at waste high on your strong side. Bring the blade up with the edge facing up, at a little over head level of the opponent, a tight turn of the blade and a vertical slash down to where the hilt is at your waist, and the blade is parallel with the hilt. Twist the body to the weak side and bring the blade up over the head for one last vertical diagonal slash from high to low Good to pair with Boar rushes down the mountain or The Courtier taps his fan. |
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A form of Thistledown Floats on the Whirlwind, and the same concept as Twisting the Wind, except done while remaining on the ground. Can be modified for use for striking uphill or downhill simply by changing the angle of the spin.The vertical slash starts from the low strong side to High weak side. Normally this move can be followed by a round house kick |
Another complicated form. Most commonly Begun with either Low Wind Rising or Parting the Silk, this form follows throught with multiple short thrusts or quick overhead blows. |
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From a Basic Guard stance, move up and down in order to feign the opponent. Once a sufficient movements have been made the attack will come from the low weak side, and jabbing across the body attempting to eviserate the opponent. |
A series of fast and well-controlled thrusts directed towards the head and stomach of the opponents. Intended to drive the enemy backwards to gain breathing and thinking space. Care to be taken not to overextend the thrusts.(resembles needle stitching action). |
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This is only performed when both opponents are in a basic stance. Several quick thrusts to chest level, followed by a forward snap of the wrist moving the blade towards the opponents head, followed by a guarded arching motion back into a guard stance. This is an excellent technique against a quarterstaff opponent. |
This is a intricate collection of twists and blade movements. You must have good wrist dexterity and quick feet for this one. Only one hand is on the sword as the free hand will be used to counter balance and to pull the opponent off balance if need be. Used for buying time it is a series of short thrusts, slashes and parry's. A feinting type move. Starting from a low guard stance, a pivot is excecuted to the weak side of your opponent while spinning the blade in an upwards arch to their exposed area, and then with a twisting of the wrist coming down on their strong side at an angle. |
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A very Quick overhand thrust, returning to the guard position just as quickly followed by a single hand diagonal strike from high to low to the opponents strong side, using a reverse grip.This is a shortened version of the Kingfisher Takes a Silverback. |
Starts in a high guard stance sweepimg the blade back and forth slashing in diagonal motions from low to high and high to low. Is a great way to parry against multiple opponents, and even better against just one. Go immeadiatly into The River undercuts the bank and you have a great combination that is extreamly hard to defend against.A more exaggerated and slower version of The Boar Rushes Down the Mountain. |
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HUMMINGBIRD KISSES THE HONEYROSE A quick thrust to the face of a charging opponent. Will usually kill a charging opponent outright! The Blade should start from shoulder height, though it may be performed from any level less quickly. |
THE KINGFISHER TAKES A SILVERBACK With the sword at shoulder height or higher, the blade performs a slash downwards aiming for the abdomen. Can also be started out lower to cripple a leg or the groin. *ouch!* |
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A basic guard stance, with the sword held at shoulder height ready to battle. Also a full charge into the weak side of an opponent. Normally used as a first Form, when facing an inexperienced opponent |
Great mid-level technique. Used solely against two opponents. Begin with a thrust to the chest, then pivoting and kneel with either a slash or a thrust, usually a thrust. ; most Experianced Swordsman have mastered this form. |
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A forward front kick followed with either a horizontal or vertical slash that may change direction up or down. Both feet should be used in this form, unlike Heron forms. |
Can be done from a kneeling or standing position. A horizontal slash with a reverse grip, used to disembowel or behead an opponent. |
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Usually the followup move to The Swallow Takes Flight, an advanced combination of movements Starting with a front vertical slash, moving forward to a spinning back swing, to a side kick, to a forward thrust. The whole time moving forward and swinging very strongly, with A fast, short swiping motion that won't behead someone but might slit their throat. |
Basically, Low Wind Rising followed by a short thrust. The form is angled more toward the opponent, though, so that the opening slash is more a guard for the thrust. |
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The exact opposite of Folding the Fan. Can be used as an opener, since this form can unsheathe the sword and stroke at the same time. Can also be used if caught off guard or in an awkward position. |
A more complicated form of The Boar Rushes Down the Moutain. This form can and will change direction in midstroke. Only the more advanced swordsmen use this form. A zigzag vertical slash. There is no set direction the form must be initiated from, (Strong Side or Weak Side). The Blade must start from high to low, in either regular or reverse grip. |
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Works very effectivly In conjunction with Low Wind Rising. Once the blade comes up to the peak of the arch. Reverse grip and strike over the horizontal block of the defending opponent. Step to the left to avoid any slash that might come. |
ore of a way to walk and move rather than an official Form. Extreme care in how to move and the placement of footing and body position. |
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THE BOAR RUSHES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN A verticle slash, but one that can quickly alter course in midswing. Starts high and ends low. Used with two hands on the hilt, and the blade is brought down with all the power of the back and arms. Good technique to combine with Tower of Morning. |
While moving in a slow circular motion to the opponents strong side, you probe with short thrusts. The blade goes from high to low to constantly offer threats to be forced to guard against. This works well with The Falling Leaf, and Lightning of the Three Prongs. |
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A very controlled backhanded horizontal slash, used as a well timed block or strike. Directed at the abdomen this is a good move to inflict nonlethal damage to an opponent. Like a spinning backkick but with the blade. |
A more functional version of Heron Wading in the Rushes. A tighter cut, concentrated in one sector of the arc of the sword. Moving from a high guard stance to the opponents weak side, lower the blade and step into an upward slash going from low to high. |
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A series of powerful overhand blows in rapid succession, best begun on the return swing of a slash like Low Wind Rising or The Heron Spreads Its Wings. If you've got stamina this can win a battle for you. |
Beginning from a basic stance. perform a thrust that can either continue as another thrust, or slash to either side. Can also be used to parry. Begins like Lion on the Hill |
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For use in a tight situation, when one is outnumbered. This form generates a lot of power. A quick, continual rotation of the body, using slashes and short thrusts to counter or attack as the situation dictates. Starts out the same as Parting Silk, but at mid spin the blade comes up over the head and with the momentum of the spin, a vertical slash from over the head to bottom of the feet is executed. |
Used to feel out an opponent. Similar to The Cat dances on the Wall but from a stationary point. Looks like a charge, but is designed to stop and pivot to the opposite side in an instant. Start by stepping into the opponent and thrusting forward. Do this while angled at the side of the opponent. When they pivot to engage straight on, you pivot oppositely to their blind side and strike with a horizontal slash. You have to have a lot of experiance and great timing to perform this succesfully. |