Armor spikes [Archive] - Wizards Community

Armor spikes [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
parad0cz
10-10-06, 03:00 PM I was reading on another board where they said that they thought armor spikes were overpowered...

NOw, i must confess i dont quite know how they work so much, are they a off hand attack, etc...

But the idea of the spiked mace wielding, spiked shield bashing, spiked plate hegdgehog of doom BBEG is too much to pass up.

So whats the best way to use those spikes? Why would someone say they are overpowered?
PhoenixInferno
10-10-06, 03:05 PM They're "overpowered" probably because you can fight with at two-hander in your main hand, like a Greatsword or Longspear with all the benefits it entails (reach, 1.5xSTR, etc.), and still have the benefits of TWF (including threatening adjacent squares).
parad0cz
10-10-06, 03:17 PM Ah, so they get a couple extra points of damage. Whee. Surely that will break them. Will make them just under clerics yep yep.

Pbbbt:-P So then, the 'sword and board' shieldbasher isnt even a good use? Better to get a longspear for reach, and go for AoOs?
lears_fool
10-10-06, 04:03 PM As said, they're great for the reach-weapon fighter who wants something a step less chiche' than the spiked chain.

I wouldn't say overpowered though. sure, they THREATEN the area around you enabling you to have a reach weapon be less of a liability, but they don't exactly hit very hard if you do provoke on an adjacent target.
PhaedrusXY
10-10-06, 04:11 PM They're not overpowered at all. They're barely useful. Mainly they offer an alternative to the spiked chain if you want to be a reach weapon fighter. However, it is a tradeoff. You save a feat, but will have to spend more money if you want them enchanted.
parad0cz
10-11-06, 08:53 AM But they look cool!

Henceforth, in my campaign, they shall grant a +2 bonus on intimidate checks!

So I dont screw it up, when they go past my halbred into spike range, does the AoO resolve with the halbred at 10 feet, or the spikes at 5?
kilroo
10-11-06, 09:05 AM The AoO takes place while they are in the square that they leave in order to provoke it, in this case at 10 feet. Halberds don't usually have reach, but...well, my DM changed that too. Hehe.
parad0cz
10-11-06, 09:14 AM Doh. Halbreds, i knew that...

But the reachweapon thing, good good. 10 feet.
Cael
10-11-06, 04:47 PM I was reading on another board where they said that they thought armor spikes were overpowered...

NOw, i must confess i dont quite know how they work so much, are they a off hand attack, etc...

But the idea of the spiked mace wielding, spiked shield bashing, spiked plate hegdgehog of doom BBEG is too much to pass up.

So whats the best way to use those spikes? Why would someone say they are overpowered?
They say it is overpowered because it is the easiest thing to say when confronted by advanced thinking. Someone uses something, anything, in an unconventional way, and it is nature human reaction to go, "That is not right! That is not what was intended! That is wrong!" Human beings hate change. They love their comfort zones. Anything that changes that is far more likely to get bashed than accepted.

The other reason, of course, is the fact that there are a *lot* of people out there that like to pretend they are the best roleplayers in the world, and they prove that by playing Commoner 20 with a 0 point buy all the time. More so in certain boards than in real life, but hey, there you go. These people are, as likely as not, the ones that yell broken at the drop of a hat. I have encountered them that call the Mystic Theurge broken. All I could do was laugh at them to their faces. Now, that is not something that I would advice you to do, however. It is dangerous, for they travel in packs and, like all bullies, love nothing more than to tromp on you if they have the perceived advantage. Only do this when you are sure you can defend yourself against the lynch mob and are prepared for a fight.

Armour spikes are fun things to have, but don't expect too much of them. The best use I have ever seen for them is when you put the Defending enchantment on +5 spikes. They are about as broken as a titanium alloy drill bit that has been used for nothing more than drill holes in warm butter.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
parad0cz 10-10-06, 03:00 PM	I was reading on another board where they said that they thought armor spikes were overpowered... NOw, i must confess i dont quite know how they work so much, are they a off hand attack, etc... But the idea of the spiked mace wielding, spiked shield bashing, spiked plate hegdgehog of doom BBEG is too much to pass up. So whats the best way to use those spikes? Why would someone say they are overpowered?
PhoenixInferno 10-10-06, 03:05 PM	They're "overpowered" probably because you can fight with at two-hander in your main hand, like a Greatsword or Longspear with all the benefits it entails (reach, 1.5xSTR, etc.), and still have the benefits of TWF (including threatening adjacent squares).
parad0cz 10-10-06, 03:17 PM	Ah, so they get a couple extra points of damage. Whee. Surely that will break them. Will make them just under clerics yep yep. Pbbbt:-P So then, the 'sword and board' shieldbasher isnt even a good use? Better to get a longspear for reach, and go for AoOs?
lears_fool 10-10-06, 04:03 PM	As said, they're great for the reach-weapon fighter who wants something a step less chiche' than the spiked chain. I wouldn't say overpowered though. sure, they THREATEN the area around you enabling you to have a reach weapon be less of a liability, but they don't exactly hit very hard if you do provoke on an adjacent target.
PhaedrusXY 10-10-06, 04:11 PM	They're not overpowered at all. They're barely useful. Mainly they offer an alternative to the spiked chain if you want to be a reach weapon fighter. However, it is a tradeoff. You save a feat, but will have to spend more money if you want them enchanted.
parad0cz 10-11-06, 08:53 AM	But they look cool! Henceforth, in my campaign, they shall grant a +2 bonus on intimidate checks! So I dont screw it up, when they go past my halbred into spike range, does the AoO resolve with the halbred at 10 feet, or the spikes at 5?
kilroo 10-11-06, 09:05 AM	The AoO takes place while they are in the square that they leave in order to provoke it, in this case at 10 feet. Halberds don't usually have reach, but...well, my DM changed that too. Hehe.
parad0cz 10-11-06, 09:14 AM	Doh. Halbreds, i knew that... But the reachweapon thing, good good. 10 feet.
Cael 10-11-06, 04:47 PM	I was reading on another board where they said that they thought armor spikes were overpowered... NOw, i must confess i dont quite know how they work so much, are they a off hand attack, etc... But the idea of the spiked mace wielding, spiked shield bashing, spiked plate hegdgehog of doom BBEG is too much to pass up. So whats the best way to use those spikes? Why would someone say they are overpowered? They say it is overpowered because it is the easiest thing to say when confronted by advanced thinking. Someone uses something, anything, in an unconventional way, and it is nature human reaction to go, "That is not right! That is not what was intended! That is wrong!" Human beings hate change. They love their comfort zones. Anything that changes that is far more likely to get bashed than accepted. The other reason, of course, is the fact that there are a lot of people out there that like to pretend they are the best roleplayers in the world, and they prove that by playing Commoner 20 with a 0 point buy all the time. More so in certain boards than in real life, but hey, there you go. These people are, as likely as not, the ones that yell broken at the drop of a hat. I have encountered them that call the Mystic Theurge broken. All I could do was laugh at them to their faces. Now, that is not something that I would advice you to do, however. It is dangerous, for they travel in packs and, like all bullies, love nothing more than to tromp on you if they have the perceived advantage. Only do this when you are sure you can defend yourself against the lynch mob and are prepared for a fight. Armour spikes are fun things to have, but don't expect too much of them. The best use I have ever seen for them is when you put the Defending enchantment on +5 spikes. They are about as broken as a titanium alloy drill bit that has been used for nothing more than drill holes in warm butter.