Is it possible to use an object as an improvised reach weapon?

[snickersnax]

No, a pointy stick is not like a bladed stick. S a 6' spear could be used as a 6' spear or as a quarterstaff.

so a quarterstaff with an ax strapped to it would have reach because its similar to a halberd, but a quarterstaff with a dagger strapped to it would not, because its similar to a spear?

 

[LordEntrails]

by less effective do you mean less damage? Like a spear used as halberd would be d4 damage, but gain the reach property?

Not to me. A spear and halberd are different weapons. They are not interchangeable. A halberd has an axe-like head on the end that is used for damage in most cases . A spear has no such feature.

If a "Spear" was long enough to be used as a reach weapon, it would have "reach" as one of it's properties. Hence in no case would I ever allow a Spear to be used as a reach weapon. Now, a Long Spear or something equivalent that has reach, could be used as a reach weapon.

 

[Bawylie]

by less effective do you mean less damage? Like a spear used as halberd would be d4 damage, but gain the reach property?

Yep. You can try to use a screwdriver as a hammer too, but it’ll be less effective.

 

[snickersnax]

I can't imagine many improvised reach weapons, that doesn't mean my players couldn't.

Say a person with tavern brawler and only simple weapon proficiency picked up a halberd and said, " I want to use this as an improvised weapon." Would it be an improvised weapon (d4 damage) with reach in his hands?

 

[snickersnax]

Now, a Long Spear or something equivalent that has reach, could be used as a reach weapon.

do you mean lance? I'm not sure what a longspear is in 5e

 

[Satyrn]

so a quarterstaff with an ax strapped to it would have reach because its similar to a halberd, but a quarterstaff with a dagger strapped to it would not, because its similar to a spear?

We're all gonna have different answers to these questions, and the only one that matters is the DM's.

My answer to these two is: of the player is doing this surgically to be able to use his weapon at reach, then sure. Both wood count as a reach weapon. But the axe tied to the staff wouldn't be treated like a halberd; it would be a makeshift piece of crap that didn't work like any existing weapon. Same for the dagger on the end the staff.

Both of these improvised weapons would work just like a "standard" improvised weapon, but they'd both have reach because that was what the player was trying to accomplish.

 

[Oofta]

Say a person with tavern brawler and only simple weapon proficiency picked up a halberd and said, " I want to use this as an improvised weapon." Would it be an improvised weapon (d4 damage) with reach in his hands?

I'd probably allow it. However I also think this is stretching the intent of the feat a bit so there'd be some other penalty like possibly dropping the weapon (and ending attacks) on a nat 1 or something.

I guess I see reach weapons as being fairly difficult to use without getting tangled up because their so unwieldy. If it ever came up in my game I'd have to think about it a bit.

 

[Satyrn]

Say a person with tavern brawler and only simple weapon proficiency picked up a halberd and said, " I want to use this as an improvised weapon." Would it be an improvised weapon (d4 damage) with reach in his hands?

My first thought was to say no, the halberd is a halberd, and you need to be proficient with a halberd to use a halberd proficiently.


But then I figured, sure, why not. After all, you could pick up a random long pole and use it to the same effect.

 

[snickersnax]

Yep. You can try to use a screwdriver as a hammer too, but it’ll be less effective.

how less effective can things get for weapons that do a d4 damage? say you're fighting a creature that is resistant to piercing, but not bludgeoning, and you have a dagger and your player says I want to use my dagger to hit it with the pommel and do bludgeoning damage effectively making it an improvised weapon to do bludgeoning damage. Wouldn't it do a d4 damage?

What happens when that same character hits a creature with his dagger and would have killed it, but the character says," I just want to knock it unconscious." Would you describe that as a pommel strike for the narrative, or would you have him pierce the creature in some non-lethal, but knocking unconscious way?

 

[Bawylie]

how less effective can things get for weapons that do a d4 damage? say you're fighting a creature that is resistant to piercing, but not bludgeoning, and you have a dagger and your player says I want to use my dagger to hit it with the pommel and do bludgeoning damage effectively making it an improvised weapon to do bludgeoning damage. Wouldn't it do a d4 damage?

What happens when that same character hits a creature with his dagger and would have killed it, but the character says," I just want to knock it unconscious." Would you describe that as a pommel strike for the narrative, or would you have him pierce the creature in some non-lethal, but knocking unconscious way?

I would not rule that use of a dagger as improvised. If you’re trained in that weapon, you can do that sort of trick without penalty at my table.

I would ask the player to describe the result however they pleased. I’d prefer advance notice that they want a knockout but I’m not rewinding time and changing rules. HP reduced to zero, NPC goes down, player can say “uh, hang on it’s a knockout.” Perfectly fine.