There’s loads of Fighter Archetypes as well so it was difficult to come up with something unique. I still don’t feel like this is that good to be honest but at least it’s something. Its basically focused around reach and evasion of attacks, much like an outboxer.
The first thing you will do when the fight begins, if not even before that, is to get to know your opponent. Is he tall or short? How long is his weapon, and how far can he reach? Does he look heavy or swift? How does he move? Does he seem to know good footwork? When we get a little closer, what guard is he using? What strength and weaknesses are there in that guard, and specifically in his guard?
At the edge of measure (see section on “Range” above) you could make a feint to any of his weak spots and see how he reacts. Did he notice the threat at all, or did he over-react, and if so, what possibilities did that give me?
Does he seem to be an outside fighter, an infighter or a brawler? Counter-shooter?
What kind of energy does he have? Is he filled with adrenaline or very calm? Can I change that by giving him the opposite energy back?
If I move around him does he move his feet or just twist his body, feet planted?
Guards
If you have practiced A-frame and High guard you should also know the strengths and weaknesses of these guards. These things apply for your opponent too.
There are many other guards, and in the end you will not be able to know all guards in advance. You may sometimes have to figure things out during the fight. Remember you have all the time in the world in the list.
A-frame fighters will have an opening at their chests, and their right leg will probably be closer to you than in High guard. The tip of his sword isn’t so good for parrying as it may seem, so even if he blocks your shot may go through his guard and be “good”. He will probably not be able to hit very hard if his hand is held out to far from his shoulder. If his shield is held out a bit, he will not be able to see very well what’s going on in front of . shield, so you could hide your sword there doing “rising” shots (snaps and wraps). Try to countershoot when he fires backhands by moving left and go for head or body (you might hit his arm along the way).
High guard fighters tend to block a lot with their swords. They may not be able to hit very hard backhands when their sword almost points forward. Varying between forehands and backhands to his head may make his sword-blocks get messy. When he parries with his sword he will not be able to shoot. Watch out for fast half-moulinets. Start off by being at the edge of measure and do small feints to see how he will parry this or the other blow. If he parries onside headshots with his sword, you may make a feint there and then give him a backhand. You may get his head or his arm on its way down to parry.
Some people hold their shields out very far off from the body, almost having their left arms fully extended. They may then hold their swords either resting at the right shoulder or higher above their heads. From there they can build up great power through momentum. The extended shield also keeps you out of range. If you get closer they can chose to keep you away or let you in when they want to. Now, you don’t want such a fighter to control the fight. Instead you can try to lure him out of there. Take a half-step in and see what he does. If he gets closer you can try to back out when he attacks and then hit while going forward again. Or move to his right side and shoot for his leg. If you get more forward-right you will be able to go for his head from a different angle, where the corner of his shield doesn’t catch your blow. Going that direction you can also press his shield with your shield to make it harder for him to follow your sword with it. He will also be open for shield hooks, which would be great if you get to move to the left. Look for ways to get your sword-hand pass the edge of his shield. As soon as your hand passes the shield you can hit him with your sword. You may move just a little to the right (maybe a body-floating motion, see above) and see if he twists instead of walks. If he does, his shield will move out right and then you can do this blow: Hit with a snap aiming with your fist towards his left shoulder (from your point of view i.e.). As soon as you pass his shield edge you should snap the sword right into his face or forehead, using your wrist.
Other alien guards needs to be examined right there at the moment. Try to figure out what he thinks is good with his guard and what he is aiming for. Try different things to see what will disturb his way of fighting, look for weaknesses and remember them.
The way he moves – and reacts
OUTSIDE- AND INSIDE FIGHTERS, BRAWLERS AND COUNTERSTRIKERS
Outside fighters are minding range and wants to manipulate the fight from the edge of measure. They will look for openings, make feints and movements to create these, hit and run. Many of the best fighters out there end up as outside fighters.
Infighters wants to get in close and execute combinations, they want the action. A good infighter knows how to use you as a defensive tool. He will have defensive use of your shield, and as he is in so close there are many things you will not be able to do. Some shots will not work in range 1. Since there is a lot of danger in range, you may be tense and over-react to small feints in there.
Brawlers want to make you unable to play your game (especially if you are a good outside fighter). He will put a lot of energy into the fight and act aggressively, not only by hitting hard and fast but also by entangling your gear, make shield hooks and presses etc. If the brawler knows he is in a fight with a much more experienced fighter he may think “Ok, I’m gonna die anyway, so I might as well just run into him and hit everything. He could at least be surprised”. Sometimes it will actually work.
Counterfighters specialize in hitting back when you hit them. Whenever you strike it will do something to your guard, and the counterfighter focuses on knowing these things and take advantage of them.
Maybe you opponent is good at shifting between these roles (you may want to know all styles too).
Back in the days, 15 years ago, I was definitely an infighter. I really liked the action, and the possibility to execute all the blows I’d been practicing. If I met an outside fighter I would not try to hunt him die, but rather stand and wait until he got into range. From there I’d move a little closer and wack away. Now I’m going more towards outfighting. I think it is good to know all kinds of styles and be able to fight in them, to better know your “enemy”.
