How much does it cost to train a spearsman?

[hcobb]

My numbers are that a spearsman trainee breaks 20 spears a week for nine weeks in order to master the polearms skill. As it takes a wizard $5 to repair the spear each time that's $900 just in Repair spell costs.

[warhorse11h]

Originally Posted by hcobb

My numbers are that a spearsman trainee breaks 20 spears a week for nine weeks in order to master the polearms skill. As it takes a wizard $5 to repair the spear each time that's $900 just in Repair spell costs.

I would submit that the local mercenaries guild probably found it more economical to have the practice spears be enchanted to be immune to drop and break weapon results. Assuming your calculations are correct, it would be more economical in the long run.

[FireHorse]

That seems like an awful lot of broken spears. Why is he breaking so many?

But if training really does break that many, wouldn't they simply use cheaper Practice Spears? Swordsmen practice with wooden swords, for example — and while a spear is already mostly wood, there are other ways to shave some of the cost.

EDIT: Or maybe the Polearm Trarining Facility gets a bulk discount from the local Spear Factory…?

[Taliesin]

Originally Posted by hcobb

My numbers are that a spearsman trainee breaks 20 spears a week for nine weeks in order to master the polearms skill. As it takes a wizard $5 to repair the spear each time that's $900 just in Repair spell costs.

How did you come up with such a silly number? The cost of a spear is in the spearhead which isn't even affixed to the shaft during most training sessions. The cost of the shaft is so low as to be effectively meaningless. Most warriors make their own shafts for spears and arrows anyway.

[FireHorse]

Originally Posted by Taliesin

… The cost of a spear is in the spearhead which isn't even affixed to the shaft during most training sessions. The cost of the shaft is so low as to be effectively meaningless. …

Yeah, they can just practice with a pointed stick. Or perhaps even fresh fruit. ;)

[hcobb]

Each time an untrained weapon user makes a full strength strike they have a 1.16% chance of breaking the weapon. I assume they make one attempt a minute for six months.

[Skarg]

That's still over-application of a probability that was never designed to stand up to that.

And, actual combat is different from practice.

And, a lot of training is done with practice sticks.

Sticks are not the main cost of training.

Etc...

[JLV]

Originally Posted by hcobb

Each time an untrained weapon user makes a full strength strike they have a 1.16% chance of breaking the weapon. I assume they make one attempt a minute for six months.

They must be pretty exhausted by the end of training: that's six solid months of stabbing every single minute, or almost 260,000 stabs. Maybe give them a night off once in a while? ;-)

[FireHorse]

Self-Defense Against Fresh Fruit (but not Pointed Sticks)