Longspear for paladin?

[Dragonstriker]

I'm thinking about making a (human) paladin who wields a longspear. Is there any reason this is particularly sub-optimal? None of the paladin powers seem to have a weapon line and some of them do push for synergy with spear push.
Is there something I'm not seeing? Or a strong synergy with some other weapon?

 

[Syrsuro]

Seems like an alright approach to me. You lose a bit of damage potential (you could either hit better with a Great Sword/Falchion or do more damage with any of several other weapons). But it is often worth it. Especially if you work in conjunction with a fighter or other defender - allowing you to mark creatures and poke them over his shoulder while he keeps them at bay (stopping them when they try to shift and attack you).

Carl

 

[ogre]

Be advised though... A couple of powers mention 'adjacent' enemies, which may limit the effectiveness of reach weapons. Valiant Strike and Piercing Smite to name two level 1 powers.

 

[eamon]

Be advised though... A couple of powers mention 'adjacent' enemies, which may limit the effectiveness of reach weapons. Valiant Strike and Piercing Smite to name two level 1 powers.

Esp. at low heroic levels, I, personally, enjoy swapping weapons. Later in your career you gain more benefits from specializing, but many attacks are of limited range at low levels anyhow, and you won't have the bonuses from feats to make any one weapon much better than another.

 

[FireLance]

Be advised though... A couple of powers mention 'adjacent' enemies, which may limit the effectiveness of reach weapons. Valiant Strike and Piercing Smite to name two level 1 powers.

This is less of an issue in 4e since reach weapons can also be used to attack adjacent opponents.

For the specific powers mentioned, although the bonus to attack rolls from valiant strike depends on the number of adjacent enemies, you are not required to attack an adjacent enemy to gain the bonus. For piercing smite, although a successful attack allows you to mark adjacent enemies, you don't have to attack an adjacent enemy to trigger the effect.

 

[ogre]

While true, the powers don't require you to attack adjacent enemies, my point was more the 'point' of using reach weapons. It's to avoid being adjacent to enemies, no?

 

[James McMurray]

Our paragon game has a paladin using a polearm (halberd IIRC, whichever one does 2d4). He kicks serious butt with Polearm Gambit and lots of melee strikes.

 

[FireLance]

While true, the powers don't require you to attack adjacent enemies, my point was more the 'point' of using reach weapons. It's to avoid being adjacent to enemies, no?

Fair enough. Although there are a few other advantages to using a reach weapon, I guess that's the main one.

 

[chitzk0i]

Our paragon game has a paladin using a polearm (halberd IIRC, whichever one does 2d4). He kicks serious butt with Polearm Gambit and lots of melee strikes.

You mean a spiked chain? Halberds don't do 2d4.

 

[Obryn]

You mean a spiked chain? Halberds don't do 2d4.

Glaive does, though.

-O