D&D (2024) Polearms and masteries

[UngeheuerLich]

Do you think, polearms will get two mastery properties at once?

I mean, they were specifically designed for that. This is why there are so many different ones.

Hammer combined with blade and a point. A hook combined with a blade and the list goes on and on.

 

[James Gasik]

I'm guessing no, simply because no other weapons work that way with 5e's simplified weapons. No axes with hammer faces, using a spear like a staff, no rules for basket hilts, pommeling, Mordhau, etc. exist- if you want to use a weapon in an unconventional manner (even a shield bash!), you'd have to use it as an improvised weapon, and I'm not sure if improvised weapons will be allowed to have Mastery properties.

EDIT: I haven't seen the new Polearm Master feat- I wonder if you could apply a Mastery to it's bonus action attack, if it still has one?

 

[Charlaquin]

They didn’t in the playtests, I can’t imagine them deciding to add a second mastery to them now in the final product.

 

[R_J_K75]

I'm guessing no, simply because no other weapons work that way with 5e's simplified weapons.

I agree. I had a player who took the weapon master sub class and took polearm and some feat, I forget exactly. but think they wanted use it two different ways. I think he wanted to use it as a reach weapon and as a melee weapon in the same round. I couldn't find any rules to support or refute it so I just said no. I think in previous editions reach weapons couldn't be used in melee at least without negative modifiers. Thats about when I really started disliking 5E.

 

[Krachek]

Polearm master have been the graal of optimizer in 5.14
So popular that it almost rewrite fantasy: « Excalibur the famous polearm of King Arthur. »
« My kingdom for a polearm » should Shakespeare write.

I think it is time to slow down on polearm.

 

[mellored]

No. Reach is enough of a benefit.

But higher level fighters can get multiple properties, on any weapon.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Do you think, polearms will get two mastery properties at once?

I mean, they were specifically designed for that. This is why there are so many different ones.

Hammer combined with blade and a point. A hook combined with a blade and the list goes on and on.

I doubt it. - The current edition doesn't allow a warhammer to deal piercing damage when striking with the spike side for example. Masteries are even more esoteric.

I agree. I had a player who took the weapon master sub class and took polearm and some feat, I forget exactly. but think they wanted use it two different ways. I think he wanted to use it as a reach weapon and as a melee weapon in the same round. I couldn't find any rules to support or refute it so I just said no. I think in previous editions reach weapons couldn't be used in melee at least without negative modifiers. Thats about when I really started disliking 5E.

I'm assuming you mean mixing 10ft-reach melee weapon and 5ft-reach melee weapon? Presumably by choking up on the shaft and/or using the butt of the weapon like some of the martial arts involving polearms do?

I think that previous editions included 15-ft pikes and similar, where doing that might be trickier. 5e understood that those weren't really practical adventuring (as opposed to military) weapons. ;-)

What was it about that that made you dislike 5e?

Polearm master have been the graal of optimizer in 5.14
So popular that it almost rewrite fantasy: « Excalibur the famous polearm of King Arthur. »
« My kingdom for a polearm » should Shakespeare write.

I think it is time to slow down on polearm.

Polearms have been the most common and effective weapons for the vast majority of human history since we upgraded from hitting each other with rocks. There are quite a few named polearms associated with mythic figures around as well.

 

[R_J_K75]

I'm assuming you mean mixing 10ft-reach melee weapon and 5ft-reach melee weapon?

No he wanted to use the same polearm as a 10’ reach and 5’ melee weapon in the same round

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

Reach and the wackiness of Polearm Master is more than enough.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

No he wanted to use the same polearm as a 10’ reach and 5’ melee weapon in the same round

Isn't that what I said? All weapons with the "reach" property are melee weapons. The reach property just lets you make melee attacks against opponents who are 10ft away as well as those withing 5ft.