What Makes Sword Designs Ugly (also: Fixing Them!)

Ойын-сауық

Fantasy weapons especially in video games come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and styles... from realistic to ludicrous, and everything in between. Some of them are cool looking, some are intricately ornamented, and some are, well... hideous. Obviously whether you like or dislike a particular design is largely subjective opinion. However, there are more objective considerations in art design as well that can make or break aesthetics.
This is the condensed, edited form of a livestream in which we talked about a number of examples to figure out exactly what makes them unappealing (or at less appeal to fewer people than they could). I also photoshopped a few of them to see how much they can be improved with fairly simple changes to proportions and the position of certain elements.
Other videos you might like:
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Now THAT's a Cool Gun in a Fantasy Setting!
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Top 10 Most Hilariously Useless Armor in Retro Games
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** Music credits **
"Red Curtain" by HorrorPen
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Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)
"EDM Is Not My thing" by Snabish
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CC BY 3.0
Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
theslantedroom.github.io/stev...
Used with artist's permission
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#skallagrim #fantasy #swords

Пікірлер: 738

  • @danieloceansmith3156
    @danieloceansmith3156 Жыл бұрын

    Ironic how the sword skall said “it touches your soul without permission” is a sword that literally Keeps the wielder alive through chaos magic, basically degrading his soul by forcing him to see death for centuries… spot on analyzing there skall!

  • @renanleandro5914

    @renanleandro5914

    Жыл бұрын

    I guess this is a win for the designer then

  • @Sonofsun.

    @Sonofsun.

    Жыл бұрын

    You dont get that's the point of the sword it corrupts the soul of everyone just by looking at it

  • @zyriantel9601

    @zyriantel9601

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Sonofsun. I believe it, I can feel my soul turning darker by the moment.

  • @juliustausch7377
    @juliustausch7377 Жыл бұрын

    Therapist: the swordstika isn't real, it can't hurt you Skall: *creates swordstika*

  • @Ranstone

    @Ranstone

    Жыл бұрын

    *Gay pride swordstika

  • @90lancaster

    @90lancaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Some Hindu's are looking at that and going - what is wrong with it ?

  • @SavageGreywolf

    @SavageGreywolf

    Жыл бұрын

    @@90lancaster I mean, I think they'd still agree it looks hideous, at least XD

  • @eyeballpapercut4400

    @eyeballpapercut4400

    Жыл бұрын

    @@90lancaster German folk enthusiasts, not knowing their Hakenkreuz can get corrupted even further after what funni mustache man did, crying tears of blood after they saw the swordstika

  • @ChadKakashi

    @ChadKakashi

    Жыл бұрын

    @@eyeballpapercut4400 not just german enthusiasts, buddhism lovers are also tainted since they have the Manji symbol. It’s not the same symbol but people cant tell the difference.

  • @Kpsla
    @Kpsla Жыл бұрын

    It's honestly hilarious looking at swords in fiction and seeing how many of them are just objectively better if you compress it along one axis.

  • @ShieldSniper

    @ShieldSniper

    Жыл бұрын

    yeah, but when designing this type of stuff, you need to think about camera and distance it will be seen as well (in case of games)

  • @tommeakin1732

    @tommeakin1732

    Жыл бұрын

    Like that Skyrim mod that makes all of the game's weapons look more realistic lol. I'm pretty sure all they did was lower than calorie intake for a few weeks and they look so much better lol. Still the same kind of length, just not morbidly obese

  • @ShirotoraGodsbane

    @ShirotoraGodsbane

    Жыл бұрын

    @@ShieldSniper And also character models. Look at World of Warcraft. If the weapons in that game were realistically proportioned, it would look strange in the hands of such exaggerated characters.

  • @user-tzzglsstle585e38

    @user-tzzglsstle585e38

    Жыл бұрын

    @@ShieldSniper I completely understand your argument for ridiculous weapon designs fitting ridiculous world design buuuuuuut the camera one is irrelevant, unless the sword is being used as a sniper rifle; you don't need a truck-sized sword blade in order to see it in a reasonable combat situation.

  • @illoney5663

    @illoney5663

    Жыл бұрын

    @@tommeakin1732 the mod actually elongates most of the as well, specifically the hilt. Which, in many cases, just looks bad in a different way.

  • @Gnomleif
    @Gnomleif Жыл бұрын

    "it touches your soul inappropriately, without consent" That one got a chuckle out of me 😁

  • @LuxisAlukard

    @LuxisAlukard

    Жыл бұрын

    T-shirt material!

  • @randombystander991

    @randombystander991

    Жыл бұрын

    That sword got a mental attack attribute.

  • @nyhtfall1969

    @nyhtfall1969

    Жыл бұрын

    I died laughing

  • @zyriantel9601

    @zyriantel9601

    Жыл бұрын

    Tragically a very appropriate sentiment for Square Enix weapon designs. I wanna love the idea of a sword transforming into an assault rifle, _but they made it look so bad for no good reason_

  • @Sonofsun.

    @Sonofsun.

    Жыл бұрын

    Skall doesn't understand that's the 0oint the demon kind wants to corrupt your soul just by looking at his sword

  • @maaderllin
    @maaderllin Жыл бұрын

    I like how Skall starts by fixing the sword (like the title implies) but then just give up and decide to make them worse.

  • @vividele6323
    @vividele6323 Жыл бұрын

    swords that don't look sharp drive me insane

  • @slydoorkeeper4783

    @slydoorkeeper4783

    Жыл бұрын

    Great sword from Monster Hunter comes to mind.

