PUGILISM:
Why
1: People have been asking for a hand-to-hand style. People have been saying this is a weapon fighting game. Hand-to-hand can make use of weapons.
2: Would make a lot of cameo characters via create-a-soul a LOT easier.
3: Would allow people to re-live memories of Heihachi/Grieve Edge from SCII/SCIII.
4: The 1600s was the boxing renaissance, as it were. A lot of people were developing techniques based off ancient roman styles and combining them with "modern" innovation.
Weapons
1/2: Spiked Cestus - Vicious boxing gloves used by the ancient gladiators of Rome, delivering wounds far worse than just simple concussions and bruises.
3: Pata - A gauntlet with a lengthy blade at the end, allowing one to fence as well as punch when they fight.
4: Scissor - A full-arm gauntlet with a semicircular blade at the end, accentuating punches with a devastating cleaving capability.
5: Thickened Tekko - A half-moon metal rod with a holding shaft in the middle, designed to focus blows into a specific point.
6: Demon Hand (Ultimate) - The hands of a strange creature, with vicious claws and spikes all along its digits. What...begat this?
7: Bare Fists (Joke) - Yeah, like that's gonna do you a fat load of good against weapons and blades.
Here, why don't you try this axe?
8: Gauntlets (Generic) - Some armor around the hands and you're ready to go into action. Defense AND offense, all in one package!
BAYONET-FIGHTING:
Why
1: Very few weapons fighting games (outside of Samurai Shodown 6 and Bushido Blade 2) have dealt with rifles, so it would be very original.
2: Would make a lot of cameo characters via create-a-soul a LOT easier.
3: There are precedent for firearms in Soulcalibur with Cervantes' pistol usage and Mitsurugi's original story in Soul Blade/Soulcalibur.
4: In the 1600s, gunpowder was THE game-changer in war. For a historical setting, it would be very silly not to acknowledge it in some way.
5: There were several bayonet fighting styles invented at the time (most notably Jukendo), so the style would not simply be shooting and nothing else.
Weapons
1/2: Musket & Bayonet - A smoothbore rifle that fires musket balls at great distances. The bayonet turns it a vicious melee weapon, capable of holding against other blades.
3: Hand Cannon & War Spike - The oldest type of portable firearm, utilizing a straight grip rather than a curved rifle grip. The weighted end gives its melee an extra oomph.
4: Tri-Barrel Polegun & Pike - This Ming weapon's design kept it from being terribly accurate but increased speed of fire. The pike on the end appears to be a modification.
5: Caliver & Mounted Spear - A forkless design that forsakes the wheellock in favor of a lighter weight to allow for faster slashing and slicing with the mounted spear.
6: Tanegashima Rifle & Tanto (Ultimate) - The rifle utilized in the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, allowing Oda Nobunaga to revolutionize the face of warfare across Japan.
7: Foam Rifle & Rod (Joke) - These "weapons" shoot soft darts that plink harmlessly off people with a cute "poit!". Even the hardest badass will get in the mood eventually and play dead.
8: Arquebus & Knife (Generic) - The predecessor of the flintlock firearms. Not terribly advanced, but technology doesn't matter when it can still put a knife in a stomach.
FLAIL:
Why
1: The only similar weapon in the game, Ivy's, is straight out of fantasy and has an overly-dominatrix movelist.
2: A combination of long-range and power, rather than long-range and combo-happy.
3: A unique weapon that has not frequently been represented in weapons fighting games.
4: A variety of techniques that can be used, both style-focused and power-focused.
Weapons
1/2: Flail - A ball at the end of a chain, attached to a large stick. It can strike at long distances or bludgeon up close.
3: Urumi - A whip-sword from the Philippines, capable of slinging around a lethal blade at long range.
4: Ball & Chain - A heavy ball attached via rings to a heavier stick. Slow and unwieldy, but it can smash open armor and devastate shields.
5: Multi-Section Staff - A chinese flail, a large staff broken up into numerous pieces and then attached via chains. Flexible and powerful.
6: Peasant's Chigiriki (Ultimate) - During ancient Japanese eras, the peasants were oppressed by Japanese nobility. They would take their weapons and guide them with their willpower, rebelling against the heirarchy.
7: Cup and Ball (Joke) - Toss the roped ball up, see how many times you can catch it in the cup! Looks easy, but is actually surprisingly hard.
8: Chained Morningstar (Generic) - A spiked morningstar modified to be on a chain. Woe to those that fall under its weight.
ARMING SWORD:
Why
1: We've got massive Zweihander swords, or short swords with shields, no real middle ground.
2: Several NPCs use just simple swords and nothing else, like Durer. Ironically, can not be recreated.
3: THE most iconic weapon for medieval fantasy or medieval historical. Not yet represented in a series all about iconic weapons.
4: Its use in hundreds of fantasy/historical media provides easy research for movesets.
Weapons
1/2: Arming Sword - Commonly called the Longsword, this sword used by knights of the medieval ages is a staple and basic blade.
3: Ninjato - The supposed single-edged sword of choice for the ninja, quiet and stealthy while still remaining lethal.
4: Yanmao Dao - A chinese single-edged sword, thinner and straighter than the dao, taking inspiration from european swords.
5: Spada de Lato - A direct descendant of the arming sword, with a more elaborate hilt and a thinner blade for faster movement.
6: Crocea Mors (Ultimate) - The legendary sword of Julius Caesar, it causes death to whoever it strikes--and to its wielder.
7: Wooden Sword (Joke) - It's dangerous to go alone! Take this.
8: Geom (Generic) - A korean double-edged sword, straight and lengthy. The name itself just means "sword", and can refer to a wide variety.
Edit:
STICKFIGHTING:
Why
1: Stickfighting is a near-universal art that could be put in the hands of a tribal warrior from Africa, New Zealand, Egypt, the Philippines, Thailand, or civilized areas like Spain, Italy, Great Britain, etc etc etc.
2: All of the stick/blunt weapons so far are unlike traditional stickfighting. Kilik's staff is more oriental-martial-style, Rock's mace is pure power, Maxi's nunchaku is a straight copy of Bruce Lee...and out of those three, two are large and unwieldy. There are MORE than plenty blade-users.
3: Dual-wielding speedsters are rare, so far only taken by Taki. Plus, stickfighting allows for defense as well as offense, providing an interesting defensive-speedster niche.
4: Stickfighting is incredibly versatile and could fit any combat role needed for gameplay--grappling, striking, poking, evasion, blocking, deflecting, or etc.
Weapons
1/2: Stick - A lengthy piece of wood, perfectly balanced and hardened enough to stand against blades.
3: Iwisa - An African club with a bone-crushing knob on top. While many other nations had maces, Africa preferred something faster.
4: Kali Sticks - Designed from rattan, these sticks move incredibly fast and leave an incredibly painful sting upon strike.
5: Shillelagh - An Irish stick hollowed out and filled with molten lead, noted for its shiny black appearance and wide head.
6: Gambanteinn (Ultimate) - Considered to be a magic wand used by giants, it is now broken in half and used to bludgeon people.
7: Kitchen Paddle (Joke) - Used to discipline naughty children who put their hands in the cookiejar. Such methods have come under fire in recent times.
8: Cudgel (Generic) - Who needs anything big and fancy? Just pick up some wood off the ground and start swingin' it.
