Swords and stuff.

[RepresentingPride]

A boomerang is a hunting tool for killing birds and small mammals; if it misses it takes half a minute or so to return somewhere near you. War used throwing sticks -- heavier & didn't return (so it wouldn't clobber your own side). A boomerang might keep you in meat on the way to the battlefield but it would break on the first hit if used as a club (too light)

I know, I'm not talking about realistic fight with a boomerang, but in a fantasy setting, in which, every type of weapon/object can work.

Here fantasy boomerang + capacity to manipulate it:

 

[SMKenward]

The pike is the perfect evolutionary form of the spear though. Range almost always wins.

Not if the landsnecht at the front of the formation cuts the head off with their zweihander or their *halberd*.

 

[BouncyCactus]

Another thing I hate... twink archers. Because, lol no.

Hey, a twink can be an archer too. We don't discriminate...as long as he sticks to the sub 40 lbs bow. Wouldn't want to injure that delicate back. At least, not that way~~~

Archers do have one hell of a sleeper build.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Swords in fiction bug me... like in fantasy, why is that peasant carrying a sword, 1 they're expensive, and 2 the training necessary is insane. I do HEMA with my local club, I've done so for about 10 years, I'm considered proficient enough to teach, and I find myself going, no use stick in fight scenes. Another thing I hate... twink archers. Because, lol no.

True. Archery may seem 'simple' to others, but to actually wield a bow required arm strength to pull it and generate force that can go through the enemy's flesh. That's why a lot of of archer corpses have been determined to have a 'powerfully-built' bow-arm. Especially the long-bow, which is the common model of bow found in fantasy stories.

Now, maybe a twink gunner?

 

[Rezcore]

True. Archery may seem 'simple' to others, but to actually wield a bow required arm strength to pull it and generate force that can go through the enemy's flesh. That's why a lot of of archer corpses have been determined to have a 'powerfully-built' bow-arm. Especially the long-bow, which is the common model of bow found in fantasy stories.

Now, maybe a twink gunner?

A twink gunner is fine. But archer, no... not saying they can't bat for the home team, but the ain't gonna be trapping

 

[melchi]

As said, there are practical reasons. The magical systems works with tools to channel your mana. You don't need them, but they help to increase your performance. The thing is that metal exhibits the best magical properties, being the best conductor by far. Unlike the wooden shafts of spears for example. But whom I am talking to. You know the story.

Can't fool me, MC's primary hand normally has a doll equipped. The stabby stuff is just for show mostly.

 

[Assurbanipal_II]

Can't fool me, MC's primary hand normally has a doll equipped. The stabby stuff is just for show mostly.

I was found out. Dolls are a useful melee weapon. Such is widely known.

 

[Shard]

In my story, mutated creatures often have very tough skin, shells, strong scales, or some combination. Swords are nearly useless against the biggest threat, so most weaponry is blunt in nature. Staves are popular among farmers due to the ease of use, ability to use as a walking stick, and potent force they can produce. Warriors often use maces or clubs, though some use massive serrated blades to tear skin open and cause bleeding. The most common ranged weapon is the sling.

 

[Jocelyn_Uasal]

The next fantasy protag to pull out a glock 19 against the bbg will be my forever fav

 

[Jemini]

Thing about weaponplay is, the more training and technique is involved in handling the weapon is inversely proportionate to how actually effective it is. The reason you are having to do so much training with the weapon is because it's ineffective and you need to make up for the weapon's lacking points with skill.

Throughout all the weapons in history, there are only 4 for which this level of extreme training is justified. Fists, swords, bow, and sling. Fists because you always have them on you, swords because you can put them in a scabbard and wear it on your hip and almost always have it with you, bow because range, and sling because also range and also increased portability.

Any other weapon, if you can't figure out how to use it to good effect within 2 hours of picking it up, you should discard it.

Spear passes this test with flying colors. It only takes a couple hours of spear training to start using the spear effectively. Same goes for mace and bo staff, as well as most any pole weapon.

All that said, all of these highly effective simple weapons have one massive detriment. You can't easily mount them on your person, so you wind up having to hand-carry them. That's a big part of why the 4 weapons that require a lot of training are still very worth while, just about every one of them has a means by which you can easily carry it on your person. (Although, in the case of the bow, it's stretching it a little.)

EDIT: On another note, a dagger actually manages to find itself in a very interesting place. It's easy to use AND highly portable. But, of course, it's also very short, so it's good to also have training in a different weapon.

On the battle field, it's always been the case that you use a primary weapon from the selection of the easy use variety (spear, mace, ect...), you have your sword as a back-up weapon in case you loose your primary weapon, and then you use a dagger to finish off armored opponents that you have knocked down or potentially to use as a weapon of last resort if you even loose your sword as well.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

as well as most any pole weapon.

Note that pole-weapons do require a lot of training for the one area in which they can really shine (or can really mess things up) - massed combat. The most effective pole-weapons were dual-use things with either a long and a short range "payload" or were attached to a rifle (i.e. a bayonet). Just to use as a single fighter against another target? Just needs strength and coordination. Use when the guys beside you also have the same or similar weapons and you're being attacked by a group of enemies? Takes a lot of effort, more than with many other weapons.

On the battle field, it's always been the case that you use a primary weapon from the selection of the easy use variety (spear, mace, etc...), you have your sword as a back-up weapon in case you lose your primary weapon, and then you use a dagger to finish off armored opponents that you have knocked down or potentially to use as a weapon of last resort if you even lose your sword as well.

Though the Roman Legions used a weird variation of this - the pilum (designed more to neutralize enemy shields on approach rather than to inflict harm) and the gladius (either a small sword or VERY big dagger, depending on whom you ask) for everything else. And they ruled the battlefield for dozens of years until enemies with superior mobility turned up.