Polearm Weapons

Training in the Polearm Weapons skill supports the use of polearm weapons such as spears, halberds, and lances in melee combat. Polearm weapons come in both one- and two-handed varieties, and the use of two-handed polearms provides a small bonus to the wielder's defensive strength. Polearm weapons along with two-handed weapons tend to be the largest and heaviest-hitting weapon types. As such, they are also by and large the slowest.

Special Features

Polearms are unique in construction from most other weapons, and as such, they've a few features to them that are not available to most other weapons.

• Tripping

Characters with at least fifteen (15) ranks of the Polearm Weapons skill can make use of the TRIP verb if they have a two-handed polearm in their right hand. Effectiveness of TRIP can be increased by training in Combat Maneuvers and gaining ranks in the Trip maneuver.

• Ambushing

Two-handed polearms cannot be used to ambush from hiding - the character will only remove themselves from hiding and attack visibly. One-handed polearms are useable for hidden ambushing purposes.

• Two-handed vs. One-handed Use

Most polearms are two-handed weapons, however, some are one-handed, and others are switchable. Javelins and pilums are one-handed, while, spears and tridents are switchable between one-handed and two-handed use. Use of the GRIP verb can toggle spear- and trident-based polearms from one-handed to two-handed and back again.

Game Mechanics

Weapon	AG	Cloth	Leather				Scale				Chain				Plate				RT	Min RT	Damage Type	STR/DU
	AsG	1	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Pilum	DF	.350	.250				.225				.175				.060				3	4	Slash/Puncture	50/150
	AvD	30	27	26	25	24	22	20	18	16	23	19	15	11	15	9	3	-3
Spear (1H)	DF	.425	.325				.250				.250				.160				5	5	Slash/Puncture	15/130
	AvD	28	29	28	27	26	27	25	23	21	30	26	22	18	25	19	13	7
Spear (2H)	DF	.550	.385				.340				.325				.220				5	5	Slash/Puncture	15/130
	AvD	28	29	28	27	26	27	25	23	21	30	26	22	18	25	19	13	7
Trident (1H)	DF	.425	.350				.260				.230				.150				6	5	Slash/Puncture/Crush	70/190
	AvD	30	30	29	28	27	31	29	27	25	32	28	24	20	32	26	20	14
Trident (2H)	DF	.600	.425				.375				.300				.185				6	5	Slash/Puncture/Crush	70/190
	AvD	30	30	29	28	27	31	29	27	25	32	28	24	20	32	26	20	14
Javelin	DF	.425	.325				.250				.250				.160				4	5	Puncture	17/105
	AvD	28	29	28	27	26	27	25	23	21	30	26	22	18	25	19	13	7
Halberd	DF	.550	.400				.400				.300				.200				6	5	Slash/Puncture/Crush	25/150
	AvD	30	30	29	28	27	31	29	27	25	32	28	24	20	32	26	20	14
Naginata	DF	.550	.400				.400				.300				.200				6	5	Slash/Puncture/Crush	25/150
	AvD	50	50	49	48	47	51	49	47	45	52	48	44	40	52	46	40	34
Jeddart-axe	DF	.550	.425				.425				.325				.250				7	5	Slash/Crush	60/185
	AvD	30	32	31	30	29	30	28	26	24	40	46	42	38	40	34	28	22
Hammer of Kai	DF	.550	.425				.450				.350				.250				7	5	Puncture	50/190
	AvD	25	25	24	23	22	35	33	31	29	40	36	32	26	40	34	28	22
Awl-pike	DF	.600	.550				.575				.450				.350				9	5	Puncture/Crush	60/160
	AvD	15	20	19	18	17	35	33	31	29	45	41	37	33	50	44	38	32
Lance	DF	.725	.525				.550				.475				.350				9	5	Puncture/Crush	17/105
	AvD	35	38	37	36	35	39	37	35	33	53	49	45	41	50	44	38	32

Resources

• http://www.play.net/gs4/info/armory/polearms.asp
• http://www.play.net/gs4/info/skills.asp
• http://www.gs4sorcerer.com