The B-word Sword

**Tietsu** · 06-18-2009, 05:42 PM

i was just playing final fantasy 6 for the GBA and i wen to a weapon shop and saw a sword called the Bast*** sword.

I know it might be childish to talk about it but i was just wondering why do u think square enix put that name for that sword in that game?

**Sato Arashi** · 06-18-2009, 05:45 PM

It also means a buster sword or a great sword, there's nothing wrong with it.

**Tietsu** · 06-18-2009, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by Sato Arashi

It also means a buster sword or a great sword, there's nothing wrong with it.

Yea but there could be those other people who take it tothe extreme and end up trying to get the company in trouble

**Sato Arashi** · 06-18-2009, 05:52 PM

You have to take in consideration about the target age range. Sure it's rated E 10+, but it's really designed for teens and adults.

**Tietsu** · 06-18-2009, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by Sato Arashi

You have to take in consideration about the target age range. Sure it's rated E 10+, but it's really designed for teens and adults.

yea very true
i feel dumb for putting this thread up now

**RagnaToad** · 06-18-2009, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Tietsu

Yea but there could be those other people who take it tothe extreme and end up trying to get the company in trouble

I doubt that anyone would be offended by that, let alone that they'd have a case.

Tv shows for teens that have no words like "fuck" or "shit" still use words like "bitch". The word "bastard" doesn't seem offensive in any way.

Unless you are in fact a bastard child.

**Tietsu** · 06-18-2009, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by RagnaToad

I doubt that anyone would be offended by that, let alone that they'd have a case.

Tv shows for teens that have no words like "fuck" or "shit" still use words like "bitch". The word "bastard" doesn't seem offensive in any way.

Unless you are in fact a bastard child.

hehe yea thats very true

**T.G. Oskar** · 06-19-2009, 01:33 AM

Why you have a sword called the "bastard" sword?

Because that's the nickname of the sword. It's not another name for a "buster" or greatsword, it's the nickname of a hand-and-a-half sword. It's a sword that can be wielded in one hand, but it's length and specifically the length of the hilt (the handle of the blade, so to speak) is much longer than with a longsword meant to be wielded in one hand. The hilt's length is roughly half as long as that of a long sword hilt (hence, the "hand-and-a-half" name), and the blade's length is roughly between six to eight inches in length.

I can't tell you exactly why it was known as a "bastard" sword, but it's not because it was favored by bastard children, though. It was probably by the sheer size and power of the sword, or because of a mistranslation (like the Machete)

If it makes you feel odd, other games have the use of "bastard" sword in-translation. Even a song in Breath of Fire IV is called "Bastard Sword". Given the rather obscure meaning of the word, and because it's referring to a weapon and not to the offending use of the word, it's not unusual to let that pass.

I mean, it's not like you'll find Middle Ages Re-enactors having any qualms about telling a young man about a "bastard" sword. Probably they WILL point to the real name (hand and a half sword), but they won't seem it as bad.

However, the moment where it IS an expletive is when it's used by the original meaning (referring to someone as a bastard, aka an illegitimate son)

So, in a nutshell: Square-Enix places the name to that weapon because it's meant to represent the middle ground between a longsword and a greatsword; the latter usually the true two-hand variety. But sometimes, they get it mixed.

An easier way: long sword -> broad sword (wider hilt) -> hand and a half sword (or bastard sword) -> two-hand sword (aka greatsword, or zweihander). Any bigger than that, and it can't be carried at all.

**Polk** · 06-19-2009, 02:44 AM

Now I haven't played Final Fantasy 6 in a while, but if I'm not mistaken, FF6 was the game in which an evil clown tries to kill an entire city's population worth of people by poisoning their water supply.

And you're concerned about the word "Bastard" appearing in the game.

**Tietsu** · 06-19-2009, 04:23 AM

Originally Posted by T.G. Oskar

Why you have a sword called the "bastard" sword?