  • @t.r.everstone7

    @t.r.everstone7

    Жыл бұрын

    Right, they're just ornate clubs lol

  • @GeebusCrust

    @GeebusCrust

    Жыл бұрын

    I agree, especially if they're portrayed as cutting like a hot blade through butter. As garbage as the series is (and as much as people specifically hated this part), I like what Berserk 2016 did with the Dragonslayer, making it *DING* when Guts hits someone with it. The idea they tried to sell being that he's a monstrously powerful man, wielding a weapon that is more of a massive hunk of sword-shaped iron than an actual sword. It's massive, and there's no way anyone should be able to wield it. It's so thick, there's no way it could cut. And yet, he swings it with one hand. And it indeed doesn't cut, he just hits with enough force to smash THROUGH flesh.

  • @HuyNguyen-jl7go

    @HuyNguyen-jl7go

    Жыл бұрын

    wait , it wasn't CLANG ?

  • @GeebusCrust

    @GeebusCrust

    Жыл бұрын

    @@HuyNguyen-jl7go yeah, I guess it was

  • @lorddingusmcfurguson9356
    @lorddingusmcfurguson9356 Жыл бұрын

    I feel like Red Queen (10:13) was poorly represented, so I'm going to explain the exhaust further. I understand that this is all in good fun and in no way take issue with Skalls assessment. Red Queen has a grip resembling a motorcycle handle because it has an engine in it that can charge up to 3 bursts of energy. The fire is a BYPRODUCT of these bursts, not the intended function. These bursts are used to enhance the momentum of the blade, increasing it's contact force, cutting power, and speed. In game it is swung in wide, flowing, circular patterns and the bursts are usually powerful enough to fling the user across the battlefield. It is no way a practical weapon IRL, I just want it to have a fair shake in it's inspection.

  • @Pyre

    @Pyre

    Жыл бұрын

    All of that, with the added note that even as ludicrously strong as Nero is, that weapon drags him around when he swings it. Like a little nod to videos Skall, Shadiversity and others have done about giant sword physics. Almost none of what Nero does with Red Queen is meant to look controlled, let alone precise. Which is like the only time I can think of that a fantasy sword wielded by a character with super strength got that treatment. *Also* , the chonky exhaust bits are an implied refit: the original design was much more streamlined.

  • @Skallagrim

    @Skallagrim

    Жыл бұрын

    It still needs to be magical because there is no way to fit an actual functioning engine into such a small space (especially without compromising the entire weapon's structural integrity).

  • @lorddingusmcfurguson9356

    @lorddingusmcfurguson9356

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Skallagrim Yeah, I'm not arguing that point. I just wanted a better description than "it shoots fire." Love your content, man. Glad you got to see what I had to say.

  • @soybajo-kira8585

    @soybajo-kira8585

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Skallagrim it WAS made by a demon worshiping cult so it might be magical in some way

  • @kounurasaka5590

    @kounurasaka5590

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Skallagrim DMC is basically a fever dream. Almost every weapon is magic, so it makes sense in context. Totally impractical in real life, but the entire world is basically a giant comic book.

  • @jonathanbergeron5833
    @jonathanbergeron5833 Жыл бұрын

    I am glad it seems more fantasy games now-a-days are implementing a combination of historically accurate, and practical fantasy designs. I also enjoy the occasional wildly over the top fantasy weapon, as long as it looks slightly functional.

  • @giulyanoviniciussanssilva2947

    @giulyanoviniciussanssilva2947

    Жыл бұрын

    @Imperator Caesar Traianus Hadrianus Augustus At least Warhammer depending on who's doing it has acceptable designs, now MMOs kill me, I'm glad it's not all of them but there are many.

  • @Gnomleif

    @Gnomleif

    Жыл бұрын

    @uNnHkP8mza _FUGS has entered chat_

  • @pwnorbepwned

    @pwnorbepwned

    Жыл бұрын

    I like the blend present in FFXIV. You may have the ultimate sword that looks like some rainbow demon cocoon with a sharpened edge on it, but you can glamour it to look like a sensible, ordinary bastard sword if you want.

  • @collin333

    @collin333

    Жыл бұрын

    I’ve noticed this too, and I’m definitely not mad at it. It’s okay to have ornate or detailed designs (hell there are even historical examples of crazy designs) but at the very least, make it functional

  • @ArifRWinandar

    @ArifRWinandar

    Жыл бұрын

    Meanwhile, Monster Hunter in the corner is busy sticking animal parts onto a steel beam.

  • @tarille1043
    @tarille1043 Жыл бұрын

    My biggest pet peeve in fantasy sword designs, is when the blade is super thick. Like, it's a sword. It's literally defined by its blade, as such, it should have a blade thickness that actually makes sense for cutting/thrusting. If you want to make it 5 inches thick, just design a club. Axes have a similar issue. Sure there are axes with fairly broad heads, but those are typically log splitting axes rather than axes designed as weapons. Again, if you want to design a thick "Axe" just design a hammer.

  • @Gacho39

    @Gacho39

    Жыл бұрын

    When it comes to video games theres actually a good reason for that, cause sometimes you're not always gonna be up close to the weapon and the character so it's a way to make the weapon more visible from far away

  • @tokaygekko5135

    @tokaygekko5135

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Gacho39 counter argument, elden ring. Well-designed, realistically proportioned weapons, that you can see from a distance.

  • @90lancaster

    @90lancaster

    Жыл бұрын

    The are often more like a bludgeon that cuts a bit.

  • @aurtosebaelheim5942

    @aurtosebaelheim5942

    Жыл бұрын

    @@tokaygekko5135 Graphical fidelity really helps in that regard. Also the fact that you generally don't need to identify a specific weapon and if you do, the person wielding it will be bright red.

