The Lance.

[wraithstrike]

This post is made to get FAQ's so we can get an official answer.

The book says "While mounted, you can wield a lance with one hand" rather than "While mounted, you can wield a lance as a one-handed weapon."

By RAW you are using a two-handed weapon in one hand, but getting two-handed benefits.

No matter what your stance is I kindly request you press the FAQ button.

[Atarlost]

I don't find this unclear. It is not the weapon that determines the strength multiplier, but how you wield it. Otherwise you couldn't two hand a one handed weapon.

[Wraithstrike Minion #1]

FAQs for the glorious and all powerful Lord Wraithstrike the Shrouded One.

[Morain]

Redundant question imo. Of course you're not getting two handed benefits (1.5 STR bonus) when you wield it in one hand.

Only thing that means is you can wield it 1 handed without penalties if you are mounted.

[kyrt-ryder]

If this does go through, people are just going to be two-handing a lance instead of the iconic lance and shield anyway. The strength multiplier and power attack bonus are- more often than not- just more important than a shield, especially when you're applying a x2 or x3 charge multiplier.

[ZetaGilgamesh]

Doesn't matter, you can't two-hand a lance while on a horse anyways due to the length of the weapon and torso positioning. Short-bow, yes, lance, no.

[kyrt-ryder]

Of course you can two-hand a lance while on a horse. Happens all the time in any game I've seen lances used.

[Atarlost]

Indeed, the one handed thing should be a general rule of polearms. The mounted combat rules aren't very well designed.

[SlimGauge]

ZetaGilgamesh wrote:

Doesn't matter, you can't two-hand a lance while on a horse anyways due to the length of the weapon and torso positioning. Short-bow, yes, lance, no.

Sure you can. It was done historically, even in the days before stirrups.

See the wikipedia entry for Kontos

[MacGurcules]

From the equipment section:
Two-Handed: Two hands are required to use a two-handed melee weapon effectively. Apply 1-1/2 times the character's Strength bonus to damage rolls for melee attacks with such a weapon.

The lance has a special rule that says you can wield it in one hand, not that you treat it as a one-handed weapon. That would be different. There is no provision on damage for using a variable number of hands with a two-handed weapon. That exists only for the one-handed weapons. Two-handed weapons always use 1.5x Strength.

[Howie23]

FAQ'd. I don't FAQ much, but this one has been an area of contention throughout the 3.5 era if not prior.

Whether given gaming groups have allowed it is immaterial.

Arguments for look at the ambiguous text, lack of text related to general two handed weapon use mounted, and historical use of weapons like the Greek and Byzantine kontos, which were longer than the game's long spear and were used two handed at times.

Arguments against two-handed use also appeal to the ambiguous text, the lack of language related to two-handed weapon use, historical use of the Western European high medieval lance, development of lighter horseman's versions of many iconic weapons, such as mace and battle axe, etc.

Personally, I think that the lance is a two handed weapon that can be used one handed mounted, and must be used one handed when mounted. I enforce that in non-organized games, and only gains one-handed benefit when mounted re strength, power attack, and the like. Given the nature of organized play, the ambiguity leads me to permitting use of two handed weapons when mounted, including lancing with two hands. This is a compromise on my behalf.

Side note to an earlier post: re now use, rules permit mounted short bows, but also mounted composite longbows. Only longbow is prohibited in the core bow family.

[kyrt-ryder]

And always deal Power Attack Penalty x3 damage

[wraithstrike]

Where is Wraithstrike Minion #2? It is so hard to find good backup these days.

[Wraithstrike Minion #1]

I'm so sorry for his absence my Shadow Within the Light. May I flay myself for your amusement?

[katataban]

SlimGauge wrote:

ZetaGilgamesh wrote:

Doesn't matter, you can't two-hand a lance while on a horse anyways due to the length of the weapon and torso positioning. Short-bow, yes, lance, no.

Sure you can. It was done historically, even in the days before stirrups.

See the wikipedia entry for Kontos

That's the same as saying a dagger should get two handed bonus because Scottish highlanders used claymores with two hands.

Although the Kontos may be described as a type of lance, it is not a lance proper, but a longspear. Using an actual lance two handed would mean you would have to angle the weapon or risk getting in the way of your horse. This is actually the reason lances were used one handed.

If you were going to use a lance two handed while mounted you would actually lessen the impact of the weapon during a charge, because of the angle you'd have to assume.

[Satchmo]

Katataban you have fallen victim to one of the classic blunders. The most well known is never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less well known is do not try to apply real world physics to a table top game Ahahahahahahahahaha . . .

edit: I suck at speling

[Evil Dave is Evil]

Satchmo wrote:

Katataban you have fallen victim to one of the classic blunders. The most well known is never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less well known is do not try to apply real world physics to a table top game Ahahahahahahahahaha . . .

edit: I suck at speling

And only slightly less well known than that is failing to check the date of the thread that you're posting to. Seriously, what's with all the necromancers around here these days?

[Evil Dave is Evil]

Satchmo wrote:

Katataban you have fallen victim to one of the classic blunders. The most well known is never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less well known is do not try to apply real world physics to a table top game Ahahahahahahahahaha . . .

edit: I suck at speling

Not you, Satchmo.

[Satchmo]

Oops, it was on the front page.

[Evil Dave is Evil]

Satchmo wrote:

Oops, it was on the front page.

Not your fault, it was on the front page because somebody found a ten-month old thread and decided to throw in his 2CP.