infinitum3d
2015-08-01, 04:54 PM
From my experiences, the 10 foot pole is the bane of all existence. If I remember correctly it's encumbrance in od&d was measured in 'coins', and was a gauge of 'bulk' and 'awkwardness' not just weight, which makes sense. I mean, c'mon! It's TEN FEET LONG! That's 3 meters. That's the height of a one story house. Even in the cartoon they gave the acrobat a short one-foot pole that magically transformed into a ten foot pole.
This has led many of my players to come up with 'modified' poles;
Threaded ends of five 2-foot pieces,
Telescoping, like old 'rabbit ears' like old TV antennae
Tentpole, hollow with a string down the center,
Foldable, like a carpenters rule,
etc. . .
Obviously none of those are strong enough to vault with, but they still can poke the corpse from a distance.
I couldn't find anything that specified the diameter of the pole or the wood of which it was made, but according to the 'dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Adventuring_Gear' it weighs 8 lbs (about 3.5 kg, or a little more than a half stone).
At ten feet long, and in order to not break due to its own weight, it would probably be made of oak and be about 1 1/2 inches in diameter (4cm). Using an alternative realm setting like OA, bamboo would be a good option, and, in fact, the earliest Vaulting Poles were made of bamboo. Vaulting poles come in lengths from 7 to 16 feet (2 to 5 meters), IRL.
So let's get back to our 10 foot pole ideas. I'm looking for suggestions on uses for the good old-fashioned solid wood, eight pound, oak/maple/hickory pole.
I'll start us off with a non-traditional use;
#1. Firewood : chop it up and burn it.
#2. Poking : since this was mentioned earlier I figured I'd get it over with. This does seem to be the most obvious and common use.
#3. Vaulting : the second most common use by my players. This does truly require a solid pole, unlike the folding one mentioned earlier.
Who has another idea? I'd love to hear your ideas or experiences with uses.
Updates:
#4 Spear
A ten foot spear is still unwieldy, so cut or break it in half and sharpen one end. A five foot long spear makes a good melee weapon although it may not fly well if thrown. Sharpen both ends as a javelin(?)
#5 Prop the tarrasque's mouth open.
#6 Jam the walls-slowly-crush-you trap, for a few moments at least.
#7 Reach down into the well so Jimmy can grab it and you can pull him out.
#8 Power your barge like a Venetian!
#9 Lend it to an injured giant as a walking stick.
#10 Hook it over a rope and hang on - instant zipline!
Eye Gouging, both accidental and on purpose. This was already covered under '#2 Poking'.
Disarming Traps, usually results in breaking the pole. #2
#11 Drawing in dirt or sand over a 10' distance
Lowering things down to people on the bottom of cliffs. #7 Reach
Raising things up to people on the top of things up to 15 feet tall. #7 Reach
#12 Impractical Bridge for a Halfling or very light Rogue.
Getting things out of trees or off other high areas. #7 Reach
#13 Centerpole for impromptu tent or teepee
#14 Clubs. Cut it into thirds to make three 3'4" clubs, or quarters to make four 2'6" truncheons. Great against skeletons.
#15 Carrier. Hang a few buckets on it and carry it over both shoulders milkmaid style.
Stretcher: Requires two: tie ropes and canvas between two and make a litter you can drag behind you or partner with someone else to carry.
#16 Balance Pole: use when walking narrow surfaces or tightropes.
#17 Lever. Self-explanatory.
#18 Rollers: Place it under a heavy object and slide the object along the pole or cut the pole into as many pieces as practical and use it as rollers.
#19 Tripline: Work with a partner and clothesline or trip an enemy or their mount with it.
Tent pole: Place it horizontally between a couple of structures/terrain-features, or cut it in half and place the two halves upright in the ground, and hang a tarp off it.#13
#20 Replacement haft for a broken polearm.
#21 Torches: cut into 2'6" truncheons and wrap oil-soaked rags around the end.
#22 Restraints/hobble: Cut into lengths, and cut notches or holes in them. Tie ropes securely into the notches/holes, and then tie a creature's limbs with the ropes.
