my issue with not having spears is that its a very common and logical weapon. we not talking about removing katanas or machetes here which are just versions of swords, although im hoping they at least kept sabers in so that there are slashing swords at least. what we are supposed to accept is the notion that between the time of morrowind and oblivion people forgot how to make "pointy sticks". spears have been some of the most widely used and most effective arms in combat throught history. halberds were the most effective weapon on the battlefield until guns came along. i could live without one or the other but its silly that they wouldnt put at least one of them in. they could have balanced them by making them difficult to use in indoor environments with tight spaces which would be realistic.

Halberds are pretty cool. If they're in, I'm glad. But I'd honestly prefer spears, if there was a choice.

Here's some of the reasons I'd prefer spears:

- You can pierce enemies at a distance, making it a pretty unique weapon-style I think. Halberds are more axe-like, making them less unique.
- Spears look cool.
- Some spears are very lore-connected (i.e. Spear of Bitter Mercy).
- Skyrim feels ancient. Even less "advanced" than Cyrodiil. Spears have been around for hundreds of thousands of years, making them one of the oldest weapons in our world. They were used to hunt down mammoths, I think. Halberds are much "younger", more medieval than spears (which are more primitive). Halberds feel more connected to the Empire as well.

Still, on a bright side, halberds definitely feel more brutal. Which could be fitting for Skyrim. Although I would prefer spears anyway...
So halberds actually do do, but spears would be slightly better.

Why that instead of halberds that would work better for that?

Because I think spears look 100 times better than halberds...

If they do the "jabbing" animations for spears, they're certainly doing them for 2-handed "chopping" weapons, so they'd already have both of the "major" animations for halberds anyway. Using the reverse spike for dismounting riders, climbing obstacles, or "hooking" an opponent's weapon or limbs would probably be asking for way too much, though.

BTW - Helbeards = bad facial hair day

I dunno... http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q221/Toryuu/Lubu2.jpg

But even regular halberds look cool to me. http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj125/Gizmojunk/Medieval-halberd.jpg

You are so wrong its not even funny. Yes, spears are older....thats why they svck. When people developed metalurgy, there was no need for sharpened rock spears. Spears were used to keep people at bay, or on horseback. After the sword-making, an adventurer going about on foot with a spear would have serious disadvantages in single combat.

Also, saying that they simply are older makes no sense, since South American natives developed sword type weapons with obsidian and other materials. So, spears are older...for whom? Probably your eurocentric mind.

Spears are way cooler: http://www.google.dk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.weaponsemporium.com/WE-Medieval%2520War%2520Spear%2520XH1078.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.weaponsemporium.com/WE-Dark%2520Age%2520Arms.htm&usg=__Pll5bLSzm_YsEekKQsb2JCK7dDg=&h=497&w=497&sz=43&hl=da&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=sV6aOXDdm6nBEM:&tbnh=137&tbnw=153&ei=NK5eTeriDo2XOtCegbwN&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dviking%2Bspear%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dda%26biw%3D1920%26bih%3D979%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=231&vpy=61&dur=7168&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=157&ty=119&oei=NK5eTeriDo2XOtCegbwN&page=1&ndsp=71&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0 and thats an ordinary, not at all extremely customized one...

That's not a legitimate reason for anything though. Just because someone develops a thing later, does not mean that a thing (even the same thing) developed earlier is inferior.

Yes, spears are older.... and vikings used 'em more than swords... and Skyrim is pretty viking based, and just because South Americans made swords before they made spears doesn't meen that would have happened in Scandinavia... and lets say you fight a wolf, what would you do? Use a long, sharp stick to keep your enemy at bay, or use a tiny sword allowing the wolf to eat your face... if your answer is what you made it sound like in your post you must really care for wolves, but I respect you... after all someone gotta feed the wolves...

No u.


For sharpened rock — sure. For, well, I dunno, METAL spears? From Iberia to Japan — everyone used spears. African natives fought redcoats with spears, with limited success.


Are we speaking about history or "adventurers" here?
If we do speak about history, then yes, they were used to keep people at bay. And they were good at it. Pikemen dominated on European battlefields for quite some time. Same was in Japan during Sengoku Jidai — yari and naginata (spear and glaive) were main battlefield weapons.
If we are speaking about adventuring... In Russia, where I am from, a variation of spear traditionally was used to hunt bears. Spear is great choice against larger beasts, and in fantasy game like Skyrim there are a lot of larger beasts. Including dragons.
Spear in single combat — heh. I dare you to attack skilled spearman with a sword. Sword and shield do have a chance, sure. In general, spear is extremely versatile weapon in hands of skilled user. It just does not being used like a pike in formation warfare. Of course, there are situations where spearman is in disadvantage — obviously, tight quarters. But in general, spears (and other polearms) rocks.

