Stats for Polearms?

[Knightfall]

Okay, I'm wondering what people think regarding creating stats for different types of polearms (and other weapon types, I guess) that aren't listed in the PHB or an official D&D sourcebook.

Specifically, would you (as the DM) insist on different stats for a "bardiche" or would you simply use the stats given for a glaive?

Mine is not a historical game, so I'm thinking it doesn't really matter, but I thought I's ask.

Cheers!

KF72

 

[Scharlata]

[...] different types of polearms [...] different stats for a "bardiche" [...]

Cheers!

Try to get your hands on a copy of issue 331 of the Dragon Magazine (May 2005). It contains an interesting acrticle "The Point of Pole Arms" where different stats for different pole arms are listed and the corresponding weapons are described.

Your typical Slashing bardiche would cost 1 gp more than your typical glaive; it would deal the same damage and would keep the same critical multiplier, but would weigh 2 pounds more.

The pole arm chart contained in #331 lists the Fauchard, Longspear, Quarterstaff, Spear, Bardiche, Duom, Glaive, Guisarme, Halberd, Lurcerne Hammer, Naginata, Partisan, Pilum, Ranseur, Spetum, Voulge, Ankus, Awl Pike, Orc Double Axe, Bec de Corbin, Goad, Greatspear, Lochaber Axe, Longstaff, Heavy Poleaxe, Ritiik, Sasumata, Sharrash/Talenta, Sodegarami, Dwarven Urgrosh, and the Dwarven Warpike.

In there are some interesting new feats, too, like Braced for Charge, Haft Strike, Long Strike, Pole Balance, Pole Fighter, Shorten Grip, Spinning Defense, and Vault.

Enjoy!

 

[shilsen]

Scharlata makes a very good suggestion, assuming you do have access to that magazine. Personally, I'm all for the KISS method, and I often use the same mechanics with different flavor. So I'd just use the stats from one of the PHB polearms.

 

[SS]

Try this book, the hard cover is about 350pgs. It's a D20 guide to arms & armor, from the stone age to the renaissance. From Stone to Steel.

 

[Talic]

I prefer to go with existing weapons unless its something completely new with no compairison. Call it what you want, but we'll use existing weapon stats.

For the weapon you linked to, I'd just use Halberd stats(because the wiki definition you linked doesnt appear to have significant reach) and you can call it a bardiche on your sheet and draw it however you'd like if you've got a portrait.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

For the record, most of what was in that article showed up in DCv1, so its available wherever Paizo product is sold.

There are also several polearms/reach weapons listed in Oriental Adventures and Rokugan products.

 

[Starglim]

For a bardiche, definitely, unless it seemed better to call it a greataxe. For the many variants of "blade and spikes on a pole" guisarme or ranseur stats are probably fine. I think the major reason a player would want a different polearm is that it does have some arguable mechanical difference.

 

[Nyaricus]

Try this book, the hard cover is about 350pgs. It's a D20 guide to arms & armor, from the stone age to the renaissance. From Stone to Steel.

I was just going to say that. FSTS is an amazing testament of over 3000 years-worth of arms and armour from multiple civilizations from all over the world. I own a copy and love it