# Choose your weapon: Gladiatorial combat

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-your-weapon-gladiatorial-combat/819806>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 17, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-your-weapon-gladiatorial-combat/819806 "2018-08-17T19:58:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-your-weapon-gladiatorial-combat/819806/41 "2018-09-03T13:11:17Z")

</div>

2-handed Dacian _falx_ & or Thracian _rhomphaia_, and full lamina armour (that’s dismounted _cataphractii_ getup including full _manica_ and leg protection, not the\* lorica segmentata\*)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-your-weapon-gladiatorial-combat/819806/42 "2018-09-03T14:32:43Z")

</div>

A one-handed spear, leather shield (biggest possible) and only light armor as I’m pretty agile. Then I go huddle in a corner and try not to look dangerous until there’s only one or two opponents standing.

A spear gives you a competitive advantage over a sword (assuming equal levels of lack of skill, of course) and while it’s weak against axes, most people prefer swords.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-your-weapon-gladiatorial-combat/819806/43 "2018-09-04T13:15:53Z")

</div>

> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#):
>
> [A recording of Led Zepplin’s “Immigrant Song” and my ability to shoot lightning from my body](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iv83ZzB7hqU&t=40s).
> 
> I mean, if we’re engaging in fantasy, why go with half measures?
> 
> Stranger

Damn your eyes, Stranger, now I need to watch Ragnarok again!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bruce\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bruce\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Wayne)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-your-weapon-gladiatorial-combat/819806/44 "2018-09-04T13:30:10Z")

</div>

Hoplomachus if I had to choose traditional gladiator gear.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-your-weapon-gladiatorial-combat/819806.md?page=2)