Adamantine would have a lot of sharpness, but wouldn't quite have the energy to spread armor apart. You're basically using your sword as a wood splitting wedge or the Jaws of Life. Thick armor works well because a sword would have to first slice through the thickness, then it would need to actually force apart the armor to attain any more depth. Quote from: Girlinhat on March 12, 2012, 10:36:44 pm It would cut pretty good, yes, but ultimately when you're cutting things it's about spreading your target. Of course all of this applies to flesh and bone as well, just that these are easier to spread. Thrusting spears would manage you work fairly well, as you can put the whole weight of your body behind your thrust - and preferably use the enemy's momentum as well - to get in the kenetic energy and spread a small section, then it's a uniform diameter shaft that doesn't need to push apart any more armor. Of course this mainly applies to swinging weapons.

If you core it with something heavy and give it an adamantine edge, then you impart a lot more force and you're much more likely to achieve deep penetration.

It would cut pretty good, yes, but ultimately when you're cutting things it's about spreading your target.

Obsidian scalpel atom thick