Oh, and who says that spear-wielding "adventurer" does not have a sword for situations where spear is unwieldy? Again, my firearms anologue: spear = main rifle, sword = personal pistol or smg, good weapon when spear is not available or not comfortable to use.


Spears been in heavy use from stone age up to renaissance. South American natives probably came to South America through North America from Eastern Asia with knowledge of spears.

Whats the real difference other than length? Both hurt when pushed in, but Halberds can also hurt when pulled out?
At what point does an ornate spear become a halberd?

The thing is simple.

The spear, historically, was the primary weapon of the nordic warrior. Much more important than the axe or sword. Swords were also expensive to make - in medieval times, they were normally seen as the weapon of the nobles. Of knights and stuff - until metal armor and weapons became more common in late medieval times, when footmen began wearing plate armour and carrying swords and sabers.

The halberd is a very recent development, actually. It came up in the 14th century. That's half a millenium after the viking age. In fact. that's after the invention of fire arms.

Pole axes and -hammers of different sorts were around much longer though, and the vikings too are said to have used such weapons.

Anyway; While I personally like halberds more (the simple ones that actually work and that were used by the swiss infantry along with pikes to mark the downfall of the mounted knight, literally; not the decorated ones used by palace guards who were never supposed to fight with them), when I think of a nordic setting, the most important weapon, much more important than a sword, is the spear. Swords are nice and shiny, but they were always more of a status symbol than a cost effective weapon. You could get an axe for less money. The axe'd be just as good at killing things while also being useful for, for example, splitting wood for your camp fire. A much better weapon for the average adventurer, along with a shield and a spear. The sword looks better and might be better for some combat situations, but is more expansive and not really more effective.

If I'd have to chose between spears and halberds, for this game, I'd clearly take spears.

If I'd have to chose between spears and swords, for this game, I'd clearly take spears as well.

The head of the weapon...
I never said that at any point dwould a spear become a halberd (except with some drastic modifications) what meant was that both your halberds were pretty decorated...

FINALLY SOMEONE AGREES WITH ME ON THIS! :celebration: :celebration: :celebration:

We all know that, I was hoping for something less intuitive.

I never said that you did, I only asked a question. :shrug:

They would be pretty nice against large enemies with long range as it's easier to keep out of range, this was the main benefit of the claymore in Oblivion

Yes parrying batleaxes with daggers would be a little stupid, why can I not use the tail to block with if I wrap it in chainmail?

I couldn't care less about spears personally and i dont see why its such a big thing that they may not be in. "Spears in the traditional sense are not in at the moment" is all that is confirmed. Speculation about other comments have also led people jumping to the conclusion that you cant block in certain situations, this again, not confirmed.

spears are 100% necessary for polearms, cause thats what distinguishes polearms from other weapons. a halberd is the hybrid between an axe, pick axe and a spear, making it very top heavy like an axe. i think halberds are incredibly cool weapons, but they could only be an extension of polearms. on the matter of blocking, it would be silly to remove blockng for smaller weapons. this isn't morrowind where everything depends a "roll of the dice", meaning you couldn't actually choose to block, the game would just randomly decide to give a break now and then. to be given the chance to win the "blocking lottery" you would need a shield equiped. in oblivion and skyrim (i hope) there is an actual block button you press when you want to block. to make that button useless just because you don't have a specific weapon type equiped is stupid.

A person can parry a battle axe with a dagger, but you have to be very skilled and quick about it. You have to turn a bit to the side (because axes hit hard), but if you do it just right, you can manage to put the blade between you and the axe as it comes down
and cleaves you in two, and possibly cuts you with the dagger.

Try reading this: http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1167684-official-playstation-magazine-ii/
Well then, how can it not be confirmed?

Blocking is very much needed.

"Really I would never have guessed." -Some random person in Oblivion having a random conversation with another random person from Oblivion.

:rofl: I had to read that three times, excellent writing and great wisdom. Just as fatman in Fallout work just well at point blank range.

Well that's not a good example because Claymores are already in the game. Now if they replaced longswords with a hand and a half sword, I would be sad that longswords are gone but then be happy that hand and a half swords are in. Also, it's not fair to compare them because longswords are balanced and spears were overpowered, thus they were removed. People kept complaining about no spears so they gave you other polearms that look basically the same but more ornate and are balanced with swings. If you really still have a problem with no spears in the game your either going to have to live with it and stop spamming the forums with we want spear threads, which adding in these polearms gave you your answer on that front or just quit playing TES so you aren't constantly fraught with grief of no spears.