This page drawn by me, CG grayscales by JustNoPoint. The lineart for this page seems to have come out a bit light near the bottom... old scanner.
Her part of the world/time has literally never seen/heard of a sword worn on the back. She's being very open to new ideas, to be even trying this based on a commoner's suggestion.
Read the companion comic FIGHT 1; both stories take place in the same world. Currently I will be updating F2 more; Bittertea has not quit on drawing the F1 chapter, but atm, she is working hard for her money...
(1) I was kidding about Cloud's shirt. I'm sure Square didn't say "it's magnetic." Maybe it's velcro.
(2) Yes, but when a sword slung over the back isn't sheathed, I wonder how the person avoids cutting himself.
(3) Ed... the truth is, I mistakenly drew her sword-drawing with her left hand, and then I remembered she's right-handed. So to recover from my mistake, she makes more of a fuss about this scabbard on this page than in the original script.
But what you said sounds reasonable. ^_^
She should probably just carry a shorter sword in the front for those times when she needs to draw in a hurry.
Another option for carrying the sword is to just carry it. Tie a string around the scabbard and walk with it in hand or over one shoulder if you think you might need it in a hurry. You could always attach it to your person in the even you feel you need two hands.
@swiftgold: I think what Chase is concerned about is attacking from a sheathed position.
The fastest, strongest and most varied way would probably be using the side hanging scabbard because of the option to use the body in a coiling motion.
A back scabbard looks pretty limited and probably not meant to ease an attack, but it is definitely the wisest choice if the sword is big and heavy, which is Chase's case.
You are right, though... an angled back scabbard is the better configuration in terms of drawing the sword because it's a more natural motion, but simply carrying it in terms of balance and running around, I think vertical is the way to go. This is especially true if the sword is large and a little unbalanced.
Lol. Close quarters or passing people... whack! right in the head! ^o^
@edbang: When I was researching back scabbards I ended up finding a design that was like a harness with the strap coming down in back, so the sword hung semi-horizontally/at an angle from it, rather than vertically. It seems pretty practical to pull it out by pulling at the scabbard with your other hand, and I ended up going with it, but at the same time it might not be something you'd want to wear if you're going to be moving in close quarters, heh!
Great Art! The lines are really crisp and the greyscaling enhances that. I especially like the effect for the background on panel 5. Good job both.
In FFIV advent children cloud had a scabbard, but it was in his motorcycle. I never heard of this magnetic shirt you are talking about. That seems like it's more trouble than it's worth.
Berserk has a strap for a scabbard, and I've seen some back scabbards in comics where it just a loop that holds the hilt of the blade.
I always just assumed he had a materia to keep it on his back. I mean it would still be useful then the lame materia he had in the flashback to Nibelheim he was geeking out over.
"Oh man this materia is awesome! Look, no hands! Haha!"
@ JNP:
People with amnesia can remember everything except personal information. This is because personal information and impersonal knowledge/skills are stored in different areas of the brain.
I don't think a cyborg's hardware enhancements are meant for back-up duty of his personal memories, which his own brain can/should handle just fine.
@ EEN, Squirrel:
A back scabbard with a slanted mouth... or a slit cut at 1 side... Yes, both would logically help with a fast draw of a longsword worn on the back.
Final Fantasy glosses over this by giving Cloud a magnetic shirt, so he doesn't have to fiddle with a scabbard...
@ Swiftgold:
I wonder if Chase should just expect Nuada to carry her sword (and everything else) from now on...
@ Alej:
I like watching Survivorman, which is an hour all about the little practicalities, such as how not to get dysentery and die, how not to get eaten by lions and die, how not to freeze your ass off and die, how not to die, etc... ;-D
Line art improvements on this page courtesy of recommendations from JNP and Bittertea. Praise to all!
There was a discussion about back scabbards on myarmoury.com once that led me to a good book, but I think it basically came down to having squires/servants always carry the big sheathed swords...
I've hear for quick draws from the back they sometimes cut a slit into the scabbard along one side so it can be drawn easier with the sword hand though I've never bothered to confirm if this was BS or factual.
- Drunk
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