Laquerii

[M. Demetrius]

Well, I am no expert in anything, including this, but what I've read on other groups on the web seems to indicate that the laquerius was outfitted basically like a retarius, but substituting the lasso for a net. So the rope wasn't really a weapon, but a means of capturing an arm or leg, neck, etc., to draw the opponent into spear range. From other mock combat, I can certainly attest that a spear can be quite as effective as a sword, and has a much longer reach.