Another polearm feat

[Land Outcast]

That is why someone would really like to take Shove Back, so as to move the enemy back in range where he can attack with the enchanted haft. (Of course you could also enchant the "quarterstaff")

 

[CRGreathouse]

That is why someone would really like to take Shove Back, so as to move the enemy back in range where he can attack with the enchanted haft. (Of course you could also enchant the "quarterstaff")

Along those lines, it might be best to add a Note: that enhancement bonuses (and mw bonuses?) don't apply to the attack.

I presume you mean "the enhanced blade" rather than "the enchanted haft".

 

[Land Outcast]

yep, my fault again; thanks and thanks... the mwk quality would still apply though

 

[Machiavelli]

Hm. It actually sounds like someone with TWF feats could use the haft to attack TWICE if he wanted to, using the haft as a "quarterstaff of his size". He couldn't use Shove Back, unless he shoved back one adjacent enemy and attacked a second one, both at his full attack bonus, then finished off the first one with the rest of his attacks using his nasty, enchanted, two-handed polearm blade. Is that the intention of your wording tweak, Greathouse?

 

[CRGreathouse]

Hm. It actually sounds like someone with TWF feats could use the haft to attack TWICE if he wanted to, using the haft as a "quarterstaff of his size". He couldn't use Shove Back, unless he shoved back one adjacent enemy and attacked a second one, both at his full attack bonus, then finished off the first one with the rest of his attacks using his nasty, enchanted, two-handed polearm blade. Is that the intention of your wording tweak, Greathouse?

• No, that's not my intention. I wrote "dealing damage" as a quarterstaff of your size, not "functioning" or "attacking" as a quarterstaff of your size.
• I don't think that that's unrealistic, necessarily, since the haft would be able to strike as well.
• I don't think it would be unbalanced, since it takes many feats to do that trick and still has a hefty attack penalty. (Rangers have no special ability to attack with double weapons, also.)

Read it as you will, then. I wouldn't allow it, on the theory that the drag from the head would be prohibitive and the haft isn't strong like a staff (it's built to be light, since it's so long; it only needs compressive strength, not cross-strength). Still, I have no intrinsic problems with the idea.

 

[Griffith Dragonlake]

Do what thou wilt, it is your campaign after all. . .

But do remember that in the SCA I won several fights fighting with my halberd in close quarters. The damage was still the same because when holding the halberd close to my body, I could pivot with my hips (which generates a lot of power). I didn't need to strike my opponents with the butt or the haft of the halberd. However, I did use the butt and haft to parry spears. So in my personal opinion I think one feat to handle close quarter polearm fighting is enough. Not every halberdier learned how to do it but it's not difficult to learn.

 

[Land Outcast]

Now that I come to think about it:
Spiked chain: can be used to strike all through 10ft around you; prerequisites: 1 Feat

then:
Polearm: can be used to strike all through 10ft around you; prerequisites: 1 Feat

should be "fair"

 

[CRGreathouse]

Now that I come to think about it:
Spiked chain: can be used to strike all through 10ft around you; prerequisites: 1 Feat

then:
Polearm: can be used to strike all through 10ft around you; prerequisites: 1 Feat

should be "fair"

Of course, polearms have better damage and criticals than spiked chains, which are quite weak in that regard.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

Spiked chains also gain some additional tactical benefits, which most polearms do not (bonus to disarm and trip). I'm not entirely sure that it is an even trade-off, though, since EWP Spiked Chain allows you to attack close and at reach with one weapon, while pole-arm fighting allows you to attack close and at reach with an entire class of weapons...

Later
silver

 

[CRGreathouse]

Spiked chains also gain some additional tactical benefits, which most polearms do not (bonus to disarm and trip). I'm not entirely sure that it is an even trade-off, though, since EWP Spiked Chain allows you to attack close and at reach with one weapon, while pole-arm fighting allows you to attack close and at reach with an entire class of weapons...

Yes, and polearms generally have one other benefit. The comparison isn't quite direct.