So has anybody done any research on this or is everybody just guessing? My google searches have revealed very little. I see a couple of essays claiming that swords were the most common but they don't back that information up with any evidence. Other sites claim that bows were the most common medieval weapon as they were cheap and more practical. One site even claimed the bil was the weapon of choice. Not much mention of spears but I would surmise that they were primarily anti-cavalry weapons, atleast in medieval times.

Yeah, I don't think there are any technical issues besides the extra work needed to create the assets (models, animations etc..). I'm sure they're in because it was clear that Oblivion was rushed to make the 360 launch window (they announced some high profile cuts, to much fan complaining, in the last few months)... so, it seems that for Skyrim they aren't under the same time pressures and they should have had ample time to put in everything they and the fans want.

Put another way, if spears aren't in, they should be pretty embarrassed

This.

Throwing spears were also commonly used by Vikings (if we assume that's what Skyrim is based on).

Since Todd loves Conan the barbarian so much, he surely must have seen how much spears are present in the comic :tongue:

its just a gut feeling, and besides why would they not add them! they have a brand new engine with dual wielding, how hard can it be to make spears and staffs fighting styles ? and Xbows are actually a joke to make since they are sort of like guns you just need nice Xbow animations I think.

I thinks it a nice surprise they are holding for us, that's why now one is saying anything.

if they were out Todd would say sorry no spears or xbows this time also.

nah he is right good swords were the weapons of nobles and knights, the common infantry usually had crappy armor/weapons, the greek/romans only used short blades when things got up close and personal.

here is the thing when lines of infantry collide there is little room for swinging huge ass swords, so thrusting weapons were the best (short blades, spears, halberds, daggers) only cavalry used slashing/cutting weapons because they had to hit as they go.

Edit: forget it, sorry for posting.

HELL!!! I ONLY USED SPEARS IN MORROWIND!!!!

Likewise, after the mainquest in Bloodmoon when I got the hunters spear I really fell in love with spears!!

Just quickly want to state: Spears was the first weapon ever invented! Its either a sharp stick or a stick with a sharp rock positioned on its tip!!! So I'm pretty sure spears have been used far more than swords and axes... I'm pretty sure they were around atleast 10000 years before swords... and if I remember correctly vikings actually used spears 25x as much as swords!!! and (ain't so sure 'bout this) a bit more than axes...

I still don't understand why everyone is obsessed with adding/re-adding weapons to the game. I don't agree with Howard on everything, but I agree that the quantity of weapons is the NOT the most important aspect. I would much rather they create a decent number of weapons and focus their efforts on perfecting how the weapon performs than implement hundreds of different weapons with less effort spent on each. It is a game, perfect realism is not the goal here. For me at least, immersion is much more about how I interact with the world than the number of things in the world. If the gameplay is well-done and visceral, I don't see much of a problem. All things being equal, having spears is better than not having them, but it is a matter of priorities.

I've even moded atleast 25 spears into my game... and I just started editing meshes in the end of november...
Hell, throw out swords and add spears instead!!! I hate swords anyway...

Fallout: New Vegas has throwing spears. They even kind of showcased them by putting them in one of the pre-order bonus packs. It really wouldn't make much sense that a game featuring guns and lasers has them, and yet the medieval fantasy game from the same publisher (I know Obsidian made FNV, but Bethesda still published it) doesn't.

On the other hand, not having them won't kill me. I'm sure there will be plenty of other weapons for me to leave a blood-soaked trail across the countryside with.

Variety is the spice of life. I would love to have more diverse weapon types.

Just because it was the first weapon doesn't mean it was the most used. When larger populations of people start using massive amounts of swords, it sort've outweighs the fact that spears are thousands of years older than swords. I mean, swords became so common that at one point in history, most everyone carried one around if they could afford it.

My outlook on this definately. Makes no sense, unless they were lazy.


Fluffy waits......

I don't see how a medieval RPG without spears is just wrong. Most medieval RPGs revolve around swords. Of course a western wouldn't be without cowboys because a western without cowboys is a dusty plain, who wants that. A farm doesn't require animals. A star system is a system of stars that revolve around each other. The star system your thinking of is the hollywood version.



How does it make them lazy? They didn't make throwing spears in FONV, Obsidian did. Just because they publish NV under Bethesda Softworks doesn't mean that BGS had anything to do with it. BGS and Bethesda Softworks are completely separate entities now. Bethesda Softworks is just a front for publishing games now, publishing a game doesn't mean you affected it in any way.

^pretty much this

Spears were generally the go to weapon of choice for combat, at least untill all hell broke out and it was a mass of people running around. In lines that the armies were trained spears were use to keep the enemy away as well as catch anyone charging. Swords were more used as a backup. At least thats what I was always told.

Spears are the oldest (one of) weapons in existence, leaving out the good 'ol fist. I mean Neanderthals couldn't mine let alone smelt ore so making swords were out of the question. Anyone who suggests that swords are the oldest weapons in history clearly knows nothing about history.


EDIT: Also suggesting they were the most used weapon in history futher demonstrates ones ignorance of common historical knowledge. Swords were expensive and as such only the noble classes could afford them. As is well known the nobles are the smallest class (Top of the pyramid class structure). The peasants who make up the majority of the army would not be using swords, they would be using spears, axes or in the dark ages, the falchion. Don't confuse popularity with practicality.

Actually knives are the oldest weapons in existence. Yes, I saw your (one of) but I just wanted to clarify that lol. Also javelins are one of the oldest weapons too and no one cares that they aren't in the game either.



Actually, spears were only used to defend the perimeter of the forces, it allowed for maximum damage/fear factor for those charging into the front lines. After that it was swords behind due to their ability to be used to the most effectiveness in close combat. Spears lose their effectiveness when in close combat. Thus swords have always been used since their inception due to it's better capabilities. Halberds were created to allow for the same reach as a spear but also to be effective in close range combat.

What would someone who is complete ignorance of modern technology (I.e. people today) think to first use, a sharpened stick or a flint knife they had to flint map? Sharpening a stick is much easier than flint mapping and thus came first. Do research before you make statements

How about you do research before you try to denounce other people. The first weapons known to be used by humans were knives made from splintered rocks. Human civilization started in areas that had little vegetation. Please, don't act like you know what the first weapon was because a sharpened stick seemed the most simple. A nice splintered rock with a sharp edge and pointy tip makes for a much deadlier weapon and also a tool for cutting up meat or crushing up nuts or vegetables.

Define weapon.

to be fair a weapon could be anything, a man , anger or logic, ect.
but if we are talking about a tool or object we use for bodily harm, then my answer would probably be Stick or Stone.

and OT: yes I would like spears/polearms in the game. Its a unique weapon in history that is still used to an extent this day.(bayonets ?)
:biggrin:

They have to be balanced. They can't be "Oh look I can melee and stagger you and there is nothing you can do because your out of range of me lolzors!" because that's how it was in Morrowind and that's why they were removed. As for bayonets, they are more akin to knives.