Dazzling Display with a Reach Weapon

[Thron]

I have a question that has came up in a PbP I play in, regarding use of the feat Dazzling Display with a reach weapon.

The GM has ruled that, as it's a reach weapon, I have to have a clear area around me to perform the activity that goes into a flourish of maneuvers with the 7 foot long weapon (a glaive). As such, all squares in my immediate vicinity (a 5' halo) must be clear to do.

I get his point, but nowhere in the rules for the feat does it say that the reach of your weapons apply. As it's his campaign, I'm not trying to Rules Lawyer with him, nor do I even intend to use any discussion here as evidence. I was just wondering if this has ever come up before for anyone else, as my searching could not find a thread related to this at all (though my search-fu was not extensive).

Either way, I am going to stick with his ruling, because, as I said, his campaign, bottom line.

Kudos and thanks in advance.

[Jeff Merola]

There's nothing in Dazzling Display that requires you to do anything different depending on what weapon you're using for it.

Anyway, there's a maneuver you can do without extra space, if your GM is really insistent upon adding in extra restrictions just because: just hold it slightly above your head by the middle and spin it like a baton.

[Issac Daneil]

It's strictly his own interpretation of realism. You're right that nowhere in the rules does it say anything.

Explain to him about pole twirling, and such, if used correctly at an angle, it could look pretty concerning; and not leaving you open, hopefully satisfying his realism itch.

[RumpinRufus]

You have one week - find a seven-foot pole pronto and start practicing! Then show him your moves at next week's session.

If he's scared, your character gets to do it. (Just try not to provoke - if he's able to stab you then you lose.)

[blackbloodtroll]

This, is a houserule.

A really silly, and in my opinion, stupid houserule.

[Pupsocket]

blackbloodtroll wrote:

This, is a houserule.

A really silly, and in my opinion, stupid houserule.

It's a sign that he's going to s!~~ all over martials in the name of "realism".

[blackbloodtroll]

I don't see why the "flourish of maneuvers" couldn't be a complicated series of thrusting into the air.

Creature are fully capable of attacking things above them.

[Darche Schneider]

Ask him if you get to attack everyone within the 5' area around you when you use dazzling display.

[Iron Giant]

Darche Schneider wrote:

Ask him if you get to attack everyone within the 5' area around you when you use dazzling display.

That sounds like a new feat with a prerequisite list a mile long "Whirlwind Dazzle".

[Tcho Tcho]

I would rule against using dazzling display with nunchucks near lamps.
Edit: or expensive chinese pottery.

[RumpinRufus]

This thread gives me a great idea - allow the PCs without the feat to do a Dazzling Display untrained. They have to make an attack roll, with the DC being equal to their Intimidate check. If they fail, their weapon goes flying off in a random direction, or they smack themself in the groin, or some other hilarious mishap you'd expect to see from some dude on YouTube who's trying to show off his new weapon.

[David knott 242]

Oberyn Martell did not need all that much room to twirl his polearm around on Game of Thrones.

[Castarr4]

Rules-wise: You're right, and you shouldn't need clear space according to the rules. DD is not particularly overpowered.

Advice-wise: Maybe see if you can compromise? Maybe just require the squares in the direction of the enemies to be open? Like a 5-ft 90 degree cone, sort of thing?