Developed as early as the late 12th Century, longswords became the knightly weapon of choice by the 14th and were very popular with burghers and semi-professional soldiers as well. The longsword is actually a two-handed or hand-and-a-half weapon which was developed as advances in metalurgy made larger blades possible, and increased availability of armor increasingly obviated the need for a shield, allowing the second hand to be used for greater precision and leverage. The longsword was an ideal sidearm for soldiers carrying weapons like pikes, halberds, arquebus or crossbows which required the use of two hands. For the weapon described as a 'long sword' in most Role Playing Games and computer games see Arming Sword. Early longswords were little more than arming swords with extended grips, which allowed them to be used two handed. The blade was typically either straight or slightly tapering, double-edged, and the weapon normally had a simple cruciform hilt. As the weapon developed, examples with longer hilts and blades up to a foot longer than those of most arming swords were not rare, for an overall length of four to four-and-a-half feet. Complex hilt features such as siderings and finger rings also began to be introduced by the late 15th Century, and were common in the 16th.

Name	Size	Reach	Speed	Defense	Base Damage	Attack Types	Primary Attack Types	Armor Pierce	Grapple	Hardness	HP
Sword, longsword	L	5	2	4	1-10	SCP	CP	0	0	10	4

Longsword with side rings and finger rings, Rhineland, circa 1500. This would be a 5/2/5 weapon due to the complex hilt features.


Longsword, Silesia, 1450s. This would be a +1 AP weapon (For Pierce only).


Longsword with side rings and ricasso rings, South German, circa 1500. This would be a 5/2/5 weapon due to the hand protection conferred by the complex hilt features.


Longsword, Northern Italy, 1400. This would be a 4/1/4 weapon, with D12 damage and +1 AP (For Pierce only).


Longsword, South German, mid 15th C. This would be a 6/2/4, +1 AP weapon (for Pierce only).