Hello everybody! I have come here to question you today.
Looking up what a Lance is for the purposes of my mounted-only Fighter named Henry, I found something cool. Just like a Halberd, Spear, or Pike, a Lance is a Polearm! That’s cool. Now, look at the Feat Polearm Master. It is undoubtedly one of the best feats to ever exist, least in my opinion. Looking at it, you Do Not master polearms. There is nothing for the Lance! In fact, looking up what a Quarterstaff is, Wikipedia and the likes say it is a Pole-Weapon, not a Polearm! So, can anyone tell me why the Polearm master feat uses a Pole-weapon, but not a Polearm?
Edit:Pole-Weapons apparently are Polearms, after some Research. But, can anyone say why you don’t also get features for the Lance, when it is apparently a Polearm?
I always assumed the lance wasn't counted because it has the special property which gives it disadvantage within in 5ft. Just too specific of a weapon.
Pole-weapons/polearms are historically infantry weapons designed to be wielded in a two-handed grip. There are a number of other defining factors like the haft, weapon head etc. The Wikipedia article is pretty good.
Well, then where does Quarterstaff come from? It looks nothing like a spear, Halberd, or Pike! Yes, I’m a bit Hung up there, but I’d at least like an explanation.
@Stormnight, a Polearm is this: They are a weapon made from a pole, or shaft with a metal spike added to the end. So in broad use of the term, yes, a lance is a polearm. It may have been used mounted, but in the end, it had the base structure of a polearm.
Because a Quarterstaff is literally a pole that you are armed with.
Realistically I think that it's to recreate the fact that the Quarterstaff was a double weapon, which is something that isn't in 5th Edition except for the Double Scimitar.
I was getting a bit carried away with historical definitions above, which is always a little dangerous, as they vary depending on which historians you listen to. To even embark on that path, you need to fully define what a lance is first - historically, it depends on region and is generally little more than a wooden shaft with a metal piercing tip and, depending upon design, they could be wielded on foot if needed, as a long thrusting weapon. In that respect, they would be defined as polearms. However, the classic jousting lance is fitted with a hand guard and is designed to only be used from a mount with a special saddle - that's the version of lance that most people think of, as it's what they have seen in movies.
As others have stated though, the game rules for the polearm mastery feat specify exactly what counts as a polearm for the purposes of the feat in Dungeons & Dragons.
A lance has an important distinction that would require it be used differently than those other weapons. It would have a vamplate partway up the shaft to prevent your hand from slipping upward when it made contact. This vamplate would prevent you from wielding this weapon with the same effectiveness as you would a spear or the like. When you're using a spear, your hands are constantly sliding along the shaft in order to lengthen or shorten your reach.
One could make the argument that you could wield a lance one handed in a similar way to a spear, but that's not how a lance would be balanced. A lance that was meant to kill someone (i.e not a tourney lance) would have likely been made from a sturdier and heavier wood, and would have been gripped pretty far down the shaft.
Mechanically, the way you use those weapons are very, very different. Hence, why Polearm Master doesn't apply to lances.
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Hello everybody! I have come here to question you today.
Looking up what a Lance is for the purposes of my mounted-only Fighter named Henry, I found something cool. Just like a Halberd, Spear, or Pike, a Lance is a Polearm! That’s cool. Now, look at the Feat Polearm Master. It is undoubtedly one of the best feats to ever exist, least in my opinion. Looking at it, you Do Not master polearms. There is nothing for the Lance! In fact, looking up what a Quarterstaff is, Wikipedia and the likes say it is a Pole-Weapon, not a Polearm! So, can anyone tell me why the
Polearm master feat uses a Pole-weapon, but not a Polearm?Edit:Pole-Weapons apparently are Polearms, after some Research. But, can anyone say why you don’t also get features for the Lance, when it is apparently a Polearm?
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I always assumed the lance wasn't counted because it has the special property which gives it disadvantage within in 5ft. Just too specific of a weapon.
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D&D Beyond FoundersPole-weapons/polearms are historically infantry weapons designed to be wielded in a two-handed grip. There are a number of other defining factors like the haft, weapon head etc. The Wikipedia article is pretty good.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_weapon
The Lance however is very different. It's not a polearm and is designed to be used exclusively by a mounted combatant.
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You're a but hung up on the feat name. It's a special proficiency for spears and their descendent weapons.
Well, then where does Quarterstaff come from? It looks nothing like a spear, Halberd, or Pike! Yes, I’m a bit Hung up there, but I’d at least like an explanation.
@Stormnight, a Polearm is this: They are a weapon made from a pole, or shaft with a metal spike added to the end. So in broad use of the term, yes, a lance is a polearm. It may have been used mounted, but in the end, it had the base structure of a polearm.
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
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Because a Quarterstaff is literally a pole that you are armed with.
Realistically I think that it's to recreate the fact that the Quarterstaff was a double weapon, which is something that isn't in 5th Edition except for the Double Scimitar.
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D&D Beyond FoundersI was getting a bit carried away with historical definitions above, which is always a little dangerous, as they vary depending on which historians you listen to. To even embark on that path, you need to fully define what a lance is first - historically, it depends on region and is generally little more than a wooden shaft with a metal piercing tip and, depending upon design, they could be wielded on foot if needed, as a long thrusting weapon. In that respect, they would be defined as polearms. However, the classic jousting lance is fitted with a hand guard and is designed to only be used from a mount with a special saddle - that's the version of lance that most people think of, as it's what they have seen in movies.
As others have stated though, the game rules for the polearm mastery feat specify exactly what counts as a polearm for the purposes of the feat in Dungeons & Dragons.
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
A lance has an important distinction that would require it be used differently than those other weapons. It would have a vamplate partway up the shaft to prevent your hand from slipping upward when it made contact. This vamplate would prevent you from wielding this weapon with the same effectiveness as you would a spear or the like. When you're using a spear, your hands are constantly sliding along the shaft in order to lengthen or shorten your reach.
One could make the argument that you could wield a lance one handed in a similar way to a spear, but that's not how a lance would be balanced. A lance that was meant to kill someone (i.e not a tourney lance) would have likely been made from a sturdier and heavier wood, and would have been gripped pretty far down the shaft.
Mechanically, the way you use those weapons are very, very different. Hence, why Polearm Master doesn't apply to lances.