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It seems like a ridiculous topic, but bear with me. Female characters and some of the more flamboyant Primachs boast some really crazy hairstyles; how much are they impeded by these? Also, aren't beards a huge liability in close combat?

Owain wrote:It seems like a ridiculous topic, but bear with me. Female characters and some of the more flamboyant Primachs boast some really crazy hairstyles; how much are they impeded by these? Also, aren't beards a huge liability in close combat?

Ironically long hair was fairly common among ancient combatants. Especially since professional armies didn't really come to rise until like, the 15th century? Even then the word professional is kind of loosely used. Up until then most Soldiers were just guys given weapons and told go over there and fight those guys. Professional fighting wasn't at the top of their list. These men (and even many professional fighters like Samurai) usually tied it behind their heads to keep it out of their eyes, and though I'm certain you can find a way to use someone's beard against them, it's not really the first thought when you're swinging swords at each other to reach out with one hand and grab the other guy's face... Maybe in a hand to hand fight but throw weapons into the mix and it becomes a little more complicated.

Modern militaries (Western ones anyway... I don't know about the others) don't require short hair cuts out of the idea long hair gets in your way. It's mostly about cleanliness and uniformity. Short hair is easier to maintain and keep clean than long hair. It certainly can get in your way, but I don't think its that big a deal. Between a helmet or the reach of a weapon, no one is gonna get close enough for your beard to hurt you, and you can keep long hair out of your eyes by tying it behind your head, and even if you don't long hair isn't going to be a massive obstruction to your vision. Distracting possibly but I would think that if it really was a problem long hair among germanic tribes, samurai, greeks, and romans wouldn't have been so common.

EDIT: Unlike movies, books, and games, most real CQC fights, have ended in less than a half minute. It's not really enough time for these sort of things to come up.

Personally I think the crazy hair dues are awesome, especially on those Space Wolves. Talk about excellent lift and body !

One problem with being so bald
Is skin the sunshine will scald
S'why Marines are all screamin'
Sparkly domes always beamin'
Less manly indeed if they bawww'd

Manchu wrote:One problem with being so bald
Is skin the sunshine will scald
S'why Marines are all screamin'
Sparkly domes always beamin'
Less manly indeed if they bawww'd

Genius

LunaHound wrote:

Manchu wrote:One problem with being so bald
Is skin the sunshine will scald
S'why Marines are all screamin'
Sparkly domes always beamin'
Less manly indeed if they bawww'd

Genius

Manchu. My candle of light in the dark void of trolls, blog bots and Femarines...

Alexander's men were encouraged to shave and cut their hair so the enemy couldn't grab them by the hair/beard in combat. I imagine Space Wolves have the same problem; maybe bearded models should get an initiative penalty.

Touching a Space Wolf's facial hair/top knot would be a huge mistake. It's the only thing that makes them more mad than an empty keg.

Owain wrote:Alexander's men were encouraged to shave and cut their hair so the enemy couldn't grab them by the hair/beard in combat. I imagine Space Wolves have the same problem; maybe bearded models should get an initiative penalty.

Really? I've never heard this before. I wonder what his logic was since his men fought in phalanx formations with long spears. What's the source material? Alexander the great is one of my favorites but its so hard finding good pieces on him when you have to shift through so many works. I haven't found a good set of info on him in forever (granted I haven't looked in awhile, I've been preoccupying myself with Patton and Rommel).

I personally can't imagine grabbing a guys beard in melee combat outside of hand to hand. I would think the weapons reach enough to prevent this ever really factoring in.

@Manchu, did you think that up on the spot

@LoH: Enjoy.

Also, if you like historical fiction and would like to read about Alexander's life and times, try Mary Renault.

Manchu wrote:@LoH: Enjoy.

My god... You are a good

Apparently the Roman's did the same thing as Alexander. I found that in like five minutes in my old history book. I find myself wondering how I missed this...

Well, regardless of the practical reasons (Thanks by the way, now I have another meaningless subject to preoccupy myself with for a few hours instead of doing my home work ) the 40k guys probably do have them for show. The Space Wolves certainly look more viking-y with the beards and all.

awesome poem

If someone grabed my hair or Beard I would run a CCW up in there gut!

Owain wrote:Alexander's men were encouraged to shave and cut their hair so the enemy couldn't grab them by the hair/beard in combat. I imagine Space Wolves have the same problem; maybe bearded models should get an initiative penalty.

Don't forget that many Roman soldiers on campaign often shaved their heads bald and had hair painted on instead. It's much easier to treat a cracked skull or a sliced face without your grimey, unwashed mop getting in the way of the wound.

Also the model grabbing the Space Wolf's beard should, in return, automatically lose one wound, as grabbing a Space Wolf's beard would be about as smart as grabbing a Daemonette's arse