Spear Specialization

[taliesin15]

What's wrong with the 3.5 version? Shortspear is one-handed and throwable, spear is two-handed and throwable, longspear is two-handed with reach.

Basically, they got rid of the Halfspear, Shortspear and Longspear as they appeared in 3.0. The Shortspear does less damage, and there doesn't seem to be a Spear serving the role of the Halfspear for small characters. That's the problem I have with it. They nerfed the weapon type for no apparent reason. In 3.0 there's more flexibillty: melee, ranged, using a spear on a mount, and set in the ground against charging foes. With 3 different weapons. Now just with 2. Essentially they made the Shortspear the Halfspear, and call what was the Longspear the "Spear".

I do think the notion of treating the Longspear like the Bastard Sword an interesting idea. One thing that really bothers me is that this was a commonly used weapon in history and heroic/fantasy literature, in many, many cultures. To nerf it down to make it less desirable for PCs to use I think is detrimental to the game as whole, thus my concern.

In any case, I treat the spear as was done in 3.0 IMC, and I was bringing this up as a suggestion for the querent.

 

[Shane_Leahy]

My wife is currently playing a Long Spear user in my Age of Worms game. Her feats are:

Human = Weapon Focus (Longspear)
1st Level = Quick Draw
1st Fighter Level = Power Attack
2nd Fighter Level = Blind Fight
3rd Level = Shield and Pike Style (Dragon #338 pg 92)
4th Fighter Level = Weapons Specialization (Longspear)
6th Level = Short Haft (PHB II pg 82)
6th Fighter Level = Precise Strike (Eberron CS pg 58)
8th Fighter Level = Melee Weapon Mastery (Pierce) (PHBII pg 81)
9th Level = Leadership
10th Fighter Level = Improved Crit Long Spear

Shield and Pike allows her to use a small shield with the spear, Short haft allows her to use it against foes next to her (losing the reach), Precise Strike allows her to ignore all cover when using a melee weapon. Her damage is unreal at the moment.