  • @Sammy9262

    @Sammy9262

    Жыл бұрын

    “That thing was too big to be called a sword. Too big, too thick, too heavy, and too rough, it was more like a large hunk of iron.” ― Kentaro Miura But yeah, you're right.

  • @perrenchan6600
    @perrenchan6600 Жыл бұрын

    Im a training concept artist. One of the reasons designs like these can come into existence is because we try to design interesting and new silhouettes coz things that are realistic tend to have very simple silhouettes and shape language. It is difficult to find that right middle ground but it is possible. You have to choose what to exaggerate and when to exaggerate, etc I personally prefer leaning more into realism and pushing the finer decorations. I don't like all the big random spikes and over excess decorations

  • @noobatredstone3001

    @noobatredstone3001

    Жыл бұрын

    Indeed, but the purpose of interesting silhouettes is being readable. Unlike 4:05. 15:13 in contrast is pretty boring, which isn’t good either.

  • @markfergerson2145

    @markfergerson2145

    Жыл бұрын

    A solid real world design principle is "form follows function". There's also parsimony, using as little material as possible (real world economics being what they are). Even within those modest restraints you get things like the flamberge, the kukri, and ornate wire basket hilts. The other extreme is making a thing "interesting" for its own sake with no regard for function. Maybe being a Buddhist biases me toward a Middle Way but I find interesting yet practical designs far preferable.

  • @perrenchan6600

    @perrenchan6600

    Жыл бұрын

    @@noobatredstone3001 I mean theres a silhouette with clear visuals (e.g. sword: blade, handle, cross guard, pommel). Then theres a silhouette thats just "different" if you get me (e.g. spikes everywhere)

  • @perrenchan6600

    @perrenchan6600

    Жыл бұрын

    @@markfergerson2145 Exactly! In an essay I wrote for University, I quoted a concept artist's variation of the form follow function principle where once youve established the function can you then design the form. And the best resource to reference is real life because I am an artist and not a weapon smith so I dont know what an optimal blade proportion is but real life blacksmiths in history have already worked it out so I quote them when designing 😂

  • @giulyanoviniciussanssilva2947

    @giulyanoviniciussanssilva2947

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes, you can make it interesting without exaggeration, even sometimes less is more as an example the lightsaber is for me one of the greatest recent hits, of you taking real life Katanas, Sabers and Rapiers, but using this energetic sword idea without souring the conventions that make this design work, including lightsabers are so accurate that even they suffered from this exaggeration.

  • @DH-xw6jp
    @DH-xw6jp Жыл бұрын

    17:04 Lol skall almost drew the forbidden windmill, saved himself by claiming less symmetry is better.

  • @meme-bu8qu

    @meme-bu8qu

    Жыл бұрын

    Okay, the forbidden windmall is what i shall call it from now on. love it. lol

  • @saxtonhalegaming
    @saxtonhalegaming Жыл бұрын

    17:47 mmm yes, the Windmill of Friendship and Tolerance

  • @Andrew-zq3ip
    @Andrew-zq3ip Жыл бұрын

    That moment when skal realizes he's making a swastika....

  • @slydoorkeeper4783

    @slydoorkeeper4783

    Жыл бұрын

    It was perfect.

  • @wastrelperv

    @wastrelperv

    Жыл бұрын

    Is this based?

  • @granudisimo
    @granudisimo Жыл бұрын

    Props to the Lovecraftian/Boschian horror symbolizing the algorithm, and the knights whose weapons symbolize the ways in which you conquer it.

  • @Skallagrim

    @Skallagrim

    Жыл бұрын

    It's actually a modified version of the black beast of Arrrggghhh from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. :)

  • @granudisimo

    @granudisimo

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Skallagrim You mean the Aaaarrrrgorithm beast? Yeah yeah I'll see myself out, but not before switching the animator's heart pills for tictacs

  • @Embassy_of_Jupiter
    @Embassy_of_Jupiter Жыл бұрын

    I think you will find that normal people are perfectly capable of shooting fire out of their asses without magic

  • @RS-xq6je

    @RS-xq6je

    Жыл бұрын

    I have a girlfriend who does it in her sleep terrifying sometimes

  • @jaffarebellion292

    @jaffarebellion292

    Жыл бұрын

    Taco Bell is a source of terrible, unholy power.

  • @alexeytsybyshev9459

    @alexeytsybyshev9459

    Жыл бұрын

    Unless you count Indian food as magic.

  • @Merilirem
    @Merilirem Жыл бұрын

    I think the most important general rule is that the pointy bits should point away from the wielder unless they WANT to stab you for some sort of blood magic battle masochist reason.

  • @zataiyo6738
    @zataiyo6738 Жыл бұрын

    Either make it simple or make it mechanical Cuz mechanical melee weapons are cool Yes, I have played Bloodborne

  • @darekbaird

    @darekbaird

    Жыл бұрын

    I'd buy that pimp cane for a dollar

  • @slydoorkeeper4783

    @slydoorkeeper4783

    Жыл бұрын

    Bloodborne weapons are sweet. I want to make a saw cleaver when I get into forging. I also want to make the loaded ax from sekiro.

  • @Tacticaviator7

    @Tacticaviator7

    Жыл бұрын

    *TONITRUS TONITRUS TONITRUS*

  • @Sammy9262

    @Sammy9262

    Жыл бұрын

    May I interest you in the humble chainsword? It's exactly as it sounds - A sword, but with a chainsaw blade

  • @darekbaird

    @darekbaird

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Sammy9262 I'll buy your entire stock!

  • @calebw8189
    @calebw8189 Жыл бұрын

    People say: "fantasy swords don't have to be practical, they just have to look cool", and yet Lord of the Rings' practical and elegant sword designs are still some of the coolest in any fantasy series I've ever seen.

