Cutlasses and Cults

[BwapTED]

SWORD CULTISTS
(Marine career)

Fanatical human warriors from a TL 4 world (but with certain advanced pharmaceuticals based on native plant life).
These guys are barmy enough to take cutlasses into 'modern' combat. But they use guns, too, of course. Crazy isn’t the same as stupid. Their officers like big revolvers. The common ranks often use sawed-off shotguns.
Cutlasses are their signature melee weapon, but Sword Cultists may also carry starman's ‘blades’ and daggers.

Sword Cultists may take combat drugs speed up so they can quickly close with the enemy and use their cutlasses.

Their particular mix of intimidating brutality and strict business ethics makes them very desirable as mercs and security guards. And while they have no problem chopping up enemy soldiers, the typical SC doesn’t see much glory or honor in cutting down starport petty criminals, drunks, or unarmed rioters, so he can be trusted to use that basket hilt for punching when doing so would be better than applying the sword’s edge.


These guys believe their god lives in space. Serving on starships and at starports brings them closer to this deity’s divine realm. Taking contracts on starships and at ports has spread them to other worlds. They seek out converts: runaway minors, promising young thugs in need of guidance (beatings then sermons), and martial arts enthusiasts with more fighting potential than good sense.

 

[kilemall]

Thanks to the law level mechanics, proficient bladesman can go a lot of places gun-toters can't. So that could be a niche the cult services.

Here's another direction I will be further exploring in my CT Striker thread- battle dress means augmented strength, which means blade weapons can be heavier, made of advanced materials so better penetration, and therefore will have more functionality then standard 'unpowered' versions.

When I'm done, I anticipate showing that a marine in battle dress can be toting a shield and use a BD-cutlass to deadly effect.

If your cult has psi-capability either telekinesis assist or awareness STR increase should allow for similar weapon upgrades. YOUR drugs might go in this direction too.

 

[Condottiere]

Point beats edge.

If you're serving onboard a wet navy, wearing armour is a somewhat risky proposition, especially if you fall overboard.

In space, along tight corridors or dirtside back alleys, the rapier would rule.

Add powered armour, and you'd need a light sabre to penetrate with a cut or slash. A thrust would have much more force focussed on the tip.

And the shotgun.

 

[aramis]

Point beats edge.

If you're serving onboard a wet navy, wearing armour is a somewhat risky proposition, especially if you fall overboard.

In space, along tight corridors or dirtside back alleys, the rapier would rule.

Add powered armour, and you'd need a light sabre to penetrate with a cut or slash. A thrust would have much more force focussed on the tip.

And the shotgun.

Townsword might, but not a rapier. Rapier is surprisingly prone to needing to move side to side to get a good shot in.

(I'm a former Oerthan Princess Rapier Champion. We've done hall fights... they are really really problematic.)

 

[Sir Brad]

depends on the style of "Rapier", most where around a Kilo (2-2.5 lb) about the same weight as a Arming Sword only with a different construction and point of balance, a Spada da lato (sometimes called a Side Sword) is around the same weight but falls between the two in construction and balance, in fact was the transition sword for the Italians that continued alongside the Rapier for much of it's fighting life.

a better option may be something like an Elizabethan English Rapier-Sword, that was around 1.5kg (around 2.75 pounds) shorter than most Rapier but more slender than a Broad Sword, Military Sidearm Swords where still being patterned after it till the U.S. Civil War (and perhaps later) for use by Infantry Officers.

the American Model 1913 Patton Cavalry Saber, English Pattern 1908 and 1912 cavalry swords and 1897 pattern British infantry officer's sword are all closer to more traditional Rapiers than the Rapier-Sword.

something like a Spada da lato or Rapier-Sword would be my pick for a "Black Water" Marine Sword.

 

[BwapTED]

Armor is definitely a point to consider.

I haven't worked out the details, but I'm leaning toward a rather lower overall TL IMTU than we see with the OTU's interstellar civilizations.
No TL 15 Imperium-level stuff.

So battledress definitely isn't a standard issue item for the marines/ drop troops of any large space empires. Maybe it's not even present in the setting.
Things are more like H Beam Piper's Terro-Human Future History or maybe E.C. Tubb's Dumarest (from what little I've read of these) than like Heinlein's Starship Troopers.
I'm also pretty fond of stuff like the Weyland-Yutani commandos/''dog catchers'' from Alien 3 and the Colonial Marines from Aliens.

depends on the style of "Rapier", most where around a Kilo (2-2.5 lb) about the same weight as a Arming Sword only with a different construction and point of balance, a Spada da lato (sometimes called a Side Sword) is around the same weight but falls between the two in construction and balance, in fact was the transition sword for the Italians that continued alongside the Rapier for much of it's fighting life.

a better option may be something like an Elizabethan English Rapier-Sword, that was around 1.5kg (around 2.75 pounds) shorter than most Rapier but more slender than a Broad Sword, Military Sidearm Swords where still being patterned after it till the U.S. Civil War (and perhaps later) for use by Infantry Officers.

the American Model 1913 Patton Cavalry Saber, English Pattern 1908 and 1912 cavalry swords and 1897 pattern British infantry officer's sword are all closer to more traditional Rapiers than the Rapier-Sword.

something like a Spada da lato or Rapier-Sword would be my pick for a "Black Water" Marine Sword.

That could be cool, too.

Speaking of dudes with swords, do you guys ever get much use out of the Barbarian career from Citizens of the Imperium?

EDIT - I won't overload this post by quoting everybody, but I do want to thank you all for the excellent ideas and feedback.

RE The niche created by law levels, I might hire these guys out as bodyguards as well as mercs/security forces.


For Refs who just don't digs swords in space/the future/sci fi:

http://www.popularairsoft.com/files/images/cutlass.jpg

http://www.imfdb.org/images/thumb/4/46/Mellojericho.gif/500px-Mellojericho.gif

 

[Condottiere]

For that extra career term, which can also optimize your psionic potential.

 

[BwapTED]

In another cutlass thread, a forumite mentioned the use of swords by British police in the 19th Century.

Behold, British policemen with cutlasses:

http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/image69123-vcp.html


&

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2009/post-6209-1240146124.jpg


RE Shotguns and Trav Marines:
Yes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEs8j4_hrUY

Just ignore his horrible trigger discipline. ;0