Oh...uhOh yeah, in 3.5 and 3e that would work nicely.
They made collapseable polearms too. Uncommon variants yes. But they exiated. Also not all poleweapons are super heavy either. Ther are also poleweapons i'd absolitely say were light weapons. Some are even specified as such in core rules. An example would be the javelin.So, I'm actually OK with improving the combat capability of pole arms as a point of verisimilitude. Do think all things being equal, the pole arm will have an advantage over sword and buckler. Certainly 16th and 17th century fencing masters seemed to think so.
However, even if you do this my suspicion is adventurers will still stick with swords - sidearms - over heavy infantry weapons.
And the reason is also verisimilitude. You can't just strap a pole arm to your back and carry it around. You need some sort of magical carrying device or magical 'switchblade' pole arm. Otherwise, it's just too difficult to do all the other tasks of adventuring while carrying this 7'-10' pole with a razor sharp bit of metal on the end. Adventurers need free hands.
I have often thought that a Halberd would be my preferred melee weapon in a zombie apocalypse.Up till 19th century or so in Germany Nightwatchmen (who would patrol alone on their own) was equipped with a horn for raising alarm, a lantern and a halberd!
The latter was especially useful to pull down façade climbers, mounted do-no-goods, had a blunt end for less deadly maneuvers, and would even the odds against a group of opponents.
The 1 shot firearms which could get wet only had 1 shot etc. just could not compete in usefulness.View attachment 114858
here you go, that is an archetype as you can see!
it may be no replacement for skill but it is strictky better than a katana. Worthless piece of hardly steal scrap. LolI have often thought that a Halberd would be my preferred melee weapon in a zombie apocalypse.
The spear point for thrusting into a brain, the axe blade for chopping off reaching limbs, the hook for pulling a zombie away from an ally.
Then I smugly think how much smarter I am than those Katana people,.![]()
it may be no replacement for skill but it is strictky better than a katana. Worthless piece of hardly steal scrap. Lol
Oh...uh
The suggestion i made for circumstantial crits was meant for you specifically in what i assumed was a 5e context with some home brew.
In a typical 3.5 game my suggestion for rolling crits and when to do so would have been completely different.
Woops? I got confused due to assuming you play 5e and also from thinking you avoid using crits
not to mention, adventurers tend to spend a lot of time in tight places... dungeons, caverns, inns, etc... some of the polearms that you have to swing in a big arc (all the axe ones) may not be feasible there. The spear type ones might be okay...And the reason is also verisimilitude. You can't just strap a pole arm to your back and carry it around. You need some sort of magical carrying device or magical 'switchblade' pole arm. Otherwise, it's just too difficult to do all the other tasks of adventuring while carrying this 7'-10' pole with a razor sharp bit of metal on the end. Adventurers need free hands.