I find it extremely frustrating that there is no mechanism in D&D 5E to build the equivalent of a Hoplite. They ruled the ancient world for a thousand years! Hoplites used a shield and a spear, but very notably it was NOT a stubby little spear, it was a very long spear so they could stand with several ranks in the phalanx formation and present a wall of spear points to their opponents. Their one handed spears had reach (the rear of the spear had a counterweight). They did not have 'bonus action' reach, they had reach period!
Meanwhile I don't see how it should be somehow imbalancing to allow two handed reach weapons to do a 10 sided die of damage but that it would be terrible to allow someone to have a 1D6 damage, reach weapon while carrying a shield.
A standard spear is a simple weapon. A martial spear is not, and it cannot be thrown. Where is the problem I am missing?
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Bookworm, martial artist, repentant psychic, dried out drug addict, paramedic, pseudo-apostate libertarian, debater, knife maker, SCA basher, professional gamer, speculator, pornographer, and nascent social commentator. ...and I want an uncomplicated life.
Well, you could go with the Spear Mastery feat for pretty much what you want from a Hoplite to be. I personally find it a bit odd that the spear does not get a "reach" from the start for proficient use, but that's the odd rules of D&D 5e when it come to historical accuracy, I guess. From personal experience the ability to fight people at "kind of melee" range stops at a around seven feet (or perhaps eight, if you are tall). You can't shorten or change your grip to react to opponents getting past the point. This also applies to use single handed both over and under arm. The fighting power of Hoplites comes from their fight in formation (both from the spear and the shield that is specifically designed to cover the soldier to your left by the way it is held/strapped).
PS: Hoplite spears grew longer and would be considered pikes during the Hellenistic period.
The problem with using a long spear one handed is that it only really works in a phalanx. If you don't have someone next to you protecting you with their shield and preventing flanking, then you are killed as soon as someone gets past the tip of your spear.
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I find it extremely frustrating that there is no mechanism in D&D 5E to build the equivalent of a Hoplite. They ruled the ancient world for a thousand years! Hoplites used a shield and a spear, but very notably it was NOT a stubby little spear, it was a very long spear so they could stand with several ranks in the phalanx formation and present a wall of spear points to their opponents. Their one handed spears had reach (the rear of the spear had a counterweight). They did not have 'bonus action' reach, they had reach period!
Meanwhile I don't see how it should be somehow imbalancing to allow two handed reach weapons to do a 10 sided die of damage but that it would be terrible to allow someone to have a 1D6 damage, reach weapon while carrying a shield.
A standard spear is a simple weapon. A martial spear is not, and it cannot be thrown. Where is the problem I am missing?
Bookworm, martial artist, repentant psychic, dried out drug addict, paramedic, pseudo-apostate libertarian, debater, knife maker, SCA basher, professional gamer, speculator, pornographer, and nascent social commentator. ...and I want an uncomplicated life.
Well, you could go with the Spear Mastery feat for pretty much what you want from a Hoplite to be. I personally find it a bit odd that the spear does not get a "reach" from the start for proficient use, but that's the odd rules of D&D 5e when it come to historical accuracy, I guess.
From personal experience the ability to fight people at "kind of melee" range stops at a around seven feet (or perhaps eight, if you are tall). You can't shorten or change your grip to react to opponents getting past the point. This also applies to use single handed both over and under arm.
The fighting power of Hoplites comes from their fight in formation (both from the spear and the shield that is specifically designed to cover the soldier to your left by the way it is held/strapped).
PS: Hoplite spears grew longer and would be considered pikes during the Hellenistic period.
The problem with using a long spear one handed is that it only really works in a phalanx. If you don't have someone next to you protecting you with their shield and preventing flanking, then you are killed as soon as someone gets past the tip of your spear.