I’m seeing a lot of variance in the ratios. Some flails have longer handles, some have short. Some have chains as long or longer than the handle, some have almost non-existent chains. What are the advantages and disadvantages of various handle and chain lengths, and is there an “optimal” ratio?
This.
The mace is your back up to the back up to the primary.
Primary weapon is going to be a pole axe or a pole arm or some other kind of pole weapon. The sword is your back up to this for when fighting closes quarters. And, in the case that a sword breaks or otherwise becomes unusable, then you reach back and grab that big stick of iron.
The axe is mightier than the sword. Easier to handle too.
But with much smaller cutting surface. And I’m counting a dane axe as a pole weapon.
Yeah, less danger of cutting yourself short of the handle. Also, easier to block a sword with it.
But in a martial context, the simply didn’t experience wide spread adoption.
Ranged weapons > pole weapons > sword and shield > whatever else you’ve got
The Vikings were retty successful with it. Swords on the other hand, were mainly used by high ranking individuals, since they require a lot of training. Pike was king.
Vikings used swords, along with axes.
I believe a mace will perform better than a sword against an armored opponent, or at least against some types of armor, so it might just be “back up to the primary” in some cases.
/not a medieval weapon expert, so take as you will
No that’s generally not the case. A sword is still going to be more effective against armor than a mace. Even a fully armored soldier has plenty of gaps to go for.
Maces were never as widely adopted as swords, even during to height of armor adoption.
yeah, turns out it’s really hard to defend against someone swinging a big heavy piece of metal at the side of your head. Best case it really really really fucking hurts and makes it basically impossible to even keep standing, worst case you die instantly in a shower of gore.
The problem is just that you actually have to hit them with the mace, while avoiding the opponent (or their friends) hitting you first.
To get all that power that makes the mace so effective, you have to take a great big swing with it, which is extremely obvious and means you’re wholly committing yourself to the action.
Meanwhile with a sword or spear you can keep it in front of you to defend yourself with, and just make quick jabs at the opponent.