Do you loose a lance after a charge?

[bigdndfan]

It doesn't say so in the rules, but is it assumed that after the lance skewers something, does the rider no longer has it in his grasp?

Also, was the lance a weapon only for nobles?If a non-noble PC was seen using a lance by a noble, would he be asking for trouble?

 

[hong]

It doesn't say so in the rules, but is it assumed that after the lance skewers something, does the rider no longer has it in his grasp?

The rider doesn't drop it; the only reason to discard the lance would be if it was shattered in the attack. If you wanted to be realistic, you could rule that normal lances are only good for one use. However, a +1 lance or better would certainly hold up for multiple uses (and maybe even a masterwork one).

Also, was the lance a weapon only for nobles?If a non-noble PC was seen using a lance by a noble, would he be asking for trouble?

Depends on the game world.

 

[Hygric]

Give a heavy lance hardness 5 and 15 hit points and roll 1d8 damage for it each time it is successfully used in a charge. So you will get quite a few uses out of your lance before it shatters, and a +3 or better lance will be unbreakeable in normal use.

As for it being only a weapon for nobles, well, thats realy up to your campaign setting.

 

[Xeriar]

It doesn't say so in the rules, but is it assumed that after the lance skewers something, does the rider no longer has it in his grasp?

Also, was the lance a weapon only for nobles?If a non-noble PC was seen using a lance by a noble, would he be asking for trouble?

The stirrup and the crossbar (a little horizontal bar about six inches down from the point of the lance) were both invented for the same reason, just before Charlemagne came to power.

The crossbar keeps the lance from going too far into the newly dead body, and the stirrup allows for a charging strike.

As for nobles-only, it depends on the culture... And what you call noble, and who is ruling.

Charlemagne tried to make a lot of knights by asking that every four families would pool together their resources to support one. Obviously, this was frought with problems, but in such a campaign, a lance would be considered a start

Some jousting tournemants were actually for the opposing knight's gear, which was most certainly not a shabby prize.

It can go the other way too - you can't have serfs wandering about with weapons after all.

 

[fl8m]

I'm also curious about this one

It doesn't say so in the rules, but is it assumed that after the lance skewers something, does the rider no longer has it in his grasp?

of course all i have to go on are movies that show the lances shattering after every attack in a tournament. although i'd be annoyed if i had to carry 5 lances everywhere i went

 

[Albert_Fish]

Tournament lances were made to shatter if the blow was direct enough ( in later periods) A light lance is primarily a longer spear witha leather thong affixed to it. I believe it was used in a downward thrusting motion ( thus retrievable) or with your arm straight and aimed at your target..you typically left the lance inyour target and drew your sabre at this point.
heavy lances require stirrups and are used couched under your arm...i saya Ride check DC of 15 to keep ahold of it...ameks sense seeing as tougher knights would know how to use it more propery. For even more realism go with the hardness/hp and impact rules used above

 

[bigdndfan]

Little detail I didn't notice, lances do blunt damage, not piercing, since no piercing, little chance of loosing the weapon.

Also yes, the world is quite socially stratified, but since my character will be using a light lance, he could hide it pretty easily, and if a noble somehow notices, my character can point out, its not really a noble's lance.

 

[0-hr]

from the SRD:

Lance, light		6 gp	1d6	X3	-	5 lb.	(P)
Lance, heavy		10 gp	1d8	X3	-	10 lb.	(P)

The (P) means "piercing" damage.

 

[mkletch]

The (P) means "piercing" damage.

Darn, I thought it meant pounding.

-Fletch!

 

[bigdndfan]

from the SRD:

Lance, light		6 gp	1d6	X3	-	5 lb.	(P)
Lance, heavy		10 gp	1d8	X3	-	10 lb.	(P)

The (P) means "piercing" damage.

How embarassing, I just took Tarkin at his word. He is one of the Wizard.com board's finest rules laywers.