If not for D&D, I would not have got into a bladed weapons. Without knowing how to use a knife, one night in Columbus, OH probably would have ended with me mugged and killed.
Some here will diss D&D and those who played it. I hereby diss them for not knowing what they are talking about...
The only reason I know so much about medieval weapons of all kinds is probably from role playing games. You got several types of swords, each for a specific purpose (knives, daggers, dirks, short swords, long swords, broad swords, sabers, scimitars, half-handed, two-handed, great swords), axes, quarter staffs, spears, halberds, pole-axes, bows, crossbows, slings, blow guns, throwing stars, hammers, clubs, maces of varying sorts, whips, flails, morning stars, and of course all the hybrid variations.