Feat: - Polearms - (P.E.A.C.H.) - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Feat: - Polearms - (P.E.A.C.H.)

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
kitsunefearn
Feb 12, 2009 8:12:57 Name: Ok, I need a name for this feat (suggestions?)

Description/Idea: This feat would allow any pole arm wielder to wield a pole arm one handed (main hand). The sacrifice for doing so is being unable to attack with the spear within one square (burst 1). You are still able to use the spears reach ability, allowing you to strike two squares away.

Teir required: I am thinking this could easily be a heroic feat, but could also be considered paragon tier as well. I am more inclined to see it in heroic due to having a penalty. (suggestions on which tier this should be?)

Requirements: I am thinking a high Dex would be required, much like some of the heavy blade feats, perhaps a Dex 17, Str 15, or something. (suggestions here would be nice to.)

If this seems like a viable feat, some uses could finally being able to wield a shield with a pole arm, possibly dual wielding pole arm and short sword (being able to use poles reach and short sword to make up for its penalty.) or even just having a hand free for accessing items or climbing or etc.

I would appreciate any ideas that could make this home brew as close to WotC regulations as possible. Thank you.

:D
#2
masteraaron
Feb 12, 2009 13:04:14 Much as I'm loathe to try to play Dungeons & Physics with an interesting idea, I think that you're visualizing polearms wrong if you're imagining them as plausible one-handed weapons. Any polearm with reach will be at least seven feet long from butt to tip, with a very thick and durable haft. These things are huge.

That said, if you still think that this feat makes sense (who knows, maybe it does for some crazy beefcake characters), let's see what we can do. Prereqs first: Polearms are Strength and Wisdom based, and this should also require some agility to keep from tripping over your own weapon. So, high Strength, moderate Dex, moderate Wisdom. First, the elimination of opportunity attacks is highly counter-intuitive to the characters who would actually want this sort of thing the most: fighters and paladins. Warlords and clerics, both of which work as secondary defenders in melee roles, would also be loathe to give up opp attacks. The idea is to give them an interesting and viable option, not just a gimmick. Instead, let's keep opp attacks and impose some serious penalties. Some sort of penalty to AC and Reflex defense would make sense - a polearm is an awkward weapon in the best of circumstances, and trying to do something as unnatural as single-handing it would seriously hinder you. Keep this penalty low enough that a heavy shield can offset it, thus providing a reason to bother. A penalty to opp attack rolls would be in keeping with the same awkwardness. For related reasons, you shouldn't be able to dual-wield polearms, or even have anything awkward in the offhand - restrict offhand weapons to ones that have the off-hand property. And finally, there's no conceivable way to use a polearm as skillfully in one hand, so you should probably reduce its damage a bit.

So, my final feat for this would be:

[u]Solitary Phalanx[/u]
Prerequisites: Strength 15, Dexterity 13, Wisdom 13
Benefit: You may use a polearm as a one-handed weapon. However, when single-handing a polearm, you are hindered by the size of the weapon. You take a -1 penalty to Armor Class, Reflex defense, and all opportunity attacks. In addition, lower the damage dealt by a polearm wielded in this way by one step. If you wish to use a weapon in your other hand, it must have the off-hand property.

#3
vaalingrade_ashland_02
Feb 12, 2009 13:59:36 I don't see how piling on the penalties makes it anything but a gimmick. You have to give them something better than just one handing and an offhand weapon.

Also, no need to fool with realism besides being strong, I say.

Longreach Combat
Prerequisites: Strength 15, Dexterity 13
Benefit: You can use two handed polearms as if they were one handed weapons. If you do so, you cannot use the polearm to attack adjacent creatures.
Special: If you are Small sized, you treat two handed polearms as if they had the Small property instead.
#4
rikiji
Feb 12, 2009 18:49:41
I don't see how piling on the penalties makes it anything but a gimmick. You have to give them something better than just one handing and an offhand weapon.

Also, no need to fool with realism besides being strong, I say.

Longreach Combat
Prerequisites: Strength 15, Dexterity 13
Benefit: You can use two handed polearms as if they were one handed weapons. If you do so, you cannot use the polearm to attack adjacent creatures.
Special: If you are Small sized, you treat two handed polearms as if they had the Small property instead.

That works fairly well. Any thoughts on tier? Most weapon specific feats start at the Paragon tier (which is also more appropriate for the slightly over-the-top feel of the ability).
#5
vaalingrade_ashland_02
Feb 12, 2009 19:04:33 I *would* say paragon, but with the Small size rider (built into this feat so another feat like it wouldn't stack with Longreach Combat), I think it'd come as too little, too late for halfling dragoons if bumped to paragon.
#6
rikiji
Feb 12, 2009 23:05:15
I *would* say paragon, but with the Small size rider (built into this feat so another feat like it wouldn't stack with Longreach Combat), I think it'd come as too little, too late for halfling dragoons if bumped to paragon.

Since all polearms do double-duty with another weapon group, there's no real penalty for switching weapons mid-career. Really, the small size rider strikes me as even more paragon than the basic feat.
#7
kitsunefearn
Feb 13, 2009 7:49:09 Just as a side note, there is actual fighting stances that use the pole arm one handed...

I believe its more tucked under the arm in a slashing motion, along with sort of a jab strike style, in rest mode, the pole arm usually rest like a flag or tip to ground...

I think its Chinese or Japanese style though, i looked it up first to see if i could get any ideas for the feat name.

