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Jan 13, 2013 -- 10:21PM, Spoletta wrote:

It makes total sense to me. In 4E reach and reach with threat were 2 totally different traits, this is the same. Or at least that's how i read it.

You'll have to enlighten me on the 4e mechanic, what was the difference between reach and reach with threat?

So it sounds like 5th edition just has the basic reach right now, so polearms don't have the tactical advtange they had in 3rd. And you can at best attack at 10 feet for one round before the enemy moves up to you, and you can't back up without provoking them unless you have the Shift feat. Unless you have the Warding Polearm feat, which allows you to take opportunity attacks when they enter your reach, that solves the problem, but isn't available until 9th level. Due to all of this I think reach weapons are underpowered right now.

Jan 14, 2013 -- 1:17PM, Spoletta wrote:

I disagree with this. Being able to hit first (easy with a prepared action) is vital at first levels when one hit kills. At higher levels you have the warding polearm. It could be a subpar choice only around lvl 6-8.

But in very few situations does the 10 ft reach actually matter. You have a reach weapon, you approach an enemy for the first time, you can attack once from 10 ft before he moves up to you on his turn. You don't have a reach weapon, you approach an enemy for the first time, you go all the way up to him and attack, he doesn't have to move on his turn to attack you. There's no penalty for moving (no opportunity attack, no restrictions on your actions). The enemy is mildly inconvenienced by your reach weapon.

In fact, I can see it as a detriment. You go all the way up to the target with a normal weapon, he's then trapped there with you, because if he leaves he'll provoke. If you attack from 10 ft with a reach weapon, you don't threaten him anymore on his turn, so he can freely leave; you have no control over the battlefield.

So I don't see how it is beneficial to be able to hit from 10 ft only on your turn, except in the rare case where you start your turn exactly 35 ft away from your target.

Consider this: With reach, you can run up to an enemy, whack them, and then run away back to your team without provoking an attacking of opportunity.

Reach isn't specifically meant to allow you to ten-foot helicopter control the battlefield. It's meant to allow you to get your opponent OUTSIDE of their effective range of control. It's great for harriers.

And I can see it being effective for battlefield control as well because it allows you to not only hit an enemy, but get back into a more advantageous position freely, perhaps standing in a doorway with a ranged character behind you.