OK, I have a somewhat strange question to ask. I'm assuming that most of your fantasy stories are set in somewhat medieval times, therefore you use such weapons as bows and arrows, swords, spears, clubs, and so forth. The more weapons savvy of us may have further limited this to recurve bows, claymores, and throwing spears. Or something.

But my question: why are we limited to these weapons? We're not. Obviously, they will be recognized by readers, but since the vast majority of fantasy is written with a medieval feel, why not come up with our own medieval-style weapons?

So I want to know. Have any of you done this? If so, what new weapons have you thought up? Which characters use them in your story? Is there a certain weapon that is similar to an Earth weapon, yet different? I want to know

eruheran

This is funny Eru, because I was thinking about this as I went to sleep last night. I know it isn't a weapon really but I was thinking about drowning, because I don't see it used often, and I was musing over the fact that someone could get drowned in my book, rather than stabbed with a sword or dagger. It isn't exactly a weapon, but you can use water to kill people. Funny topic to be falling asleep thinking about, isn't it!

I doubt you could ever come up with any "true" new weapon and most "mish-mashed" weapons are dumb.
In my "Epic" there are all your traditional weapons, but the dwarves use guns. It works quite well.

~Joe~

(There's plenty of cool weapons just waiting to be discovered and used! Start researching!)

While I do think it's very hard to come up with a true "new weapon," I do think it's possible. Say there's a certain type of creature that your hero has to kill. Maybe it has a weak spot that only a certain type of weapon can hit. Or maybe there's a weapon made out of certain materials which are the only way to destroy some fearsome beast.

Mish-mash weapons are also difficult, but with some work they could be done. But, I agree, often they do turn out strange or dumb-looking.

eruheran

I recommend getting the wonderful book, Weapon, from your local library.

If it doesn't inspire you to create a new weapon, at least you can use something unusual.

More or less, at least, I use odd weapons. One of my characters uses a monkey fist. (basically a rope tied in a weird and really hard knot). I also play with shapes of knives, and arm mounted weapons.

I have two new weapons. One is just a very small crossbow, called a quarrelbow. Not useful in a battle situation, but it is often used by assassins or kept as protection. Another one is the assassin's knife. It looks basically looks like a dagger cut in half, maximizing both slicing and stabbing. it is small and easy to conceal. Not completely original, but definitely not a mish-mash.

Wow, I like the sound of those, Griffin!

Thanks!

You can certainly create unique weapons of your own for a unique touch, however there are several types of medieval weaponry that haven't been used to death that are up for grabs. For example there are quarterstaves, a variety of maces, slings, and polearms of every shape and size to choose from. Just some ideas. My recommendations are to look into medieval weaponry and see what grabs you.
However, there are occasions which require rethinking weaponry, for instance if your characters live underwater or have wings instead of arms

You need to strike a balance with your "elements of the story" where your "weird Weapons" don't overshadow everything. I've seen it before where they spent so much time with their weapons it ruined the story. Also, outlandish weapons are really corny a lot of the time.


~Joe~

(you have been warned! )

In one nameless world, nearly all the weapons mentioned are stranger than the common two-edged blade and long-bow. I always thought that my characters needed a broader selection, so to speak and thought up a few new things for them to try out. Some are more original than others but here's an example:

The coil: The coil is, much as is sounds, a weapon normally worn coiled at the belt. It's curved frame is made of a thick, leather-type material which is then coated by a paper-thin wedge of steel, flattened and sharpened. The coil is used like a whip in an attack, lashing out at enemies but it's chief design is to wrestle weapons away from enemies instead of killing them. Put in the correct hands, it can do both very well.

My specific blades have no name yet, but I'd sorta like to keep this one to myself...
Designed by myself and my brother, the "cheese grater" edges have been added to a type of blade, so when someone is stabbed, it rips up the wound while coming back out.

Ooh, that sounds gruesome.

Rather than trying to make new weapons, I sometimes add small but important features to real weapons. This can be done by applying modern knowledge of weaponry to older weapons, or by enhancing a weapon with features that you would like if you had to use that weapon in combat.

In my "Epic" the dwarves use guns. Humans are far behind, still using spears, swords, etc.

I'm not a very weapon minded person.
I have no original weapons, except possibly my ice Shards. Basically, those are like long, powerful icicles which are fired from bows (or crossbows) like arrows (or bolts). They're crafted so that when they're in midair they shatter into razor-sharp splinters. When they're rubbed with a special liquid beforehand, they freeze over any open wounds they inflict.

Other than that, I just have swords, bows, and battleaxes.
Are there any good websites where we can learn the functions and uses of obscure weaponry? That would be a big help.

This is pretty good for medieval weapons.
http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/middle-ages-weapons.htm

Very interesting thread! I haven't had a need to develop any new weapons yet, though I do like exploring some of the more usual weapons used in our world.



Oh, that is creative! Sounds like they leave a painful wound, and one difficult to treat.

I don't know of any comprehensive websites on obscure weapons (though I would be interested if others do), but I did find an nice illustrated history of weapons for only a few dollars in the clearance section of Borders. You can frequently get inexpensive reference books there, if you're willing to spend some time browsing through the random books. Just a thought. Or you could look at the library, like Neil suggested

^I like the idea of dwarves with more advanced weaponry... fits them somehow. Dwarves wielding blunderbussess works marvelously.

Now I'm picturing a little dwarf firing a big gun and going flying backwards!

Dwarves and guns mix really well. My whole world works with dwarves and massive steampunk guns.

I have come up with something pretty original. Called the fist-mace, used by a character called "Bristles" Or Bris, Basically a pair of thick leather gloves covered all over with holes. On flipping the catch within the gloves out pop short steel spikes about two inches long, Can be used to punch, swing, hammer, roundhouse you name it.

And some wonder why your name is Whackem . . .

Ha ha, Eli! I agree, though, it would be very like dwarfs to be mechanically ahead of the humans.

The atlatl is one of my favorite exotic weapons. They are used predominately by the sylphs who live in the mountains west of Minor, and the elves who live in that region adopted a similar weapon from them.

Another thing to explore is defensive clothing. Especially an armored gi (the kimono designed for jiu-jitsu combat). The cloth and pattern is made in such a way as to be optimized for control of your opponent during grappling, and can be used for chokes and jointlocks to great effect.

I'm giving one character who has the ability to manipulate air and wind a dart gun. Not exactly new, but not exactly standard issue for a fantasy character, either.

Oh, yes, I love characters with dart guns...though I must admit I like throwing knives better... That makes me sound rather...bloodthirsty, doesn't it?

I also have a world in which the 'magic' is the imagination--a book-geek story--and so they can use their minds to conjure up weapons and attack-like, spell-like things. They have swords and such too, but the 'real' warriors use their heads. XD

I haven't actually invented a weapon yet, but I have my own take on the sword. But really all that is is a sword with special abilities...all the same I'm trying to be unusual (unusually cool ideas, that is).
I am working on designing disc-shaped weapons that could be used to kill a single person, or set fire to a building, or even deliver a message a short distance (yes, I'm an Ultimate frisbee and Disc golf fan)!
I will hopefully be revisiting this thread with more ideas in the future!

(great idea for a thread, by the way!)

I have an arm piece that straps to a villians arm and shoots spikes from it.

At least, that is the simple way to describe it.

There are so many creative and deadly real world weapons to draw from I have not yet had the desire to make up my own.

I've been working on a derivative of the Chakram...those things are amazing.

One my raptor races will probably use ayllo when hunting and fighting. At least I think it will be one of the bird races...it seems rather suited to something quick with less strength than stamina, so I haven't decided yet.