D&D 5E Fixing the polearm and taking back its seat as generally best nonprojectile weapon from the sword.

[Wiseblood]

Oh yeah, in 3.5 and 3e that would work nicely.

 

[Son of the Serpent]

Oh yeah, in 3.5 and 3e that would work nicely.

Oh...uh

The suggestion i made for circumstantial crits was meant for you specifically in what i assumed was a 5e context with some home brew.

In a typical 3.5 game my suggestion for rolling crits and when to do so would have been completely different.

Woops? I got confused due to assuming you play 5e and also from thinking you avoid using crits

 

[Celebrim]

So, I'm actually OK with improving the combat capability of pole arms as a point of verisimilitude. Do think all things being equal, the pole arm will have an advantage over sword and buckler. Certainly 16th and 17th century fencing masters seemed to think so.

However, even if you do this my suspicion is adventurers will still stick with swords - sidearms - over heavy infantry weapons.

And the reason is also verisimilitude. You can't just strap a pole arm to your back and carry it around. You need some sort of magical carrying device or magical 'switchblade' pole arm. Otherwise, it's just too difficult to do all the other tasks of adventuring while carrying this 7'-10' pole with a razor sharp bit of metal on the end. Adventurers need free hands.

 

[Son of the Serpent]

So, I'm actually OK with improving the combat capability of pole arms as a point of verisimilitude. Do think all things being equal, the pole arm will have an advantage over sword and buckler. Certainly 16th and 17th century fencing masters seemed to think so.

However, even if you do this my suspicion is adventurers will still stick with swords - sidearms - over heavy infantry weapons.

And the reason is also verisimilitude. You can't just strap a pole arm to your back and carry it around. You need some sort of magical carrying device or magical 'switchblade' pole arm. Otherwise, it's just too difficult to do all the other tasks of adventuring while carrying this 7'-10' pole with a razor sharp bit of metal on the end. Adventurers need free hands.

They made collapseable polearms too. Uncommon variants yes. But they exiated. Also not all poleweapons are super heavy either. Ther are also poleweapons i'd absolitely say were light weapons. Some are even specified as such in core rules. An example would be the javelin.

 

[BookBarbarian]

Up till 19th century or so in Germany Nightwatchmen (who would patrol alone on their own) was equipped with a horn for raising alarm, a lantern and a halberd!
The latter was especially useful to pull down façade climbers, mounted do-no-goods, had a blunt end for less deadly maneuvers, and would even the odds against a group of opponents.

The 1 shot firearms which could get wet only had 1 shot etc. just could not compete in usefulness.View attachment 114858

here you go, that is an archetype as you can see!

I have often thought that a Halberd would be my preferred melee weapon in a zombie apocalypse.

The spear point for thrusting into a brain, the axe blade for chopping off reaching limbs, the hook for pulling a zombie away from an ally.

Then I smugly think how much smarter I am than those Katana people.

 

[Son of the Serpent]

I have often thought that a Halberd would be my preferred melee weapon in a zombie apocalypse.

The spear point for thrusting into a brain, the axe blade for chopping off reaching limbs, the hook for pulling a zombie away from an ally.

Then I smugly think how much smarter I am than those Katana people,.

it may be no replacement for skill but it is strictky better than a katana. Worthless piece of hardly steal scrap. Lol

 

[Salthorae]

it may be no replacement for skill but it is strictky better than a katana. Worthless piece of hardly steal scrap. Lol

Why don't the Katana lovers and the Polearm lovers remember that there is a common love child for you both to adore: NAGINATA!!!

As to polearms in games... my fighters walk around with them all the time. He doesn't care if people look at him funny or it's hard to carry. HE has the polearm so HE will decide where it's appropriate (mostly )

 

[Wiseblood]

Oh...uh

The suggestion i made for circumstantial crits was meant for you specifically in what i assumed was a 5e context with some home brew.

In a typical 3.5 game my suggestion for rolling crits and when to do so would have been completely different.

Woops? I got confused due to assuming you play 5e and also from thinking you avoid using crits

I do play 5e. I use crits. I just don’t mess with the range to protect the Champion Fighter.

 

[bedir than]

There's a part of me that feels the current spear steps a bit too much on the Javelin's territory. The long spears that are 'polearm-like' should not be as effective as Javelin's when thrown.

 

[David Howery]

And the reason is also verisimilitude. You can't just strap a pole arm to your back and carry it around. You need some sort of magical carrying device or magical 'switchblade' pole arm. Otherwise, it's just too difficult to do all the other tasks of adventuring while carrying this 7'-10' pole with a razor sharp bit of metal on the end. Adventurers need free hands.

not to mention, adventurers tend to spend a lot of time in tight places... dungeons, caverns, inns, etc... some of the polearms that you have to swing in a big arc (all the axe ones) may not be feasible there. The spear type ones might be okay...