Poll: why no polearms?

[nuba km]

why are there close to no poler arms in games these days and when they to appear it's normally in an rpg where only one of the characters can use them. Polearms kick ass they have god range a large variety in blade shape and size perfect for having some fun with weapon design. They are extremly effective in meele combat (less so by untrained person but still very good) they can pierce, they can be thrown if you have to, they can slash, and they can even be used as a blunt weapon if the blade breacks of as you would be left with a metal stick. The only games I have found to have polearms are dead rising 2 and morrowind (and I just find morrowind unplayable) there should be some in skyrim and any other medieval game as well as sci-fie games that have lazer swords and clubs.

 

[kingcom]

Poler arms? Do you mean polearms?

If so they are generally used as either mounter cavarly units (because they are ridiculous unwieldy unless you have momentum your not hitting squat with it) or as a 1 shot charge weapon before pulling a close combat weapon. Either way not useful too often for players (though they are present in things like mount and blade).

 

[Kair]

Polearms are usually only good in mass combat.

 

[Garquille]

Well many are pretty awkward to realistically incorporate into an action game. Though "polearms" is very broad... It could be like a stabbing lance, or that spear type they use in Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. The first being rather underwhelming in gameplay execution and the latter requiring gameplay mechanics that have far from evolved yet.
Anyway, I have a game concept revolving around the latter that I have an intense desire to use hopefully later on
I do love melee-oriented spear use more than any other weapon.

 

[nuba km]

Poler arms? Do you mean polearms?

If so they are generally used as either mounter cavarly units (because they are ridiculous unwieldy unless you have momentum your not hitting squat with it) or as a 1 shot charge weapon before pulling a close combat weapon. Either way not useful too often for players (though they are present in things like mount and blade).

what to you mean i have always said polearms in this thread
>.>
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<.<
'_'

 

[Vibhor]

Play mount & blade for all of your polearms needs.
And no, polearms have never been common in rpgs

 

[Cowabungaa]

Well I tried making weapons out of ice, but the damned things keep melting! I don't know who thought Polar arms would be a good idea but they don't seem to work here.

...

Ohhhh polearms. Well as stated before, they're awesome in mass combat and pretty much a one-trick-pony, being especially an awesome defence against cavalary. Doesn't work all that well in games where combat is one-on-one.

edit:
Ahh you've edited it already, cheater!

 

[nuba km]

Well many are pretty awkward to realistically incorporate into an action game. Though "polearms" is very broad... It could be like a stabbing lance, or whatever the spear type they use in Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. The first being rather underwhelming in gameplay execution and the latter requiring gameplay mechanics that have far from evolved yet.
Anyway, I have a game concept revolving around the latter that I have an intense desire to use hopefully later on
I do love melee-oriented spear use more than any other weapon.

well you can still use the same mechanics as they use for other weapons but give the option of a spear.

 

[viranimus]

Use them in Demons souls. They they are unbelievably awesome weapons. They get plenty of love in that game.

 

[nuba km]

Use them in Demons souls. They they are unbelievably awesome weapons. They get plenty of love in that game.

damn I don't have a playstation yet another reason to get them:
ratchet and clank
resistance
other exclusives
polearms
the list gets longer every month.

 

[Juggern4ut20]

I do not understand where people think thing that

Polearms are usually only good in mass combat.

I'm not attacking you or anything, but what makes them good in mass combat? One of the advantages of a pole arm is that the user can threaten more area around himself than the shorter lighter weapons. Only in mass combat, there are SO many people around you, the effectiveness of that long of a weapon becomes a weakness instead of a strength. This is in my opinion since I'm no history of medieval weapons major.

It would seem to me that pole arms are situational weapons. They are great for certain scenarios, but as an everyday all purpose weapon they fall short.

 

[Zeema]

Satan Has one in Castlevanina Lords of Shadow

but polearms are cool i like to see them in more games.

 

[nuba km]

I do not understand where people think thing that

Polearms are usually only good in mass combat.

I'm not attacking you or anything, but what makes them good in mass combat? One of the advantages of a pole arm is that the user can threaten more area around himself than the shorter lighter weapons. Only in mass combat, there are SO many people around you, the effectiveness of that long of a weapon becomes a weakness instead of a strength. This is in my opinion since I'm no history of medieval weapons major.