#23 Stakes: Cut into short 1' pegs and sharpen them. Use for tents, tarps, and vampires.
#24 Alarm: Rest it against the window or door so it makes a noise when it falls or pushes your leg when disturbed (e.g., when the door opens).
#25 Trap: Cut into sections and use them to hold up boxes, or sharpen and poison them for spikes in a pit-trap.
Brace: wedge the door closed to keep out intruders.#6
Harvester: use to knock fruit out of trees.#2 Poke
Hornet/wasp remover: use to knock down nests.#2 Poke
#26 Snake-stick: Tie a forked stick to the end or fork the end yourself, use to pin snakes to the ground (and possibly milk them for venom).
#27 Depth Checker: Use to see how deep the river really is before fjording.
Trapspringer: the old classic. Use to trigger a trap so it goes off ten feet away from you instead of right where you are. #2 Poke
Signal/wake-up-call: Tap a second-story window with it.#2 Poke
28. four foot ladder
Cut the pole into two 4 foot lengths. This leaves a 2 foot piece. Cut this piece into three equal pieces (what's 2/3 of a foot?). Bind these three pieces as rungs to the four foot side poles to make a small ladder.*
#29 Stilts
Cut the pole in half and strap each 5 foot length to a leg. This can give a Dwarf a disguise, because who's ever seen a 6 foot tall Dwarf, or it allows the Dwarf to cross a 4 foot deep body of water (no easy feat for a four foot tall fellow in chain mail). Or it can give a Rogue, with a natural Dexterity bonus, a chance to see over a wall. It allows a Bard a costume to be a street performer (or at least 'claim' to be one).
#30 Floats
Cut pieces from it to use as wood floats, for fishing, for watching a current, for keeping track of something heavy that's anchored to the bottom, etc.
#31A very small raft*
Cut it into four even pieces and bind them together to frame a small raft. You might not be able to ride it, but you can keep important things dry (drier?).
#32 Life preserver*
See above:
Alternatively, cut or break it into three even pieces and just hold them stacked in a triangle. Wood floats so it can help you tread water or stay afloat.*
#33 Mast*
Hold it upright, tie a blanket to the top and spread the blanket wide at the bottom. You've got a sail.*
#34 Flagpole*
Raise the colors, or a white flag of surrender.
#35 Shallow water anchor
Sharpen one end and pound it into the riverbed, then tie off a rope to your raft/boat/dinghy.
#36 Snow poles/walking sticks*
Cut or break it in half and hold one in each hand to help climb/walk through deep snow.*
#37 Spit Roasting
Skewer the boar with it and prop it over the fire.
#38 Measuring*
Use it to count off ten feet increments, or to gauge the depth of a body of water.*
#39 Counting
Score a notch into it for every kill, or every ale you buy for the Dwarf, or every time the Paladin breaks alignment, etc. . .
#40 Decoy
Set a helmet on it and dangle it around the corner or up over the wall to see if that crossbowman is still shooting at you.
#41 Digging
This is similar to '#2 Poking' but with the specific intention of finding something. Digging through refuse or a stable stall or a privy (ew!) is best done at a distance.
#42 Decoy 2- AKA: the Distraction.
Break it into pieces and have the guard dog chase it ("Here boy! Fetch! Fetch!") Or throw the pieces far off to the side to use the nose to lure the guards away.
#43 Plug :*
Block up murder-holes, one at a time.
Disprove illusions from a safe distance. #2
#44 snorkel
Get a bamboo one and use it as a snorkel.
#45 Semi-lethal ballista arrow?
#46 Replacement axle for when the wagon you're guarding inevitably has to cross Goblin Country.
#47 Art/toys whittle it into fun and interesting shapes.
#48 Entertainment a variation on the "plank on the shoulder" comedy routine.
#49 Confusion . Glue feathers to one end, a pointed metal cap to the other, then freak people out when you say you're looking for your bow to fire it.
#50 Sell as Unique Artifact Sharpen one end as a Tarrasque toothpick.
