Maille armour - Youtube video of interest

[Ethelred the Almost Ready]

Since I had made some comments about armour in (fantasy) skirmish gaming I have posted this here, but could equally be posted on the Medieval Adventures.  I came across this while looking for videos showing longbow technique (I do archery and would like to branch into traditional longbows).  The same presenter has lots of similar videos about all sorts of weapons and armour (and bows).

[Hobgoblin]

Yes, it's a really interesting channel. The recent video he and Lindybeige on spears vs swords was absorbing (spears won in almost every combination they tested out, except for spear and shield vs sword and shield, though that may have been down to the inexperience of the spear-wielders).

[Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye]

Based on that video Ashigaru beat Samurai. Does history confirm?

[Hobgoblin]

Based on that video Ashigaru beat Samurai. Does history confirm?

Both samurai and ashigaru would probably be fighting with spears, though, with the samurai better armoured and (much) better trained:

"For the samurai however, the sword was but one of three major weapons along with the bow and arrow and the yari (thrusting spear). We should consider that, despite their later acquired reputation for swordsmanship, the samurai's primary weapon was, in fact, not the sword."

http://www.thearma.org/essays/knightvs.htm#.W8JMWy3Myu4

[Ethelred the Almost Ready]

Thanks for mentioning the video, Hobgoblin.  It was very enlightening.
Part way through I thought, "Ah, but what about armour?" but this was also answered and, again, spear seemed superior.

The spear/shield combo one-on-one is possibly disadvantaged through a shorter reach (needing to hold the spear at mid-shaft). 

So, for a fantasy setting at least, if you are skirmishing when there are nasty bow armed orcsesesss about you might prefer sword and shield, otherwise go for a spear. 

Possibly all my miniatures need to rearm!

[Ethelred the Almost Ready]

Oh. But how good is a spear if you are fighting one against two, or three?

[Hobgoblin]

I suspect nothing's much good if you're fighting two or three opponents - outside of the movies, anyway!

[Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye]

The spear/shield combo one-on-one is possibly disadvantaged through a shorter reach (needing to hold the spear at mid-shaft). 

There was another video posted a while back - on facebook at least - which covered this: weighted butt end of the spear changed the center of balance allowing longer reach. Also, the way the spear should be held: underarm thrusting superior to overarm as it allows a wider range of targets to be struck.

In the demonstration at the start of the thread nobody is fighting in ranks. Nor are they confined in their maneuver space in any way.