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

[jgsugden]

Look at the rules for the DM making magic items. Do you see that section that warns them not to make magic pole arms? Neither do I.

Magic pole arms were not avoided for balance issues. They were ignored because of the fantasy focus on swords.

 

[Minigiant]

I mean okay, doesn't change the fact that there are plenty of examples of magic spears throughout history.

Because like I said, spears are an ancient weapon along with swords. Polearms outside of spears saw most of their use after the fall of the great ancient and classical empires.

So the artifact weapons in the bottom of a dragon's lair, wizard's tower, or vampire's castle would be swords, spears, axes, and hammers. Relics of an old age.

A glaive of gales would be something recently created or a rare lost artifact of a dead demigod.

Same with any magic firearms.

It has nothing to do with Polearms Master.

 

[Doug McCrae]

A glaive of gales would be something recently created or a rare lost artifact of a dead demigod.

That's the strange thing about D&D worlds - technology never seems to change. In our own world, many late medieval weapons such as the halberd weren't around for very long, their use ending due to the decline of plate armour and the rise of the firearm. But in D&D worlds halberds and glaive-guisarmes and two-handed swords have always existed, judging by the magic item tables.

 

[Charlaquin]

I'm curious why you think it doesn't. Not arguing, genuinely curious.

It’s a little difficult to explain why a thing doesnt matter to me - a bit like trying to prove a negative. But I’ll try to explain as best I can.

The idea that the existence of the PAM Feat would make characters in the world more likely to make magic polearms relies on an underlying assumption that that he PAM Feat is a thing that exists in the world of the fiction, which is not an assumption that I share. I don’t see the existence of Feats as having that kind of far-reaching setting implication, because I don’t see Feats as concrete elements of the setting. They’re just special abilities that player characters can access, not in-universe martial techniques that people routinely practice and learn.

 

[Panda-s1]

There are some, sure. Spears. A trident or two. Not so much polearms in general I'm coming up empty trying to think of many legendary Lochaber axes.

On the other hand, legends are rife with magic swords, so much so that they formed the basis of OD&D at the beginning. Heck, the great fantasy movie Star Wars is all about getting your magic, glowing sword on.

I'm not arguing against the ubiquity of swords, I'm saying magical spears are common enough that it's stupid they're largely ignored.

Hmm. I always thought that "sword" was just shorthand for "bladed weapon of your choice" or something like that, and not really a hard requirement. I was about to respond with words to this effect, too, until I read through this thread. Apparently the design intent really was to have magic swords outnumber all other magic weapons by like 10:1.

I don't really know what to say to that. I mean, I've been placing all kinds of magical, re-skinned "swords" for years and haven't found any issues. Our fighter is currently using a glaive of wounding, and the sorceress is quite fond of her dancing dagger. (shrug) I don't feel compelled to change them now, or to change the way I've been placing treasure.

4e had the generic category of "bladed weapon" which was very useful and meant you could in theory find some very cool glaives. actually your chances were high since 4e had that whole magic item parcel thing going on.

Because like I said, spears are an ancient weapon along with swords. Polearms outside of spears saw most of their use after the fall of the great ancient and classical empires.

So the artifact weapons in the bottom of a dragon's lair, wizard's tower, or vampire's castle would be swords, spears, axes, and hammers. Relics of an old age.

A glaive of gales would be something recently created or a rare lost artifact of a dead demigod.

Same with any magic firearms.

It has nothing to do with Polearms Master.

look I've seen enough fantasy stories to feel like "long stick with pointy thing at the end" weapons are kinda just smushed together as being one and the same. putting the same spear enchantment on a different polearm shouldn't be that weird. if I had a nickel for everytime someone called a glaive a "halberd"....

 

[CleverNickName]

@Panda-s1 : I never played 4E, but I do remember that 3E/3.5E had weapon tables that would let you build all kinds of weapon combos. It felt a lot like the video game Diablo to me.

Old habits die hard, I guess.

 

[Tony Vargas]

The idea that the existence of the PAM Feat would make characters in the world more likely to make magic polearms relies on an underlying assumption that that he PAM Feat is a thing that exists in the world of the fiction, which is not an assumption that I share. I don’t see the existence of Feats as having that kind of far-reaching setting implication, because I don’t see Feats as concrete elements of the setting. They’re just special abilities that player characters can access, not in-universe martial techniques that people routinely practice and learn.

So martial techniques that let you smack somebody with the non-pointy end of a spear, or stab them with the pointy end before they get inside your reach are less common than the ability to make magical weapons?

 

[Minigiant]

That's the strange thing about D&D worlds - technology never seems to change. In our own world, many late medieval weapons such as the halberd weren't around for very long, their use ending due to the decline of plate armour and the rise of the firearm. But in D&D worlds halberds and glaive-guisarmes and two-handed swords have always existed, judging by the magic item tables.

Well some settings keep nuking themselves and having to constantly restarting its tech and magical advancements.

Some have just got to medieval tech. Some have just pasted it. Others aren't there yet.

And some have not actually advanced time.

So few have made it the era where polearms are old enough to be in dragon stash unless the setting has a Faux China. Except for spears.

 

[Panda-s1]

@Panda-s1 : I never played 4E, but I do remember that 3E/3.5E had weapon tables that would let you build all kinds of weapon combos. It felt a lot like the video game Diablo to me.

Old habits die hard, I guess.

oh yeah, 3rd edition had some pretty liberal magic weapon creation rules. the first D&D campaign I was in I was a cleric of a forge god. I was gonna eventually make a masterwork hammer that I would get enchanted with the flaming property. the game never got that far, unfortunately.

 

[Shiroiken]

idk, still kinda lame, and goes against the rule of cool, etc. it feels dumb to make a fighter who uses polearms only to ever come across magic swords, like what's the point?

Because the majority of fighters in the world don't use polearms? The world shouldn't bend itself around the PCs. Also, not everyone subscribes to the notion of "the rule of cool."