Official ICE Forums
Systems & Settings => Rolemaster => RMSS/FRP => Topic started by: aarcc on March 23, 2012, 01:40:38 PM
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What's the procedure in RMSS for using spears 1-handed (with shield) or two-handed. Developed as 2 different weapons skills?
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I've always treated "Short Spears" as one handed and "Long Spears" as two handed. There are maneuvers where you would thrust with a single hand while using the Long Spear, but the overall style requires the use of two hands. Advantage of the Short Spear? You can use a shield. Advantage of the Long Spear? I gave you a 10' attack range (so you can make thrusts at a foe on the other side of an ally).
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Do your learn them as separate skills and with separate weapon tables?
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Do your learn them as separate skills and with separate weapon tables?
In my games:
As separate skills: Yes. I had them listed as Spear w/Shield and Spear 2-Handed. As Cory posted, I also treated a spear w/shield as a "short spear" usually 5 to 6 feet total length, and spear 2-handed as being a "long spear" usually 6+ feet total length. Furthermore, I also allowed the players to learn using a Spear w/Shield and Shield Bash as a Two Weapon Combo skill so they could use both in the same round. Otherwise, they could only use the spear OR shield bash in a round.
Separate Weapon Tables: No. I always used Spear attack table with all crits being Puncture. However, a spear with sufficiently long blade could conceivably be used with Slash crits (if sweeping with the spear). But that, IMHO, would only apply to the Spear 2-Handed skill. Spear with shield would always be puncture since the attacks would always be thrusts.
rmfr
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I do it the same.
Plus you can always through a spear.
This makes 3 skills to develop (2 Handed, One Handed and Thrown) which can turn new players off.
But once they get used to the system, it makes sense.
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Separate skills for long and short with me, but I don't make them learn a secondary skill to throw it.
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Do you use St/Ag/St or Ag/St/Ag for skill bonus/ OB?
I guess the easy way would be to just apply the Short/Long skill bonus, but it does seem like they're modified by different Stats.
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It's more house ruled with me. Spears are not exactly one of the first weapons people pick out if they are just trying to do more damage. We're a pretty tactical bunch and I like to give reasons to pick alternate weapons. Technically in RM they would probably just learn "Spear" and apply it to either, but also have to learn a separate skill to throw it.
So, I pulled a Short Spear (can't recall what table I was using for this and my stuff isn't handy) attack table and separated short spears from long spears - short spear I'd let you use one handed but you can't attack from 10' out like you can with the long spear and it has a shorter range when thrown. I'd rule that you don't have to learn a separate throw skill, but you do have to learn each spear type separately. I'd use St/Ag/St for it hand to hand and Ag/St/Ag for it thrown on the stat bonuses.
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Well I use the Spear table for the 1H variety, Heavy Spear table from The Armory for the 2H variety and Lance table for when you get on a horse with a Heavy Spear.
I have always considered lances in Rolemaster to be the 2H variety of the spear (exception when on a horse and you can pin it under your arm).
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I use the javelin for the short spear, spear for the longer spear and either pike or pole arm for the longest spear.
MDC
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Well I use the Spear table for the 1H variety, Heavy Spear table from The Armory for the 2H variety and Lance table for when you get on a horse with a Heavy Spear.
I use the javelin for the short spear, spear for the longer spear and either pike or pole arm for the longest spear.
Or a combination thereof. This is the new way I'll do it.
Spear thrown = javelin
short Spear = spear table
long Spear = heavy spear (armory)
jousting Spear = lance
very long spear = pike/pole arm
That makes sense to me. Any others?
rmfr