Depends on the edition. By 2e's Complete Fighter's Handbook, it was perfectly possible to have a guy wearing leather armor with an AC of 0 at level 1, no shield required, so it wasn't really hard to get low AC.
Oh, I know. I'm actually decently proficient with pole weapons. And I can spin 'em around pretty fancy, too! But the uses in combat for spinning them around are a lot less common than a lot of people think. (Most often, IME, used for blocking/guarding if you happen to be attacked while readying another thrust.) If the opportunity presents itself, sure, you'd strike with the "wrong" end, but it's generally an act of desperation, or rare opportunity.
FWIW, a 1E UA Barbarian with DEX 18 in leather armor had AC 0 at level 1 since they got double AC bonus if not wearing bulky or fairly bulky armor.
That's fair too, I always forget the Barbarian because their limitations made them too hard to play.
Oh no, I loved those limitations. Leveling wasn't even too much of a problem with the whole destroying magic items thing.
in what world is a spear NOT a polearm??? it's THE polearm
Well other than not being able to trust a cleric until what, 5th level? Even d12 hit dice won't help you when two good hits from an orc has you stuck recuperating in an inn for a fortnight!Oh no, I loved those limitations. Leveling wasn't even too much of a problem with the whole destroying magic items thing.
And the Barbarian Horde! So much fun.
I could buy into a long spear being one in dnd context but short spears, pilla, and staves, not so much. Pole arms used to be strictly two handed weapons that had reach and could be used from the second rank. Now i guess people are suggesting cugels too? Not in my worlds.
I think the argument is more that without an arm on the pole (or staff), the pole is just a pole (or staff). Hence quarterstaff is ruled out. Of the category "polearm". Except the feat explicitly includes it in spite of the feat's name.
