Hussar
Legend
The popularity of the polearm (especially if you include the spear or pike) boils down to two reasons IMO:
1. It's fairly easy to train people to use one and they are fairly simple to make.
2. Pole arms are extremely effective at what they do. Swords, by and large, were the weapon of last resort. You pulled out your sword after your long pointy weapon broke or you were finishing someone off.
Think of it this way. If someone has a sword, would you rather have a three foot hunk of semi-sharp steel in your hand, or a ten foot pole?
1. It's fairly easy to train people to use one and they are fairly simple to make.
2. Pole arms are extremely effective at what they do. Swords, by and large, were the weapon of last resort. You pulled out your sword after your long pointy weapon broke or you were finishing someone off.
Think of it this way. If someone has a sword, would you rather have a three foot hunk of semi-sharp steel in your hand, or a ten foot pole?