Throwing a spear, does it take one hand or two?

[BigNorseWolf]

Throwing a spear, does it take two hands (because its a two handed weapon) or one (because.. you know thats how you throw a spear)

[Pantshandshake]

I would say one, because that's how you throw a spear.

Also, if you want to get fancy, it only takes 2 hands to wield it, and you're not wielding it. You're throwing it.

[Jasque]

I believe it takes 2 hands according to the rules. But that's a rule I don't expect to be widely enforced.

[johnlocke90]

If we are going off realism, throwing a spear with your other hand full is doable, but it would be much more difficult.

[Ravingdork]

I agree with johnlocker90. When throwing a spear in one hand, you're generally using your other hand as a counter balance.

[Claxon]

Javelin throwing is done with one hand. I don't know of a two handed technique to throw a spear/javelin. The only two-handed "throw" that I know of is the hammer toss.

[Pantshandshake]

I don't know if there's a name for the technique, but there's also the way you throw an axe (or any two handed kind of top heavy implement.)

Which would also be a spectacularly bad way to throw a spear.

[baggageboy]

Spears and javelins have a long history of being thrown with one had while a shield is wielded in the other. This is true of cultures all over the world that have used spears. So in my OPINION you should be able to throw a spear with one hand. That being said RAW the weapon required two hands to wield and to I believe RAW you can't throw spears without two hands. Kinda dumb, but hey it's a game.

[Shaudius]

baggageboy wrote:

Spears and javelins have a long history of being thrown with one had while a shield is wielded in the other. This is true of cultures all over the world that have used spears.

Sure, but in that case a spear as a melee weapon should be a one handed weapon since you are wielding it in one hand. Since its a two handed melee weapon I don't think we can apply realism to this particular rules interaction.

[Metaphysician]

It would depend on whether "has a shield in other hand" actually counts as using that other hand, or just having an attached shield. Which is to say, would someone actually gain their shield bonus while throwing said spear?

I'm inclined to say "not really", because if its an actual two-handed spear, your not going to be able to focus on keeping the shield up while throwing it.

[Velkyn]

baggageboy wrote:

Spears and javelins have a long history of being thrown with one had while a shield is wielded in the other. This is true of cultures all over the world that have used spears. So in my OPINION you should be able to throw a spear with one hand. That being said RAW the weapon required two hands to wield and to I believe RAW you can't throw spears without two hands. Kinda dumb, but hey it's a game.

In Pathfinder you could have a buckler strapped to one arm and wield a two-handed weapon. Granted, you took penalties on attacks with the two-handed weapon and lost the benefit of the buckler for the turn if you attacked with the weapon.

I think a similar rule in Starfinder specific to throwing a spear would make sense -- you can hold an item in your other hand but cannot use it or benefit from it on the turn you throw the spear.

[ghostunderasheet]

Didn't people used to weild shields and spears at the same time? When we used to use spears because people were chucking spears.

[Velkyn]

ghostunderasheet wrote:

Didn't people used to weild shields and spears at the same time? When we used to use spears because people were chucking spears.

Yes, but that's not the type of spear described in the Starfinder rules. That type of spear isn't typically (ever?) wielded in two-hands, and the spears in Starfinder are definitely two-handed weapons.

This page provides some interesting context on the use of single and double-handed spears.

The Starfinder spear is pretty confusing, really. I don't think a spear wielded in two-hands and designed for melee combat would be well-suited for throwing. I believe the listed spear should deal 1d8 P and not have the thrown keyword.

Maybe we'll get additional weapons soon, as the existing list is extremely limited and missing a lot of "cool" weapons (e.g., where are axes?).

[BigNorseWolf]

Yes, that is the kind of spear being described. Because the spear in starfinder is still small enough to be thrown with one hand, even though stabbing someone with it isn't really feasible.

I can't find or think of a way to throw a spear two handed .

[Dracomicron]

BigNorseWolf wrote:

Yes, that is the kind of spear being described. Because the spear in starfinder is still small enough to be thrown with one hand, even though stabbing someone with it isn't really feasible.

I can't find or think of a way to throw a spear two handed .

Caber tossing.

[BigNorseWolf]

Dracomicron wrote:

BigNorseWolf wrote:

Yes, that is the kind of spear being described. Because the spear in starfinder is still small enough to be thrown with one hand, even though stabbing someone with it isn't really feasible.

I can't find or think of a way to throw a spear two handed .

Caber tossing.

So you flip the pointy end into the ground and hit them with the blunt end?

[Ravingdork]

It could be a high tech extendo-spear. It shortens and balances better when you go to throw it (in one hand), but extends to length when wielded in melee to give you the reach advantage.

I mean, it's not archaic anyways, there's got to be a reason for it.

[Velkyn]

Ravingdork wrote:

It could be a high tech extendo-spear. It shortens and balances better when you go to throw it (in one hand), but extends to length when wielded in melee to give you the reach advantage.

I mean, it's not archaic anyways, there's got to be a reason for it.

It seems this debate has occurred frequently for OGL d20-based iterations of spears.

The Starfinder spear is very similar to the Pathfinder spear, although the damage code differs. The same rules for handedness when throwing both spears should apply.

[Dracomicron]

BigNorseWolf wrote:

Dracomicron wrote:

BigNorseWolf wrote:

I can't find or think of a way to throw a spear two handed .

Caber tossing.

So you flip the pointy end into the ground and hit them with the blunt end?

Points for style, at least!

[baggageboy]

How you wield a spear can change. If I have a shield I can wield it with 1 hand, without a shield I can wield it in two hands, when I throw it I wield it in one had regardless. Basically If I can throw the spear I should be able to wield it on one hand, perhaps at a penalty, but it should be reasonable.