07-18-2019, 03:08 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Nov 2017
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Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
So, reading the pole weapon rules (again) last night, we noticed something we hadn't before.
It seems to say that the free attack a polearm user gets against an incoming attacker is only if they are an attacker (specifically if they charge the pole weapon user). So does that mean that if you just use your movement to engage a poleweapon user without attacking (charging), you don't grant the polearm user a free attack? |
07-18-2019, 08:57 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
Before answering, could you explain what you mean by a free attack?
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07-18-2019, 10:06 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: North Texas
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
The problem is that moving into to position to attack the guy with the pole-arm is considered a 'Charge Attack' per RAW. I don't agree that a half-MA move should be characterized as a 'charge' (more like a walk-up IMO), but that seems to be what the rules currently dictate.
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“No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife between the shoulder blades will seriously cramp his style.” -Vladimir Taltos |
07-18-2019, 10:23 AM | #4 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: New England
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
Twyll, I'd say that no, you can't avoid the polearm advantage that way. The best RAW way to approach a polearm wielder is to make them move first, then outflank them if possible. At my table, I allow the Move and Defend option which has been discussed elsewhere and which lets a figure move up to 1/2 MA and defend instead of attack.
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07-18-2019, 11:48 AM | #5 |
Join Date: May 2015
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
There is no "free attack", just first attacks (against shorter weapons) with advantages.
No, you don't only get the defensive pole weapon advantages if someone moving up to you doesn't attack. You get the defensive advantages against anyone who was two hexes or more away from you at the start of your turn, and who then moves adjacent (unless they end up in your side or rear hex during the action phase). It has always seemed to me that this represents the problem of moving past the point of a pole weapon from outside - the potential for them to impale you with it, using the weight of your bodies with a long pole braced between them, as you try to get past the point. So yeah, you need to out-maneuver them, probably by moving second or attempting HTH during movement, or use Defend (I too think the intent wasn't to change the original rules, so Defend is available after moving up to 1/2 MA). Or you use your own pole weapons, mob them with multiple figures, send in your most armored guy, shoot them, throw things at them, cast a spell on them, etc. |
07-18-2019, 02:44 PM | #6 | |||
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: London, UK
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
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07-18-2019, 04:15 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: New England
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
I've played TFT since it came out, and have only ever seen it play out that a figure is considered to be charging when moving from a non adjacent hex to one adjacent to a pole weapon user, whether attacking them or not. Skarg is correct.
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07-18-2019, 04:45 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Florida Peninsula, Earth, Sol Sytem
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
Allowing a figure to approach a polearm equipped figure without attacking and letting them avoid the polearm priority attack is contrary to what would happen if you tried to do this against a real warrior with a polearm.
He would stab you with his long pointy thing as you approached but before you were in range to attack or defend with your short pointy thing.
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07-18-2019, 08:46 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Mar 2019
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
I rule that if you shift (move only 1 hex) to get next to a pole arm user then they don't get the charge advantage. Of course they could have jabbed you from two hexes away on the previous turn, but at least it isn't one massive hit.
Reading the rules again it is also pretty clear that the pole arm user bonus only works against a charging attacker. Charge Attack is option B. If you take option A, Move, you are not charging, and therefore the pole arm user would not get the bonus. He would, however, still be able to attack and the person who closed would not. |
07-18-2019, 09:12 PM | #10 | |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: New England
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
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