If you’re an outside fighter and you meet another outside fighter, you will have to be the better fighter. Which means you are smarter, you know the edge of measure better, you make feints and all the other stuff I’ve been talking about.
If you meet infighters or brawlers you will also have to keep the distance you are good in.
ENERGY
Fighters have different energies. Some are very tense and active, some are calm. Depending on how you like your opponent to be you can try to manipulate him. You could either calm him down by being calm yourself, or you could make him tense by being almost in range and look tense and ready for fast action (make some quick feints etc). You can also make him frustrated by backing out and not do anything. This way you may have him attack you overtly, and you can take advantage of this. You can quickly change your energy from being slow and backing out to suddenly go very offensive when he thinks he knows your ways. Play around with this.
If you like outside fighting (which is more or less suggested here) you will have good use of your footwork and measure when an infighter or brawler chases you. You may look defensive, but you should aim for being calm and focused, ready to kill. Think of the evasive fight as any fight, only you are going backwards when idle. Maybe the idea of fighting on a treadmill applies. Now, you’re not going to run backwards all the time. Remember your swift moves to right and left, and the J-step. You can still do feints and play with the edge of measure in this kind of fight.
SET UP
When you’re at the edge of measure and you have analyzed the appearance of your opponent, you should know where you could hit him if he do not parry, dodge or move out of range. Let’s say he is in A-frame guard and you might actually get your sword in just above the corner of his shield and hit him in the helm. From here there at least three levels of action.
1-You go ahead and hit him right there in the spot. Good luck!
2- You think he will probably parry with his shield and when he does he will leave his leg unguarded. So, you go ahead and make a feint to his head and then hit him forehand onside leg. Let’s not hope he parries with his sword and lowers his shield and hit you with, say, a half moulinet to your head while your going for his leg.
3- You make a feint and see how he will parry (i.e. you will not hit him at all). If he blocks with his sword you might be able to hit him with a backhand offside head. Register his way of moving and make sure you find out how to reach him. Now, again, from the edge of measure, step in and make the same feint and then move in and hit him backhand offside head. Move out left and/or back. Did you get him? Great! Did you not get him? Why? What can you learn from the way he survived?
Next level would be to make the feint, register the information you get from the way he reacts. Save info for later. Make another feint to another place. Save info. Now he may do something you need to act on. Now, or even later on, do the first feint again and hit him where you found the gap (in this example, it would be the backhand offside head).
SET UP FOR THE SETUP
Now, an even higher level of fighting would commenced before you actually make these kinds of feints. There is a fight within the fight, remember… the fight about range and initiative. Before you will be able to kill him with a shot, set up by a feint, you will want to be able to get into range without getting hit. So you guys will probably move around and make attempts or fake attempts to move in from different angles. You may even trick him to think he has actually won this fight about the range and take advantage of the way he moves in to exactly where you want him. Example: From range 4 you make an attempt to move to your left, from where you would reach him with a backhand offside head shot. You’re not actually going there, but you want to see how he reacts. He may run backwards, attempt to counter-strike, turn his body left (either with steps or twisting his body). You now have lots of interesting information. Go somewhere else and save info. Does he move against you? Get out of trouble while watching how he does it. Save info. Start acting on the info you have. Maybe he realized that he showed you how he will react. If you where him, you would try to act differently next time etc etc etc
I don’t know about you but I get eager to fight only by thinking of this. A very good way of practicing this is to visualize the game. You can do this every day, and it will take just a few moments. Think of a fight and make up a scenario of how he moves and reacts, and then make plans for how you would get him. Also, remember fights you fought. Especially those where you got killed. Go in and direct the movie sequence where you where hit and change the way you moved, parried or whatever. Remember this and do it right next time.
Left handed?
Left handed fighters generally have great advantage. This is because they will be odd opponents to many right-handed fighters, and the right-handed fighter will still be the usual game to the leftie. The things you need to do and think of especially when you fight a leftie, will be his normal way of fighting.
Shots from the leftie will come in on your right side, right? And you do not have a shield there. So, in an A-frame guard you may chose to turn yourself to your right to make the shield cover more of that side, and maybe lower your sword and keep it ready to block. You will almost have no use of your shield hanging on your right side, so you can actually move it way out right. Some fighters actually put their shields up as a roof on top of their heads. Now, their heads are covered and they will parry body shots with their swords.
Fighting will be fighting in general, with some adjustments as to how to parry and where to strike. From the mentioned stance you may feint a forehand onside legshot and see how he reacts. If he lowers his sword you might be able to hit his head onside. If he moves his shield he may leave a gap for your backhand offside head or vertical snap. Feint with a forehand onside: if he parries with his sword you may move further right and take his leg with a wrap (in case he also moves his shield to cover his leg (you will thus go around his shield with the wrap)).
Generally there will be an interesting fight about range, line and initiative here. You may both keep your unprotected leg and side away from danger, but to hit you will have to take the risk of exposing this side.
