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

[Doug McCrae]

It wasn't either/or for medieval soldiers, they carried multiple weapons. A Byzantine heavy cavalryman in the High Medieval period would typically have a lance, a straight sword, a curved sword, and up to three maces. Source = Byzantine Cavalryman 900-1204 (2009) Timothy Dawson.

The golf bag is real!

 

[BookBarbarian]

It wasn't either/or for medieval soldiers, they carried multiple weapons. A Byzantine heavy cavalryman in the High Medieval period would typically have a lance, a straight sword, a curved sword, and up to three maces. Source = Byzantine Cavalryman 900-1204 (2009) Timothy Dawson.

The golf bag is real!

emphasis added

Well, horses are very useful for carrying stuff around. Getting them into dungeons has been tricky with my DM though.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Combat as sport vs combat as war:

Since the ordinary pole-axe combined these three offensive elements, the axe and hammer and pick, it became the arm par excellence of the knight fighting on foot - though this statement needs some qualification: one popular usage of it was in the 'peaceful' fights at tournaments or in the processes of legal duels. For combat in war, either mounted or on foot, a short version of the same weapon was very much in favour between about 1370 and 1550.​

​

- European Weapons and Armour (1980) Ewart Oakeshott​

 

[Jaeger]

For Spears/polearms one method to use to give them a range 'advantage'

Spears/polearms get a free AoO when an enemy closes for combat to try and hit the PC. (The enemy has to get by the point in order to hit the PC, if they hit the PC then they are considered to be inside the point and the PC can only attack at disadvantage, unless they do a withdraw action to reset.)

Spears can be set against a charge: AoO with advantage + double damage.

Spears/polearms Can attack an enemy from behind a friend in combat. (from behind the 'first rank' of combatants)

Spears can be thrown. Polearms, not so much.

Even then there would be valid reasons why a PC would not runaround carrying a spear everywhere with them. Urban areas, confined spaces etc.

 

[Doug McCrae]

@BookBarbarian Professional medieval infantry, such as an Anglo-Saxon thegn, English longbowman or Landsknecht, would typically carry three weapons – a hafted or missile weapon, a sword, and a dagger.

 

[Zardnaar]

Landsknect were late. Swiss Pikemen and Spanish Tercio predated them.

 

[BookBarbarian]

@BookBarbarian Professional medieval infantry, such as an Anglo-Saxon thegn, English longbowman or Landsknecht, would typically carry three weapons – a hafted or missile weapon, a sword, and a dagger.

Yup. That's a reasonable number I think. Longarm, sidearm, and dagger for downed and armored opponents.

Edit: I think that's fairly standard for Samurai too. Bow or Polearm + longsword + dagger.

 

[GreyLord]

This seems somewhat relevant given the thread, both spear and sword shown, but mostly spear...


Obviously hollywoodized...

 

[BookBarbarian]

This seems somewhat relevant given the thread, both spear and sword shown, but mostly spear...


Obviously hollywoodized...

Hey If I can't reflect movie heroicness in my D&D games than what am I even playing for?

 

[Tony Vargas]

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

In Soviet Russia, Champion Fighter PROTECT YOU!!!!

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.

Meh. Adventurers carry around 10' poles, like, on purpose. And, I should hope they could handle not sticking themselves with sharp bits of metal by accident, too.

(Though I wouldn't put it past 'em to accidentally poke eachother, now and then.)