NOTE: I've left some off because they were variations of previously mentioned uses. We could easily come up with 101 POKEs;
poke a bear
poke the corpse
poke a drunkard
poke a barmaid
poke the doorknob
poke ...
Can we get 101 UNIQUE uses?
This has led many of my players to come up with 'modified' poles;
Threaded ends of five 2-foot pieces,
Telescoping, like old 'rabbit ears' like old TV antennae
Tentpole, hollow with a string down the center,
Foldable, like a carpenters rule,
etc. . .
Obviously none of those are strong enough to vault with, but they still can poke the corpse from a distance.
I couldn't find anything that specified the diameter of the pole or the wood of which it was made, but according to the 'dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Adventuring_Gear' it weighs 8 lbs (about 3.5 kg, or a little more than a half stone).
At ten feet long, and in order to not break due to its own weight, it would probably be made of oak and be about 1 1/2 inches in diameter (4cm). Using an alternative realm setting like OA, bamboo would be a good option, and, in fact, the earliest Vaulting Poles were made of bamboo. Vaulting poles come in lengths from 7 to 16 feet (2 to 5 meters), IRL.
So let's get back to our 10 foot pole ideas. I'm looking for suggestions on uses for the good old-fashioned solid wood, eight pound, oak/maple/hickory pole.
I'll start us off with a non-traditional use;
#1. Firewood : chop it up and burn it.
#2. Poking : since this was mentioned earlier I figured I'd get it over with. This does seem to be the most obvious and common use.
#3. Vaulting : the second most common use by my players. This does truly require a solid pole, unlike the folding one mentioned earlier.
Who has another idea? I'd love to hear your ideas or experiences with uses.
Updates:
#4 Spear
A ten foot spear is still unwieldy, so cut or break it in half and sharpen one end. A five foot long spear makes a good melee weapon although it may not fly well if thrown. Sharpen both ends as a javelin(?)
#5 Prop the tarrasque's mouth open.
#6 Jam the walls-slowly-crush-you trap, for a few moments at least.
#7 Reach down into the well so Jimmy can grab it and you can pull him out.
#8 Power your barge like a Venetian!
#9 Lend it to an injured giant as a walking stick.
#10 Hook it over a rope and hang on - instant zipline!
Eye Gouging, both accidental and on purpose. This was already covered under '#2 Poking'.
Disarming Traps, usually results in breaking the pole. #2
#11 Drawing in dirt or sand over a 10' distance
Lowering things down to people on the bottom of cliffs. #7 Reach
Raising things up to people on the top of things up to 15 feet tall. #7 Reach
#12 Impractical Bridge for a Halfling or very light Rogue.
Getting things out of trees or off other high areas. #7 Reach
#13 Centerpole for impromptu tent or teepee
#14 Clubs. Cut it into thirds to make three 3'4" clubs, or quarters to make four 2'6" truncheons. Great against skeletons.
#15 Carrier. Hang a few buckets on it and carry it over both shoulders milkmaid style.
Stretcher: Requires two: tie ropes and canvas between two and make a litter you can drag behind you or partner with someone else to carry.
#16 Balance Pole: use when walking narrow surfaces or tightropes.
#17 Lever. Self-explanatory.
#18 Rollers: Place it under a heavy object and slide the object along the pole or cut the pole into as many pieces as practical and use it as rollers.
#19 Tripline: Work with a partner and clothesline or trip an enemy or their mount with it.
Tent pole: Place it horizontally between a couple of structures/terrain-features, or cut it in half and place the two halves upright in the ground, and hang a tarp off it.#13
#20 Replacement haft for a broken polearm.
#21 Torches: cut into 2'6" truncheons and wrap oil-soaked rags around the end.
#22 Restraints/hobble: Cut into lengths, and cut notches or holes in them. Tie ropes securely into the notches/holes, and then tie a creature's limbs with the ropes.
#23 Stakes: Cut into short 1' pegs and sharpen them. Use for tents, tarps, and vampires.
#24 Alarm: Rest it against the window or door so it makes a noise when it falls or pushes your leg when disturbed (e.g., when the door opens).
