Alright, so the subject line is a bit misleading; it's not strictly a one handed weapon with reach, but rather, it is a one handed weapon that can be wielded in 2 hands to gain the reach property.
It is essentially a sword blade on very long haft. Fighting with it one handed involves short, quick jabs with the weapon primarily braced against the forearm. Reach fighting involves holding the weapon in two hands for balance and accuracy, before thrusting forward with the lower hand for distance. (contrary to popular belief, this is actually the manner in which most "reach" weapons were historically fought with)
Stat wise, the weapon is as follows:
Exotic One-Handed Melee Weapon:
1d8 damage
x2 crit
Piercing
Reach*
*You may use this weapon in two different ways:
One handed: May be used to attack adjacent opponents as per a standard one-handed weapon.
Two handed: In two-handed form you cannot attack adjacent opponents, but gain reach.
Switching between these two modes is a free action decided at the start of your turn.
I am debating adding Slashing to the damage types, but that may unbalance the weapon.
So, what do you guys think?
The ability to freely change from a close weapon to a reach weapon is very nice. Given that it's an exotic weapon with 1d8/x2 I wouldn't worry too much much about a small boost by giving it slashing and piercing. The glaive is a martial weapon that's 1d10/x3, so you're paying pretty heavily for that versatility.
As for one-handed reach weapons in general, I allow the longspear to be used one-handed as a martial weapon. I've never had a problem with it.
It is going to step on the existing options for doing this a bit.
The closest is the Dwarwen Chain-flail (formerly Dorn Dergar). It is a racial exotic weapon (d10/*2) that allows you to change between reach and non-reach as a move action.
The Darting Viper feat makes this a swift action.The Chain-flail Master feat makes it possible to wield it one-handed.
While this is a bit more flexible than what you suggest, since it can be a one-handed reach weapon, changing it around requires actions, eventhough you spent two feats on it.
Likewise the polearm master archetype ability to change between reach and non-reach is more or less obsolete by such a weapon, since he normally takes a significant penalty to to-hit AND spends an immediate action to do so.
Ultimately, I am simply comparing your suggestion to existing options. It is stronger than those. However that doesn't mean it is too strong compared more popular choices than those.
If he changes it to a move action to switch forms, then he can raise it to a x3 critical multiplier. That brings it more in line with similar effects and also with other pole-arms (which typically have the x3 critical multiplier)
If you want any sort of realism, they already exist...but aren't one-handed. It's basically a thin bladed naginata.
Yes, but that's a long hafted chopping weapon, an anti-cavalry weapon meant for disabling horse legs and dismounting riders. I'm going for more a personal weapon for mages and the like.
The ability to freely change from a close weapon to a reach weapon is very nice. Given that it's an exotic weapon with 1d8/x2 I wouldn't worry too much much about a small boost by giving it slashing and piercing. The glaive is a martial weapon that's 1d10/x3, so you're paying pretty heavily for that versatility.
As for one-handed reach weapons in general, I allow the longspear to be used one-handed as a martial weapon. I've never had a problem with it.
Thanks! I'll certainly consider it.
It is going to step on the existing options for doing this a bit.
The closest is the Dwarwen Chain-flail (formerly Dorn Dergar). It is a racial exotic weapon (d10/*2) that allows you to change between reach and non-reach as a move action.
The Darting Viper feat makes this a swift action.The Chain-flail Master feat makes it possible to wield it one-handed.
While this is a bit more flexible than what you suggest, since it can be a one-handed reach weapon, changing it around requires actions, eventhough you spent two feats on it.Likewise the polearm master archetype ability to change between reach and non-reach is more or less obsolete by such a weapon, since he normally takes a significant penalty to to-hit AND spends an immediate action to do so.
Ultimately, I am simply comparing your suggestion to existing options. It is stronger than those. However that doesn't mean it is too strong compared more popular choices than those.
I think the damage offset and feat tree powers of the Dwarven Chain-Flail (true one-handed reach weapon! Sick house)may help distinguish it, and make the feat payment for the DCF more feasible.
I believe the pole arm master archetype ability is still entirely useful even with the inclusion of this weapon, as it's "Pole Fighting" ability allows you to keep the high damage, versatility, and individual weapon special abilities (i.e brace, trip, disarm, and specific abilities like the bec de corbin's "You gain a +2 bonus to your CMB to sunder medium or heavy armor with a bec de corbin." power) of all pole arm weapons even when striking against adjacent opponents.Still, if there are those who would eschew the class in favor of taking a single Exotic Weapon Proficiency to gain the one hand/reach switch ability, one could argue that the Dwarven Chain-flail has already given players the precedent to do so.