It would seem to me that pole arms are situational weapons. They are great for certain scenarios, but as an everyday all purpose weapon they fall short.

someone trained in polearms can take down someone trained in swords very easily and very quickly hey have range can easily be wielded as you can grab them with both hands can pierce into armour joints easily have much longer range then most swords and any sword with the same range will be very difficult to use. The only disadvantage that spears have compared to swords is that even though they can pierce flesh easily they can't slice nearly as easily so they wouldn't be good for dismemberment and cutting through stuff. Polearms have many non-combat uses e.g. hunting and fishing as they can be thrown and easily pierce the flesh and anything you would use a stick for.

 

[Kungfu_Teddybear]

Use them in Demons souls. They they are unbelievably awesome weapons. They get plenty of love in that game.

Yeah they kick ass in Demon's Souls.

OT: Polearm's are great weapons in the right situation but it's never really bothered me that they aren't in a lot of games, I'm more of a battle axe person myself.

 

[somonels]

I love polearms. I like the idea of all the action happening at the sharp end of the long pointy bit.
No, using melee mechanics with polearms defeats the purpose of having them. Keeping enemies away is the most important thing if you fight with one. Should they get past your tip they will murder you with any weapon. Hell, they can grab the shaft, making the weapon useless, and start pounding your face with a gauntlet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5VwLWp0zok
Enjoy.

 

[Kair]

I do not understand where people think thing that

Polearms are usually only good in mass combat.

I'm not attacking you or anything, but what makes them good in mass combat? One of the advantages of a pole arm is that the user can threaten more area around himself than the shorter lighter weapons. Only in mass combat, there are SO many people around you, the effectiveness of that long of a weapon becomes a weakness instead of a strength. This is in my opinion since I'm no history of medieval weapons major.

It would seem to me that pole arms are situational weapons. They are great for certain scenarios, but as an everyday all purpose weapon they fall short.

Try 1v1 combat sword vs spear. The spear is light and will easily be parried, and the sword will devastate at the short range that is easily attained.

In mass combat, there is need to equip many troops, and swords are difficult to manufacture as opposed to spears. Spears were the main armament of most armies in the medieval period.

There is also less room to swing a sword in tight formation. A tight formation of spears used in somewhat of a phalanx will win over a loose formation of other weapons.

Spears cant swing to ones flanks very well, therefore you need supporting troops on your flanks, this is the power of the phalanx.

 

[nuba km]

I love polearms. I like the idea of all the action happening at the sharp end of the long pointy bit.
No, using melee mechanics with polearms defeats the purpose of having them. Keeping enemies away is the most important thing if you fight with one. Should they get past your tip they will murder you with any weapon. Hell, they can grab the shaft, making the weapon useless, and start pounding your face with a gauntlet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5VwLWp0zok
Enjoy.

I know you are meant to keep your range but games like the elder scrolls can very easily add spears to their combat mechanics, though I would like to see a game with more complex fighting mechanics for all of their weapons.

 

[nuba km]

I do not understand where people think thing that

Polearms are usually only good in mass combat.

I'm not attacking you or anything, but what makes them good in mass combat? One of the advantages of a pole arm is that the user can threaten more area around himself than the shorter lighter weapons. Only in mass combat, there are SO many people around you, the effectiveness of that long of a weapon becomes a weakness instead of a strength. This is in my opinion since I'm no history of medieval weapons major.

It would seem to me that pole arms are situational weapons. They are great for certain scenarios, but as an everyday all purpose weapon they fall short.

Try 1v1 combat sword vs spear. The spear is light and will easily be parried, and the sword will devastate at the short range that is easily attained.

In mass combat, there is need to equip many troops, and swords are difficult to manufacture as opposed to spears. Spears were the main armament of most armies in the medieval period.

There is also less room to swing a sword in tight formation. A tight formation of spears used in somewhat of a phalanx will win over a loose formation of other weapons.

Spears cant swing to ones flanks very well, therefore you need supporting troops on your flanks, this is the power of the phalanx.

in 1 on 1 combat the spear can easily keep the sword man at ranged if both fighters are equally trained with their weapons and the spear can easily go for many attacks before the sword man would get in range.

 

[Thaliur]

Polearms kick ass they have god range a large variety in blade shape and size perfect for having some fun with weapon design.

As you said, they have a long range. But they also have a minimun range. Polearms are usually quite ineffective as soon as your target is closer than about 2 m. They are great gate guard weapons, as they can keep single targets at distance (as soon in almost any movie with gate guards), but if another enemy sneaks up behind the polearm-wielding guards, they're screwed.