Just wondering... I'm thinking of a spear+shield build (a la Spartan, or Shaka Zulu). Is shield+javelin the most efficient way to do that? Spear has no advantage over javelin if used one-handed (and with a shield, that's the only option), and javelin has a longer range if thrown. If the character has access to martial weapons (and they most likely would, since Barbarian and Fighter are the most appropriate, maybe Ranger), trident has no advantage over spear, and is therefore worse than javelin for one-handed use. Kinda miffed that there are no better options than javelin, especially considering it's a simple weapon, but in practice it'll simply be 1 less damage per hit (2, on critical hits) than using a longsword. Are there any Feats I should be aware about, that might tip the balance in favor of spear, or trident? I think there are some UA or homebrew Feats for spears and such, but we're not using UA or homebrew. I guess if mounted, a lance would be better, and still work, thematically, but I'd rather not depend on being mounted. Any other options I may have missed? I'm trying to stay away from re-skinning, by the way, so no "it works like a longsword but looks like a spear" please (plus, while I'm mostly interested in melee, I do want the option of throwing it if need be).
I had not! Had been only looking at weapons in the PHB, missed that! Thanks! The range is pretty bad, but it fits the concept well, and the extra damage is welcome. 👍
There's also the quarterstaff which can be paired with Polearm master. However that is getting a bit into the it works like a stick but it looks like a stick with a rock tied to it. And of course the staff isn't thrown.
Spear also works with polearm master feat. That would allow you to use action, reaction and bonus action to stab things. Works nice together with duelist fighting style or rage.
A shield and spear fighter with PAM and Sentinel with the dueling fighting style is a very badass combo. Make that fighter a battle master and you could control a lot of the battlefield.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Just wondering... I'm thinking of a spear+shield build (a la Spartan, or Shaka Zulu). Is shield+javelin the most efficient way to do that? Spear has no advantage over javelin if used one-handed (and with a shield, that's the only option), and javelin has a longer range if thrown. If the character has access to martial weapons (and they most likely would, since Barbarian and Fighter are the most appropriate, maybe Ranger), trident has no advantage over spear, and is therefore worse than javelin for one-handed use. Kinda miffed that there are no better options than javelin, especially considering it's a simple weapon, but in practice it'll simply be 1 less damage per hit (2, on critical hits) than using a longsword. Are there any Feats I should be aware about, that might tip the balance in favor of spear, or trident? I think there are some UA or homebrew Feats for spears and such, but we're not using UA or homebrew. I guess if mounted, a lance would be better, and still work, thematically, but I'd rather not depend on being mounted. Any other options I may have missed? I'm trying to stay away from re-skinning, by the way, so no "it works like a longsword but looks like a spear" please (plus, while I'm mostly interested in melee, I do want the option of throwing it if need be).
Have you considered a yklwa?
I had not! Had been only looking at weapons in the PHB, missed that! Thanks! The range is pretty bad, but it fits the concept well, and the extra damage is welcome. 👍
I'm curious why the designers made up a weapon with a weird name when there exists a perfectly real Assegai?
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
The iklwa or ixwa is a real life weapon, very similar to an assegai. =)
There's also the quarterstaff which can be paired with Polearm master. However that is getting a bit into the it works like a stick but it looks like a stick with a rock tied to it. And of course the staff isn't thrown.
Extended Signature
Have you considered a yklwa is what I believe was an actual misspelling of Iklwa when they added the weapon with the adventure.
When I wanted to make a Spear & Shield Fighter. I was just going to use the stats of a Rapier and call it a Iklwa.
Tomb of Annihilation created the yklwa, which I'd use instead if I wanted to be STR based instead of DEX based.
Spear also works with polearm master feat. That would allow you to use action, reaction and bonus action to stab things. Works nice together with duelist fighting style or rage.
Attack: [roll]3d20dl2+6[/roll] Damage: [roll](if([roll:-1:critical], =0, 1d8, 2{1d8}.expand()))+4[/roll] Sneakattack: [roll](if([roll:-2:critical], =0, 2d6, 2{2d6}.expand()))[/roll]A shield and spear fighter with PAM and Sentinel with the dueling fighting style is a very badass combo. Make that fighter a battle master and you could control a lot of the battlefield.