Dual-Wielding in Ephyarians

[Griffith]

How does the skill work for them? Does it mean they could use six of the same weapon (basing the model off a six-armed man)? For that matter, how does single-wielding work for them? Limited to three weapons of the same kind on one side?

The page on dual-wielding says that it is learned when they can move both sides of their body in unison, but I'm not certain if that means all six weapons. Does it?

[Tiki]

Single weapon would me the use of their writing hand, most likely. One you have the weapon skill up for the dual weilding prerequisite, I'd suggest easing into the idea of sex weapons... xD With dual weilding at its lowest level, try two swords, at the next work up to three and four. At the final level you might be able to coordinate a full six, though the best ability would be with the hands which have had the most experience in terms of accuracy and precision, I'd assume.

They probably can move all six with ease later on at mastery levels, it's still the natural flow of their bodies. Keep in mind the added weight though; that will need to be trained and adjusted to before they can swing away. xD

Hope this helped, check with a mod before you do anything you're uncertain of, this is jsut my logical assumption.

[Colombina]

Hi Griffith,

So here is what the wiki says:

Eypharians have also emphasized dual wielding in their culture. For an Eypharian, dual wielding is achieved when they can manipulate both sides of their bodies at the same time. The skill is not acquired limb by limb, but side by side. Since Eypharians are accustomed to using four to six limbs at once in everyday endeavors, they are not limited in the same way two-armed creatures are. Like any practitioner of Dual wielding, though, they must work towards dexterity. A human uses both arms in conjunction, but it does not make him an immediate master in Dual wielding.

What it means in practice is you learn in sides and then refine per arm. For the sake of illustration, let's say it's a four armed Eypharian we're dealing with.

The Eypharian starts with two daggers on his dominant side (let's say his right). However, they tend to move in unison. In the next level (dual wielding) you add daggers to the other side. The left side's limbs will move in unison with one another, but in contrast with the right side's limbs. In the upper levels, an Eypharian begins to refine his craft, so limbs on the same side can now move as if independent of one another. A fully trained Eypharian can have all limbs moving with elegance and grace on their own path.

I will try to clear this up in the wiki. I hope that makes sense. Bottom line: certain races have gifts/perks due to their anatomy this is one of the perks of being an Eypharian.

[Hakulo]

another thing on DW if you plan on DWing a heavy weapon do you need bodybuilding as a skill as well? Something like pole-axe, spear, halberd, or shields?
IMO it doesn;t make too much sense to be able to DW something of that much weight without extra muscles...

[Colombina]

I could see it being helpful, but Eypharians don't dual wield larger weapons. It isn't feasible to carry that much weight and the ungainliness of the weapon would inhibit the speed required for effective combat. If they want a big weapon, they only carry one. So they may have a shield and a spear and, if skilled, very light daggers in the remaining hands. Even swords are viewed as overkill. A short khopesh might be the nearest thing to a proper sword that is dual wielded by an Eypharian.

[Hakulo]

okay...DWing large weapons do seem a bit slothy but that does bring up something interesting. Is DW really required to use a weapon with a shield? Especially since the use of a shield explicitly implies DWing with another weapon. It would seem redundant to have to have two skills that do virtually the same thing so...can't DW the skill be considered offensive DWing and the expertise in using a shield be considered a defensive DW skill? Or is DWing the better skill because it includes the use of shields?

[Siiri]

As mentioned in chat, dual-wielding means you're wielding two of the same weapon at the same time. So the answer to the spear and shield combination is a no. Dual wield applies to weapons that usually come in pairs: suvai, nunchucks, tonfas, etc.

I think and Eypharian trying to dual-wielding weapons that require the use of two hands, like say, a sledgehammer, is silly, as doing so would likely tangle up the bulky weapons and their limbs. While it's possible, it's not really practical as resetting the weapons in their proper place so they don't tangle up in the next attack would take too much time in combat.

[Essik]

A quick question for someone looking to make an Eypharian...

Would a single, two hand weapon like a pole-arm or a war hammer be able to be used with the multiple arms on the same side? Giving them the ability to use the large weapon on one side and possibly a shield on the other? I'm sorry if I missed this at all in the reading, but I figured I'd ask. Thanks.

[Hakulo]

You'd look silly and slow as molases...I'm afraid...

[Siiri]

They could wield it, sure. But I'm guessing it will be awkward and will have very limited range of movements since the two (or more) hands holding them bend in the same direction at the elbows. The purpose of holding large weapons with opposite hands is to get as much leverage in order to swing faster and harder.