Canonfire!

Tue Nov 06, 2012 6:25 am glaives/polearms

How do you guys deal with these weapons. The situation is there is a table tipped over and two crossbow men behind it. Two swordsman pick up glaives and take up position behind the table to defend. This means an attack by the glaives before the character can attack the crossbow or is there some other defensive bonus using a 9' glaive? What happens when the characters fight past the polearm? Drop the glaive and pull out the sword?

Tue Nov 06, 2012 3:51 pm

In such a defensible position, I would think and rule that the polearm-brandishing defenders get first attack, period. If you require a 'rule' on the matter to back this up, I would think that either the PHB has it (also check 2e) as well as the Options: Combat and Tactics book that came out (2.5e, technically, I think).

But, realistically speaking, anyone trying to melee against a polearm-wielding defender must first contend with getting skewered before striking back...

-Lanthorn

Tue Nov 06, 2012 5:16 pm

My thoughts exactly Lanthorn the wise. The polearm gets an attack and if it misses the character gets through but if its a hit maybe the character is kept at bay.

Tue Nov 06, 2012 6:59 pm

Wed Nov 07, 2012 6:24 pm

I'll give you guys some quick rules from 3.5/Pathfinder for such weapons and you'll see that you can easily adapt them to your 1st/2nd ed. games as they do exactly what you are talking about.

Long, two-handed weapons are called 'reach' weapons. Normal melee weapons can only attack an opponent adjacent (within 5') of you, but a 'reach' weapon can be used to attack an opponent up to 10' away from you. The combatant wielding the 'reach' weapon automatically attacks first on the initial round of combat if s/he had that weapon set (readied) to receive a charge. No special rules apply unless the wielder chooses to attempt something like a bullrush (pushing the opponent backward), trip, disarm, etc. Once the combatant with the 'reach' weapon has made their attack, the other opponent (if s/he survived) may step forward and make their own attack against them. Once this happens, the 'reach' weapon wielder will step back on their turn to make another attack while the shorter melee weapon wielder will step up on their turn to make their own attack from an adjacent position. Thus, a dance of sorts will ensue with the combatants moving around the battlefield.

If the 'reach' weapon wielder finds him or herself in a position where they can't put 5' of space between themself and their opponent (they are backed up to a cliff, in a phalanx with rows of men behind them, etc.), they can shorten their grip on the haft of the weapon and make attacks against an adjacent opponent, but such attacks suffer a -4 penalty To Hit.

Thus, a 'reach' weapon is very useful for the soldiers in the second row of a shield wall, but less efficient for a member of a PC adventuring group that ends up fighting individually while surrounded by enemies.

SirXaris

Wed Nov 07, 2012 7:30 pm

thanks for that sirXaris of the 3.5.

thats pretty much exactly how i will use the big stick.

Wed Nov 07, 2012 7:32 pm

Wed Nov 07, 2012 10:13 pm

The table acts as a shield wall and should offer a partial to 2/3 cover granting the pole arm wielders a +2-3 ac bonus against frontal assaults. Remember hardness and hp of objects in 1e as well.

Later

Argon

Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:03 am

i was thinkin about the cover argon. Its not a table exactly. I just hadn't googled gygax's wordage. Its a mantlet with two crosslets at waist height. Actually the table is a pretty good description. The crossbow men will have full cover and i am thinkin the glaive guys would have > 50%.

I hope to make it to greytalk tonight. I am interested to hear if argon's new player showed up and how it went.

Chive on brothers

Sat Nov 10, 2012 10:46 am

Sun Nov 11, 2012 2:05 pm

Mon Nov 12, 2012 10:09 pm

Tue Nov 13, 2012 3:12 pm

Call me a hoarder of such things...a 'specialist' if you will. Cool

BTW, 'Battle Tactics' are covered in Chapter 2 of Combat & Tactics, including shield wall, spear hedges, and various weapon maneuvers.

-Lanthorn

Tue Nov 13, 2012 4:15 pm

Lanthorn,

Combat and Tactics was good like I have previously stated many of those option books from 2E lead to the creation of 3rd edition. I can see the relation and if your a fan of 2E like I know you are then you might be able to clarify some queries with rules from 3E without comprimising your 2E campaign.

Later

Argon