Glaive and Cleave

[Baumi]

This is not exactly a Rule question, but more a question to the more experianced Players. Is Cleave better for a Fighter with a Reach Weapon (but no attack within 5´) or for a normal Weapon.

While you can hit more Squares with a Glaive it is more likely that the enemys are within 5´, so I'm not sure if taking Cleave would be a good Idea.

 

[MerakSpielman]

I'd say to go ahead and take Cleave.

You're not always going to be fighting with the Glaive - after all, when fighting 5' reach foes, you have to 5' step back each round to attack them, and you're bound to end up in a corner eventually and have to switch to a shorter weapon.

Even disregarding that series of events, if there are several opponents within 5', you can often back up so that more than one of them is in reach of a 10' reach weapon. As long as you keep that in mind when you back up, you'll be able to cleave as often as you need to.

Great Cleave is another matter - it's unlikely that you'll get a ring of opponents all 10' away from you, begging for a 10' reach Great Cleave. So I wouldn't bother getting that feat.

 

[Darklone]

Enlarge Person and Whirlwind attack are nice for polearm wielders as well, though sadly you can't 5ft step back and full attack then.