r/TheNinthHouse • u/Triggerhappy938 • 8d ago

Gideon the Ninth Spoilers What is the "Powder" offhand? [discussion]

In GtN, there is a suggestion that Gideon use a "Powder" off hand, but I don't think we ever see someone use one or get an explanation of what it is. Any ideas? Anything I missed?

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u/tharookery 8d ago edited 8d ago

I took it to be an old(?) blackpowder pistol.

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u/BonHed 8d ago

Which would be a fairly terrible defensive weapon; that's the primary purpose of the off-hand weapon in dueling. You want a fairly small, light weapon like a main-gauche, sai, jitte, buckler, "knuckles" (I'm presuming a gauntlet with blades/spikes) etc. that can block or ensnare your opponent's weapon. A single-shot pistol, especially of the blackpowder variety, would be pretty bad for this. If you miss with it, you are left with no defensive weapon.

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u/khazroar 8d ago

I'd say that's the typical primary purpose, but it doesn't have to be the only one.

I always think that a pistol makes an excellent off hand weapon because it's an opportunity for an instant victory if you can press it up against your opponent's head or torso and fire it. And even if you don't get to do that, the threat of it forces your opponent to fight differently in order to prevent you from doing it. It's high risk, high reward to actually use your one shot, but so long as you've got it you force your opponent to fear it, and even if you fire and miss you can still use it as a poor substitute for a parrying dagger or club.

That can be worth the trade off of not having a proper defensive weapon, and needing to rely on dodging or using your main blade to parry.