Reach weapons and Sunder / Disarm

[Jacob Saltband]

Should you be able to ready an action to attempt a Sunder or Disarm maneuver against an opponent with a reach weapon that attacks you?

[RedDogMT]

Unless you have the Strike Back feat, you must make a valid attack against the opponent (not the weapon).

[Jacob Saltband]

Wow you have to be minimum 11th level full BAB class to even take that feat.....

[Magda Luckbender]

Yes. I think most GMs would have allowed a readied action, in this case, to sunder an incoming reach weapon. The creation of that lame feat makes this readied action no longer valid, since there's now a feat for it.

This mostly means that those with reach can safely rely on never getting whacked this way. No sane 11th level villain will bother with this feat, nor will many PCs. The creation of this feat actually increased the safety of the very foes it's intended to oppose.

[Jacob Saltband]

Magda Luckbender wrote:

Yes. I think most GMs would have allowed a readied action, in this case, to sunder an incoming reach weapon. The creation of that lame feat makes this readied action no longer valid, since there's now a feat for it.

This mostly means that those with reach can safely rely on never getting whacked this way. No sane 11th level villain will bother with this feat, nor will many PCs. The creation of this feat actually increased the safety of the very foes it's intended to oppose.

I agree wholeheartedly with what you just said.

[RedDogMT]

Well, I assume you asked what the rules allow...so there you go.

I have mixed feelings on the rule since I like players to have the option to try anything they want to try (even the silly stuff). Let's say you allow it. Trying to disarm a reach weapon without being able to target the attackers square would be a real challenge. Besides not having the option to strike the hand, lacking the leverage that being close provides would be very difficult. Even if I allowed it, I would probably put a pretty stiff penalty on it (maybe -8).

As far as sundering a reach weapon, I could certainly see allowing this. however, it would be more difficult than if you were at your effective fighting distance (ie adjacent).

I have often felt that many of the feats could use an additional option of how to handle situations when players wanted to use a feat that they did not have. A -4 modifier per missing requirement is what I have considered (but have not put into service).

I personally have not tried to stick a polearm-wielding guy with a pointy sword, but I have done my share of fencing and kendo so I feel I have enough expertise to form a reasonable opinion.