New Weapon Construction/Thrusting Tip Question

[FOIGofWar]

Weapon Construction, pg 79, third column, third paragraph:

"A thrusting tip may not be longer than it is in diameter. A thrusting tip must be at least 2 inches across, wider for two handed weapons."


With the new weapon construction guidelines, it's reasonable to expect that the shaft of a weapon will be significantly smaller than 2". Specifically, a flatblade with 3/8" foam to ether side of a .505 core would be sitting on a 1.255" padded shaft measuring the diameter via the flat side.


Technically, this has always been an issue (as 5/8" foam around a .505 core measures 1.755") but the difference was slight enough to not be a concern. However, there is a world of difference in a half inch. (For proof, look at iPhone 5 sales.)



Is the intended correct method of construction:
a) apply a 2"x2"x2" block atop the weapon, intentionally creating a rep which is likely to snag in a leather frog and tear the tip...
b) shorten the tip length appropriately, creating a weapon with less "give" in the thrust...
c) make the tip 2" long regardless of the linear diameter, creating a tip that can collapse over on itself...




Thank you for your attention to this matter.


Tom Haswell
That Guy

 

[Polare]

The answer to all of these questions is "it depends on the specific weapon and what your local chapter approves". One of the major focuses of the new weapon guidelines is to free up players from the very rigid constraints that they were under before for weapons - X inches of grip, Y inches of crossguard, etc. etc. - and focus instead on safety. It also recognizes that that definition of safety changes from chapter to chapter - some chapters may not allow latex weapons in the winter, others may not allow ultralight cores, others may *only* allow ultralight cores, etc.

Thus, the answer to your question will depend on your local chapter. If they are approving a flatblade, chances are that they will approve a "flatblade-appropriate" thrusting tip for it. The new guidelines give them the freedom to do so, so long as the weapon is safe.

-Bryan Gregory
ARC