  • @YeprilesteR

    @YeprilesteR

    6 ай бұрын

    Always a +

  • @Werewolfwrath
    @Werewolfwrath Жыл бұрын

    Me when most people "fix" other people's art: "How dare you." Me when Skallagrim "fixes" other people's art: "No, no. He's got a point."

  • @stevenbacon-cheddar9914

    @stevenbacon-cheddar9914

    Жыл бұрын

    Very good, Kronk!

  • @nathanbrown7906

    @nathanbrown7906

    Жыл бұрын

    Because he has an objective point unlike everyone else who changes something they just don't like

  • @bibigreen6533
    @bibigreen6533 Жыл бұрын

    It's kinda always the same corrections. Make it slimmer and remove the serrations. And remove self-poking spikes.

  • @Acrobuster
    @Acrobuster Жыл бұрын

    Hah Caius' sword was always hilariously dumb to me. He stabs someone with it at some point and I was like "welp, now you have a body permanently attached to your sword because that isn't coming out!"

  • @Seelenschmiede

    @Seelenschmiede

    Жыл бұрын

    Just wait several weeks between stabbings 😋

  • @zyriantel9601

    @zyriantel9601

    Жыл бұрын

    Caius hopping on one foot, trying to dislodge the recently stabbed individual by kicking his chest while pulling the sword with both hands

  • @lightningpenguin8937

    @lightningpenguin8937

    Жыл бұрын

    @@zyriantel9601 all while the dying victim screams for mercy.

  • @DraculaCronqvist
    @DraculaCronqvist Жыл бұрын

    I liked the fix jobs here. Not perfectly designed, but made serviceable with minimal redesigning. Just shows that some designs take it one step too far, instead of 20 (like the two last ones, geez).

  • @Peter-rt3fl
    @Peter-rt3fl Жыл бұрын

    The changed sword at min 6:14 was a huge improvement.

  • @tizio3306
    @tizio3306 Жыл бұрын

    17:52 FOR GOD SAKE, JUST USE A STICK, STICK IS GOOD YA KNOW

  • @tizio3306

    @tizio3306

    Жыл бұрын

    18:40 🗿 why?

  • @LDSG_A_Team
    @LDSG_A_Team Жыл бұрын

    I really enjoyed this video. The photoshop redesigns were very nice

  • @meme-bu8qu
    @meme-bu8qu Жыл бұрын

    These kinds of channels are really helpful for me as a writer and beginner artist that wants use weapons in stories, but is overwhelmed by all the knowledge out there. I have a jumping point and know what direction I can look begin to into next. Thanks.

  • @PockyMonsterEatYou
    @PockyMonsterEatYou Жыл бұрын

    I couldn't watch through the full stream vod and only now realising how much else I missed, so these highlights of the stream and editing you'd have to do to make this specifically is appreciated!

  • @joanignasi91
    @joanignasi91 Жыл бұрын

    Secret to designing the perfect sword according to videogame designers Step one: put spikes on it Step two: put MOAR spikes especially if they point towards the user

  • @amnesicturtles4145

    @amnesicturtles4145

    Жыл бұрын

    Also make it big, big blade and big spikes = powerful apparently

  • @tennoyamamoto1800

    @tennoyamamoto1800

    Жыл бұрын

    Make it W I D E

  • @Seelenschmiede

    @Seelenschmiede

    Жыл бұрын

    Make it thiiiiiiiikk!

  • @reptiloidmitglied2930

    @reptiloidmitglied2930

    Жыл бұрын

    Another important thing is to add spikes to the spikes.

  • @SavageGreywolf

    @SavageGreywolf

    Жыл бұрын

    it should also have a cutting edge the width of a small dog, don't forget that, it's key

  • @TheKarofaar
    @TheKarofaar Жыл бұрын

    17:04 Yep, that's the only way to do a german sword

  • @tehuselessguig3138
    @tehuselessguig3138 Жыл бұрын

    Red Queen is dumb. but it's awesome. Sparda tends to look weirder depending on the iteration, but something interesting about it is how it's a more straight/simple blade with organic matter grown around it turning it from this sleek, simple longsword with an ornate handle into this mess of a one edged greatsword with flesh and bones jutting out

  • @Pyre

    @Pyre

    Жыл бұрын

    I did want to say, I don't remember it looking quite *that* cancerous in-game. And its original design was much sleeker. Though still kept the "this was grown, not forged" aesthetic.

  • @tehuselessguig3138

    @tehuselessguig3138

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Pyre it is the model from 5 which has the handle kind of twisted/deformed as well, in prior games the parts that are from the original Force Edge are less deformed then again it might just be due to time and damage that it looks like that in 5 and cleaner in games that take place before

  • @Foxxie0kun

    @Foxxie0kun

    Жыл бұрын

    @@tehuselessguig3138 If I recall correctly, Devil Sword Sparda also unfolds into a scythe-like form for some attacks as well.

  • @tehuselessguig3138

    @tehuselessguig3138

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Foxxie0kun yup it does

  • @ArniesTech
    @ArniesTech Жыл бұрын

    In many games I deliberately stick to the Lvl. 1 weapons because they are so besutifully simple and IN THIS simplicity lies the beauty 💪😌🙏

  • @leiferikson850

    @leiferikson850

    Жыл бұрын

    This. FFXIV Dark Knight blades (Inspired by berserk) are oversized 2-handers. So far so fine if they weren't as THICC as a whole leg... Always keep the slim ones. Looks the most usable

  • @535phobos

    @535phobos

    Жыл бұрын

    Half my Skyrim Mods were swords and armor. Because everything above the Iron Sword in Vanilla is BS. I ended up with a lot of Witcher models...

