I am very happy about this. However, there's an immediate problem, in my opinion: the pike.
When attacking with the pike, you do not get the bonus action attack, though the other PAM feature works for you.
Although annoying, this always seemed at least somewhat reasonable, because a pike does piercing damage. The implication is, it seems, that you'll be thrusting with a weapon that does piercing damage, so it would be difficult to turn your weapon around to hit an opponent with the haft/shaft, whereas someone wielding, say, a glaive, could be swinging both the blade and haft/shaft of the weapon without even changing their hand positions too much. Yes, it would be possible to turn around your pike,but apparently difficult enough to not be RAW-legal.
And now we have the spear getting that bonus action attack. What is a pike but a larger spear?* Sure, a regular soldier likely couldn't wield a large spear effectively enough to hit with both ends of it, but the entire point of this feat is that you are a pole-arm "Master." Master with every pole-arm except the pike, I guess.
But not a trident? Well, that weapon just went from a useless duplicate inexplicably martial to an actively worse weapon in every way. Also I am of the opinion that using Polearm Master bonus attack with the staff (and now spear) held one handed with a shield is ridiculous. In my games I'm happy for Polearm Master to apply to all the pole weapons, but only when wielded in two hands. I'm still fine-tuning a homebrew feat to bring spears into the game as a viable option (and tridents too), that will stack a little with Polearm Master if people really want to invest that much.
The errata should have included the words "when used with two hands" when using a quarterstaff and a spear. There is no "stick twirling" with a one handed spear or quarterstaff!
PS (tantrum incoming): Quarterstaff damage is too high in D&D 5e. A club doing d4 damage, while a one handed strike with a quarterstaff does d6 is just silly. The only thing you should be able to do is poke an enemy with the blunt end, just from a bio-mechanical stand point. Fighting techniques with the QS and the spear are very similar (look at historical sources like Meyer and Fiore). The spear is a lot more dangerous in the thrust due to its spear head point. Also, quarterstaff are no wu shu kind of sticks (like a bo staff from eastern martial arts). They are quite heavy and not intended to be used single handed.
PPS: Tridents should fall into the same category and restrictions as glaives (a cut centric polearm with a hook or spike on the other side of the head), a halberd (a multi purpose head for piercing with the tip, slashing with an axe blade and hooking with an opposing spike), due to the weight of the metal head on top of the staff. It makes sense for pikes (and lances) to be excluded from the bonus attack options, as you do keep them pointed at the enemy. The reach of a pike should be bigger than a spear (which should have reach too, when used two handed) and have the ability to be set for a charge.
Also, quarterstaff are no wu shu kind of sticks (like a bo staff from eastern martial arts). They are quite heavy and not intended to be used single handed..
Actually, there are actually historically based maneuvers in HEMA with a quarter staff that are held in one hand, and they generate a tremendous amount of force. Like, shatter a braced sword defensive guard and stagger the hell out of your opponent, kind of force.
I don't really disagree with you on really anything else you said, just wanted to hop in and clarify this and point it out.
Also, sorry for Necroing the thread, I just stumbled upon it, after doing research for my current character.
Please don't tell my paladin player about this. The only thing that lets me keep his PAM Glaive in check is that a glaive is eight feet long. A spear or quarter staff is a good bit shorter. Not to mention you can take a staff places you can't take a glaive.
Well I'm hyped. Polearm Master now applies to spears, and as far as I can tell, works with wielding a shield?
So finally, Hoplite build can be somewhat more realistic?
Toremar, Paladin 6 / Dez, Gnome Wizard 5 / Perios, Elf Wizard 10 / Skadr, Dwarf Pugilist 7
I am very happy about this. However, there's an immediate problem, in my opinion: the pike.
When attacking with the pike, you do not get the bonus action attack, though the other PAM feature works for you.
Although annoying, this always seemed at least somewhat reasonable, because a pike does piercing damage. The implication is, it seems, that you'll be thrusting with a weapon that does piercing damage, so it would be difficult to turn your weapon around to hit an opponent with the haft/shaft, whereas someone wielding, say, a glaive, could be swinging both the blade and haft/shaft of the weapon without even changing their hand positions too much. Yes, it would be possible to turn around your pike, but apparently difficult enough to not be RAW-legal.
And now we have the spear getting that bonus action attack. What is a pike but a larger spear?* Sure, a regular soldier likely couldn't wield a large spear effectively enough to hit with both ends of it, but the entire point of this feat is that you are a pole-arm "Master." Master with every pole-arm except the pike, I guess.
*I realize there are other differences.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Yeah now a quarterstaff isn't the only way to use a shield and dueling style with PAM. Works nicely with a variant human battlemaster or paladin.
But not a trident? Well, that weapon just went from a useless duplicate inexplicably martial to an actively worse weapon in every way. Also I am of the opinion that using Polearm Master bonus attack with the staff (and now spear) held one handed with a shield is ridiculous. In my games I'm happy for Polearm Master to apply to all the pole weapons, but only when wielded in two hands. I'm still fine-tuning a homebrew feat to bring spears into the game as a viable option (and tridents too), that will stack a little with Polearm Master if people really want to invest that much.
The errata should have included the words "when used with two hands" when using a quarterstaff and a spear. There is no "stick twirling" with a one handed spear or quarterstaff!
PS (tantrum incoming):
Quarterstaff damage is too high in D&D 5e. A club doing d4 damage, while a one handed strike with a quarterstaff does d6 is just silly. The only thing you should be able to do is poke an enemy with the blunt end, just from a bio-mechanical stand point. Fighting techniques with the QS and the spear are very similar (look at historical sources like Meyer and Fiore). The spear is a lot more dangerous in the thrust due to its spear head point. Also, quarterstaff are no wu shu kind of sticks (like a bo staff from eastern martial arts). They are quite heavy and not intended to be used single handed.
PPS:
Tridents should fall into the same category and restrictions as glaives (a cut centric polearm with a hook or spike on the other side of the head), a halberd (a multi purpose head for piercing with the tip, slashing with an axe blade and hooking with an opposing spike), due to the weight of the metal head on top of the staff.
It makes sense for pikes (and lances) to be excluded from the bonus attack options, as you do keep them pointed at the enemy. The reach of a pike should be bigger than a spear (which should have reach too, when used two handed) and have the ability to be set for a charge.
Actually, there are actually historically based maneuvers in HEMA with a quarter staff that are held in one hand, and they generate a tremendous amount of force. Like, shatter a braced sword defensive guard and stagger the hell out of your opponent, kind of force.
I don't really disagree with you on really anything else you said, just wanted to hop in and clarify this and point it out.
Also, sorry for Necroing the thread, I just stumbled upon it, after doing research for my current character.
Please don't tell my paladin player about this. The only thing that lets me keep his PAM Glaive in check is that a glaive is eight feet long. A spear or quarter staff is a good bit shorter. Not to mention you can take a staff places you can't take a glaive.
Quarter staff is about 6' so yes a good bit shorter, a spear 7' plus so nor so much shorter.
lol. Staffsplaining
"Not all those who wander are lost"