Another polearm feat

[Dannyalcatraz]

Well, like I said, yours is more powerful than the DCv1 version, but has harsher prerequisites. I don't think its overpowered, though, if that's what you're asking.

Haft Strike's only prereq is 2WF, and lets you use the weapon as if it were a double weapon. It grants an additional attack at your highest bonus, but with a -2 to each attack in the round. You can only use half of your Str bonus for damage. This would be a good choice for a PC build relying on 2wf, like many rangers.

Yours, to contrast, sacrifices an attack to do damage & a bull rush, and the 3 prereqs are typical of a high-damage fighter build.

So, they're not the same, but similar.

 

[Machiavelli]

Does "Seatback" have any prerequisites of its own (I would hope not, the prereqs are steep enough as is), and where on earth is it from/what does it do?

As for your feat itself, I like it ALOT. It always bugged me that the spiked chain got so much attention as a reach weapon simply because it could strike adjacent targets. It's about time that other (a few arguably much cooler) reach weapons get some well-deserved attention.
The actual mechanics of the feat are good, too. It allows a pikeman in formation (perhaps using Phalanx Fighting and Formation Expert) to shove an enemy backward and actually get some use out of that lovely polearm's sharp steel. In combination with Hold The Line it could make charging a line of pikemen as truly frightening and deadly as it should be.

HOWEVER... it shouldn't be able to work using the longest polearms, like TRUE longspears (the 20+ feet-long varieties). Of course, I've never seen true longspears in any D&D book, so I'm not worried. Speaking of which, 25' spears should be somewhere, considering that for hundreds of years they dominated defensive warfare. Their use would be restriced to situations where rows of men could poke their spears between the men in front of them to make a multi-layered wall of spear tips, but some people set up epic battles in d20 like that *shrug*.

 

[Land Outcast]

thanks for the feedback.

Does "Seatback" have any prerequisites of its own (I would hope not, the prereqs are steep enough as is), and where on earth is it from/what does it do?

I meant Close Quarters Fighter (fixed).

BTW: Welcome to the boards

 

[CRGreathouse]

HOWEVER... it shouldn't be able to work using the longest polearms, like TRUE longspears (the 20+ feet-long varieties). Of course, I've never seen true longspears in any D&D book, so I'm not worried. Speaking of which, 25' spears should be somewhere, considering that for hundreds of years they dominated defensive warfare. Their use would be restriced to situations where rows of men could poke their spears between the men in front of them to make a multi-layered wall of spear tips, but some people set up epic battles in d20 like that *shrug*.

I had rules for a pike, which is probably the same weapon as the "true longspears" you mention. They had a 15' reach (~20' haft, but with several feet extending behind you) and attack for 1d8/x2 damage with a -2 attack penalty*. In play it dominated combat, with its reach allowing for simutaneous attacks from 5' reach and 10' reach (Large character) in addition to the pikeman himself.

* I let this overlap with the "soft cover" penalty, so attacking in ranks would be the best method for using this outside of adventuring.

 

[Machiavelli]

This post has been retired to a nice little home in St. Petersburg, Florida.
If you wish to visit, it'll be in the blue ranch house with the pink shutters, next to Pott's Doggie Shop.

Thank you for your patience. Or patients... if you happen to be an M.D. into outsourcing

 

[Land Outcast]

Actually Close-Quarters Polearm Fighter was intended to do as Griffith suggested, allowing the wielder to fight withing 5-ft. as if he had a One-handed weapon which dealt 1d6 damage. (i.e.: could make a full attack to an adjacent opponent)

Aside from that: thanks for the write-up

 

[Paraxis]

Dont have players handbook 2 yet, but off their web site they have the list of new feats in it. This looks like it will do for what you want.

Short Haft --- Proficiency with selected weapon, Weapon Focus with selected weapon, base attack bonus +3 --- Lose reach benefits, attack adjacent foes

 

[CRGreathouse]

Dont have players handbook 2 yet, but off their web site they have the list of new feats in it. This looks like it will do for what you want.

Short Haft --- Proficiency with selected weapon, Weapon Focus with selected weapon, base attack bonus +3 --- Lose reach benefits, attack adjacent foes

Close-Quarters Polearm Fighter has the polearm deal less damage, but threaten to 10' while attacking at 5'. Short Haft doesn't reduce damage, but it makes you choose one mode per round (essentially).

Here's my re-writeups:

Close-Quarters Polearm Fighter [Fighter]
You are skilled at attacking with the butt of your spear.
Prerequisites: Str 13, proficiency with any polearm.
Benefit: When attacking with a polearm, you can strike adjacent opponents with the butt of your polearm, dealing damage as a quarterstaff of your size. This feat cannot be applied to longspears.

Shove Back [Fighter]
You force nearby opponents away with the butt of your polearm.
Prerequisites: Close-Quarters Polearm Fighter, Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack, proficiency with any polearm.
Benefit: When you use the Close-Quarters Polearm Fighter feat, you may make a free bull rush attempt against that opponent. You don’t get an attack of opportunity for the movement. Add the damage dealt in your first attack as a bonus to the bull rush Strength check.

 

[Land Outcast]

Now, Greathouse's writeups are exactly what I had in mind, good. (Even better because of "quarterstaff of your size" bit)

I'll update the first post with them

 

[Paraxis]

If you use your feat to attack with the other side of your polearm as a quarterstaff of your size, do you still get the enchantments on it. You are basicly treating it as a double weapon, the quarterstaff. I would assume you had to enchant the staff side of your polearm as if it were a double weapon.