• nickwitha_k (he/him)@lemmy.sdf.org
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    1 year ago

    An agricultural scythe would likely be a terrible weapon. It is designed for slicing though grass and brush, close to the ground, often with the snath shaped ergonomically to better facilitate this. Also, Austrian scythes in particular after curved three-dimensionally in an asymmetrical manner. Using it as a polearm would be incredibly awkward (D&D really does the scythe dirty) and there is not a good way to mount the blades vertcally in either main branch of European scythe, without modifying the part of the blade that attaches to the snath. But then, you have what amounts to a primitive halberd with a more fragile blade.

    Now, if you mean sickle, I can definitely see more agreement there, though a pike or spear would be easier for most to use as a weapon as the motions used to harvest grain with a sickle are quite different from those that would be needed in combat.

    • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      You’re correct, but as an FYI to anyone reading, they are the same family. It’s like the square rectangle thing. A scythe is just a type of sickle. Hay sickle is a scythe.

      So it’s a totally natural thing to be confused about.