101 Uses for a 10' pole

[infinitum3d]

Some of these are duplicates from the list I came up with. I'll edit the OP to organize;


34.
a 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.

35.
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).

36.
Torchwood
Set an end on fire. This works best if you first cut or break the pole into five or six pieces. If you have something flammable and sticky to dip one end in it would work better, but most of us don't carry around a bottle of pitch. Maybe wrap the end in a rag and douse it in strong wine or alcohol.

37.
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.

38.
Clubs
Cut or break it into five 2 foot long pieces and you've got a simple club. Three equal length pieces (roughly one meter or three feet) and you've got the equivalent of baseball bats. Clubs for a crowd!

39.
Carrying someone
Bind a prisoner's hands and feet to it and have some carry each end. This also works for carrying a dead deer, heavy bags filled with gold (maybe have a 3rd PC in the middle of the pole if it's really heavy), or even an injured PC.

40.
Binding a conscious prisoner (starshape)
Cut or break the pole in half. Lay one half on the prisoner's shoulders milkmaid style and bind their wrists to the pole with arms outstretched like a T.
Spread their ankles as wide apart as possible and bind them to the other pole keeping them spread out as far as they can. The prisoner is bound in a star shape. They can still stand and even walk/wobble, but they can't run. It's a very slow walk but it's better than carrying them.

41.
Carrying
As mentioned previously, but this time drape it across your own shoulders milkmaid style and hang a balanced load on each end.

42.
Gondolier
Use it to push/steer a raft/boat across/down a lake/river/stream.

43.
Snow poles/walking sticks
Cut or break it in half and hold one in each hand to help climb/walk through deep snow.

44
Shelter support
Lay it across branches of two different trees and drape a blanket over it to make a tent or branches over it to make a lean-to.

45
<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travois">Travois</a>
Cut or break it in half and lash them together in an upside down V, tie an injured PC or a heavy loaf between and it's easier to drag than carry.

46
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.

47
A 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?).

48
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.

49
Mast
Hold it upright, tie a blanket to the top and spread the blanket wide at the bottom. You've got a sail.

50
Flagpole
Raise the colors, or a white flag of surrender.

51
Shallow water anchor
Sharpen one end and pound it into the riverbed, then tie off a rope to your raft/boat/dinghy.

52
Bridge
Lay it across a 9 foot hole and let the Halfling/rogue walk across. It's a 10 foot hole? Then let the Warrior hold one end out and rest the other end on the far edge. He should have the strength to be able to hold the Halfling's weight.

53
Spit Roasting
Skewer the boar with it and prop it over the fire.

54
Measuring
Use it to count off ten feet increments, or to gauge the depth of a body of water.

55
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. . .

56
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.

57
Balance
Use it as a balance for tightrope walking.

58
Stakes
Cut or break it into pieces for holding down sides of a tent or tying down the horses, or for driving into a vampire's heart.

59
Blindman's cane
Tap it in front of you in total darkness to avoid bumping into things.

60
Tripping
'nuff said

61
Decoy 2
Hang a lantern (or tie a torch) on the end to see inside the cave or well, or at nighttime to draw the attack off to the side.

62
Wheels/rollers
Cut it into three or four evenly sized pieces and use it under a statue or heavy piece of furniture to roll it across the floor.

63
Leverage
Use it to pry open a door or window or sewer grate or portcullis or. . .

64
Looking under things
Use it to lift a tablecloth to see under from a distance, or lift the lid of a crate from a distance, or lash a mirror to one end and look around corners or over walls.

65
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.

66
Decoy 3
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.