And although not based in reality... I also got the idea from a PC on Soul Caliber 4, that wield a pole arm and a short sword:D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 kitsunefearn Feb 12, 2009 8:12:57	Name: Ok, I need a name for this feat (suggestions?) Description/Idea: This feat would allow any pole arm wielder to wield a pole arm one handed (main hand). The sacrifice for doing so is being unable to attack with the spear within one square (burst 1). You are still able to use the spears reach ability, allowing you to strike two squares away. Teir required: I am thinking this could easily be a heroic feat, but could also be considered paragon tier as well. I am more inclined to see it in heroic due to having a penalty. (suggestions on which tier this should be?) Requirements: I am thinking a high Dex would be required, much like some of the heavy blade feats, perhaps a Dex 17, Str 15, or something. (suggestions here would be nice to.) If this seems like a viable feat, some uses could finally being able to wield a shield with a pole arm, possibly dual wielding pole arm and short sword (being able to use poles reach and short sword to make up for its penalty.) or even just having a hand free for accessing items or climbing or etc. I would appreciate any ideas that could make this home brew as close to WotC regulations as possible. Thank you. :D
#2 masteraaron Feb 12, 2009 13:04:14	Much as I'm loathe to try to play Dungeons & Physics with an interesting idea, I think that you're visualizing polearms wrong if you're imagining them as plausible one-handed weapons. Any polearm with reach will be at least seven feet long from butt to tip, with a very thick and durable haft. These things are huge. That said, if you still think that this feat makes sense (who knows, maybe it does for some crazy beefcake characters), let's see what we can do. Prereqs first: Polearms are Strength and Wisdom based, and this should also require some agility to keep from tripping over your own weapon. So, high Strength, moderate Dex, moderate Wisdom. First, the elimination of opportunity attacks is highly counter-intuitive to the characters who would actually want this sort of thing the most: fighters and paladins. Warlords and clerics, both of which work as secondary defenders in melee roles, would also be loathe to give up opp attacks. The idea is to give them an interesting and viable option, not just a gimmick. Instead, let's keep opp attacks and impose some serious penalties. Some sort of penalty to AC and Reflex defense would make sense - a polearm is an awkward weapon in the best of circumstances, and trying to do something as unnatural as single-handing it would seriously hinder you. Keep this penalty low enough that a heavy shield can offset it, thus providing a reason to bother. A penalty to opp attack rolls would be in keeping with the same awkwardness. For related reasons, you shouldn't be able to dual-wield polearms, or even have anything awkward in the offhand - restrict offhand weapons to ones that have the off-hand property. And finally, there's no conceivable way to use a polearm as skillfully in one hand, so you should probably reduce its damage a bit. So, my final feat for this would be: [u]Solitary Phalanx[/u] Prerequisites: Strength 15, Dexterity 13, Wisdom 13 Benefit: You may use a polearm as a one-handed weapon. However, when single-handing a polearm, you are hindered by the size of the weapon. You take a -1 penalty to Armor Class, Reflex defense, and all opportunity attacks. In addition, lower the damage dealt by a polearm wielded in this way by one step. If you wish to use a weapon in your other hand, it must have the off-hand property.
#3 vaalingrade_ashland_02 Feb 12, 2009 13:59:36	I don't see how piling on the penalties makes it anything but a gimmick. You have to give them something better than just one handing and an offhand weapon. Also, no need to fool with realism besides being strong, I say. Longreach Combat Prerequisites: Strength 15, Dexterity 13 Benefit: You can use two handed polearms as if they were one handed weapons. If you do so, you cannot use the polearm to attack adjacent creatures. Special: If you are Small sized, you treat two handed polearms as if they had the Small property instead.
#4 rikiji Feb 12, 2009 18:49:41	I don't see how piling on the penalties makes it anything but a gimmick. You have to give them something better than just one handing and an offhand weapon. Also, no need to fool with realism besides being strong, I say. Longreach Combat Prerequisites: Strength 15, Dexterity 13 Benefit: You can use two handed polearms as if they were one handed weapons. If you do so, you cannot use the polearm to attack adjacent creatures. Special: If you are Small sized, you treat two handed polearms as if they had the Small property instead. That works fairly well. Any thoughts on tier? Most weapon specific feats start at the Paragon tier (which is also more appropriate for the slightly over-the-top feel of the ability).
#5 vaalingrade_ashland_02 Feb 12, 2009 19:04:33	I would say paragon, but with the Small size rider (built into this feat so another feat like it wouldn't stack with Longreach Combat), I think it'd come as too little, too late for halfling dragoons if bumped to paragon.
#6 rikiji Feb 12, 2009 23:05:15	I would say paragon, but with the Small size rider (built into this feat so another feat like it wouldn't stack with Longreach Combat), I think it'd come as too little, too late for halfling dragoons if bumped to paragon. Since all polearms do double-duty with another weapon group, there's no real penalty for switching weapons mid-career. Really, the small size rider strikes me as even more paragon than the basic feat.
#7 kitsunefearn Feb 13, 2009 7:49:09	Just as a side note, there is actual fighting stances that use the pole arm one handed... I believe its more tucked under the arm in a slashing motion, along with sort of a jab strike style, in rest mode, the pole arm usually rest like a flag or tip to ground... I think its Chinese or Japanese style though, i looked it up first to see if i could get any ideas for the feat name. And although not based in reality... I also got the idea from a PC on Soul Caliber 4, that wield a pole arm and a short sword:D