  • @ChadKakashi
    @ChadKakashi Жыл бұрын

    Most designers don’t know how a sword would function. But everybody knows how guns function, that’s why you don’t see fantasy firearms with barrels pointed at their user. Most of the shit designs happen because the creators don’t know better. So I don’t accept “I think it’s cool” as a valid counter. Dragonslayer from Berserk is supposed to be a ridiculous design. Cloud has super strength so he can use the Buster Sword. Key Blades are godly artifacts that defy reality. Daedric Weapons are made from chaos and instability so their shapes make no sense but they still function ignoring their form. All of those terrible weapons at least have justifications for their designs in their universes, and they make a lot of sense.

  • @SupahTrunks7

    @SupahTrunks7

    Жыл бұрын

    I understand that daedric weapons are made of chaos but I will straight up refuse to wield them in game no matter how strong they are because I hate how they look. I will gladly settle for ebony as long as I don’t have to put my hand on the spike trap that is a daedric blade. (At least in Skyrim. In morrowind im usually fine with them especially when conjured)

  • @Starcanum-

    @Starcanum-

    Жыл бұрын

    Everybody knows how guns function the same way as they know that you're supposed to "hit them with the pointy end". I've seen so many hideous firearms with grips that'd be downright maiming to the user, missing sights, painfully sharp stocks, random holes in the barrel, extra fluff that looks like it adds 2kg to the weight etc., basically everything that you see in this video and more.

  • @VarthalabauHair

    @VarthalabauHair

    Жыл бұрын

    True. It's not like weapons need to be 100% realistic in fantasy games, but many of the designs are so outlandish and gargantuan that it makes them look ridiculous. Another thing I have an issue with is how many spikes/pointy edges designers often put in a sword's blade without realizing that in reality this would only make them stick in enemy armour after every slash lol. Also the whole point of the guard in a sword is to protect your hand from enemy strikes, if the guard is too wide it would leave your hand exposed and if the guard is too narrow it would restrict your hand's mobility and even hurt it.

  • @SupahTrunks7

    @SupahTrunks7

    Жыл бұрын

    @@hm-dq5sq thats fair and i totally get rule of cool, the only issue is that cool is subjective and frankly i dont think daedric weapons actually look /cool/ so they dont get that pass from me. in my humble opinion daedric weapons in skyrim are butt-ugly and resemble something you'd find in an edgy teens bedroom hanging on the wall like a trophy even tho its actually made of plastic. I don't look at them and go "oh this looks cool but i wont use it because its unrealistic" i go "oh this looks dumb as shit and i dont wanna have to look at it the whole time im playing bc itll just make me feel like a dorky edgelord." Meanwhile I have no problem with the daedric stuff in morrowind because it looks dope and i dont think ive ever even asked myself if the cool daedra-face shields are practical because they're so fun and neat. tl;dr rule of cool trumps realism but runs the risk of people not actually finding it cool, while realism may be boring but everyone understands it

  • @pillarmenn1936

    @pillarmenn1936

    Жыл бұрын

    @@hm-dq5sq my ass. anyone can design something cool, it takes more effort to combine cool and practical. Dark Souls has been doing this, along with adding ridiculous weapons as well.

  • @MarijuanaPaint
    @MarijuanaPaint Жыл бұрын

    What's hilarious is that abomination of four hooks you created loosely takes the shape of a swastika as well. Just layers of awful lol. This was a fun watch, I'd love more. Those fixes looked sooo much better btw.

  • @Photoloss

    @Photoloss

    Жыл бұрын

    It's the "good" swastika though. Hindu cultures have used several variations for millennia, and the Reich version was consistently oriented with the forward prongs facing clockwise.

  • @Kevin-qj7fp

    @Kevin-qj7fp

    2 ай бұрын

    Could be a ninja star Or throwable one but since w we re talking about swords No Swords don't look like giant 4 bladed stars

  • @marklucachev6695
    @marklucachev6695 Жыл бұрын

    lol these are great. I especially like when you fix them. Honestly Skall these are some of my favorite of your videos :)

  • @dylandarnell3657
    @dylandarnell3657 Жыл бұрын

    When you were talking about "shape overload," it occurred to me that Final Fantasy kinda has both ends of that spectrum, even with both examples being ridiculous. Obviously the overload end is Caius's ... _thing_ ... from FFXIII, which I'm not going to defend at all except to say that it's the weapon of a deranged immortal and thus reflects his condition (in the same way that the Sparda sword reflects the fact that Sparda the character is a demon and viscerally horrifying on various levels), and Odin's weapon from the same games similarly reflects its wielder's status as Not Human / Not Entirely Real. The other end is the Buster Sword from FFVII, which has a grand total of maybe 2 shapes if you count the handle. Also ridiculous, also somewhat justified in-universe (it's a sword made for ludicrously strong super-people to use on ludicrously durable targets), but a much simpler design.

  • @zyriantel9601

    @zyriantel9601

    Жыл бұрын

    And it has little slots for the designated magical macguffins of the setting to fit into, and said macguffins are small enough to be carried in one’s pocket, so it can be magical or mundane on the whim of the wielder without sacrificing the urgency of combat - just duck behind a wall and slap some materia on your sword, like how you’d reload a gun but with slightly less steps. Of course, being Square Enix, of course they don’t do that, so this practical application is fanon only.

  • @47PWN
    @47PWN Жыл бұрын

    Hadn't have this much chuckle in while. Keep them coming please :)

  • @Prisoner-gk6lr
    @Prisoner-gk6lr Жыл бұрын

    theres something kinda soothing about fixing ugly weapons

  • @ryugaminemikado5584
    @ryugaminemikado5584 Жыл бұрын

    Great video as always skall, would love to see more of this.

