Strength Damage Bonus for Lance?

[Caliban]

I certainly do. The lance is a two-handed weapon and ordinarily follows all those rules. Wielded on foot you need two hands on it to use it, just like a greatsword. But while mounted, the design of the lance and the agility of the horse/rider combo allow the same force to be brought to bear (as is used while on foot) while only braced with one hand.

I'm sorry, but that explanation just doesn't hold water. It's certainly not anywhere in the rules. And it doesn't match up with what little I've seen of lances in actual practice.

What is so special about the "design of the lance" that allows you do do more damage? Looking at the illustrations in the PHB, the lance is basically a thick longspear with a blunted tip. (They seem to be showing a jousting lance, which certainly wasn't intended for normal melee combat and was never used except when charging from the back of a horse. Real lances were basically longspears. But that's neither here nor there.)

It is certainly possible to do more damage with the lance when you have the weight of the horse behind it, but that is reflected by doing double damage with a lance on a charge, and triple damage if you have the Spirited charge feat.

I just don't see any extra damage applying if your horse is standing stationary while you lay about you with the lance (you are already getting +1 to hit from higher ground). I especially don't find it likely if the horse is attacking at the same time.

From a common sense point of view, I honestly don't see how it doesn't make sense to you. Though of course the Rules Lawyering is fair enough, even if I side the other way.

It really doesn't make sense to me. Maybe because I've been in the SCA, I've seen jousts at exhibitions, and I've watched the History channel a few times. I just don't see anything special about the lance that would let you use a shield and still do two-handed damage with it while you are on horseback.

It may be that you get the two-handed weapon damage while wielding it in one hand ,but I don't think it's very likely. I think that if they had really intended that the Lance grant you two-handed damage when wielded with one hand on horseback, they would have said so. Instead, they just give you the option of wielding a reach weapon with one hand while on horseback. That ability is plenty powerful by itself.

 

[Caliban]

If you believe that "common sense" demands both hands to maximize lance damage, I cannot help but laugh.

Ah, don't have a real counter-arguement so you just decided to be insulting?

*shrug* I can understand that, I guess.

 

[Jdvn1]

Your are using incorrect wording in that sentence, and in doing so you have just demonstrated the problem with the wording in the SRD that causes this whole mess.

A lance states that it can be used "in one hand" not "as a one-handed weapon". And that is what makes all the difference.

I believe that's a distinction that Skip Williams is trying to move away from, as demonstrated in the FAQ. That's why he says that the categories are merely for convenience.

 

[Jdvn1]

"Additionally, a paladin’s code requires that she respect legitimate authority, act with honor (not lying, not cheating, not using poison, and so forth)..."

They do say you can't.

So I used a bad example, that's what I get for posting between classes when I don't have enough time.

 

[Jdvn1]

Maybe because I've been in the SCA

Another one? Man, you guys are like pests -- you're everywhere!

I have a bunch of friends in the SCA, and I must admit it's difficult RPing with them sometimes. Never dull, though.

 

[Greylock]

Lances when used dismounted require the use of two-hands. They are desgned however to be used from the back of a horse. And that design enables them to be used one-handed while getting two-handed benefits. I don't see what's so hard about that.

And the idea of using one two-handed whilst mounted is a ridiculous image.

 

[Arkhandus]

Classification of weapons as light, one-handed, or two-handed does not mean that they are always treated as such. A Halfling who picks up a Titan's light dagger is still picking up a weapon that weighs likely 5-20 pounds, and fully two or three feet long. Likely it's considered a two-handed weapon or something for the Halfling.

A lance only applies two-handed damage when it is ACTUALLY wielded in two hands. When wielded in one hand, it applies only one-handed damage. And what's so hard to imagine about wielding a lance two-handed while mounted? With a good Ride check the rider can stay mounted without holding the saddle nor reigns. It's made for two-handed use when on foot, so it can also be wielded two-handed when mounted, it's just somewhat less easy (thus the Ride check to ride without using hands).

A longsword, normally one-handed, can be wielded in two hands and thus apply two-handed damage from Strength. There's no reason to think that wielding a lance in one hand, mounted or no, would apply two-handed damage, no moreso than there's any reason to think that wielding a longsword in two hands would only apply one-handed damage.

 

[FireLance]

And the idea of using one two-handed whilst mounted is a ridiculous image.

Perhaps when using a western jousting lance. However, coming as I do from an oriental background, I'm quite familiar with mounted combatants fighting and charging with lances and other polearm type weapons weilded in two hands. See attached image for an example.

 

[Jdvn1]

Perhaps when using a western jousting lance. However, coming as I do from an oriental background, I'm quite familiar with mounted combatants fighting and charging with lances and other polearm type weapons weilded in two hands. See attached image for an example.

I dont' see how it's tough to understand holding a lance in two hands. And that guy definitely looks like he'll get some extra damage there.

 

[Greylock]

Perhaps when using a western jousting lance...

Which is what I am refering to, and most everyone else, when talking about a classic lance. The attached pic is cool, and it explains what you mean quite well, but that's what I'd call a spear, not a lance. Not an eggspurt, so it's IMHO... ;p