Power Attack, Weapon Finesse, and Lances

[Quartz]

Does - or should - Power Attack apply to lances when charging? Or even when not charging? Isn't this what the Spirited Charge is for? Since you're using the momentum of the mount. Just as PA isn't used with bows. Note that I don't have any issue with lances when not mounted.

Also, should lances be finessable? In the film Exaclibur, there's a scene where a mounted Lancelot keeps nobbling an unmounted King Arthur with his lance. Isn't that a clear case of Weapon Finesse? Or would you count that an Epic Feat?

 

[Nifft]

Does - or should - Power Attack apply to lances when charging? Or even when not charging? Isn't this what the Spirited Charge is for? Since you're using the momentum of the mount. Just as PA isn't used with bows. Note that I don't have any issue with lances when not mounted.

It does. Should it? Dunno. We hardly ever use the mounted rules.

Also, should lances be finessable? In the film Exaclibur, there's a scene where a mounted Lancelot keeps nobbling an unmounted King Arthur with his lance. Isn't that a clear case of Weapon Finesse? Or would you count that an Epic Feat?

What's "nobbing"?

Thanks, -- N

 

[VonRichthofen]

Why should Power Attack not be usable with a lance? What has Spirited Charge to do with Power Attack ????

Unless you can provide clear evidence on the problem, I'd call it plain strange.

Otherwise, "nibbling" about an unmounted fighter while mounted isn't exactly a feat of superior finesse - at least not for a trained medieval knight. (Exacalibur, while great fun, is nothing but fantasy-trash from a historical point of view)

Basically, I think the idea is way out - there are few weapons more unwieldy than long pole arms like pikes and lances.

 

[Quartz]

Why should Power Attack not be usable with a lance? What has Spirited Charge to do with Power Attack ????

I'm not saying that PA shouldn't be usable with lances; I'm asking if PA should be not usable with lances when charging when mounted.

 

[borc killer]

PA can be used with a lance. I don’t see any reason in the world why a Knight could not use his own strength to deal more damage. A lance is basically a one handed spear you use while mounted… should work just the same. Also I personally interrupt Spirited Charge as the mount doing the extra damage.

And it defiantly should not be finessable. Just because an actor was using a balsa wood stick in a movie does not mean it acts like that in real life. Go find a 5 foot ashen staff and tie 4 rolls of nickels on the end of it and you will see what I mean.

 

[Legildur]

PA can be used with a lance. I don’t see any reason in the world why a Knight could not use his own strength to deal more damage. A lance is basically a one handed spear you use while mounted… should work just the same. Also I personally interrupt Spirited Charge as the mount doing the extra damage.

Actually, lances are a two-handed weapon (and so benefit from the 2-for-1 bonus damage available through Power Attack) with the special property that they can be wielded in one-hand when mounted. Lances should be feared!

 

[Dross]

Actually, lances are a two-handed weapon (and so benefit from the 2-for-1 bonus damage available through Power Attack) with the special property that they can be wielded in one-hand when mounted. Lances should be feared!

While there is nothing stopping you from weilding a lance in two hands while mounted, doesn't the FAQ say something along the lines of: PA 1-for-1 or 2-for-1 depends on how you are weilding the weapon.

May not be RAW, but that is the way we play it.

 

[Machiavelli]

The power attack feat itself says so. It doesn't mention the weapons' one-handed or two-handed classifications, it mentions how you wield the weapons. A lance being wielded one-handed is special only because the lance is classified as a two-handed weapon. They could have just called a lance a one-handed weapon, so that the option for wielding one-handed was integral, except that then you could fight with two lances. That would just be sinfully stupid.

 

[Legildur]

...It doesn't mention the weapons' one-handed or two-handed classifications, it mentions how you wield the weapons....

I disagree with you. From the Special section of the Power Attack in the SRD (my emphasis bolded):

...If you attack with a two-handed weapon, or with a one-handed weapon wielded in two hands, instead add twice the number subtracted from your attack rolls....

It explicitly mentions the weapon's classification - either two-handed, or one-handed wielded in two hands. A lance is a two-handed weapon.

 

[ThirdWizard]

The power attack feat itself says so. It doesn't mention the weapons' one-handed or two-handed classifications, it mentions how you wield the weapons.

It specifically says "two-handed weapon"

If you attack with a two-handed weapon, or with a one-handed weapon wielded in two hands, instead add twice the number subtracted from your attack rolls.

A lance is a two-handed weapon. Check the table under Two-Handed Melee Weapons. So, it falls under the statement of 2 for 1.

Edit: Oh sure, post at the same time as me. If I had a mouse instead of this stupid laptop pad thingy, I would totally have posted first. Yeah!