Mounted Poleaxe

[fsbritney]

I put it to the room that we should (ability, strength etc. permitting) actually be able to SWING the poleaxe on horseback, as opposed to just thrust or couch it.

 

[Ilex]

I disagree. Polearms should be only usable on foot anyways, as should be the biggest axes and (maybe) swords too. This, of course, is a layman's opinion.

 

[Merentha]

I have to agree with Captain Planet over there.

 

[Róisín]

I disagree with Ilex.  Heavier longbows are the things that shouldn't be useable on horseback.  As for poles, I don't see why they have to be used with only one hand on horseback.  There's nothing stopping you from holding a polehammer or poleaxe with two hands on a horse.  I also disagree with any "mass" poles being able to be couched.  It's a freaking hammer! You can't hold it out like that.

Lastly, if using a 2 Hander on horseback makes me hold it in one hand, why can't I hold a shield in the other?

 

[fsbritney]

I disagree with Ilex.  Heavier longbows are the things that shouldn't be useable on horseback.  As for poles, I don't see why they have to be used with only one hand on horseback.  There's nothing stopping you from holding a polehammer or poleaxe with two hands on a horse.  I also disagree with any "mass" poles being able to be couched.  It's a freaking hammer! You can't hold it out like that.

Lastly, if using a 2 Hander on horseback makes me hold it in one hand, why can't I hold a shield in the other?

That's basically my argument. If you can use a two handed weapon (like a great sword, or great axe) on horseback, there's no real reason that I can see why you can't use a poleaxe on horseback, as you'd be using both hands like any other two handed weapon.

As for the game animation showing the character using two handed weapons in one hand when on horseback, I can only assume that's purely for show, as it would be difficult to control and get the full damage out of a two handed weapon using only one hand!

 

[Merentha]

Well, my opinion is that you really shouldn't be able to use a two-handed weapon either.

 

[Marsec]

Umm, excluding bows I guess?

 

[Ilex]

Umm, excluding bows I guess?

When speaking with in-game terms bows don't fall under the twohanded weapons category, so I would guess yes.

 

[Damien]

The vast majority of two-hand weapons are unusable from horseback, realistically speaking. The only exception to this appears to be the Japanese glaive (naginata) which appears to have been used much like a spear when mounted. However, besides the naginata, I challenge anyone to find historical sources on cavalrymen swinging two-hand weapons from horseback.

Don't waste your time, you won't find anything. It didn't happen. Especially not with weapons like two-hand hammers (such as the bec-de-corbin), which not only require particular footwork in order to balance them, but would almost assuredly drag you out of the saddle either from the swing itself, or the impact with an opponent.


Yeah. Two-hand weapons don't work on horseback. It doesn't happen. Didn't happen. The end.

So I'm for having all two-hand weapons removed as possibilities for use on horseback, obviously.

 

[Ryuta]

I myself is doubtful of Naginata being used on horseback, though.

I haven't yet seen a comtemporally mention (pictorial/reference) of Naginata used on horseback. Also, Naginata was originally developed as a footman's weapon (earlier Naginata had vouge-like blade). By the time of Nanbokucho-era, when naginata became popular even among upper class Samurai, Samurai mainly fought on foot (hourse was primarily trasporter, and a kind of escape pod). It is noted that Nanbokucho was the time when large weaponry (Nodachi, O-dachi, Kanasaibo etc.) became popular among samurai, perhaps as a result of dismounting in combat.

 

[Joza]

Dunno about agreeing with this or not but making two handed weapons unuseable on horse might anyway make being a footman little more tempting.

 

[ArabArcher35]

It IS moddable. In Raptor's weapon pack, you can use a halberd on a horse. It sucks, though, because it can't pick up enough speed to hit the enemy with any lethal force. I usually got 10 damage at the most.

 

[Volkier]

Not going to agree or disagree with History, but I do know that I can swing a 8kg pole with two hands / one hand from the horse's back, and it is more difficult to do so from the ground, since you are turning instead of the horse's body moving / turning. :
Personally I don't really care, as long as one handed / two handed weapons (such as bastard sword) are still allowed to be used as a 2 hander when mounted :