#25 Trap: Cut into sections and use them to hold up boxes, or sharpen and poison them for spikes in a pit-trap.
Brace: wedge the door closed to keep out intruders.#6
Harvester: use to knock fruit out of trees.#2 Poke
Hornet/wasp remover: use to knock down nests.#2 Poke
#26 Snake-stick: Tie a forked stick to the end or fork the end yourself, use to pin snakes to the ground (and possibly milk them for venom).
#27 Depth Checker: Use to see how deep the river really is before fjording.
Trapspringer: the old classic. Use to trigger a trap so it goes off ten feet away from you instead of right where you are. #2 Poke
Signal/wake-up-call: Tap a second-story window with it.#2 Poke
28. four foot ladder
Cut the pole into two 4 foot lengths. This leaves a 2 foot piece. Cut this piece into three equal pieces (what's 2/3 of a foot?). Bind these three pieces as rungs to the four foot side poles to make a small ladder.*
#29 Stilts
Cut the pole in half and strap each 5 foot length to a leg. This can give a Dwarf a disguise, because who's ever seen a 6 foot tall Dwarf, or it allows the Dwarf to cross a 4 foot deep body of water (no easy feat for a four foot tall fellow in chain mail). Or it can give a Rogue, with a natural Dexterity bonus, a chance to see over a wall. It allows a Bard a costume to be a street performer (or at least 'claim' to be one).
#30 Floats
Cut pieces from it to use as wood floats, for fishing, for watching a current, for keeping track of something heavy that's anchored to the bottom, etc.
#31A very small raft*
Cut it into four even pieces and bind them together to frame a small raft. You might not be able to ride it, but you can keep important things dry (drier?).
#32 Life preserver*
See above:
Alternatively, cut or break it into three even pieces and just hold them stacked in a triangle. Wood floats so it can help you tread water or stay afloat.*
#33 Mast*
Hold it upright, tie a blanket to the top and spread the blanket wide at the bottom. You've got a sail.*
#34 Flagpole*
Raise the colors, or a white flag of surrender.
#35 Shallow water anchor
Sharpen one end and pound it into the riverbed, then tie off a rope to your raft/boat/dinghy.
#36 Snow poles/walking sticks*
Cut or break it in half and hold one in each hand to help climb/walk through deep snow.*
#37 Spit Roasting
Skewer the boar with it and prop it over the fire.
#38 Measuring*
Use it to count off ten feet increments, or to gauge the depth of a body of water.*
#39 Counting
Score a notch into it for every kill, or every ale you buy for the Dwarf, or every time the Paladin breaks alignment, etc. . .
#40 Decoy
Set a helmet on it and dangle it around the corner or up over the wall to see if that crossbowman is still shooting at you.
#41 Digging
This is similar to '#2 Poking' but with the specific intention of finding something. Digging through refuse or a stable stall or a privy (ew!) is best done at a distance.
#42 Decoy 2- AKA: the Distraction.
Break it into pieces and have the guard dog chase it ("Here boy! Fetch! Fetch!") Or throw the pieces far off to the side to use the nose to lure the guards away.
#43 Plug :*
Block up murder-holes, one at a time.
Disprove illusions from a safe distance. #2
#44 snorkel
Get a bamboo one and use it as a snorkel.
#45 Semi-lethal ballista arrow?
#46 Replacement axle for when the wagon you're guarding inevitably has to cross Goblin Country.
#47 Art/toys whittle it into fun and interesting shapes.
#48 Entertainment a variation on the "plank on the shoulder" comedy routine.
#49 Confusion . Glue feathers to one end, a pointed metal cap to the other, then freak people out when you say you're looking for your bow to fire it.
#50 Sell as Unique Artifact Sharpen one end as a Tarrasque toothpick.
NOTE: I've left some off because they were variations of previously mentioned uses. We could easily come up with 101 POKEs;
poke a bear
poke the corpse
poke a drunkard
poke a barmaid
poke the doorknob
poke ...
Can we get 101 UNIQUE uses?