Polearms

[Peter Rodway]

Hello All,

We have completed character creation and one of the PCs, understanding that combat is rather brutal and best avoided, wanted to use the Polearm discipline.

The premise being, that a halberd or similar would be long enough to keep an enemy at distance....

Having read the rules I cannot find any reference to a "range" for polearms or using them stave people off. Has anyone experienced this or come up with any way to implement this action or should I brew something myself?

Many thanks in advance

P

[Clovis]

First, let me say one thing: polearms are awesome and underrated. Who needs a fancy-schmancy two-handed sword when you can have a badass-looking halberd or gisarme?

Now, regarding your question, as far as Esteren's system is concerned, polearms provide no particular bonus: for simplicity's sake, all weapons simply have a Damage rating, and that's it.

As far as I know, no additional rules - official or unofficial - have been made up so far. However, if you don't mind making the rules a tad heavier, adding one little bonus here and there might be a good way to give more variety to Esteren's weaponry.

Examples:

- Polearms provide a +1 bonus to Defense
- Axes and flails negate 1 point of Protection against an opponent using a shield.
- Caraths (and walking sticks in general) grant a +1 bonus to appropriate Feats and Stamina rolls.
- Etc.

[Arthus]

I remember that Iznurda created a home-made rule for pikemen in a scenario http://www.esteren.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=472

The rule is the following :

There are two situations of combat for a pike : 1) long distance (the fighter uses the lenght of his pike to hit and avoid to be hitten) and 2) close combat (the fighter with the pike has more difficulties to fight because of the encumbrance of his weapon, while his opponent can fight normally).

1) long distance :

- fighter with the pike : fights normally

- opponent : a successful attack inflicts no damage, but allows him to fight in close combat next turn

2) close combat :

- fighter with the pike : -2 penalty to attack rolls. May choose to inflict no damage to pull the opponent back, and fight long distance again next turn

- opponent : fights normally

Voilà, I hope it could help. And my excuses for my bad english!

[Peter Rodway]

This is great guys thanks very much.

I will think on this and will post any rules we develop in our group.

I am thinking that I will favour an increased range i.e a melee attack at 3-4 yards and a penalty for close quarters. It is also conceivable that a PC with a polearm could fight "through" an ally.

[Clovis]

I am thinking that I will favour an increased range i.e a melee attack at 3-4 yards and a penalty for close quarters.

That's an idea. As far as I'm concerned, I would stick with only small additions, as I have mentioned, in order to keep things as simple as possible and avoid cases where you have to micromanage actions.

It is also conceivable that a PC with a polearm could fight "through" an ally.

Hmm, I'm not sure about that. After all, combat is very dynamic, with the two fighters moving and clashing, so I think trying to attack "through" an ally would be fruitless at best, and disastrous at worst... unless the two fighters (the one in the front row and the one behind) have trained to be able to fight efficiently this way.

[Peter Rodway]

Pikes and other polearms are specifically designed for ranked combat though Clovis, but yes, it would suggest a degree of training for both individuals.

[Clovis]

Oh, I'm not that well-learned in combat tactics, military strategies and whatnot, so I may indeed be mistaken.