professorDM
First Post
I don't think feats break the game; I understand if a DM doesn't want to use them, but on the whole I think such wet blankets kill what ought to be a fun, flexible game.
I also don't think polearm master + sentinel breaks anything. As Mouseferatu points out, it's advantages are situationally limited. And on top of this, we're talking about a 4th or 8th level character who has foregone two chances to increase his stats for this ability (and such investment should be advantageous).
As for polearms themselves, I do think there oughta be something in the PHB that limits them in close quarters combat. (If there is, I haven't seen it.) Obviously, a DM worth anything is going to limit the efficiency of a polearm used against an opponent who has closed in, but it doesn't seem too difficult to make this point more obvious: sure, someone closing in is going to take an AoO jab initially, but after that the polearm user is going to be at an extreme disadvantage; it's going to be really, really hard, with a 10' glaive, to hit a goblin who insists on standing on your toes.
For players attacking with a polearm an opponent who's within 5', I'd say you can have a clean 1d4+mods butt strike, but if you want to hit it with armed end of your pole, you'll be attacking with disadvantage.
Used efficiently, however, it can be a great resource for an intelligent party.
I also don't think polearm master + sentinel breaks anything. As Mouseferatu points out, it's advantages are situationally limited. And on top of this, we're talking about a 4th or 8th level character who has foregone two chances to increase his stats for this ability (and such investment should be advantageous).
As for polearms themselves, I do think there oughta be something in the PHB that limits them in close quarters combat. (If there is, I haven't seen it.) Obviously, a DM worth anything is going to limit the efficiency of a polearm used against an opponent who has closed in, but it doesn't seem too difficult to make this point more obvious: sure, someone closing in is going to take an AoO jab initially, but after that the polearm user is going to be at an extreme disadvantage; it's going to be really, really hard, with a 10' glaive, to hit a goblin who insists on standing on your toes.
For players attacking with a polearm an opponent who's within 5', I'd say you can have a clean 1d4+mods butt strike, but if you want to hit it with armed end of your pole, you'll be attacking with disadvantage.
Used efficiently, however, it can be a great resource for an intelligent party.