D&D 5E (2024) When a 20' pole has a 10' reach...

[Byrd]

Repeat after me

Thanks, I'll pass.

Gary did no research in Medieval Weapons.
Gary did no research.
2E did no research in Medieval Weapons.
2 E did no research.
3 E did no research in Medieval Weapons.
3 E did no research.
4 E did no research in Medieval Weapons.
4 E did no research.
5 E did no research in Medieval Weapons.
5 E did no research.
5.5 E did marketing research.

Whatever.

This isn't an "Edition Thing", it's an inconsistency within the D&D 5.5 PHB that I was pointing out.

It is even plausible that 18lbs. is a typo.
If it was 8lbs. in the table on pg. 215, I wouldn't have done a double take.

Glaive: 6lbs.
Halberd: 6lbs.
Pike: 18lbs.

---
(Now I'm giving the heavy crossbow the side-eye too...)

 

[Coroc]

Thanks, I'll pass.

Whatever.
View attachment 448590

This isn't an "Edition Thing", it's an inconsistency within the D&D 5.5 PHB that I was pointing out.

It is even plausible that 18lbs. is a typo.
If it was 8lbs. in the table on pg. 215, I wouldn't have done a double take.

View attachment 448591

Glaive: 6lbs.
Halberd: 6lbs.
Pike: 18lbs.

---
(Now I'm giving the heavy crossbow the side-eye too...)

Yeah and the wrong picture for pike. What is depicted here, is a flanged spear variation like a Korseke or a Spetum. Pikes did not have protruding sidespikes or blades. And this thing will not have a weight of 18 lbs. but rather about 3 or 4lbs. max.
What could have 18 lbs of weight though, is the halberd with its grotesquely overdimensioned axeblade. If you leave out the shiny "blade" part of the drawing, then it gets more realistic.
The trident is for whale catching obviously, but you need a hill giant also, to wield this thing.

 

[Lanefan]

Yeah and the wrong picture for pike. What is depicted here, is a flanged spear variation like a Korseke or a Spetum. Pikes did not have protruding sidespikes or blades. And this thing will not have a weight of 18 lbs. but rather about 3 or 4lbs. max.

The biggest determinant there would be the type of wood used for the pole. A lightweight wood like cedar would weigh a lot less than a heavy wood such as oak but would also be more likely to splinter or snap.

 

[Coroc]

The biggest determinant there would be the type of wood used for the pole. A lightweight wood like cedar would weigh a lot less than a heavy wood such as oak but would also be more likely to splinter or snap.

They were typically made of ash, and the longest would weigh about 8 pounds total with tip for 24 ft pikes