The Worldbuilder Diaries: Weaponry
I realize I’m skipping around in my list of planned topics a bit, but I wanted to discuss one of my favorite elements of worldbuilding this week: Weapons.
For me, the choice of weapons is based on three things. The first is centered around the world, and the second around the character wielding them. The last item is related to the scene directly. After a decision is made on my end, the fun part ensues. Research! (And I’m not saying that facetiously; I really do like to research this.)
Side note: I’m focusing on standard weapons only in this post, since magical varieties will be covered at a later date when I discuss magic systems.
What weapons make sense in your world?
This is the first question I always ask myself. Weapons should be designed to fall in line with the world’s technology, magic system, etc. If a book is set in a medieval-type society, it wouldn’t make sense for a character to use a sniper rifle (I realize that example is pretty extreme, but it makes my point.)
But if the book is set in a more modern-day society, projectile weapons might be acceptable. Then again, they might not, depending on the belief systems and governmental controls present in the story. The world is probably the single most important factor in which weapons I choose for my characters, but that doesn’t mean they all use the same type.
I’ll use The Relics of War series as an example here. The first character the reader meets is Vardak; his people are a race of warriors and utilize a variety of weapons, but Vardak himself prefers a battle axe. Then there are the Murkor featured in the series. Jal’den carries a curved saber to signify his rank, but he prefers to use a two-handed sword in battle. His commander, Aran’daj, uses the curved saber alone. As a knight, Emra has been trained to use a sword and shield, but knights can decide to use other weapons too. Owen, for example, prefers war hammers.
But all of these weapons make sense in terms of the world and its rules.
What weapons make sense for your character?
This is the second question I like to ask.
Going back to The Relics of War, you’ll notice I mentioned a couple two-handed weapons that are rather heavy. They’re impractical for most warriors because they’ll cause a faster rate of fatigue, can be unwieldy, and often lack accuracy when compared with their smaller counterparts.
Part of Vardak’s story arc discusses his training with the god of war, which is a multi-year process. His species is also much larger and stronger than a human. Based on his inherent strength, longer reach, and specialized training, I can justify the use of a battle axe. Jal’den’s story is similar when it comes to his training, though his people aren’t as tall as Vardak’s. He’s still tall enough to justify a two-handed sword.
Then there are characters like Owen, who have chosen to use less “conventional” weapons. When I was developing his character, I wanted to do something different and settled on war hammers. I’d used swords, axes, and magical weapons multiple times between this series and my other epic fantasy, and honestly, I just need a change of pace. But I did outline why Owen made the decision in his standalone novel, Serpentus. (War hammers involved a good bit of research on my part, and I discussed it in a previous blog, here: Writing Research: Serpentus)
And finally, what weapons make sense for the scene?
I don’t always focus solely on a character’s personal weapon. There are times when other varieties are required—like during a siege.
For this example, I’m going to shift to The Caein Legacy, since The Relics of War features magical weapons as the focus during the big battles. Since magic is outlawed in Novania, most of the siege weapons featured in The Caein Legacy are the more conventional variety.
I decided to use trebuchets and pitfalls more often than not. While they’re very different, each has a practical—and deadly—purpose on the battlefield. And if you’ve read Harbinger, you know just how dangerous the trebuchets can be for certain characters. But I used both of these weapons because they fit with the technology available in the world.
Research!
I find that researching weapons, particularly historical types, is fascinating. And with the internet, there are plenty of reliable sources to look up almost anything you need to know.
It’s just as helpful to know what the various parts of a weapon are called as it is to know how that weapon was used. Most fantasy fans will cringe if someone refers to a sword’s hilt or an axe’s haft as a “handle,” and the pickier readers will call an author out on that. Correct terminology is important.
And the how it’s used piece? My most recent example goes back to those war hammers I’ve mentioned above. The Smithsonian has a great YouTube channel, and I found a few videos showcasing how they were used and how devastating they can be. I also did some reading, found an episode of Forged in Fire, and some History channel documentaries with great information.
There is a ton of information out there, and I believe it’s worth it (not to mention fun) to know about a book’s weaponry before attempting write a combat scene. The more I know going in, the easier it is to write, and I also find those scenes feel more realistic in the end.
Thanks for checking out another of my rambling posts on worldbuilding. The full list of topics I’m planning to write about can be found here: The Worldbuilder Diaries