I like seeing atypical weapons not because I like accuracy (I mean, I do, but inaccuracy is usually no points off for me), but because variety is just nice, y'know? So in my mind, an overused weapon with a twist is cool enough. Put some effort into the design! And/or crib from history!
Its a hard balance I think, because you want the readers to be able to easily comprehend what you present them. I'm sure its easier in comics, as you have that visual representation. But as far as pure writing I always found it challenging to veer from more widespread weapon archetypes out of fear I wouldn't describe them well enough for the reader. Breaks the flow. Could just be in my head though.
In my story I have a race called the Aamami (which are humanoid hare people). They are quite sneaky and ninja like, but for weapons I have given them ancient Indian inspired weapons like Chakrams, Katar, Urumi and Haladie. And the bigger ones use Khargas.
I had no idea any of these weapons existed before - other than the Chakram because of Xena. 
I think most of the artist also use typical weapons because there are more reference materials for it.
I use a scythe and I must do a lot research for how to hold it and how to use it and there isn't that much for this kind of weapon 
Sometimes I think it would be easier to draw a sword 
I like hammers. You don't see it much and I can really only recall two instances in popular fiction where a character wields a hammer as a weapon
You should play the .hack//sign Rebirth series of games. I remember the adept rogue on that game wields a scythe in his third form, could be helpful in your imagining.
I'm the kind of guy the just likes blunt weapons like maces, morning stars, frails, and basebats. They're the kind of melee weapons you use to fight zombies.
Personally, i enjoy enough weapon variety to allow for many different fighting styles.
I think swords were popularized in media because they were weapons wielded by the nobility and knights, which made them rare and unique in their time. Ironically, swords seem like the most common "hero weapon" nowadays....
I mean there are war scythes from the medieval era. Horseman picks are also similarly shaped although not really bladed weapons. There is definitely more sources for swords in real life because a lot of them were ceremonial hence never seeing battle and getting destroyed
I think in terms of combat style it is more flashy if that makes sense. A sword has a lot of parrying techniques whereas a mace, although skillfully wielded boils down to hit hard with the heavy end
I know right. Warhammers are immensely effective and are great from horse back or in a mele but nope we instead get longsword, longsword and if we're lucky greatsword
I suppose so. You could always have a glossary to explain the weaponry. I believe though that most people can guess at what a boar spear looks like or describing a bardiche as a "huge axe" shouldn't confuse too many people.
More-so addressing the issue at hand then discussing it, I'd probably have to say there's two main reasons why so many series seem to use such default weapons. Well, one really...
Because bows and swords are mainstream, there isn't exactly a lot of research that needs to go into it, therefor artists for comics/animation, don't need to study all that much and can just take a basic shape, and add a bit of flare to it, and boom, you've got yourself a 'fantasy weapon.' Same thing as with prop studios for live-action stuff.
On the other hand, more 'work' would go into making something like a Chakram, or a morning-star. Due to that, it would take more time, and thus cost more to get that drawn/animated, or made by the prop department. So, time is really the biggest factor.
Time, and swords/bows are just far too mainstream.
I agree that more exotic weapons should be in media;
I kind of love the elegance of a good sword fight (not the anime rapidslash nonsense), and there is a reason why historically swords are just more common... They are pretty much the best weapon to kill people with until heavy armor and firearms became a thing.
That being said, I do believe we should diversify weapons in stories to include more practical things... Like you mentioned, crossbows were a lot better and easier to use (not depending on your arms to keep tension helps keep the focus in a fight), and a hammer is a very versatile weapon as well, as it basically doesn't care how many layers of armor you put over yourself (Not to mention being easier to make look badass without sacrificing usefullness, which can't be said for swords.)
And god i'd love me some more quarterstaff wielders... That shit is dope as hell and you can do so many cool things with it!}
The ONLY weapon I have a serious bias against is SCYTHES!! (And i know i'm about to catch flak for this)
As a fan of good fight coreography I hate scythes... They are overdone in media and often don't come out interesting because nobody knows how to be effective with a weapon that leaves you open 90% of the time... The closest i've see anyone be good with one was zasalamel from the soul calibur, or Ruby from Rwby, and even then there are not that many cool moves because of the scythe per se, just the acrobatics which would have worked with any other weapon that featured something to hold onto.
Sorry for spewing hate.. I do like the looks of them... it's just that when I see a chracter wielding scythes I know it's just gonna look bland.
I blame shadiversity for making me look into these things too much xD
A lot of my Elven characters typically use quarterstaffs, for the exact reason that they tend to be more versatile than swords. (These characters are also immensely magical, so weapons are for when they need to keep said magic hidden.) I also think they look awesome.
I know that but like a club is quite literally the simplest weapon. If it was complexity that was the issue one could easily use the two hundred different club variants from around the world. I've never animated but wouldn't the motion to swing something be about the same sword or not?
Very true. Great for self defense and can be reinforced, simply made. Bo is a great fighting style using the staff and there are tons of references for it.
That's kind of why I mentioned the 'mainstream' part as well. If it was just simply ease of use in art/animation, then yeah I'm sure EVERY main character would use something like a club of sorts, but Clubs aren't mainstream. You can blame things like Lord of the Rings and A Song of Ice and Fire on why swords and bows are so popular, since all the main characters use either of those two things, mostly swords though. Same thing with Arthurian Legends, though to a lesser extent than the two things I mentioned prior.
Swords and Bows are EXTREMELY mainstream, so everyone and their mother will know how to draw them, even as concept art for a prop. Thus, time isn't needed for research into viable designs, historical or otherwise.
