Topic: RMSS - Spears

[aarcc]

What's the procedure in RMSS for using spears 1-handed (with shield) or two-handed. Developed as 2 different weapons skills?

[Cory Magel]

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).

[aarcc]

Do your learn them as separate skills and with separate weapon tables?

[arakish]

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

[providence13]

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.

[Cory Magel]

Separate skills for long and short with me, but I don't make them learn a secondary skill to throw it.

[providence13]

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.

[Cory Magel]

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.

[Erik Sharma]

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).

[markc]

 I use the javelin for the short spear, spear for the longer spear and either pike or pole arm for the longest spear.


MDC

[arakish]

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