[Gossamer's Scrapbook] The Ethereal Canyon I

[Taylani]

oh. Thanks Jen that helps me out too cause..yeah I was thinking the same >.>

In 5 mins I will be able to watch videos (free bandwidth. gosh I hate satellite internet)

[Taylani]

Longsword

This site has quite a bit of articles on training techniques for many different styles of blades, but nothing with the double bladed so I have been having to improvise. As the search engine results kept bringing up the double bladed light saber or Anime style which I (sorry for those who do like it) really dislike.


I always dismissed the light saber ones because they look like they would be super light weight while the wooden training double blades are not, so it would effect balance and effective strikes. But it is probably a lot better then trying to improvise poorly as I have had to do.

[Gossamer]

I was paying more attention to hand position, footwork, and how they strike than worrying about weight. For example, Ray never strikes with just one hand utilizing his light sabre. But he changes hand positions often and moves with his waist and shoulders in unison.

Wooden weapons are very light in general. They break easily and are often utilized for technique. They only get really heavy when they are wooden weapons with metal cores which are a step up from actual training blades.

[Eanos]

Weapons used for dual wield are typically at the lighter end of the scale anyway. Heavy swords and power strokes typically require a two handed grip to be most effective. I'm firmly holding my mouth shut with regards the whole dual wield debate in terms of training since the Lore has clearly come down heavily on one side of that debate.

[Gossamer]

Oftentimes in the lore we MUST take a stand one way or another or the game will implode. It probably has strong opinions because it was written by very opinionated people. However, it's worked very well for us. And for that I'm grateful. There hasn't been any big issues with it thus far. Of course people are going to have differing opinions. I respect that. But I am also glad they respect the fact that we have decided one way or another for whatever reasons and stick to that policy.

[Eanos]

But I am also glad they respect the fact that we have decided one way or another for whatever reasons and stick to that policy.

Indeed. Most times it's better to spend energy in exploring how to implement something for your character based on how it works in a world than in complaining about it.

[Razkar]

I knew Ray Park was in phenomenal condition but I had no idea just how much until I saw those behind-the-scenes videos for the Phantom Menace. Wow! Talk about a wealth of practical knowledge for people on the site!

His dexterity was what amazed me most. He managed to put the sword wherever he wanted. Behind him, high, low, and the speed he moved at and, yeah, the footwork? Always moving, maneuvering, pressing his attack.

Thanks for the post: I probably wouldn't have checked it out otherwise.

[Vanator]

Ray Park is amazing! He has been at the local comic con twice. As both martial artists and Star Wars geeks, we tried both times to get it to see him and failed . By the way, girls talking about the mechanics of weapon wielding...so hot Aside from the the carnal enjoyment, I am also inspired to get back to building up fighting skills! Thanks!

[Gossamer]

. Skill Building & Inspiration An 'Ode to Ray Park and Clay Matthews. I'm having so much fun writing these solos for double bladed sword. I have two done now and I have two more planned for the season. My PC had a lot of free time due to lack of threads from the get-go this season so that should be doable. And whenever I'm feeling left out or uninspired plotwise in a game situation, I always try to reward myself by skill building. Skill building makes everything better and always cheers me up. This season I decided to work on the physical since my PC got so sick over her pregnancy and childbirth. I'm going to spend the whole length of it having her shove food into her mouth, keep her super premature baby alive, and train to get rid of what I can only imagine is the worst baby belly ever. I'm glad my PC's favorite Akalak put one in her hand and had her spar. My PC likes weapons, sometimes too much to be decent for a woman, but she's starting to really love this double bladed longsword. And one of the fun things about it is I decided she'd do all her training blindfolded at first not only to work up some blind fighting skills - which no one hardly utilizes on Miz - but because It will get her better acquainted with her weapon. I'm also trying to keep a running tally of the stances, thrusts, and overall moves she learns so I can throw it into a plotnote document later down the line. I might expand that document to add the moves she knows for dagger too. It doesn't help... or does it... that the NPC I'm using to teach her is using Clay Matthew's as an avatar (tinted blue of course) with Ray Park like skills. And hes not the nicest person, but I decided he's also a Dreamwalker, knows my PC from a past life, and owes her a debt. So hes taking it upon himself to browbeat and bully her back into shape to pay that debt. Ladies, if you have not seen this man whom I'm modeling the avatar after, he's a pro ball player for Green Bay Packers and looks like a Viking God. There's nothing quite better than writing with this sort of inspiration. Thank you Ray Park and Clay Matthews. I wish you two men could have children together so you could pop out little Anir's all over the place. You owe it to mankind... erh womankind. PS. I need to learn my PC a brand new weapon she's never seen before for one of RF's challenges. And I can't figure out what kind. Any suggestions? I'm leaning towards lasso or whip. Whip seemed a bit mu-ah. But I know the Drykas utilize Lasso's frequently. I thought something like throwing stars would be cliche. But any ideas would be fantastic. .

[Razkar]

Hmm... how about the Katar? Elegant, versatile and deadly... and you can use it in conjunction with a whip! Or flail...