Because that's the nickname of the sword. It's not another name for a "buster" or greatsword, it's the nickname of a hand-and-a-half sword. It's a sword that can be wielded in one hand, but it's length and specifically the length of the hilt (the handle of the blade, so to speak) is much longer than with a longsword meant to be wielded in one hand. The hilt's length is roughly half as long as that of a long sword hilt (hence, the "hand-and-a-half" name), and the blade's length is roughly between six to eight inches in length.

I can't tell you exactly why it was known as a "bastard" sword, but it's not because it was favored by bastard children, though. It was probably by the sheer size and power of the sword, or because of a mistranslation (like the Machete)

If it makes you feel odd, other games have the use of "bastard" sword in-translation. Even a song in Breath of Fire IV is called "Bastard Sword". Given the rather obscure meaning of the word, and because it's referring to a weapon and not to the offending use of the word, it's not unusual to let that pass.

I mean, it's not like you'll find Middle Ages Re-enactors having any qualms about telling a young man about a "bastard" sword. Probably they WILL point to the real name (hand and a half sword), but they won't seem it as bad.

However, the moment where it IS an expletive is when it's used by the original meaning (referring to someone as a bastard, aka an illegitimate son)

So, in a nutshell: Square-Enix places the name to that weapon because it's meant to represent the middle ground between a longsword and a greatsword; the latter usually the true two-hand variety. But sometimes, they get it mixed.

An easier way: long sword -> broad sword (wider hilt) -> hand and a half sword (or bastard sword) -> two-hand sword (aka greatsword, or zweihander). Any bigger than that, and it can't be carried at all.

Oh ok i get it now
its just when i grew up i was told to never ever say that word and hen i saw it in the game i just thought that square could get in trouble but now that u've cleared it up i can see why the name was choosen

**Furore** · 06-19-2009, 06:21 AM

Yeaps, as Oskar said the bastard sword is very real.
And very fun to dual-wield in Baldur's Gate 2...
What worries me more was an enemy named **** Blunderbus I fought in a romhack I downloaded after watching a bit of it in a youtube clip.
Damn those crazy hacker kids!

**RagnaToad** · 06-19-2009, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by James K. Polk

Now I haven't played Final Fantasy 6 in a while, but if I'm not mistaken, FF6 was the game in which an evil clown tries to kill an entire city's population worth of people by poisoning their water supply.

And you're concerned about the word "Bastard" appearing in the game.

Ha. Good point, mate.

Just proves how right I actually was ^^

**Sasquatch** · 06-19-2009, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by James K. Polk

Now I haven't played Final Fantasy 6 in a while, but if I'm not mistaken, FF6 was the game in which an evil clown tries to kill an entire city's population worth of people by poisoning their water supply.

He doesn't try, he actually does it. Only, what, two people survive?

Let's also not forget that the game includes: the impregnation of a human by a magical beast; a 16-year-old girl having an illigitimate child, while living in a small commune located underground in a destroyed, trashy town; a parent leaving their newborn child in the wilderness because he thought it was a demon; and a character with magical powers, who was once controlled by said clown to slaughter his own soldiers, that morphs into a powerful, pink, naked humanoid.

I still like the "Smut" in FFIV.

**Fate** · 06-19-2009, 12:53 PM

Oh, the name is so common! I always see that name, and the sword isn't all that good either... Most of the time.

Anyway, I saw this on Wiki, THE most reliable source, mind you!

Originally Posted by Oh, The Most Reliable Source, Wikipedia!^^

Bastard swords

The bastard sword, or contemporary espée bastarde, is a type of sword dating from roughly the early 15th century. It received its name for fitting into neither the one-handed sword family, nor the two handed sword family, thus being labelled a "bastard".[citation needed] These weapons featured longer grips similar to those found on the longswords. The extra space was not enough to allow both hands entirely, however, but was enough to provide for the use of a couple of fingers or a part of the palm, providing some extra leverage.[8] The grips of bastard swords often feature a "waisted" appearance, as in the Oakeshott Type XVIa.[9] The bastard sword, more so than the greatsword, plays into the "hand-and-a-half sword" classification, as some great swords provided considerably more than an extra "half" hand for gripping. Similarly, the shorter length of the weapon at roughly 45 to 55 inches (115-140cm) put the sword halfway between the shorter single-handed sword and the larger (and occasionally fully two-handed) greatsword.[10]

