Pikes and Cavalry Lances

[Z09SS]

There just don't seem to be stats for the pike. Is that in Low Tech?

In WW1 there were still cavalry and lancers. These weapons seem to be more a spear used from a horse than a real lance. But would one use the spear or lance stats? You can still couch them and the velocity of the horse is a consideration over just using the rider's muscles.

[Ji ji]

Pike is in Low Tech.

For regular spears on horseback, GURPS Campaigns states that a strike by a rider on a horse moving at 7+ inflicts bonus damage, even if the weapon isn't a lance.

[CoyoteGestalt]

There's coverage of the pike in Hot Spots: Renaissance Florence, too.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Z09SS

These weapons seem to be more a spear used from a horse than a real lance.

Isn't that what a lance is? Are you thinking about tourney-lances? Battle lances were much more obviously spears. WWI cuirasser lances would have been called lances since the invention of the things, AFAICT.

[Z09SS]

The WW1 lance is MUCH lighter than the lance listed in the Basic Set, that's why I wondered.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Z09SS

The WW1 lance is MUCH lighter than the lance listed in the Basic Set, that's why I wondered.

I don't know what a WW1 lance looked like, but using a Spear or Long Spear from horseback is reasonable, and without the need to pierce armor or contest reach with other people's spears might be a handier replacement for a heavy lance.

[Z09SS]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

I don't know what a WW1 lance looked like, but using a Spear or Long Spear from horseback is reasonable, and without the need to pierce armor or contest reach with other people's spears might be a handier replacement for a heavy lance.

The British 1913 head design looks like an armor piercing design. Long and pointy with a square section.

The German one is a bladed head.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Z09SS

The WW1 lance is MUCH lighter than the lance listed in the Basic Set, that's why I wondered.

I don't think that that is exhaustive of all things "lance". You could probably use the weapon design rules in LTC2 (?) to replicate it. It should still use the rules for lances, though, if used couched with stirrups.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I don't think that that is exhaustive of all things "lance". You could probably use the weapon design rules in LTC2 (?) to replicate it. It should still use the rules for lances, though, if used couched with stirrups.

I agree with this largely and recommend the section in LT about Saddles and othe horse gear and its' effect on using the lance.

Th epoint i would add is that the very late lance is (to my knowledge) significantly _shorter_ than the medieval variety. This would account for the weight difference but also give you less reach. One or two entire hexes less, 8 to 10 feet as opposed to 12 to 17 feet for the longest chivalric lances.

[fredtheobviouspseudonym]

The British cavalry with the 1908 sword concluded that, at full extension for a thrust, it roughly matched the Uhlan lance in reach.