Reach Weapons or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Hate the Spiked Chain

[Lord oKOyA]

Instead of jumping on the hate wagon for the spiked chain, how about showing some love for the other reach weapons. It doesn’t make sense to me IMO that one cannot use a glaive (for example) to attack someone adjacent to them. I know the glaive’s strength (as with most, but not all, reach weapons) comes from the increased leverage and speed resulting from the long shaft propelling the blade, but that same shaft is essentially a quarterstaff with one mean end. Why not let the glaive be used like a quarterstaff against adjacent opponents (with the expected modifications to damage, criticals etc.). I would even support a penalty to attack (say -2) when being used in this not specifically designed for usage. I’m not really advocating something that isn’t already achievable within the scope of the existing rules. <see spoiler> I’m just asking that maybe we stream line the process and make it easier for melee types (I’m looking right at you fighter) to broaden their repertoire of weapons and tactics. What do you think?

Spoiler:

Using the glaive to attack at close range is really the equivalent of attacking using an improvised weapon (= to the aforementioned quarterstaff). You would suffer -4 to your attack role and penalties to damage but these could be overcome by the application of feats (ie. Caught Off Guard and Razor Sharp Chair Leg).

PS Razor Sharp Chair Leg really needs a different name.