Even before the massive thread was going around, I had a player in a game that has a reach weapon, not a longspear, but the spirit of the weapon is the same. After discussions, much like those taking place in the thread of a similar name, we decided to houserule it. When the character uses the spear to attack at 10' he, obviously, threatens only at 10' for that entire round. If the character should "switch grips," which is how we've taken to referring to it, mechanically speaking, he must do so at the beginning of his round in the initiative, as a swift action, and cannot then switch back until the beginning of his next round. Once "switched" he can use the weapon to make attacks at 5'. Those attacks take a -4 attack penalty, and do 1d6 + strength bonus damage. Once the character has switched grips he only threatens at 5'.
This is our table's way of providing for the use of the butt end of a spear as a weapon, which we believe adds a bit more realism to the weapon's use.
I wondered what tweaks, if any, other GM's would make to this rule. Any and all advice for improvements would be appreciated.
You could always use the old Dragon Magazine feat "Short Grip"
SHORTEN GRIP [GENERAL]
You know how to alter your grip on a reach weapon to use it against nearby opponents.
Benefit: When wielding a pole arm with reach that you are proficient with, you may treat the weapon as if it did not have reach. The weapon is unwieldy when used in this fashion and you take a -2 penalty on attack rolls when attacking an opponent you normally could not.
Normal: Reach weapons cannot be used against adjacent foes.
Special: A fighter may select Shorten Grip as one of his fighter bonus feats.
You could use the feat as is, or just do like people seem to do with Power Attack, and make it to where everyone can utilize the feat without it actually being a feat. Though, it doesn't say if you still threaten at both 5 and 10 feet, but you can change that up easily.
Mechanically speaking, he must do so at the beginning of his round in the initiative, as a swift action, and cannot then switch back until the beginning of his next round. Once "switched" he can use the weapon to make attacks at 5'. Those attacks take a -4 attack penalty, and do 1d6 + strength bonus damage. Once the character has switched grips he only threatens at 5'.
Sounds fine. I call it a free action, but still an action (can only be done on your turn, unlike speaking).
Shorten Grip is a great feat from 3.5, halves the penalty and you are actually using the weapon itself, instead of an improvised weapon. Very different mechanic really.
The Polearm Master has a power that does exactly this. So there is a mechanical precedent.
At 2nd level, as an immediate action, a polearm master can shorten the grip on his spear or polearm with reach and use it against adjacent targets. This action results in a –4 penalty on attack rolls with that weapon until he spends another immediate action to return to the normal grip.
I was not aware of Short Grip for 3.5. We did consider making it an Immediate action as opposed to a Swift. Keeping it as a swift action, and adjusting the weapon damage, means that the polearm fighter ability still has value, though.
Edit: I forgot to mention that when the character uses the butt end of the weapon we change the damage type to bludgeoning.
Seems fine. The polearm fighter's archetype ability is still better, so I've got no problems. Doesn't step on any toes.
I just use a longspear with a monk, and threaten the 5' squares with my feet.