Yes of course I know you can two-hand a spear for 1d8, but I’d like to make a one-hand spear & board pc and not feel like I’m choosing a numerical handicap if I don’t take a L sword, morning star or war hammer (and warpick of course!).
The difference in dam is only 3.5 to 4.5 but it still feels like a weird omission. it wild be cool to have a 1d8 short spear like an Iklwa, not meant to be thrown but deadly.
Anyway, I’d like to know what the community thinks!
Why not just use a yklwa? They're melee weapons. Just because they have the Thrown property doesn't mean that's all you can use them for. In fact, you really shouldn't be using them for throwing, what with you only being able to throw them about as far as you could throw a cat. And not one of the aerodynamic ones, either.
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Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny. Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
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The weapons presented in the PHB are all-in-all pretty Eurocentric. Sadly, many weapons from other cultures (the African iklwa being an excellent example) were overlooked. In short, if medieval Europe didn’t use it, D&D doesn’t use it either. (The yklwa Quar1on mentioned was a later addition to the weapons selection.)
Fortunately, something like that can be homebrewed with relative ease. All you need is to figure out the damage dice and range and whatnot. Easy enough.
Why not just reflavor a longsword or something? It works out the same mechanically. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely think they should expand the list of weapons, but if all you want is 1d8 in one hand that’s already accounted for.
That's a case where you have to talk to your GM and see if you can work out something with them.
I guess it depends, it's likely that OP just wants to use a spear-type weapon for flavor and doesn't care about Polearm Master feat. In that case yeah just reflavor it, no problem.
If you're trying to use a spear for 1-handed polearm master attacks while using a shield, I'm pretty sure that's intentional that it only works with 1d6 spear, and that it would be unbalanced to allow using it with a 1d8 longsword re-flavored as a spear. With Duelist fighting style, 1d8+2 damage is outright better damage than the 2-handed 1d10 polearms, even ignoring the fact that you get +2 AC from the shield. Always gotta just ask the DM but I would expect to get a No there
Oh yeah that’s a good ‘point’ hahaha. I was more thinking of taking the Piercer feat but the pole arm master sentinel combo on top of that would be amazing obvs. It makes thematic sense that a Yklwa benefits from polearm master imo but I can see how it would judge be a better version of a spear for that.
The playtest rules for the 2024 PHB have the Trident as a 1d8/1d10 versatile piercing weapon (which also has the Thrown property). Essentially, they’ve upgraded it to be what it probably always should have been.
It doesn’t look like it will work with Polearm Master, though: that seems to be restricted to Heavy, Reach weapons now.
Having the PM feat doesn't do anything mechanical on the character sheet. Reflavoring a longsword to be Bob's Super Spear would work just fine, with DM's approval of course. Just change the damage type to piercing and add the thrown weapon property. TBF though, you can't add the thrown range.
Yes of course I know you can two-hand a spear for 1d8, but I’d like to make a one-hand spear & board pc and not feel like I’m choosing a numerical handicap if I don’t take a L sword, morning star or war hammer (and warpick of course!).
The difference in dam is only 3.5 to 4.5 but it still feels like a weird omission. it wild be cool to have a 1d8 short spear like an Iklwa, not meant to be thrown but deadly.
Anyway, I’d like to know what the community thinks!
Why not just use a yklwa? They're melee weapons. Just because they have the Thrown property doesn't mean that's all you can use them for. In fact, you really shouldn't be using them for throwing, what with you only being able to throw them about as far as you could throw a cat. And not one of the aerodynamic ones, either.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
If you don't need to be able to throw it or wield it two-handed, you can reflavor a morningstar or pick.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
The weapons presented in the PHB are all-in-all pretty Eurocentric. Sadly, many weapons from other cultures (the African iklwa being an excellent example) were overlooked. In short, if medieval Europe didn’t use it, D&D doesn’t use it either. (The yklwa Quar1on mentioned was a later addition to the weapons selection.)
Fortunately, something like that can be homebrewed with relative ease. All you need is to figure out the damage dice and range and whatnot. Easy enough.
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Why not just reflavor a longsword or something? It works out the same mechanically. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely think they should expand the list of weapons, but if all you want is 1d8 in one hand that’s already accounted for.
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I can’t believe I missed this! It was the weapon I actually wanted to make. Perfect thanks 🤦♂️
It doesn't work the same mechanically for Polearm Master feat, which is a HUGE difference
That's a case where you have to talk to your GM and see if you can work out something with them.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
I guess it depends, it's likely that OP just wants to use a spear-type weapon for flavor and doesn't care about Polearm Master feat. In that case yeah just reflavor it, no problem.
If you're trying to use a spear for 1-handed polearm master attacks while using a shield, I'm pretty sure that's intentional that it only works with 1d6 spear, and that it would be unbalanced to allow using it with a 1d8 longsword re-flavored as a spear. With Duelist fighting style, 1d8+2 damage is outright better damage than the 2-handed 1d10 polearms, even ignoring the fact that you get +2 AC from the shield. Always gotta just ask the DM but I would expect to get a No there
Oh yeah that’s a good ‘point’ hahaha. I was more thinking of taking the Piercer feat but the pole arm master sentinel combo on top of that would be amazing obvs. It makes thematic sense that a Yklwa benefits from polearm master imo but I can see how it would judge be a better version of a spear for that.
Like I said, GM's call.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
The playtest rules for the 2024 PHB have the Trident as a 1d8/1d10 versatile piercing weapon (which also has the Thrown property). Essentially, they’ve upgraded it to be what it probably always should have been.
It doesn’t look like it will work with Polearm Master, though: that seems to be restricted to Heavy, Reach weapons now.
Having the PM feat doesn't do anything mechanical on the character sheet. Reflavoring a longsword to be Bob's Super Spear would work just fine, with DM's approval of course. Just change the damage type to piercing and add the thrown weapon property. TBF though, you can't add the thrown range.
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Oh they took spear back off the PM menu for D&Done?