Dexterity and polearms

[ThreeDSix]

Hello Playground!

The Goddess Google, in all her wisdom, has chosen not to provide me with an answer. So I turn to the Council in the Playground for advice:

Is there any way to apply weapon finesse to a polearm, or does any class feature exist that does this?

Barring that, is there any concievable cheese that would allow one to do this?

I have a Dex focussed Duskblade that I'd like to equip with a halberd / longspear / long, sharp and pointy, for fluff and houserule reasons.


Thanks All!

[Kudaku]

...I got nothing. Sorry :smallfrown:

Closest I got was one-handing a quarterstaff via Quarterstaff Master (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/quarterstaff-master-combat), but I couldn't find a way to make the staff qualify for weapon finesse. It might be worth stating what sources you're allowed to use?

[Barsoom]

Spiked Chain has the same reach as a Polearm, and comes pre-approved for Weapon Finesse. Requires a feat. Just spend a feat on it, use the Spiked Chain combat statistics, and work with your DM to refluff it as some kind of Polearm.

[ThreeDSix]

...I got nothing. Sorry :smallfrown:

Closest I got was one-handing a quarterstaff via Quarterstaff Master (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/quarterstaff-master-combat), but I couldn't find a way to make the staff qualify for weapon finesse. It might be worth stating what sources you're allowed to use?

At the moment I'm just fishing, so anything short of homebrew.

As for the spiked chain, I am aware of it. :smallsmile:
Problem is, in the homebrew setting I'm playing in, spellcasters must use a wand or staff as a focus to cast, so I'd like to use a polearm as a focus. Spiked Chains just aren't rigid enough, I'm afraid. :smalltongue:

[Diarmuid]

Would an Aptitude weapon allow you to use finesse or does that only work on weapon specific abilities like Focus/Spec/Crit/etc?

[Namfuak]

Would an Aptitude weapon allow you to use finesse or does that only work on weapon specific abilities like Focus/Spec/Crit/etc?

I'd say it's "ask your DM" territory, if it weren't for the fact that the examples are clearly listing feats that only work on specific weapons ("finessable" could be considered a weapon "type," but is clearly not the same use of the word as weapon focus and the like).

[Piggy Knowles]

Feycraft from DMG2 makes one-handed weapons finessable, so a feycraft lance could arguably count while mounted.

[JustPlayItLoud]

Companion Guard Style from Dragon #315 lets you finesse a longsword or longspear, and gives +2 to confirm critical hits with bows. Elf only though.

[Saidoro]

Would an Aptitude weapon allow you to use finesse or does that only work on weapon specific abilities like Focus/Spec/Crit/etc?
It was probably intended to work only on those abilities, but the way it's written means it works on almost anything.

[Darth Stabber]

Companion Guard Style from Dragon #315 lets you finesse a longsword or longspear, and gives +2 to confirm critical hits with bows. Elf only though.

That's more than what I found.

As bad as it is to apply logic to 3.5, the sheer weight of polearms seems like it would make the kind of fighting that is usually done by finessers quite difficult to say the least (and the fact that you can do it with spiked chains is bonkers). A normal warrior is powering through armor, a finesser is stiking the blade in weakspots.

[Ossian]

I am going to go with "yes, you can" finesse a pole-arm, no matter what the core rule books says

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HteWi8JfAFU

[GlorinSteampike]

I am going to go with "yes, you can" finesse a pole-arm, no matter what the core rule books says

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HteWi8JfAFU

You can dance with a Battleaxe too

[Valwyn]

At the moment I'm just fishing, so anything short of homebrew.

As for the spiked chain, I am aware of it. :smallsmile:
Problem is, in the homebrew setting I'm playing in, spellcasters must use a wand or staff as a focus to cast, so I'd like to use a polearm as a focus. Spiked Chains just aren't rigid enough, I'm afraid. :smalltongue:

Maybe use the stats for a spiked chain and fluff it as a three section staff (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2uyHK-kXrA)? I think they can be used as a regular staff as well.

[Kazy]

Balanced weapon enchantment; +1 from Arms and Equipment Guide.

Let's you treat a weapon one size smaller than it is. + Weapon finesse feat.
Go bananas, get 2 of them and go twf for hilariousness.

[Kudaku]

You can dance with a Battleaxe too

And Brutal Throw lets you add strength modifier to your to-hit bonus with thrown weapons , and snowflake wardance lets you add charisma to +to hit.

Let's try to avoid the whole "it's not realistic!" argument.

[SethoMarkus]

At the moment I'm just fishing, so anything short of homebrew.

As for the spiked chain, I am aware of it. :smallsmile:
Problem is, in the homebrew setting I'm playing in, spellcasters must use a wand or staff as a focus to cast, so I'd like to use a polearm as a focus. Spiked Chains just aren't rigid enough, I'm afraid. :smalltongue:

I believe Barsoom's idea was to houserule and refluff the Spiked Chain into a (rigid) polearm weapon. Since Spiked Chain is Finesse-able, the idea was to take the same stats and apply it to a homebrew polearm instead.