When Rapiers are implemented, remember one thing

[Elexia]

They're a dueling weapon, specifically stabbing/piercing. In FFXI you handled it like any other sword which in real life would shatter the thing let alone barely hurt something. So when you guys implement these type of weapons:

They're not like normal swords..proper handling please!

[Vesperia]

They're a dueling weapon, specifically stabbing/piercing. In FFXI you handled it like any other sword which in real life would shatter the thing let alone barely hurt something. So when you guys implement these type of weapons:

They're not like normal swords..proper handling please!

According to that data mining leak from way back, fencing will be its own class in the armory system. If they are going to bother implementing fencing as a class in the armory system, it is pretty much guaranteed that they will treat the fencing weapons differently to any other such weapons. By that token, it can be safely assumed that rapiers will be wielded differently to the already-existing swords.

[TessaJalloh]

They're a dueling weapon, specifically stabbing/piercing. In FFXI you handled it like any other sword which in real life would shatter the thing let alone barely hurt something. So when you guys implement these type of weapons:

They're not like normal swords..proper handling please!

incorrect, the Rapier is a thin razor sharp sabre, which in expert hands can cut something to ribbons, they're also very useful for parrying and riposts.

The Epee is a thin tubular blade with a pointed tip, used primarily in sport fencing, it can't cut along it's length, but is excellent at piercing.

a fencer would likely be using the rapier however, because it's capable of slashing and piercing, which is very important for actual warfare.

what i do NOT want to see however, is shields in the offhand.

Fencer should not be able to use a shield, and should focus entirely on the martial prowess of their graceful cuts, thrusts, and disables.

[Sephr]

If we gained Fencer as a class and then Red Mage as one of it's job specialisations (Fencing weapon skills, mixed with enfeebling magic and en- spells to perform a support/damage role) I would be all. over. it.

No idea how jobs work at this point though, it might be totally unapplicable to grant a Fencer access to magic once it gains a specialisation, but who knows.

[Teroril]

incorrect, the Rapier is a thin razor sharp sabre, which in expert hands can cut something to ribbons, they're also very useful for parrying and riposts.

The Epee is a thin tubular blade with a pointed tip, used primarily in sport fencing, it can't cut along it's length, but is excellent at piercing.

a fencer would likely be using the rapier however, because it's capable of slashing and piercing, which is very important for actual warfare.

what i do NOT want to see however, is shields in the offhand.

Fencer should not be able to use a shield, and should focus entirely on the martial prowess of their graceful cuts, thrusts, and disables.

Actually, they should be able to weild a Main Gauche in the off hand:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrying_dagger

[Elexia]

Actually, they should be able to weild a Main Gauche in the off hand:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrying_dagger

This is what I figured.

[Wynn]

I hope if fencer does come to XIV they leave it void of any heal spells. Let the magic swordsman do what it was meant to do. Fight monsters with a magicked sword.

[Teknoman]

They're a dueling weapon, specifically stabbing/piercing. In FFXI you handled it like any other sword which in real life would shatter the thing let alone barely hurt something. So when you guys implement these type of weapons:

They're not like normal swords..proper handling please!

If you mean animations wise, I full support this. Hopefully they make damage types play a much bigger roll too. Blunt and piercing(?) does better damage to hard shelled/scaled enemies, etc.

[TessaJalloh]

Actually, they should be able to weild a Main Gauche in the off hand:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrying_dagger

that would be nice too, however i'm rather tired of always seeing duel wielding when no shield is in the off hand. making Fencer only use a single weapon and no defensive option on the offhand would make it have a strong presence when compared to whatever dual dagger wielding class we no doubt will see.

[OMEGA_HACK]

Actually as a trained Actor Combatant in Rapier and Dagger, and Small Sword (same blade, different weight placement and very different style use) also having co-taught the class at my University as part of my Senior Capstone I will give more insight that lolwiki can give:

1) Rapier and dagger is traditionally NOT a real style of fighting, it is made up therefore the sky is the limit, and why I am sure SE didn't think much into making it look any different from a regular sword swing.

2) Small sword and rapier use the same exact blade types, Epee blades being the most popular, although the weight in the pummel (the nob at the end of the handle) varies from the weapon types due to the fact that Small Sword has more thrusts meaning it has more of a perfect center balance, on the other hand Rapier tends to have a heavier pummel to allow for more powerful cutting attacks.

3) The only part of the Epee blade that is really sharp is the foible, which is only about 6in give or take from the tip of the blade in. From there you are have mid-blade which can cut but its not practical to do so given it not really being too sharp. Finally there is the Forte which is the base of the blade, the strongest part of the blade and where all your parries should come from, also there is the quions near the forte that you can even trap a blade with and snap it (I hope they make this a Fencing ability, Weapon Break)

4) You would not use a shield with either of these weapons as it would remove what a fighter of this weapon call his "active hand". Since the only sharp portion of the blade is the foible (razor blade sharp) you would be able to use your free hand or active hand to either A) grab and disarm while parrying an attack or B) follow a parry with your weapon with a beat parry to open the opponent up for an attack.

5) As far as Rapier and Dagger go, while not a historically accurate fighting style I would like to see this implemented as an option, BUT ONLY DAGGERS, knifes, kukris, butcher knifes and the like wouldn't work the same way... The dagger should be 60% defensive and 40% offensive in terms of what it could do, as that is how the dagger functions when being held with the rapier.

6) If they choose to use the Small Sword Epee style, I would have to say 100% thrusting weapon, rapier style 70% thrusting 30% cutting, the dagger portion should be 20% cutting, 20% thrusting/stabbing 60% defensive only.

Okay, I am being picky and specific but that is how its written and Square-Enix wants to be accurately correct when making the animations they need to focus on something like above.