D&D 5E Why so few magic polearms in the DMG?

[Coroc]

In one of my campaigns, there was a mechanical, Steampunk-style +1 voulge which could fold itself into a cutlass… or a small chair.

Ouch, if that one has a malfunction it cuts where it really hurts.

 

[Coroc]

Polearms, spears were the primary weapon in medieval warfare. Latest with the upcoming of platearmor swords were backup sidearms symbols of status and civilians' weapons.
Even a chainmail is nigh impenetrable by may swords, and also padded armor offered reasonable protection. Soldiers needed a "bigger gun" than a sword could offer. Swords in the later days were mostly only dangerous to unarmored foes.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Ouch, if that one has a malfunction it cuts where it really hurts.

It was a great source of hilarity

 

[3catcircus]

Oh you are so young.
EGG wrote pages and pages on polearms in the first DMG.
Just view all magic items as interchangeable by type.

I'm well aware of what he wrote. The tendency of current versions of the game to focus almost exclusively on swords is what I'm referring to.

It's almost always a +1 longsword that is guaranteed to be found in a pile of treasure. In a fantasy magical society, most enchanted weapons, unless commissioned specifically, would be +1 spears - they're a lot cheaper and easier to make than a sword for almost any smith.

 

[3catcircus]

Polearms, spears were the primary weapon in medieval warfare. Latest with the upcoming of platearmor swords were backup sidearms symbols of status and civilians' weapons.
Even a chainmail is nigh impenetrable by may swords, and also padded armor offered reasonable protection. Soldiers needed a "bigger gun" than a sword could offer. Swords in the later days were mostly only dangerous to unarmored foes.

Yep, which is why swords were referred to as sidearms rather than a primary weapon.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

5E has an appalling lack of magic items generally. In no other edition did I have to constantly write up fairly basic magic items that weren't officially supported. It's in desperate need of a straight-up official magic item book.

I feel like this is a devious attempt to get us to buy adventures as they often have details for quite a few magic items, but I'm just not down with that.

 

[jasper]

5E has an appalling lack of magic items generally. In no other edition did I have to constantly write up fairly basic magic items that weren't officially supported. It's in desperate need of a straight-up official magic item book.

I feel like this is a devious attempt to get us to buy adventures as they often have details for quite a few magic items, but I'm just not down with that.

or it is a non devious attempt to prove you don't need magic weapons to kill the bad guys off.

 

[prabe]

or it is a non devious attempt to prove you don't need magic weapons to kill the bad guys off.

Both of these things can be true.

 

[5atbu]

I think it's a great opportunity for 3PP to meet this wish. Kobold Press has a great imaginative collection here: Items Wondrous and Strange:

Items Wondrous Strange PDF (5th Edition) - Kobold Press Store

Magic Most Wondrous and Most Strange! Magic items are the treasures that every adventurer longs to bring back from their journeys, and delivers more than 50 mysterious, fully playable items that are sure to surprise even veteran and jaded players. Items Wondrous Strange brings the new and...

koboldpress.com

Or Nerzugals tomes on DMs Guild:

Dungeon Masters Guild

www.dmsguild.com

Dungeon Masters Guild

www.dmsguild.com

Remember, if this is important to you then you may be the best person to write it up for your games

 

[jasper]

I think it's a great opportunity for 3PP to meet this wish. Kobold Press has a great imaginative collection here: Items Wondrous and Strange:

Items Wondrous Strange PDF (5th Edition) - Kobold Press Store

Magic Most Wondrous and Most Strange! Magic items are the treasures that every adventurer longs to bring back from their journeys, and delivers more than 50 mysterious, fully playable items that are sure to surprise even veteran and jaded players. Items Wondrous Strange brings the new and...

koboldpress.com

Or Nerzugals tomes on DMs Guild:

Dungeon Masters Guild

www.dmsguild.com

Dungeon Masters Guild

www.dmsguild.com

Remember, if this is important to you then you may be the best person to write it up for your games

What! how dare you! I demand WOTC produce OFFICAL magical polearms. Ok, just reskin swords to maces. Swords to polearms. I did it back in the day.