I'd like to pitch in some thoughts on polearms as well.
They are great. From the stone age, right to the industrial age (WW I) they were used by all armies. There were a number of reasons for that.
- pole arms were 2 handed weapons, capable of defeating armor, as indicated by their type.
- polearms, although people picture them as being used ONLY in rank and file combat, were actually also very useful in one on one combat. Only the really long 10'+ weapons were specifically designed to be used in shield walls, to ward off cavalry, but also as a shield wall defeating weapon by hooking the enemy's shield from second rank and allowing the first rank to strike true.
- Pole arms are very good at defending: first they keep people at a distance: beyond striking range, second: they act like quarter staffs for parrying, thirdly they had special attachments for tasks like pulling off riders, pushing off siege ladders and deflecting massed pole arm formations coming at you, fourthly the variety of pole arm heads were meant for dealing with all kinds of armor.
- The pole axe was considered to be a dangerous knightly weapon that competed in the Lists (the deulling lists) in a class of its own, because other weapons were not a match for it.
- Pole arms served many other purposes, such as a walking stick for infantry units on the move, tent pole, carrying leverage for a knapsack and other camp gear.
- They were great for keeping peasants in line, featuring a non-peasant-mauling-end to keep the peasants from dieing and costing the lord income.
- The length made you strike first in combat
- Even though the length made you strike first, they could be "reeled" in and used like a quarter staff for close quarter fighting.
- They could be used to strike from the second and possibly third rank, but also on higher up targets, or accross ditches and moats.
- Flags could be attached to the pole so the general would know which pike block belonged to his army and which swiss mercenary company didn't.
- When used correctly and by trained troops, could ward off a charge when set to receive a charge.
- Pole arms were difficult to disarm, because you wielded it two handed.
- Most pole arms could be used to cause a foe to stumble.
- The length gave you the option of striking below the shield (or feinting to strike there), to strike the area left undefended by the opponent's shield.
As you can see: although they aren't used much in RPG's, GM's might consider allowing some of the above advantages so pole arms could become righteously popular again.
Perhaps introduce a combat skill: Pole arm use, or whatever to allow its use from second rank, allow the miscellaneous attachments to be used correctly and allow setting to receive charge and other tricks, such as a shield pull, or a leg feint, or a cavalrist take down.
PS: the bardiche DID have a spear tip like point on the top of the axe. The Strelsky troops doubled as enforcers in the town they were stationed in and the bardiche was a tool of felling trees and making wooden fortifications, supporting muskets, warding off cavalry, keep away rebellious peasants and executing subdued rebellious peasants afterwards.
Another multi purpose weapon!