(That said, I understand where you are coming from in terms of design redundancy. Truth be told, I engineered this weapon specifically with spellcasters in mind)
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If you want any sort of realism, they already exist...but aren't one-handed. It's basically a thin bladed naginata.Yes, but that's a long hafted chopping weapon, an anti-cavalry weapon meant for disabling horse legs and dismounting riders. I'm going for more a personal weapon for mages and the like.
Right, but it's what you get when you mount a sword on a pole. I assume you're going for a lighter pole...but much lighter and it gets pretty fragile. Mind you, I'm just throwing in real world considerations...it's a fantasy world, reality might not mean anything, really. If it's just game balance you want...I wouldn't give it a d8. Maybe a d6.
Right, but it's what you get when you mount a sword on a pole. I assume you're going for a lighter pole...but much lighter and it gets pretty fragile. Mind you, I'm just throwing in real world considerations...it's a fantasy world, reality might not mean anything, really. If it's just game balance you want...I wouldn't give it a d8. Maybe a d6.If you want any sort of realism, they already exist...but aren't one-handed. It's basically a thin bladed naginata.Yes, but that's a long hafted chopping weapon, an anti-cavalry weapon meant for disabling horse legs and dismounting riders. I'm going for more a personal weapon for mages and the like.
Not so: Consider the yari (though not the cavalry version), the short spear, and the Scandinavian swordstaff. These were light, three to four foot handles on blades of up to two feet, and used by travelers as well as soldiers. The reality of a fighting style with a spear-like weapon was a system of one-handed jabs and extended thrusts while the other hand typically held a shield. Two handed holds were reserved specifically for spears or polearms with heavy, sweeping blades, or for bracing against a charge with one foot planted on the very bottom of the shaft, and both hands gripping tightly.
Of course, in the world of Pathfinder and D&D polearms, as with the world of D&D & pathfinder swords, any amount of semantic comparison can be made to almost any other member of the weapon's class, so I understand where you're coming from.
As for damage, I believe a D6 would hardly be worth the feat expenditure. Pathfinder already has enough low-balled exotic weapons; I'd rather not add to the list.
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Right, but it's what you get when you mount a sword on a pole. I assume you're going for a lighter pole...but much lighter and it gets pretty fragile. Mind you, I'm just throwing in real world considerations...it's a fantasy world, reality might not mean anything, really. If it's just game balance you want...I wouldn't give it a d8. Maybe a d6.If you want any sort of realism, they already exist...but aren't one-handed. It's basically a thin bladed naginata.Yes, but that's a long hafted chopping weapon, an anti-cavalry weapon meant for disabling horse legs and dismounting riders. I'm going for more a personal weapon for mages and the like.Not so: Consider the yari (though not the cavalry version), the short spear, and the Scandinavian swordstaff. These were light, three to four foot handles on blades of up to two feet, and used by travelers as well as soldiers. The reality of a fighting style with a spear-like weapon was a system of one-handed jabs and extended thrusts while the other hand typically held a shield. Two handed holds were reserved specifically for spears or polearms with heavy, sweeping blades, or for bracing against a charge with one foot planted on the very bottom of the shaft, and both hands gripping tightly.
Of course, in the world of Pathfinder and D&D polearms, as with the world of D&D & pathfinder swords, any amount of semantic comparison can be made to almost any other member of the weapon's class, so I understand where you're coming from.
As for damage, I believe a D6 would hardly be worth the feat expenditure. Pathfinder already has enough low-balled exotic weapons; I'd rather not add to the list.
I know, there are a few weapons that are swords on staves, heck, the glaive is one...the deal is - how many are potentially one-handed, and still 6-7 feet in length or more? The yari is typically a very long weapon, and had to be used 2-handed...I know there were shorter ones, but were there any long enough to be reach, and still light enough to be effective in 1 hand?
I only know of one style of fighting that does this effectively, and that's phalanx, where they used the shield to steady a long weapon.
So far it seems like most people are alright with the balance on this one, which is good to hear! I'll implement it in my game next week and see how well it's accepted.
Thanks guys!