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<blockquote data-quote="TheEvil" data-source="post: 2140373" data-attributes="member: 23261">Historically, the pikes used in the macendonean phalanx had a counterweight at the butt end to make them more manageable.&nbsp; The shield they used was straped to the forarm and both hands held the pike.&nbsp; The above is from the History Channel, but others on this discussion have said the same thing.&nbsp; I expect when they dropped their pikes, they probably got a better hold on their shield.However, having established that one CAN fight with a pike in both hands and a shield strapped to the forearm, this doesn't mean you want to fight this way one-on-one.&nbsp; This fighting style relies completely on the tightly packed pikes to make it viable.&nbsp; A lone pikeman is no particular hazard by himself.&nbsp; As I am sure anyone who has fought in the SCA or other various groups (mostly Amtgard myself) can tell you, an unsupported longspear user is a dead one.&nbsp; Only D&amp;D combat mechanics make it a viable strategy, so I would not be inclined to add rules allowing someone to use a longspear and a shield. If you really wanted to, I would say make a martial weapon: Counter-Weighted Pike that allows the wielder to have a light shield strapped to their arm without penality to the attack rolls, but would not benifit from the shield while using the pike. This method adds a martial weapon that any fighter can use rather then adding a feat that are better spent elsewhere.&nbsp; It probably also better reflects the historical reality, as far as that goes.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="TheEvil, post: 2140373, member: 23261"] Historically, the pikes used in the macendonean phalanx had a counterweight at the butt end to make them more manageable. The shield they used was straped to the forarm and both hands held the pike. The above is from the History Channel, but others on this discussion have said the same thing. I expect when they dropped their pikes, they probably got a better hold on their shield. However, having established that one CAN fight with a pike in both hands and a shield strapped to the forearm, this doesn't mean you want to fight this way one-on-one. This fighting style relies completely on the tightly packed pikes to make it viable. A lone pikeman is no particular hazard by himself. As I am sure anyone who has fought in the SCA or other various groups (mostly Amtgard myself) can tell you, an unsupported longspear user is a dead one. Only D&D combat mechanics make it a viable strategy, so I would not be inclined to add rules allowing someone to use a longspear and a shield. If you really wanted to, I would say make a martial weapon: Counter-Weighted Pike that allows the wielder to have a light shield strapped to their arm without penality to the attack rolls, but would not benifit from the shield while using the pike. This method adds a martial weapon that any fighter can use rather then adding a feat that are better spent elsewhere. It probably also better reflects the historical reality, as far as that goes. [/QUOTE]

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