Why are swords so prevalent as weapons?

[RageBurner]

Just a random thought, but one I often have. For one thing, the sword has followed humanity throughout conflict for a very long time (along with the spear), so I guess it's natural that it has deep roots on a creator's subconscious mind when conceiving any kind of fictional world.

Also, perhaps, it's easier to draw and animate, at least in principle, than most other weapons, and then there is the whole feedback loop in pop culture that more or less further emphasizes it.

So what do you guys think?

 

[for.we.are.many]

Maybe because many games have a medieval fantasy scenario, in which swords would fit well. Also movies made swordfighting look cool

 

[fake-kun]

Swords are heckin cool.

 

[bjork]

It's a thing that's easy to imagine yourself using too. Like, magic is cool, but I can't go outside and cast meteor. But I could sure find a sword-like object and pretend to swashbuckle. Even as kids, I remember having swordfights with the cardboard tubes from wrapping paper, heh.

 

[RageBurner]

It's a thing that's easy to imagine yourself using too. Like, magic is cool, but I can't go outside and cast meteor. But I could sure find a sword-like object and pretend to swashbuckle. Even as kids, I remember having swordfights with the cardboard tubes from wrapping paper, heh.

Same! at some point I had my grandpa make one out of wood for me. Played quite a bit with it. Ah the memories.

 

[for.we.are.many]

Swords were lighter and easier to carry, which made them more versatile in battle.
They could also be used for both slashing and stabbing attacks, while spears were better suited for thrusting
But also the sword is seen to be not only brave but also personal, an obvious sign of special identity.

So I think it has allot do to how versatile they are in combat but also the connection to knights. And old stories is often a hero knight slays the dragon with a sword and saves the princess.

So I think it´s a deep rooted thing as you said. And also as you said simpler to draw and animate.

I like the personal aspect you mentioned. There are so many swords in fiction which have a personal aspect, like being forged specifically for its wielder or as a family heirloom

 

[ciro64]

I think it's the most straightforward and balanced way to express a weapon.

Swords are heckin cool.

This. Also I wish laser swords were more popular outside of Star Wars and Megaman.

 

[tenkai star]

That’s an interesting question. I’d guess we subconsciously associate the sword with heroism and bravery. The main character of many hero’s journey RPGs are sword wielders. Chrono, Link, Cloud, etc

 

[Octopus]

Historically the sword is the most important weapon realistically given how long we've been using them and their impact on warfare throughout time, so like a lot of other people have said so far it just makes sense that it carries into pop culture and fantasy. Also, they're fuckin' cool man.

 

[Num]

well swords are practically the default weapon of real life. anyone can get value out of a sword because of its ease to use, like even compared to easily accessible blunt weapons its still something the average person or even a child can still get value out of. and art imitates life or whatever

 

[MasterEn]

they are easy to animate and make 3d models of. usually no moving parts, mainly a rectangle with a triangle at the end. simple, but sometimes something simple is the best thing to go with.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

Swords were romanticized in real history as well, hence dress swords in modern military ceremony.

Swords are seen as the weapons of a professional warrior. Spears, axes, bows, clubs etc. are either simple to make, double as a tool, or are simple to wield.

A sword hits the sweet spot of being expensive to produce relative to other weapons (meaning a peasant, bandit, or conscripted soldier likely wouldn't have one), difficult to learn to wield compared to other weapons (meaning someone with a sword likely devoted their life to combat), and are generally only really good for fighting (meaning a professional fighter, such as a knight, samurai, or mercenary and is of little use to a hunter or woodsman). Swords are also high maintenance, implying the wielder is on a higher rung of society.

Historically and in mythology, a sword is visual shorthand to show the person in question is in the business of war and likely a badass. These tales carry over into modern media.

 

[CG4R12I4N]

In general media?

Swords are considered a noble weapon and historically made to be a sign of war declaration, hence why it's popularity.

Real life people would still mostly prefer using spears and bows and their related weapons (firearms) when time arises tho.

 

[jon2]

Fundamentally, a sword is just a long knife.

Knives and such weren't a pillar of the old military (as in military formations and such), polearms and bows were. Knives and swords were more of a personal thingy.

But when all chips are down, and you cannot rely on your comrade for covering your flank (i.e. beside you in formation), polearms by design have a glaring gap in damaging ability (its shaft) while bows have a big lag and a minimal range to be effective. Thus you only have you and your trusty knife/sword to rely on for survival.

And a man, desperate to survive or knowing he would die and decided to take as many as he can wih him, is a wildcard in the cold-steel battlefield. Thus we see feats not ascribed to the common man during common times, we see heroics. And with a trusty knife/sword in the hand, paving the way.

 

[Deleted member 25310]

Well many reasons, how many swords can you make? As in, different types?
We have a straight sword, a short sword, a fencing sword, a long sword, a broad sword, a claymore, a katana, a... And the list goes on! The sword is very versatile, it can poke, it can cut and if used in reverse, it can blunt with it's hilt, not to mention ease of use, it can take some time to master a sword but the skill floor is lower compared to other weapons, so a perfect infantary weapon, so no wonder it remained a very prevalent weapon throught history.

(Pst, check this thread out, might be your fancy!)

 

[Cu-Neo]

Because Sword are awesome ?
And I think is because coordinating, animating, designing a sword fight is more direct than something like a spear vs fists

 

[kanesha]

Because it's too generic of a term maybe?
That sharp piece of metal is smol! oh, it's just a short sword.
That sharp piece of metal is beeg! oh, it's just a great sword.
That sharp peice of metal is not sharp on edges! oh, it's just a stabby sword.
That sharp piece of metal is not sharp at the tip! oh, it's just a slashy sword.
That sharp piece of metal has TEETH! oh, it's just a serrated sword.
WTF is wrong with that sharp piece of metal?!! oh, it's just a Klingon sword.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

I'd like to add that polearms, axes, maces/clubs, and bows can and are also definitely weapons of professionals as well, they just have overlap with more common soldiers.

Swords were mostly weapons of the warrior class. This is also why heroes tend to favor swords such as longswords or katana as well, as swords such as Falchion's, Messer's, or Dao were often seen as "Commoner Swords" due to a greater ease of use. Proper cutting with a sword is trickier than people tend to think.

(Sorry for the word vomit, I like historical martial arts lol)

 

[VampireLord1024VampireLord1024's icon]

I guess maybe the main character or side characters prefer swords?

 

[Deleted member 25310]

WTF is wrong with that sharp piece of metal?!! oh, it's just a Klingon sword.

Say what you will about the Klingon sword, it's still viable:

 

[throughdarkness]

It's almost certainly because swords are badass.

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

perfect for chopping grass

 

[kanesha]

Say what you will about the Klingon sword, it's still viable:

viable swords

 

[Sir Auriel of Lionel]

I mean it's been with us from history like you said. I'm more of a lance person but you see my pfp. A sword is a knight's weapon, a samurai's soul. Even daggers get called small swords if not blade of mercy.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

Even large, oversized greatsword type weapons being favored by mercenaries like Guts, Ike, or Cloud has historical precedent.

Mercenaries word be paid based on the danger of the role in question, with charging enemy pike formations being particularly lucrative. Large swords like the Zweihander were favored for this, as they could bat aside or destroy multiple pike heads in one swing. Mercenary groups like the "Landsknechte" became famous for their use of massive swords.