Like all other types of swords, the bastard sword existed in a number of configurations, generally tending towards a strongly tapered and thicker blade as time went on. This manifestation, along with a relatively small blade length in relation to hilt length, gave the sword a very precise and reactive nature that served well for cutting or thrusting, much like a side-sword.[9] The form of the bastard sword began very much like that of the greatsword, based in the beginning of the 15th century off transition swords evolving from the spatha. Like the transition swords, the first bastard swords featured a plain or cruciform cross-guard (cross) and a round or wheel pommel.[8] Later development of the weapon, however, saw the inclusion of curved quillions, ring guards, and compound hilts similar to those on baskethilts (swords like the schiavona that nearly enclosed the entire hand in a protective guard).[10] These served to provide increased protection for the wielder's hands and may have also positively affected the balance of the weapon.

Such swords with compound hilts include the German Reitschwert, a form of cavalry sword, and the "Degen" or "Knight's Sword". It is possible, however, that these swords are in fact a single-handed manifestation of the estoc.[9]

**Darkdragoon** · 07-09-2009, 02:12 PM

i think this should be removed.

**Fate** · 07-09-2009, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Outdoor2497

i think this should be removed.

Uh, what purpose could that serve? It's pointless. So what if it has the word "bastard" in the game? If you look at the bottom corner of a cover of nearly every Final Fantasy game, you'll see a T. Hmm, I wonder what that could stand for? Perhaps "Teen"? Yes, Teen for ages 13 and up. You'd think that by the age of thirteen, you'd have matured enough to not be bothered by words like that, right? There are words like that in all Final Fantasies, Star Oceans, and other RPGs that I've played (with the exception of Kingdom Hearts, where I only saw the word "hell" once in the entire game). You can't go play a Final Fantasy game that is rated T without seeing "Dammit" or "What the hell" in the game! That's just the truth, and I doubt anybody complains about it, either.

**ViviMasterMage** · 07-09-2009, 02:37 PM

But Fate I bet that you played them when you were younger than 13 LAW-BREAKER take him away, get the shackles and throw away the key because Fate your doing time alot of time

**T.G. Oskar** · 07-09-2009, 03:00 PM

Why so? It is a perfectly valid question, which espoused a perfectly valid response, and that should remain in case someone else just asks "why they call this sword 'bastard'?"

@Fate: while it is the most quoted source, you have to be careful with what you post. I'm sure most people don't know what an "Oakeshott Type XVIa" blade means, or why a hand-and-a-half sword isn't as good as a one-handed longsword or a two-handed greatsword.

Also, the article seems to contradict your claim of being a "not so good" sword. Despite the length, and perhaps the weight, the advances on the hilt made the weapon's balance shift, and the advantage of having a weapon sized for two-hand combat, but with enough weight and balance to be used in one, made it worthwhile.

As a final point, although this isn't a verified claim: only a mounted warrior would wield a bastard sword (or a hand-and-a-half sword) in one hand. The foot soldier preferred two-hand weapons because of the sheer destructive power, and because sword & board combat (or the use of a one-hand weapon and a shield) was at times a detriment. In a nutshell: since ancient Rome, a warrior wielding a large Roman shield could find himself crippled with a javelin designed specifically for piercing the shield and adding to the weight. This is a tactic that exists before stronger and better made shields were made.

Granted, I don't know much about medieval combat (I wasn't there, nor I am a serious re-enactor though I'd wish to be), but I know my stuff. Just a heads up.

**Fate** · 07-09-2009, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by T.G. Oskar

Also, the article seems to contradict your claim of being a "not so good" sword.

Oh, no, I meant that I never found that the Bastard Sword was made strong in any games that I've seen it in. I imagine that the sword, in real like, would be very effectively, due to what you just summed up. But I was referring to games, not real life, in this situation.