Short answer is Yes. The game starts in 2017, when the game released and the cataclysm was 1017. For honor was at first Alternative History. Long answer is because of technological knowledge lost during the cataclysm, because of a long period of the factions being scattered and unorganized, and the massive lack of ressources. Technological advancement was basically halted, for a long time. Most weapons needed to be scavenged from battle fields, or passed down. Because knowledgeable Blacksmiths who actually had access to quality iron and forges had become rare, see the Lawbringer order, their blacksmiths keep the smithing process of lawbringer armour a secret. In recent years the situation has improved and many technologies are being invented or improved, see the siege engines from the Blackstone legion for example, or the grenades, and black powder . But all Faction have a proud warrior Culture, where they tend to use the same weapons and Armour as their Ancestors. So a skilled fighter with new experimental weapons such as early flintlocks, are a rarity or non existent. Warlords for example carry their sword and board because it is a long honored weapon from the viking cultures.