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I thought the current thinking was that no battle would ever come down to fighting on the stairway. If someone has already made it through all of your castle's

I thought the current thinking was that no battle would ever come down to fighting on the stairway. If someone has already made it through all of your castle's defences to even be on the stairs, then the battle is over.

dexwiz 3y ago
And if you were defining a stairway, a spear is much better than a sword. Stand at the top, poke down.
- thaumasiotes 3y ago
  Wouldn't a spear be much better than a sword for any defensive position? The problem with a phalanx is that it's hard to turn, not that attacking from short range is somehow better than attacking from long range.
  - dexwiz 3y ago
    Who said anything about a phalanx? You can have a spear and a makeshift barricade at the top of the stairs.
    - thaumasiotes 3y ago
      > Who said anything about a phalanx? I did. It's right there in my comment. I'm supporting the idea that a spear is superior in any defensive position by pointing out that the problem with an offensive block of spears is the need to move, which doesn't apply to defense.
      - pas 3y ago
        it sort of does very much. defenders need to move a lot to compensate for their smaller numbers, no?
        thaumasiotes 3y ago
        No, that's what fortifications are for.
- ffgjgf1 3y ago
  And if you’re at the bottom you could just start a fire instead of risking your life by try to climb up
autokad 3y ago
this comes off as video game logic. 'well I lost, may as well hit the reset button'. Except when you are going to die, even if the extra odds seems pointless, you do it. much like WW2 tankers putting sand bags on their tank.
- Tao3300 3y ago
  It's not a reset button. There's a surrender button and a rout button. If you haven't starved to death you get to pick one.
  - Aeolun 3y ago
    I’m pretty certain that when you’re at the top of the tower you cannot press the rout button.
- ffgjgf1 3y ago
  > Except when you are going to die That’s why you surrender after you realize the situation is hopeless (which is hopefully long before anyone starts climbing up the stairs). Even if you’re willing to fight to the death/don’t have a choice which was pretty rare and are just stuck at the top what incentives do the attackers have to risk their lives by rushing up the stairs when they can just start a fire at the bottom and/or wait you out?
  - jayGlow 3y ago
    people don't always make the most logical decision. that goes doubly so when they're in a stressful situation like a fight.
rolph 3y ago
a hefty spherical boulder, works wonders for clearing a staircase.

dexwiz 3y ago

And if you were defining a stairway, a spear is much better than a sword. Stand at the top, poke down.

thaumasiotes 3y ago
Wouldn't a spear be much better than a sword for any defensive position? The problem with a phalanx is that it's hard to turn, not that attacking from short range is somehow better than attacking from long range.
- dexwiz 3y ago
  Who said anything about a phalanx? You can have a spear and a makeshift barricade at the top of the stairs.
  - thaumasiotes 3y ago
    > Who said anything about a phalanx? I did. It's right there in my comment. I'm supporting the idea that a spear is superior in any defensive position by pointing out that the problem with an offensive block of spears is the need to move, which doesn't apply to defense.
    - pas 3y ago
      it sort of does very much. defenders need to move a lot to compensate for their smaller numbers, no?
      - thaumasiotes 3y ago
        No, that's what fortifications are for.
ffgjgf1 3y ago
And if you’re at the bottom you could just start a fire instead of risking your life by try to climb up

autokad 3y ago

this comes off as video game logic. 'well I lost, may as well hit the reset button'. Except when you are going to die, even if the extra odds seems pointless, you do it. much like WW2 tankers putting sand bags on their tank.

Tao3300 3y ago
It's not a reset button. There's a surrender button and a rout button. If you haven't starved to death you get to pick one.
- Aeolun 3y ago
  I’m pretty certain that when you’re at the top of the tower you cannot press the rout button.
ffgjgf1 3y ago
> Except when you are going to die That’s why you surrender after you realize the situation is hopeless (which is hopefully long before anyone starts climbing up the stairs). Even if you’re willing to fight to the death/don’t have a choice which was pretty rare and are just stuck at the top what incentives do the attackers have to risk their lives by rushing up the stairs when they can just start a fire at the bottom and/or wait you out?
- jayGlow 3y ago
  people don't always make the most logical decision. that goes doubly so when they're in a stressful situation like a fight.

rolph 3y ago

a hefty spherical boulder, works wonders for clearing a staircase.