Fighting while holding a lantern

[Red Baron]

Would you allow a character to fight while carrying a lantern in one hand and a sword in the other?

[magremore]

Voted yes as generally possible, but could be specific consequences depending on context.

[tec97]

That would be pretty tough. Foregoing a shield and having an innate tendency to use the lantern to parry... This really calls out the need to hire torch-bearers.

[Vile Traveller]

In this game I tend to either allow or disallow things, rather than get into penalties and such. I let people do the off-hand lantern thing, although they lose the use of a shield or two-handed weapons, and there is always the chance that an opponent with infravision will target the lantern.

[asaki]

I've always been curious about this one...we always just hand-waved it, or used the torch as a weapon.

I assume that the original players had hirelings to carry torches, but I'd like to see if anyone has any official answers.

[doublejig2]

Feb 16, 2019 14:59:55 GMT -6 tec97 said:

That would be pretty tough. Foregoing a shield and having an innate tendency to use the lantern to parry... This really calls out the need to hire torch-bearers.

Hired torch-bearers... hear! hear! Can anything really be accomplished without them?

[scottenkainen]

When we solved this problem at all, it was by making the magic-users hold the light sources and keeping them out of and behind the combats.

[bigjackbrass]

Forget the lantern, just fight with a lightsabre.

[geoffrey]

I've long assumed that the lantern simply gets hurriedly placed on the ground. Doing so would take only a few seconds, which is nothing in the context of one-minute rounds.

[murquhart72]

I mean yeah, you could swing a mace with a lantern in the other hand; But could you imagine fighting for your life in an otherwise pitch black, slippery environment with monsters trying to claw you open and here you are, swinging a lantern around chaotically, light flickering and oil splashing all over the place. Just plop it down and start swinging.

[DungeonDevil]

Nope. Doesn't seem tactically sound.

[makofan]

I assumed the lantern would just be set down upon entering combat

[greywand]

THOUGH there are severe punishments inflicted on those who are found sword in hand with a dark lanthorn, yet there are some to be met from time to time; therefore I think it necessary to shew the manner of defense against it. Those who use the dark lanthorn commonly hide it under their clothes or cloak; and when they attack any body they open it before they draw their sword, and present it before them either above their head, or behind them, by turning the hand behind their back; and change the position thereof as the adversary changed his position. If they hold their lanthorn before them, and one is provided with a good sword, one ought to cover the side well with the cloak, and give smart beat on the inside of their blade, and redouble it with a back handed blow in tierce on the wrist which holds the lanthorn; this blow ought to come from the right to the left, and it ought to be executed from the half arm only to the wrist, that the whole arm go not astray too much by it, and that one may be able to return a thrust with the wrist in the same situation, covering the inside of the body with the cloak.

IF he should present the lanthorn over his head, you should traverse to the right, and get the advantage of the outside of his sword, making half thrusts to the face. If he raises his point you should close in distance, holding both hands high, and keeping the blade over the left wrist and cloak, and make a pass with the left foot without leaving his sword, and assisting with the cloak, draw in the right arm a little, to disentangle your point, and in the position your wrist finds itself situated at the time, thrust with spirit and agility directly at the adversary.

IF he presents the lanthorn by the side, with his arm turned behind him, you must traverse the line to the inside, holding your hand and cloak in the line with your right breast, turning your right hand in tierce, the point of your sword directly to his belly; and the moment he delivers his thrust, instead of parrying it with your sword, stretch out your left arm and cover his blade with your cloak, at the same time thrusting at the body as you see in plate 46th.

IF the adversary should be garnished (that is, stuffed with something within his clothes, to prevent a thrust going through to the body) which you will find out by the thrust being planted at his body without effect; in such a case, you must thrust at the throat or at the face, or at the lower part of the waist; for it is supposed that the man who will make use of so unlawful means as a dark lanthorn in any particular combats will not scruple to use the means of garnish, as before mentioned.

-Domenico Angelo's The School of Fencing (1787)