Can you use a lance two-handed while mounted?

[FireLance]

Can you use a lance two-handed while mounted? If so, can a Cleric 3/Wizard 7/Mystic Theurge 10 cast Divine Power to give himself a BAB of +20, use Power Attack to convert it to +40 damage for a two-handed weapon, and use Spirited Charge to do triple damage (+120) with a lance?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Can you use a lance two-handed while mounted?

There's no need to.

A lance is a two-handed weapon, with the special property that it can be wielded in one hand while mounted.

Power Attack yields 2-for-1 with a two-handed weapon, or a one-handed weapon wielded in two hands.

Note - it doesn't specify "a two-handed weapon wielded in two hands", just " a two-handed weapon".

Note - the designation of a lance (two-handed weapon) does not change when you use it in one hand while mounted.

Therefore, a lance wielded in one hand while mounted is a two-handed weapon, and remains eligible for the 2-for-1 Power Attack deal.

-Hyp.

 

[ForceUser]

Since we're on the subject of two-handed weapons while mounted, I've noticed that there doesn't appear to be any restriction on doing this. Theoretically, by the strict interpretation of the rules, you can use greatswords and glaives and longspears from horseback just fine. Does anyone else find this odd? Although none of my players have tried to munchkin a character along that route, I certainly see it as cheesy and would probably discourage someone from being the mounted halberd specialist.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

There's no need to.

A lance is a two-handed weapon, with the special property that it can be wielded in one hand while mounted.

Power Attack yields 2-for-1 with a two-handed weapon, or a one-handed weapon wielded in two hands.

Note - it doesn't specify "a two-handed weapon wielded in two hands", just " a two-handed weapon".

Note - the designation of a lance (two-handed weapon) does not change when you use it in one hand while mounted.

Therefore, a lance wielded in one hand while mounted is a two-handed weapon, and remains eligible for the 2-for-1 Power Attack deal.

-Hyp.

Didn't the Sage already smack this one down last time it was brought up?

 

[clark411]

I imagine a knight using both hands to line up the lance on top of his mount's head and cringe... then I imagine the knight using both hands on the side of his horse and going flying when he hits anything and cringe..

and then I realize that so long as the letter of the rules do not explicitly exclude ludicrous notions like that, the verisimimimliitude can be pushed aside for fantasy if you get that .5 Strength bonus to damage.

but a two handed weapon wielded one handed can definitely be argued to still count as a two handed weapon within the rules, and have the PA apply, as stated.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

I imagine a knight using both hands to line up the lance on top of his mount's head and cringe... then I imagine the knight using both hands on the side of his horse and going flying when he hits anything and cringe..

and then I realize that so long as the letter of the rules do not explicitly exclude ludicrous notions like that, the verisimimimliitude can be pushed aside for fantasy if you get that .5 Strength bonus to damage.

but a two handed weapon wielded one handed can definitely be argued to still count as a two handed weapon within the rules, and have the PA apply, as stated.

Yeah, it can be argued, but it's silly. I'd certainly let him use it two-handed, but not with one hand. A competent rider wouldn't fall off the horse like you speculate, especially if he had stirrups. For example, the Parthian cataphracts would use two-handed lances that "often had impetus enough to pierce through two men at once." Sounds like they took Cleave as well.

 

[Cedric]

Guide with Knee's, Ride Check DC 5.

You can react instantly to guide your mount with your knees, so you can use both hands in combat. And I'm sorry...but if you can't make a DC 5 ride check, you have no business owning a Lance...

Cedric

 

[Hypersmurf]

Didn't the Sage already smack this one down last time it was brought up?

I'm talking rules, not opinions.

Light, One-Handed, and Two-Handed in 3.5 do not refer to how many hands you use to hold a weapon.

A light weapon wielded with one hand is not a one-handed weapon; it is a light weapon. A light weapon wielded with two hands is not a two-handed weapon; it is a light weapon.

A one-handed weapon wielded with two hands is not a two-handed weapon; it is a one-handed weapon. (See the references to "a one-handed weapon wielded in two hands" when referring to Power Attack or Strength Bonus.)

A two-handed weapon wielded with one hand (which, in the Core Rules, applies only to a lance used while mounted) is not a one-handed weapon; it is a two-handed weapon.

Strength Bonus and Power Attack special deals do not refer to "a two-handed weapon wielded in two hands", only to "a two-handed weapon".

For the Sage's opinion in this matter to have any basis in the rules, the rules need to be changed; either to state that a lance used in one hand is considered a one-handed weapon, or that a two-handed weapon wielded in one hand does not receive the benefits due a two-handed weapon as currently written.

-Hyp.

 

[Someone]

Since we're on the subject of two-handed weapons while mounted, I've noticed that there doesn't appear to be any restriction on doing this. Theoretically, by the strict interpretation of the rules, you can use greatswords and glaives and longspears from horseback just fine. Does anyone else find this odd?

I don´t. I´ve seen enough medieval pictures of mounted knight using two handed swords and hammers; there´s a good one in the bible of Maciejowsky (I´m sure I spelled it wrong) of a tournament where the knights are bashing each other with all sort of strange and two handed weapons.

 

[two]

So who is gonna be the first smart-azz to create a character using two lances on horseback (with relevant TWF feats) power attacking with both of them?

Ugh.