  • @raenfox
    @raenfox Жыл бұрын

    You fixing weapons was one of the first videos I ever saw from you. Great to see something like it once again.

  • @Kabissz
    @Kabissz Жыл бұрын

    Well done the editing on this video, gold star!

  • @CamelotGaming
    @CamelotGaming Жыл бұрын

    10:14 The Blue Queen handle is a motorcycle handle, and Nero Revs it to build up energy in it's engine. This is not a believable sword in anyway, but it's cool

  • @beleth57

    @beleth57

    Жыл бұрын

    Didn't realise there was a colour switch for Red Queen lol

  • @CamelotGaming

    @CamelotGaming

    Жыл бұрын

    @@beleth57 Look, i haven't slept in 24 hours

  • @EnraiChannel

    @EnraiChannel

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah I personally really like red queen's design. It's a bit wacky, but not over the top. Also the blade shape is pretty neat.

  • @jordanreed3675

    @jordanreed3675

    Жыл бұрын

    The reason it has that engine like addition is to add more cutting power against thick demon hide

  • @Lethargy514

    @Lethargy514

    Жыл бұрын

    For a game as wacky as Devil May Cry, I'd say it's pretty believable. Nero is lacking his Devil Bringer in DMC 5 and was at best a half-demon that Dante never fought seriously in DMC 4 so he needs that extra oomph to make up for his short comings.

  • @Neiot
    @Neiot Жыл бұрын

    Nice, I love it when you upload these sorts of videos. Deliciously scrutinous with a hint of constructive criticism.

  • @Trigfire
    @Trigfire Жыл бұрын

    If you feel like doing this again, may I suggest looking at and analyzing Leanwolf's Better Shaped Weapons mod in Skyrim? It's one of my favorite, and basically must-have, mods and they went about fixing the ugly paddle-swords Skyrim has while preserving the design intent of the original. And I think they did a great job overall! I think it would be fun to look at how someone else did it.

  • @lt.branwulfram4794
    @lt.branwulfram4794 Жыл бұрын

    I do have to say, the first design does look like if you were to Mordschlag with it, it would be quite devastating to whoever's on the receiving end. Multiple points of blunt impact on the guard.

  • @Photoloss
    @Photoloss Жыл бұрын

    Regarding the Troll Knight's Sword, here's what an Elden Ring troll knight looks like: eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/file/Elden-Ring/troll_knight_3.jpg The guard still is a bit of a waste but this weapon was _not_ designed to be wielded by humans and some deciding factors probably were magical (Glintstone, the blue crystal) or political (they're slaves) in nature rather than functional.

  • @Kualinar

    @Kualinar

    Жыл бұрын

    At least, it looks reasonably well proportioned when wielded by the intended user.

  • @ncuriousmediator9434

    @ncuriousmediator9434

    Жыл бұрын

    Actually, Troll Knights are not slaves, as the sword description says: "Called into service when the Queen invoked an oath they swore, the trolls are treated as true knights of Caria, and fight arm in arm with their human comrades."

  • @ChadKakashi
    @ChadKakashi Жыл бұрын

    16:45 man this was so funny, “I fixed it” lol.

  • @Raptanax
    @Raptanax Жыл бұрын

    It would be interesting to have another video looking at magic swords and more specifically, speculation on what a sword fight might look like between people who could both see a few seconds into the future, weapons that could become solid or ethereal, swords that launch wasps at your opponent, or produce clouds of dark mist. Things like that. I enjoyed the last video you made about that sort of thing. Though it is fun to watch you fix these paddle abominations too.

  • @Laachen
    @Laachen Жыл бұрын

    On the sword at 2:30 I think that if it is a small dagger, then increasing the size of the pommel might make it look less odd

  • @therealcarlxii
    @therealcarlxii Жыл бұрын

    Nice video, really fun to watch.

  • @jamesfrankiewicz5768
    @jamesfrankiewicz5768 Жыл бұрын

    The sword at 13:00 reminds me of some artifact executioner swords that are on display in various castles in southwest Germany (and just across the border in Switzerland). Those artifacts don't have any surviving furniture (given the purpose of these, I'm sure the original furniture was extremely simple), but the blade profile is about the same, although the artifacts were shorter on the blade and slightly longer on the hilt.

  • @painwheel_1337
    @painwheel_1337 Жыл бұрын

    I like how the last "sword" has a little spike on handle just to punish anyone dares to use it.

  • @graysonofthewood3747
    @graysonofthewood3747 Жыл бұрын

    I’m several days late, but this was HILARIOUS and fun. Thanks Skall

  • @zacherybrown7544
    @zacherybrown7544 Жыл бұрын

    Love your vids Skall!

  • @Boleniana
    @Boleniana Жыл бұрын

    I haven't watched your videos for a while, so that youtube beast, and the knights Like and Comment and Subscribe, took me by surprise, but it was a good surprise. That is LOVELY.

  • @LuxisAlukard
    @LuxisAlukard Жыл бұрын

    I think one of the reasons swords in video games are so big is because they are few centimeters long on your screen, an if you want to see them better - they must be wider than normal (and also longer than normal). I enjoy that stream, it was great!

  • @cals.8221
    @cals.8221 Жыл бұрын

    We definitely need more of this!

