Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 MHolmanEsq Jan 18, 2015 21:04:40	My current character uses a Glaive as his primary weapon, and I'm trying to decipher when he's able to make an OA to take advantage of the range.   Reach Definition: "This weapon adds 5 feet to your reach when you attack with it"   Opportunity Attack: "You can make an OA when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach."   For ease of discussion, my square is 0 each subsequent square is numbered moving out.   Scenario with a standard weapon: Baddie moves from Square 1 to Square 2 (in reach of melee to out of reach of melee; OA triggered)   OA Scenario with Glaive/Halberd/Reach Weapon: Baddie fromes from Square 2 to Square 3 (edge of reach of polearm then leaves reach; OA Triggered)   What I don't know is whether, with a Reach Weapon/Polearm,  the Baddie triggers when moving from 1-2. If it doesn't, it would actually BENEFIT enemies (especially casters/archer-types) because they could dance from Square 1-2, remove the Disadvantage from firing at melee range, and not provoke....whereas they would provoke against a longsword wielder under the same circumstances.  This seems illogical and reduces the effectiveness of a polearm build substantially.  My reach should benefit me, not my opponent.     Second Tier of Questions: Adding in Polearm Master! "When you are wielding a glavie, halberd, pike or quarterstaff, other creatures provoke an Opportunity Attack when they ENTER your reach"   Same basic questions applies: Moving from Square 3 INTO square 2 is an obvious OA.     What about 2 into 1?  One of the perceived advantages of reach would be that trying to go toe-to-toe is very dangerous...I can actually understand only getting "one bite of the apple" when they cross from Squares 3-2, but it seems odd that they can close on me so easily once they get past the initial barrier.
#2 Macv12 Jan 18, 2015 21:24:36	Well, very long weapons are also known to be disadvantageous in cramped spaces, and surrender a significant advantage to smaller weapons up close, because they're harder to maneuver. As a whimsically exaggerated example, imagine using a halberd to cut your steak when you're sitting at the table. It's quite awkward.   You have the rules right, though. Generally you want to be the one just outside the opponent's reach, rather than right in their face trying to keep them there. Polearm Master reinforces this by encouraging you to stand away from an enemy who wants to attack you, forcing them to eat an OA to do so. Or, more importantly, for trying to attack the sickly pale wizard next to you.
#3 Jaini Jan 18, 2015 21:45:04	From what I understand, you don't have the rules right.   Reach weapons only give you reach the instant when you attack with them, not before or after. Your reach is considered normal (5 feet) at all other times, including when it's not your turn.   That means for the purposes of Opportunity Attacks reach weapons are identical to standard weapons. EDIT -- Apparently the devs have given conflicting answers concerning this topic. *shrugs*
(Reply to #3) Macv12	Jaini wrote:
(Reply to #3) MHolmanEsq	[/quote] Macv12 wrote:
#6 Kalani Jan 18, 2015 23:45:26	MHolmanEsq wrote:
(Reply to #5) randl	MHolmanEsq wrote:
(Reply to #5) Macv12	MHolmanEsq wrote: