OT: Does anyone know of...

[Krsqk]

a site which has good information on pre-gunpowder weapons? I'm mostly looking for weight and size, but I'd like an encyclopedia-entry sized article so I get a decent amount of background info. I've found lots of places selling them, but not too many with good information. Thanks in advance.

[Jack Simth]

Medival Swords - sword info database; includes weights and lengths

Swords of Honor - a website where you can buy pre-powder weapons; most entries have the length, some have weight as well.

What do you need such for? Making/modding a game?

[Krsqk]

Thanks for the links--I didn't see any weights, but there were several more links to look through. I'm in the initial pre-planning stages of the organizing of thinking about whether I really want to go through with this project part of the game. I started out with the anointed holy vision, then I hit the "that class isn't going to work like that" wall; now I'm reworking/organizing this from the bottom up (instead of the top down). I want all the little pieces to work before I get add complexity and organization; I'm trying to plan out my large framework as I design my smallest components.

If ever finished (or ever begun, for that matter), it will be a battlefield simulation (hopefully more detailed in unit type and some other considerations than Age-of-Empires-type battles, if less graphically inclined--I'm no artist). I'd like something that can handle battles on the scale of Romans vs. Persians, instead of an arbitrary limit of 200 or so units. I want each individual unit represented, rather than abstracting whole squads or battalions into single units. Backing off on the level of graphic detail is the only way I can see to do that, especially since it would be at battlefield scale.

I am also interested in stats for blunt weapons, archery, artillery weapons (onagers, scorpions, etc.), and armor. Any additional links or suggestions would be appreciated!

[Alpha Kodiak]

Here is a site that sells model trebuchets as well as kits and plans for them. They also have a discussion of how they work.

Trebuchets

[Atrocities]

Has any one else noticed the influx of historical movies lately? I saw the previews for TROY the other day when I went and watched the Alamo.

I think this trend is great and I love these kind of movies. The Alamo was not as good as it could have been. John Wayne did a far better job IMHO.

Have any of you ever stopped and thought about how deep our history goes? I mean really just sat down and pondered how old our civilization really is and how rich our history, world history, is? I couldn't help it the other day while walking out of the theater. It just kind of occured to me that at least a trillion plus people have lived and died over the course of human history and all of their wars, struggles, and accomplishments are what have paved the road for you and I today. The very fact that we can drive cars, fly, communicate instantly to someone across the planet, been on the moon, and can get dinner served to us simply by driving up and ordering it. All those people died throughout history, litterly gave up their lives without ever even considering the possiblity that one day their decendants would have it so comfortable as we do today. Think of it, put yourself in the shoes of a person who lived 6,000 years ago and consider where we have come from there.

It boggles the mind.

Now imagine where we will be in another 6,000 years.

[dogscoff]

http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~fine/Fun/polearms.html