Buff the Ashwood Pike

[Diomedes]

Ashwood Pike

(click to show/hide)

weapon length: 166
weight: 3.5
difficulty: 12
speed rating: 90
weapon length: 166
thrust damage: 31 pierce
swing damage: 18 blunt
slots: 2
Can't use on horseback
Can't sheath
4,826

Awlpike

(click to show/hide)

weapon length: 165
weight: 2
difficulty: 12
speed rating: 92
weapon length: 165
thrust damage: 33 pierce
swing damage: 17 blunt
slots: 2
Can't use on horseback
8,251

Light Lance

(click to show/hide)

weapon length: 175
weight: 1.5
difficulty: 9
speed rating: 87
weapon length: 175
thrust damage: 28 pierce
swing damage: 16 blunt
slots: 2
Couchable
Can't sheath
4,797

The ashwood pike has +1 length over the awlpike but, besides the price, is in every way about either equal or worse.  Consequently I rarely see an ashwood pike used by hoplite players.  Would other players like to see this weapon become more relevant?

[Civilian]

You can not use this weapon with a shield, so you do not see any hoplites using it.

[Gorath]

You're both completely correct and I would +20 the idea to buff ashwood pike (I'm biased though because I use it instead of the awlpike cause it looks purdy imo).

But really, it makes no sense it can't be used with a shield, and stat-wise has no place or purpose.  It's an awlpike, only crappier.

[Diomedes]

You can not use this weapon with a shield, so you do not see any hoplites using it.

That explains a lot.  I'm with Gorath in thinking it should be changed.

I think the Ancient Greeks used ashwood spears with shields in the off-hand.  <-- fun fact 

[Cyclopsided]

It really does suck. This is not the only case of a weapon that needs buffing.
This nerf cycle is stupid, more weapons need to be buffed into equality.

[Diomedes]

This nerf cycle is stupid, more weapons need to be buffed into equality.

Or at least into a good niche.  The ashwood pike/spear, for example, could retain its stats but be usable with both a shield and on horseback.  This would, I think, make it the longest reaching practical hoplite weapon which could still be used on horseback.  It wouldn't be better than the light lance on horseback, though, nor would it be better than the awlpike as a hoplite weapon.  Instead it would have a niche in its versatility

[Cyclopsided]

I'd love to see it useful as a hoplite weapon, it really is just way worse than the awlpike. It is even slower!

I vote for giving it 93 speed and usable with shield. Make it an alternative to awlpike as hoplite weapon. Awlpike would have 2 more damage, 1 less reach, 1 less speed. Up the price of the ashwood to like 7k as well. [Alternatively give it 92 speed and leave the cost alone]
Horseback I can see, but ehhhhhh I'd rather see it given up to hoplites as a niche weapon. It would fit the theme and look almost perfectly. It is a shame that the awlpike is the best hoplite weapon with nothing really being close to as useful. Awlpike doesn't match the theme

[Civilian]

If anything, the ashwood pike should at least be usable with shield.

[Hotpokka]

This would, I think, make it the longest reaching practical hoplite weapon which could still be used on horseback.

Bamboo spear is longer and can (against the rules) be used on horseback

[Diomedes]

*Ninja bump in the hope of a ninja stat change*

[Leshma]

Ashwood Pike is excellent native weapon. Dunno why it sux so hard in c-rpg.

[Cyclopsided]

Ashwood Pike is excellent native weapon. Dunno why it sux so hard in c-rpg.

because everything was rebalanced, ashwood pike just sucks at every category.

[Gorath]

because everything was rebalanced, ashwood pike just sucks at every category.

It's not that it sucks per se, it's just that it has no purpose or function.  It's basically an awlpike with downs.  Stats are just slightly crappier, and you can't use it with a shield.  Too short to be a real pike, too pointless to be a 2-directional hoplite spear instead of the awlpike, bamboo spear, or any of the 4-directional spears.  It just doesn't have a place within the internal balance.  *Other than looking good*

[MouthnHoof]

Ashwood is fine. It is an excellent cheap support polearms that I use often (1H/pole hybrid).

The awlpike is the more problematic one and its great added value comes from the ability to sheath it - which is stupid. All other polearms at lengths of 160+ are unsheathable. It should be flagged "cannot sheath" and then it becomes a more expensive and slightly upgraded version of the ashwood.

CANNOT SHEATH I SAY!

C A N N O T  S H E A T H

c
a
n
n
o
t

s
h
e
a
t
h

[Diomedes]

So your response to a request to buff and diversify the comparatively underpowered hoplite class is to nerf its most popular weapon?  The main issue here is that the ashwood pike/spear cannot be used with a shield.  Secondly, it's quite slow for a weapon with less damage than an awlpike. 

Perhaps:
- allow the Ashwood spear to be used with a shield
- keep the speed
- give it 4 attack directions

This would make it more commensurable with the awlpike while giving it its own vague niche.