  • @luisrosado7050
    @luisrosado7050 Жыл бұрын

    Imagine a bossfight against an absolutely hideous sword more hideous than you can possibly imagine

  • @natural_20s
    @natural_20s Жыл бұрын

    Skal, I would look into also uploading the vods to your streams unedited. I personally don’t have a lot of free time during the day to watch streams as they happen, but I love watching the stream vod as a whole, compared to watching highlights. Not that highlights are bad, I actually loved this video. Keep up the good work! You’ve inspired me to start looking into HEMA and looking more realistically at swordfighting. Been loving your content for years man. Keep up the good work.

  • @Seelenschmiede

    @Seelenschmiede

    Жыл бұрын

    I think he should put up a seperate channel only for his streams to upload so it doesn't affect the main channel.

  • @mrchunky5132
    @mrchunky5132 Жыл бұрын

    I just wanted to say, Skall has got me into hema, and I’ve been doing it for 3 years now. I just wanted to say thanks because I’ve met great people and it made me a lot happier all because of this man.

  • @Jackraiden500
    @Jackraiden500 Жыл бұрын

    I have always actually kinda liked the design of caius sword aesthetically. In a train wreck in slow motion and can't stop looking at it kinda way 🤣

  • @frankharr9466
    @frankharr9466 Жыл бұрын

    I think there's a couple of things going on. Firstly, you can have decoration that enhances that thing or overwhelms it. It's similar to makeup in that times and cultures and people will disagree on where the line is. But there IS a line. Gaud is sometimes also used to cover poor design up. Second, you have expectations. You can be flexible in them, but they're still expectations. If they're not met, you don't know what it is you're looking at. It confuses. If you've got BOTH going on, they may not multiply, but they may not cancel ether. That one design (you know, the one where Context Sensitive gave you a good handle), I think that would work even better if you stipillate that the narrower bit is actually blunt as a defencive area and where you can safely put your hand for half-swording.

  • @pes6628
    @pes6628 Жыл бұрын

    18:24 - yay, the sword with the eye that someone sharted into, since it's got an obvious case of pink eye. Might be the only sword with a yeast infection in the world. Unique item.

  • @thetalantonx
    @thetalantonx Жыл бұрын

    Ok, please make this a series. It's not just pointing and laughing, it's trying to see what the artist was going for, and ironmanning their design, transforming it into the best possible version

  • @grimmvand9674
    @grimmvand9674 Жыл бұрын

    Skall….I have an amazing idea, have a series where people send you their fantasy concepts that are strictly supposed to be fantasy in a game…and you take it and redesign it to be practical without changing its pieces like you did in this video …I’d watch you reassemble concepts all the time it was very entertaining

  • @youremakingprogress144
    @youremakingprogress144 Жыл бұрын

    I enjoyed this video very much! I like the technical breakdown along with the humor.

  • @unclebounce1495
    @unclebounce1495 Жыл бұрын

    @skallagrim the strange design of some of those fantasy swords had me thinking. Can you imagine/articulate any sword design that could be functional with traditional usage WHILE offering some sort of mid-blade feature that could help protect the hand while half-swording? (like a mini-handguad mid-blade or some other design feature?)

  • @poja82
    @poja82 Жыл бұрын

    6:30. Congrats, you just reinvented the claymore.

  • @xXLunatikxXlul
    @xXLunatikxXlul Жыл бұрын

    I would like you to review more Dark Souls(series) and Elden ring weapons! There are a plethora or realistic and unrealistic weaponry in those games. Love your content And Happy Halloween! 🎃🕸🕷💀👻

  • @AndymionD
    @AndymionD Жыл бұрын

    I really enjoyed your fixing of the ugly swords! Even my 6 year old daughter was saying that the original swords were ugly and that your fixes looked a lot better.

  • @cgillis3989
    @cgillis3989 Жыл бұрын

    About the sword that you edited first: the guard certainly needed a tune up, but I think the blade looked a bit like a macuahuitl, which are rather effective right? Btw, critiquing/editing fantasy sword designs like this is a cool idea; I'd love to see more videos like this!

  • @swagmiredoesall
    @swagmiredoesall Жыл бұрын

    This was a super fun video! Truly quality content indeed.

  • @blandedgear9704
    @blandedgear9704 Жыл бұрын

    That final 'sword' has one feature that I love- that curved up spike on the back of the handle ensures that you'll grip on tight, because if you don't your hand gets cut off. Neat!

  • @devinm.6149
    @devinm.6149 Жыл бұрын

    I actually like the unusual color combo you gave that double weapon toward the end.

  • @evernewb2073
    @evernewb2073 Жыл бұрын

    it is from a final fantasy game and yet still somehow manages to look ludicrously impractical in-setting. it has an eyeball in it's crossguard. it has an angelwingsanddemonclaws motif. I would not be remotely surprised if "it touches your soul inappropriately without consent" is part of it's item description.

  • @joedepersiis9150
    @joedepersiis9150 Жыл бұрын

    Hey I'm new to your channel, have you ever done a full review of this nature, for the Monster Hunter World weapons, including the transforming animations?

  • @otw_felipe5351
    @otw_felipe5351 Жыл бұрын

    Damn Skall, you use a lot Pornsite references. Makes me wonder how you know them so well... Greetings from Germany ✌️♥️

  • @castlesandcuriosities
    @castlesandcuriosities Жыл бұрын

    This was fun, would happily watch more like this

  • @buskavonalupish
    @buskavonalupish Жыл бұрын

    Dear Skullagrim, have you evaluated interpretations of Terminus Est (Gene Wolfe - The Book of the New Sun)? A fantasy long sword with a mercurial metal hidden in the hollow blade; supposedly the fluid movement creates weight and momentum shifts during a swing. I'd love to hear your insights.

