Spear Fighting

[Vengeance]

So guys. I've been using a fairly new character lately and I'm attempting to use a spear for him. Unfortunately, I don't know a thing about combat with a spear, but always found it so intriguing. So, does anyone here know of some good websites or places I can read up to get a better idea of what I'm doing? Or possibly do you have some advice of your own when using Pole-arms as a weapon both defensively and offensively?

[baane]

Largely depends on the length, type and how realistic you're trying to make your character.

Frankly by having a spear your character already has a generally superior weapon system to that of the vast majority of The Keep's armed combatants who primarily use swords (and don't actually know how to use them, I might add.)

While I don't claim to have any particular knowledge of combat techniques using the spear, I did make a token effort to grab you a few videos off youtube on the subject.

If you want to have your character be more over the top (and therefore more competitive and frankly able to survive in the multiverse) I think I nice place to start might be to observe the fighting drills of the polearm users in Soul Caliber (a video which I will include.) Just realize that the primary advantage of the spear has always been simplicity and range - neither of which matter in a world where guns never ever jam, people move at the speed of light, and everyone is rich enough to own and properly maintain a supa-dupa fly antimatter sword of maximum carnage anyway.

Sadly there are few videos available that give any sort of indication of how the westerners might have used their spears, halberds, etc in one-on-one combat. Martial Arts media is largely dominated by the eastern culture

Tai Chi – Spear – 18 Positions
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zOMBbJ3n5E&feature=related

Spear (Kung Fu Weapons Martial Arts)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoIOytYESL0&feature=related

Seung Mina's Exhibition Theater Demonstration
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvuzh7pGsuw

This next video I add simply because I feel there may be a strong coorelation between the proper stance for bayonet drills and spear combat.

Bayonet Training
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eI2Ef7sH8c

[Vengeance]

Thanks for the Vids. they definately gave me a few more ideas on things. I'm wanting to keep him as realistic as possible when he does use the spear in melee, but if I have to. I'll make sure to take precaution against the people who "have" to use abilities such as that to win.

But thanks for the vids, the stances I saw in each one of them were invaluable and gave me some good focus points.

I guess my next question would be:

Whats the best way to use a spear Offensively?

From what I've seen, all the videos have to deal with quickly disabling your enemy by cutting at the muscles in his arms or legs and various pressure points and tendons to invoke falling or enough blood loss to invoke death. What is the best way to carry out spear techniques to involve not leaving myself open to becoming a sheathe for someone's weapon?

[baane]

Once again, I am not learned in the arts of polearm/spear combat so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I assume the best way to attack someone while avoiding making yourself vulnerable is to capitalize on the range inherent in the weapon. I am, of course, assuming you're talking about a two handed weapon of six to eight feet in length. Katanas, which you will see a lot of in The Keep, tend to have a blade length of two and a half feet to three feet at most. That alone gives you a considerable advantage unless you're up against someone who assumes that the haft of your weapon is flimsy enough to be sliced like a tatame matt - a frequent misunderstanding.

You might alternatively be talking about a short spear or some other spear-like implement which is both longer than a sword but also allows you the freedom of a shield. This is a very flexible set up that gives you a plethora of options to simultaneously outrange the sword and have more defense than your average keepster who typically either fences or wields their weapons in two hands.

I'm curious as to how your character goes. Not that I'm encouraging you to go looking for fights or anything, but please keep us updated.

[Vengeance]

Alright, any fights that I get him caught in I'll be sure to post somewhere on here, or I'll find a way to get them up here for you and everyone to see. I appreciate the ideas. I didn't really consider the fact that someone will try to cut the weapon in half or the possibility of a shield accompanied by a short spear. I believe I'm going to stick with the typical two handed spear, but keep it at the smaller end of 6 foot, maybe 7 foot max. I don't want to have to worry bout having another foot to pull it back if the situation becomes dire enough.

[baane]

There were European duelist schools for one-on-one combat with the pike. Sadly there is just not a lot of info about it since the media is still jerking off to anything asian.

Historical pikemen also carried short swords, maces, and daggers for use if they had to abandon the pike due to range or, often, when two opposing pikeman formations got tangled. It would not be unreasonable to assume your character would have one of these weapons handy to simply drop his spear if he had to.

Another technique I'm sure is viable is to 'butt stroke' with the haft of the weapon in the same manner that firearms users can and will do if the range closes.

[Fenris]

While it is true most swordfighters on TK cannot cope with the versatility of a spear, there are ways for a swordsman to take the upper hand. Im not very learned about spears either, but from what I understand Spears are most dangerous for their ability (as with most shafted weapons) to attack multiple points simultaneously. This can make it exceedingly difficult for a swordfighter to cope with in terms of Defense, and Offense, however there are some things to remember. A spear similar to a sword gets weaker the higher up on the shaft you go, the closer to the point or points the less leverage the spear will have. Though this can be somewhat rectified by the way one grips the spear, but this also leaves their fingers open to get cut. Also in order for a spear or any shafted weapon to change directions it has to have both sides free. For instance if your going to attacking someone with a spear thrust, and then attempt to counter by whirling the other side of the spear to your opponents head, you must make sure that the swordsman is not impeding the spears progress. If a spear wants to whirl right, its opposite side must be free to whirl left. This can make it very frustrating for a spearchucker to use the type of attacks that their used too, so really the best advice for going up against a spear user is to impede their weapons movements as much as possible, and keep in mind though versatile most shafted weapons are also predictable since in order for one to effectively move the spear they must usually first make a corresponding movement or rather the more advanced movements of spear fighting rely upon making use of the opposite side of the spear, therefore if you can control one side of the spear, you can hamper the entire weapons movements.

[baane]

Considering that a spears' lethality comes from the fact that all the force is channeled through a single point at the tip, I can't really imagine the spear as being a weapon system noted for attacking two places at the same time.

Closing the gap with a spear fighter from the frontal arc is an uphill battle for anyone with a shorter weapon. It is not a simple matter of just stepping forward, and it's not a matter of just stepping back and forward to crowd them.

[Fenris]

Well its true that the most practical and powerful attack with a spear is the thrust, do you usually see anyone being that practical on TK? most people i've seen who use spears treat them like a glorified staff, and like to whip them around to recover and counter. And i agree closing in on a spear user is hard due to the nature of the weapon but if you can get past the point and keep up with the spear user you improve you're chances greatly.

Also spears tend to always leave one or two parts of the body open, The arms. If you can grab one end of the spear a good tactic is to try and slash at the arms which will typically force them to let go or get their arms cut off.

[baane]

Striking two places one after another is not simultaneous. I see now that the words you are looking for are 'rapid succession,' which any weapon wielded by Keep characters can do.

[Styles]

I find it entertaining when people use Spears in similar fashion to that of a Bo-Staff, rather than their intended fashion of design. It's a piercing weapon, and should be used as such.

Utilizing a spear as a 'slashing' or 'blunt force' weapon negates the effective property of the intended design. In panic-mode, perhaps, it may be acceptable, but traditionally, it's very wise to use the weapon as proffered from centuries of use.