Nothing but GAUNTLETS vs. SWORD - Could it Work?

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Oddly enough this is a surprisingly frequently asked question. Whenever the topic of unarmed vs. weapon defense comes up people suggest armor to compensate for the disadvantage. Would a skilled boxer (or D&D style monk, I guess) with heavy mitten gauntlets stand a chance against a swordsman?

Obviously individual skill, experience, and fitness matter the most. But let's take a look at the mechanics in this sort of uneven matchup, assuming an otherwise unarmored dueling scenario (be it historical or fantasy RPG).

More thoughts on a similar topic (the movie trope of catching a blade with bare hands):
   • Can You Catch a Sword Blade With Your...  


*** Time stamps **

00:00 - 00:32 Intro
00:32 - 01:17 VKNG promo
01:17 - 03:48 Gauntlet types and comparison to bucklers
03:48 - 07:02 Defensive capability of a gauntlet compared to a sword
07:02 - 08:01 What about adding forearm armor?
08:01 - 08:27 Unexpected benefit of a long messer handle
08:27 - 09:46 Distance, timing, and the danger of close quarters
09:46 - 12:27 The difficulty of closing the gap
12:27 - 13:22 Buckler + parrying stick
13:22 - 14:38 Final Thoughts
14:38 - 15:10 Outtake & outro


** Music **

Outtakes:
"Little People At Work" by Horrorpen
https://opengameart.org/content/littl...
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)

Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
https://theslantedroom.github.io/stev...
Used with artist's permission


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