  • @THEonlyAEON
    @THEonlyAEON Жыл бұрын

    There's one fantasy weapon I really want to see your version of and that is The Sword Of Aeons from the first Fable game. It is by far my favourite fantasy weapon, even with some design Flaws of fantasy compared to realistic. I think i know what you'd do but it'd be really cool to see none the less.

  • @denismorgan9742
    @denismorgan9742 Жыл бұрын

    The third sword was similar to the leaf blade design of ancient times, I have often felt it should have a wide end to the handle for weight balance and functional for pulling out after stabbing motion. Putting visual with function without being to flash.

  • @tempestgrav
    @tempestgrav Жыл бұрын

    Hey Skal, have you done any forging ? Or had a sword design of yours made? Surprised you haven't been a guest judge on Forged in Fire! ✌️

  • @raykirushiroyshi2752
    @raykirushiroyshi2752 Жыл бұрын

    3:18 could that be the inspiration for the moollight greatsword

  • @strider_hiryu850

    @strider_hiryu850

    Жыл бұрын

    that's what i think

  • @chandelballard6427
    @chandelballard6427 Жыл бұрын

    The one at 16:30 would be hard to swing. Imagine trying to swing it out to hit someone. The weight of the other blade on the other side would make it almost impossible. And if you do manage to get a swing then you will hit yourself at the same time you hit your opponent due to the small handle to blade ratio, unless you go for a hit angled at the side but in that case the blade would just bounce off your opponent.

  • @Foxxie0kun
    @Foxxie0kun Жыл бұрын

    I'd love to see you review and/or fix some of the vibrosword/tech-blade designs from Star Wars: The Old Republic. Some of them are way too bulky or odd looking tbh.

  • @afromancer77
    @afromancer77 Жыл бұрын

    I would love a series where you basically play pimp my sword and have to fix fantasy designs for medieval arms and armor!

  • @Hamond1989
    @Hamond1989 Жыл бұрын

    Love it, especially the second redesign :) also I'm very supportive of your human rights violation :D

  • @noobatredstone3001
    @noobatredstone3001 Жыл бұрын

    16:03 it does look nice though.. the shapes are actually grouped in a way that does not overload the picture. Can’t argue with it being ridiculous though lol

  • @blackdemonfox5719
    @blackdemonfox5719 Жыл бұрын

    the sword at 7:50 i think could be shortened a bit and the handle extended and it would make a really cool fantasy dagger

  • @blackc1479
    @blackc1479 Жыл бұрын

    Gotta admit, that second one w the swept back guard? Before I got what it was, I figured it was a spikey pole arm/sword breaker. And honestly, I think that could actually be effective at least in that role.

  • @dogehkiindogeborn5339
    @dogehkiindogeborn5339 Жыл бұрын

    the design at 15:00 is fantastic, it's clearly a Dwemer sword from TES (whether official or not idk) and it's more fancy than the usual approach to said swords while also being more sleek and proportionate, I fucking love it. Although I'e prefer a one-handed blade witb a short handle, the lack of a proper hilt wouldn't be fun on a 2hander which makes a shield unusable.

  • @TheFinalKnight1
    @TheFinalKnight1 Жыл бұрын

    Surprised nobody has mentioned how good the background song skal uses when fixing the sword is

  • @Ranstone
    @Ranstone Жыл бұрын

    Since you mentioned the "maharana pratap" sword at 3:30, and if my keen editing-eyes detected what I thought they saw, it looks like you edit out the swords introduction. Does this mean you realized in post the historical accuracy of this swords claim to maharana pratap is in question and edit that part out in post? If so, Might wanna do a short video on that sword. I don't remember you covering it before.

  • @judsongaiden9878
    @judsongaiden9878 Жыл бұрын

    5:21 Exactly what I was expecting you to point out the moment I saw it. 10:22 If yer gripe pertains to ergonomics or functionality, then it's coming from a place of objective technical analysis.

  • @lordalexandermalcolmguy6971
    @lordalexandermalcolmguy6971 Жыл бұрын

    Great video chum

  • @monicavix6036
    @monicavix6036 Жыл бұрын

    Personally, I've been getting back into Warframe recently. Do you think you could look at some of the melee weapons from it? The first thing that comes to mind is the Galatine and its Prime variant, wondering how well those would work as actual greatswords. Or even the trademark Glaive of Warframe, which is just a very spikey boomerang of death.

  • @aktin3080
    @aktin3080 Жыл бұрын

    Oh, the moral dilemma I face in video games when I have to choose a sword with high damage but ugly design or a sexy sword but low damage. Great video Skall would love to see more fantasy swords.

  • @pseudomonad
    @pseudomonad Жыл бұрын

    My eye is always just drawn straight to the pierced/narrowed bit with IT'S GONNA SNAP _HERE_

  • @PorkChop304
    @PorkChop304 Жыл бұрын

    I like these types of videos!

  • @LakekUT
    @LakekUT8 ай бұрын

    As an artist, i was wondering what you'd say are basically the core essentials/rules to designing weapons? (swords in particular of course, but if there's more I'd love to hear)

  • @blackcat3
    @blackcat3 Жыл бұрын

    I don't comment on videos that often but I just had to share how I would go about fixing that last "sword". Option 1: have it growing out of the arm of an infested looking monster, also having the sword looking parts drop as parts for different weapons. (like the top being an axe blade, middle being a sword blade, and the handle as a harpoon.) Option 2: cut out all the "organic/ infested" looking bits except for the eye on the handle and use ether the top for an axe or the middle for a sword and finally cut off the spikes on the handle. finally Option 3: cutting the top portion off starting just behind the middle sword and duplicating the middle sword to the other side and making it an organic/ infested compound bow. Of course there would be a lot of small adjustments to all of my options to make there designs make more sense but thats the basic gist.

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