[Humakty]

When I'm speaking of a melee, remember it's a group of people squeezed together, fighting with no rules, in which you can't make full use of your strength and height. In such a situation, the use of a short weapon (and small size) is rather an advantage, as it is more efficient to strike upward to trump the defenses of your adversary (who can't dodge really, he can only block). If you adapt the weapon you use, you shouldn't have a problem lifting it. The big and strong only have a real advantage till their group keeps it's cohesion, as it's the only moment allowing them to make use of their strength and reach (when their flanks are protected). So I maintain Conan kind of fighters are totally unrealistic, apart in an ultimate fighting arena. And two handed swords are rubbish weapons. As most two handed weapons.(if your goal is to survive the melee)

As for fencing, remember most olympic champions are rather small, we've got some specially small specimens in France who got gold medals, so I think this point explains itself quite well, for anyone who has watched a fencing competition at least once in it's life. Sometimes tall people do fare well, but it is rather exceptionnal.