Blademasters and Polearms

When I think of a blademaster, I think of swords. Yet, when I look around i see most blademasters wielding a polearm. Sometimes I see them with exotics and least of all with two swords.

From what I know, polearms are nothing like swords and would be trained in a whole different way. I just can't imagine someone being a master of both swords and polearms.

Swords and Daggers, maybe.

Polearms and Spears, maybe.

Is there a huge benefit to using polearms? I know that they are quite defensive according to the stickied chart at the top of newbie help. What am I not getting?

Thanks

For reference. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_weapon

The polearm is a slashing weapon I believe, so it is better to be compared to an axe I think. I might be wrong tho.

This is a fantasy world.

Obviously, you have never watched the 'Bleach'-anime.

I personally think that not only would it benefit the rp of blademasters to take away polearm (and maybe spears), but it would help to balance out the class. It would give classess that have an incredibly hard time against them i.e. dark knights, paladins and help to level out the playing field.

It's not a sword master. It's a BLADE master.

A polearm, when I think of it, is generally a large blade on the end of a long pole.

Spears on the others hand... they just stab you.

Polearms are generally stabbing weapons, you normally are not taking an 8 foot pole and slashing with it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_weapon

I personally think that not only would it benefit the rp of blademasters to take away polearm (and maybe spears)' date=' but it would help to balance out the class. It would give classess that have an incredibly hard time against them i.e. dark knights, paladins and help to level out the playing field.[/quote']

I actually think this would be such a change that it would actually make blademasters a bit too weak. They already only have four weapons.

And when I think of a blademaster, I think of someone who's basically a martial artist with weapons. Clumsy or brute force weapons like axes, clubs, or staffs aren't their thing, but anything that you can basically twirl around yourself and dance with that still has a blade on it is their thing.

Viri based the class on samurai's and probably on blademasters from Wheel of Time series (Robert Jordan).

Samurai's use all the weapon shown in the game, lacking only the Bow.

pikes are stabbing weapons, Glaives, poleaxes, halberds are all slashing/battering weapons. Bec De corbins are big friggin hammers.

Polearms are generally stabbing weapons, you normally are not taking an 8 foot pole and slashing with it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_weapon

and actually, that is a HUGE basis for polearms An axe with a 3 foot shaft can cleave this guy. An axe with an 8 foot shaft can cleave him better.

The purpose of using pole weapons is either to extend reach or to increase angular momentum—and thus striking power—when the weapon is swung.

Thats taken from your link

This is what I think of when I think of Polearms. Probably because this is the only polearm type weapon I have done any training in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaive

It's not a sword master. It's a BLADE master.

A polearm, when I think of it, is generally a large blade on the end of a long pole.

Spears on the others hand... they just stab you.

Lol that made me laugh so much

This is what I think of when I think of Polearms. Probably because this is the only polearm type weapon I have done any training in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaive

That is a picture of a freaking knife... not even two handed knife...

It actually says there that taht is just the blade.

I actually think this would be such a change that it would actually make blademasters a bit too weak. They already only have four weapons.

Yet they are able to completely destroy most classess in melee.

Blademasters use polearms because they, unlike other polearm wielding classes, get the same amount of attacks with one as they would if dual wielding.

So you get the high offence of a polearm, the same amount of attacks as you would if you were dual wielding, and the extra defence of two handed to boot.

That is a picture of a freaking knife... not even two handed knife...

From that same article:

Typically, the blade was around 18 inches (55 cm) long, on the end of a pole 6 or 7 feet (180-210 cm) long

Sorry, didn't read the article at all, just saw the picture

And yeah, if that blade(55cm) is actually sticked to a 200cm long pole, well that is exactly how I imagine those polearms.

Btw, taken from "help class"

Blademasters - Masters of Swordplay.

oh by the way if you guys check up the chinese weapon guan do which is like tiny bit of curved sword stuck on top of a medium length pole I think you would reconsider your positions....in the sense of polearms not being suitable for blademasters. But then....it's also true that no where IG is there such a weapon named guan do which does proves everyones point that polearms aren't actually suitable. But then I have a point to make also....(i'm rambling now) that I suggest everyone look up the words lance: polearm in google and you should come see the first site and then you click on it and read it and it says that lances or "polearms" have the capabilities on foot for thrusting and dealing large damage through two handed slashes and slices...or something along that point.

RP wise, I think that polearms make a lot of sense for BLMs.

However, I think that for balance issues, removing polearms would go a LONG way. Besides, two handed weapons on BLMs work best for casters, as they allow spellkill and Serpent strike. And to my knowledge, there is no caster that can use spears. Maybe hybrids, but myeh.

In that case, a double-gripped monorod would still be pretty hard core. and sacrifice a bit of the phenomenal defense a BLM has.