Polearms!

[micr0c0sm]

Yeah, so... I want my new character to use polearm as her main melee weapon, and something exotic like chakram or boomerang for melee. The problem is, its hard to make someone specializing in either of these comparable or better than someone using a long/great sword/bow without making a polearm prestige class, and even then you are basically comparable when done.

Any tips for people who have used polearms (i mainly am looking at the guisarme, rog8/mnk2/ftr1 look at this thread for my first character draft).

My first character draft is here

 

[micr0c0sm]

anyone bumpity-bump?

 

[Gnimish88]

If you focus on tripping, then you should have a pretty effective character, but it will be pretty hard to outshine longbows and greatswords.

 

[Hypersmurf]

You're more likely to get some responses in the Rules Forum...

... and here we are! Last stop, everybody out...

-Hyp.
(Moderator)

 

[Wippit Guud]

Somewhere out there somewhere (where eludes me at the moment) there's a feat called Shaft Fighting or some such thing, allowed you to use the shaft of a reach weapon for 1d6 damage at 5ft... basically a heavy staff.Feats that would be good, beyond using trip-specific weapons - combat reflexes for those extra threatened squares, whirlwind attack, the typical focus/specilize/improved crit stuff....

 

[Wolffenjugend]

I remember reading that feat (Shaft Fighting?). But I think it only worked with a certain polearm (glaive/trident?). I remember thinking, "wow! that's a cool feat!", and then seeing that it was only with a certain polearm...

 

[Darklone]

I think it worked for a Halberd (which is not a polearm) in CW... you could use it as double weapon.

I'd go for a glaive if you want more damage, pick up Combat Reflexes and Expert Tactician and all the other nice goodies, choose Imp Grapple later and wear spiked armours. Bbn/Ftr is best for this though.

Bolas (we use the AU rules for those) are nice and would work nicely with your tripping abilities.

About your feat choices so far: Spring Attack. You need it. You're a rogue type dude, don't go for full attack exchanges with the experts. Spring Attack will do that for you (as well as making sneak attacks easier), so take it.

Edit: Mistake in your Flurry of blows attack... one attack too much.

 

[Geoff Watson]

Reach Polearms are great with Combat Reflexes.
Spring Attack lets you move so that your gives you an AoO without you granting him one.
With a Guisarme, you'll also want Improved Trip.

Geoff.

 

[smetzger]

Improved Unarmed Attack or one level of Monk is also good. This lets you shift the polearm to one hand (free action) and then hit with your free hand.

You may also want to check out Second World Simulation's book Masters of Arms. It has special moves, prestige classes, and feats for polearm users.
http://www.second-world-simulations.com/

*:> Scott

 

[micr0c0sm]

Thanks a lot for the ideas, I tweaked the character a bit but am still debating...a tripped charater lets me sneak attack twice as long as i hit the first trip right? This makes improved feint kind of weak so i took it out.

Updated the character - tell me what you think