09-05-2017, 09:49 PM | #11 |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 100 hurricane swamp
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Re: Spear worth it? fantasy campain
Ah, you opted for the cheaper Restoration. Understood. ;)
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09-06-2017, 04:35 AM | #12 | |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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Re: Spear worth it? fantasy campain
Quote:
If you really want to be a dedicated pole-arm fighter, though, you might be better off with some form of glaive. They have alternate modes for alternate situations (for example, if you need cutting, crushing or a hook)
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09-06-2017, 07:01 AM | #13 | |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 100 hurricane swamp
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Re: Spear worth it? fantasy campain
Quote:
Also you can have an impaling point on a glaive. They really are the Swiss Army knives of the polearm world. |
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09-06-2017, 07:29 AM | #14 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: U.K.
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Re: Spear worth it? fantasy campain
Quote:
At least for gamers of a certain vintage.
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09-06-2017, 07:46 AM | #15 |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 100 hurricane swamp
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Re: Spear worth it? fantasy campain
Well yes. But I was trying to avoid sliding into a Python skit...
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09-06-2017, 08:13 AM | #16 | |
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Re: Spear worth it? fantasy campain
Quote:
Incidentally, the GURPS swiss army polearm is the Dueling Bill, though I assume the actual Swiss Army would call it a guisarme.
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09-06-2017, 08:16 AM | #17 | |
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Århus, Denmark
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Re: Spear worth it? fantasy campain
Quote:
Seriously, spears seem awesome. While I haven't playes any GURPS fantasy since well before 4th ed was published, I've doen a bit of fiddling with MA and a spear-wielder concept. And I totally agree with the rest. My concept used an awl pike, for added durability, and employed Shoves and Tackles Perk. Because then you can enter the fight with a Move-and-Attack to slam with the shaft. Also, spears are dirt cheap compared to swords. But now I'm inspired to use a glaive-guisarme-lochaber...polearm of soem kind.
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09-06-2017, 11:47 AM | #18 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: MO, U.S.A.
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Re: Spear worth it? fantasy campain
A properly built melee spear is just a quarter staff with a pointy end on it.
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09-06-2017, 01:12 PM | #19 |
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Re: Spear worth it? fantasy campain
At ST 13, a Good quality Heavy Spear (LT69) would, assuming Form Mastery and Reach Mastery, give a +2 to Parry and have the following damage modes:
Reach 2,3 1d+4 (call it 2d) imp, eligible for Targeting Chinks (and Armor Gaps) Reach 3 1d+3 (call it 2d-1) cut, as a tip slash Reach 2,3 1d+2 cr, as a thrust with the butt Reach 2,3 2d+1 cr, as a swing with the butt By comparison, a Good quality Thrusting Broadsword (using a medium shield to make up for the Parry) is instead Reach 1 and either 2d cut or 1d+2 imp. Giving up defense when you attack allows for an axe, but you will be limited to one-handed weapons if you don't want to fall back on Dodging - an Axe is 2d+1 cut and a Mace is 2d+2 cr, for a slight offensive edge over the Heavy Spear, but at a steep defensive cost. As far as pricing goes, the Thrusting Broadsword is $600, the Heavy Spear is $90, and the Axe and Mace are each $50, assuming Good quality. Fine are instead $2400, $270, and $500, respectively, while Very Fine are $12000, $4500, and $2500, respectively. Comparing it to other two-handed weapons, your primary contenders are probably the Thrusting Greatsword if you want to be able to Parry, the Dueling Halberd if you don't. The former is Reach 1,2 2d+2 cut or Reach 2 1d+3 imp, while the latter is Reach 1,2 all-around, 2d+3 cut, 2d+2 imp (with a stuck pick), and 1d+3 imp, with the last actually allowing for a Parry. Those have a decent edge over the spear, but the former is -2 to Parry (relative to the spear) and the latter means you're stuck with Dodging. Finally, there is an important aspect to keep in mind for a Winged Elf, already mentioned by other posters - armed slams. For a normal character, armed slams are occasionally of use, but for someone with Flight they can readily do more damage than a typical thrust. Speed 6 is common for delvers, so Air Move 12 means your ST 13 elf can slam at a base 2d, meaning 2d+4 (call it 3d) for an armed slam with the Heavy Spear. Overall, while the spear isn't outright dominant, it is a solid contender. Note some of the above changes if the character has Weapon Master (and skill at DX+2 or higher), as this gives all the thrusting attacks only a +2 but the swinging ones a +4, thanks to breakpoint issues.
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09-06-2017, 01:38 PM | #20 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Spear worth it? fantasy campain
Even with Weapon Master +2×3 for vitals is the same as +4×1.5. Also, if you are using the blunt trauma rule for edged weapons from Low-Tech impaling doesn't lose the injury modifier whereas cutting does.
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