Alas, I too was thinking militarily when I placed the 1450 mark
I will have to agree with Ian here, I run most of my games in about 1350 from the social aspects of the game. I like the idea of the fuedal system on its last legs and giving way to true nation states.
Its a way for us to have are medieval world and our pretty swords and armor to boot.
I think that setting weapons and armor technology at 1425-1450 to be a good idea, and limiting the gunpowerder a bit.
As far as the church schism goes, that sounds downright realistic. Lord knows it happened enough in our world.
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Yes, you are absolutely right, Simon. But there is just the problem that the introduction of rapiers and even lighter blades does constitute a major anachronism and huge problem if combined with the rest of the development of weaponry and society on Weyrth. In view of this dilemma I would therefore very much like to discard them fully. In their stead, we could have cut-and-thrust swords; those have a very similar flavour, but without the problems raised by rapiers.
I agree completly here. Unfortunatly, I believe they were included in the MRB as a comprehensive measure, and not fully thought out. The problem becomes quite huge if you consider their use against nations that don't use anything of the sort.
Also, from a GM's perspective, I have had innumberable players, new to the game and fairly ignorant of medieval history, BEG me to let them use Rapiers, even though they do not exist as of yet in any game I run. These players, if I cave, suffer the same defeated self esteem time and time again when they try to use a rapier against... well anyone not using a rapier.
Armor totally negates a rapier, a shield makes it look silly, and it lack versitility, which means it just doesn't fit it. Yes they are cool, but they promote intense problems, especially for the uneducated player and GM.
I have no problem using Cut and Thrust style, and even your basic cut and thrust sword has a chance against armor.