Club & Polearm

[Zhure]

Does this sound like a valid tactic?

When a polearm user can't back up, he uses the haft of his weapon as an improvised club (1d6 simple, medium weapon), two-handed.

So the "Compleat" polearm fighter will be specialized with clubs as well as his chosen pole weapon....

Greg

 

[Jeremy]

Except the haft of a pole-arm is more like an unwieldy quarterstaff than a light one handed club.

If one took the feats of specialization in the pole-arm and the feat which specifically handles choking up or using it as a double weapon, I'd consider the specialization to apply to both, as it's still the same weapon.

But if not, I'd say quarterstaff might be a slightly better choice, though I could be wrong.

 

[Ranger REG]

Well, historically, spear-carriers tend to carry a short close-quarter weapon as backup, such as a short sword. If an enemy managed to get through the reach weapon's range, the spear-carrier drop his reach weapon and grab his sword instead. If he is part of a spearmen unit, the rank behind him continues to attack with the spear while you keep him at bay with your short sword.

 

[sword-dancer]

Don`t forget, it is also possible to strike sombody with the shaft of your polearm before he is close enough.

 

[Vaxalon]

Generally speaking, this wasn't done. Polearm soldiers, historically, found a backup weapon like a sword or a mace more useful than striking with the haft.

This says to me that striking with the haft should be a suboptimal choice in DnD, too.

 

[Mahali]

I think d6 is too much for a polearm haft. Having it equal a club doesn't seem fair to me.

They're already geting 1.5 Str mod because it's used two handed.

 

[Jeremy]

I believe in the feats being discussed, that the short end of the weapon is dealt with as a double weapon. Meaning, not only do you lose your 1.5 damage down to 1, but the short end only gets .5. That, atop of two weapon fighting penalties, can get pretty considerable.

But it depends on what version of the pole-arm fighting feat is taken. The netbook one, the quintessential fighter one, etc.

 

[sword-dancer]

Generally speaking, this wasn't done. Polearm soldiers, historically, found a backup weapon like a sword or a mace more useful than striking with the haft.

This says to me that striking with the haft should be a suboptimal choice in DnD, too.

I don`t meant to strike him with the butt of of the polearm, i meant to strike with the shaft behind the point consider the shaft of the pike 4,50 m long and he hit you ad 3- 4 m length.
If he come close i would use the katzbalger.
OTOH i read in netsword someone delivering an strike with the other point of his helmbater/Hellebard, it wolud have been a heavy injurie(taking out of combat) or a deadly injurie been

 

[Number47]

I want to make mention that bringing up how Europeans fought in mass combat has no real bearing as to how an individual would fight if trained to fight as an individual. Take another look at how the Oriental peoples fought with reach weapons.

That being said, I wouldn't allow very much damage at all. If you want to do real damage, you have to back up. True even for shaolin spear master. I WOULD allow a trip attack from close range, though.

 

[Antikinesis]

Suggestion: Armor spikes can get a polearm fighter some up-close 1d6 damage without having to draw another weapon.

-AK