Sword on back or hip?

Surely it depends on your height and the length of the sword? Same answer for boxers vs briefs.

It depends on the sword, ya doofus.

For utility I think the hip makes more sense, but in terms of "Which of these makes a character look cooler?" I think they both have their place but overall I prefer the back. Also, just some friendly advice; when you try to make a poll, write some sort of opening post that will get the discussion rolling instead of just leaving others to do it for you.

I agree with what most games do, one handed swords on the hip and two handed swords on the back. Since I have to choose though, I'll go back simply because I like two handed weapons a lot.

How about the one where it's easier to draw in a life-or-death situation.

Also where you can sit down in a chair comfortably.

You know what you rarely see in games? Shoulder/neck sheaths for swords or daggers.

The one that you can actually draw a sword from...

In hand.

Hip is always more awesome. A samurai or ninja doing that slow sword sheath is badass, or when they pull the sword out super fast - that's cool.

lol

Yeah, like if its a thin light sword like a rapier its good on the hip but if it's like Cloud's Buster Sword then in no way is that going on the hip. Same for guns, pistol on hip, Gears of War Lancer chainsaw gun on the back.

As long as you look badass, it doesn't matter which way you have it.....

Probably the hip, because I think pulling a sword from my back would be a lot more difficult. I'd go with the back if we're going with 'coolness' factor though.

I mean this boils down to sephiroth vs cloud, samurai vs ninja, a battle for the ages!

back

Depends on the sword, but back is cooler while hip is more practical.

Slung low on the back with a horizontal draw

Hip. Faster access.

Mine is up the sleeve and it makes throat strikes a breeze. I wear one on the back as a distraction.

Depends on the type of character. If you are playing as some power character, weapons need to be on the back and if it's an agility/speed type character, waist. I don't know why those are the rules, but those are the rules (that I just made up). Maybe a giant sword on the back of a power character is phallic or something, I don't know, but it works.

I think on the back of the waist, horizontal above the butt, is a pretty cool spot for speedy weapons.

Or hold it like Travis Touchdown.

I would say it depends most on how you move. If you're agile, it'd be better on the back.

^ I agree with everything your saying.

Can I vote for a third option? Boot Knife? or something of the sort? Like a small concealed dagger in your sleeve?

I'll vote Hip anyway. I love practicing my quick draws at home. Tend to hurt myself more than succeed...

Depends on the sword. Most swords are literally impossible to get out of a sheath on your back quickly.

Sword through chest

Eh. You don't have to lug one around if you can just make one at any moment.

What the hell is going on here!?

I came in execting everyone to be making the correct and obvious choice which is to carry a sword on your back.

You're running around and shit and you got a sword dangling at your side annoyingly like an asshole.

Sword on back. Free your hands and leave your hips for small blades or smoke bombs.

Holy shit they teach this in grade 3.

Except if you have a sword on your back you can't unsheathe it.

Sword on back looks cooler when you're carrying it around and sword on hip looks cooler when you draw it.

I voted hip.

Sword on the back is silly as anything longer than a short sword cannot be drawn from a sheath in that position unless you pull some fancy double handed (and stupid slow) push out tactics alla Witcher 1. Pay attention to any game that features characters drawing swords from sheaths strapped to their backs, the sword will almost invariably clip through the sheath in several frames of the animation as it is not physically possible for the sword to be drawn in that way if it is standard longsword or katana length.

Feel free to test this yourself at home if you do not believe me. It is similar to the spoon of cinnamon challenge in the way it pulls in the gullible thinking how hard could it possibly be?

Or just watch the video:

Lastly, I will not accept video game giant swords hovering behind the back as if by magic held in place by nothing. Because that's bullshit.

What if they have magnets under their shirt?

Walking around carrying it freehand.

It really depends on the specific sword and the character.

Personally if i was in some weird fantasy universe, i'd have my sword on my hip, seems easier to get to. Plus a shield, cus it'd be stupid not to have a shield.

In medieval times? Refined high powered, but still light weight enough to wear around, magnets capable of supporting... no. No! I won't allow it. ~__~

If I had to carry a sword around because I was, for some strange Scyfy (I hate the way they spell it now) channel reason, transported to a medieval time, then I'd carry it on my hip because it's easier to reach.

In my pants. hur-hur.

I'd carry it on my horse of course.

Depends. Heavier armor? Back. Light armor or clothes? Hip.

A) how is this even a question

B) why is this forum so stupid of course back

Back. Because Geralt of Rivia says so.

Samurai always wore the sword on the left side, through the belt.

Sword on the back is just to look cool for movies and games but would get you killed in the real world.

I just watched a shit ton of his videos thanks to you. This guy is awesome.

depends on the sword, right? Longer ones you'll want on your back, while short swords you'll want on your hip.

Go for the one that lets you use the sword, stop being dumb. Hip.

Having used both one handed and two handed swords, I vastly prefer the two handed variety (I never learned the shield) - so back is where it's at, as the swords I used were far too long to have on my hip.

My squire carries mine until I have need of it.

I say on the back. I've always preferred them there.

Also since everyone is using images to help show case their reasons.

To address the whole drawing issue: would it be possible to have the scabbard just be slung on your back, in such a way that you could quickly swing it off and into a position where you could draw it normally? Cause the whole reason it's on your back it because that's the easiest way to carry it around. No one said you have to draw from there, right?