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<blockquote data-quote="TwentyQuestions" data-source="post: 464037" data-attributes="member: 6721">Well, I haven't had players interested in spears until now, or else this question would have arisen sooner, but here's my .02:Unintelligent creatures still ought to charge readied spears, and some monsters' special charge attacks (like a minotaur's) are so much more advantageous than a regular attack that it may still be worth it for them to charge a readied spear. So your PCs may still get some use out of the tactic.And it is a tactical decision - having to take the ready action beforehand means that the double damage is a reward for planning (and taking the risk that the enemy won't charge after all). Making the x2 dam automatic renders this choice meaningless, and I think that choices are a Good Thing. Your PCs can get more mileage out of the tactic by careful timing and coordinating with the non-spearmen to make sure that the monster's choices are all bad:1) stay where I am and suck up missile fire etc.2) double-move into combat but not charge; I still get hit by readied spear attacks (depending on how the PCs have worded their ready action), but not for double damageso that 3), charge and attack this round despite the risk of getting impaled, starts looking like the lesser evil.Also, if you allow all polearms to do double damage, there's no reason to choose a spear, whose ability to be readied is its sole advantage over a higher-damage polearm: again, that's removing a choice.If disappointment with the tactic is a problem in your game, it means you have more experience with it than me - but I'd recommend looking at one of the feats others have mentioned, since feats are a great way to give players more choices.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="TwentyQuestions, post: 464037, member: 6721"] Well, I haven't had players interested in spears until now, or else this question would have arisen sooner, but here's my .02: Unintelligent creatures still ought to charge readied spears, and some monsters' special charge attacks (like a minotaur's) are so much more advantageous than a regular attack that it may still be worth it for them to charge a readied spear. So your PCs may still get some use out of the tactic. And it is a tactical decision - having to take the ready action beforehand means that the double damage is a reward for planning (and taking the risk that the enemy won't charge after all). Making the x2 dam automatic renders this choice meaningless, and I think that choices are a Good Thing. Your PCs can get more mileage out of the tactic by careful timing and coordinating with the non-spearmen to make sure that the monster's choices are all bad: 1) stay where I am and suck up missile fire etc. 2) double-move into combat but not charge; I still get hit by readied spear attacks (depending on how the PCs have worded their ready action), but not for double damage so that 3), charge and attack this round despite the risk of getting impaled, starts looking like the lesser evil. Also, if you allow all polearms to do double damage, there's no reason to choose a spear, whose ability to be readied is its sole advantage over a higher-damage polearm: again, that's removing a choice. If disappointment with the tactic is a problem in your game, it means you have more experience with it than me - but I'd recommend looking at one of the feats others have mentioned, since feats are a great way to give players more choices. [/QUOTE]

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