The English Bill-Hook

[ToxicKilla]

The English Bill-Hook is at the moment, a more expensive less usefull version of the Swiss Halberd. Both weapons served the same purpose on the battlefield, anti-cav and anti-shield. But the Bill-hook doesn't have "bonus against shield". It needs it. Then it may just be nearly worth the 9000 gold it costs.

[Diavolo]

The english bill-hook is the longest "melee-able" polearm. Im guessing they didnt add bonus vs shield on it to avoid people backpedaling and swinging with it since its so long, making it hard for shielders to beat.

For the balance with the swiss halberd, the damage is about equal. The speed is 2 less, and the lenght is 12 more. I think there are 2 options in balancing the weapon:

• Reduce price of the English Bill-Hook to about the same as the Swiss Halberd

or

• Add bonus vs shield of the English Bill-hook and increase its price to about 11500ish. 

[rustyspoon]

Honestly I don't think it needs it. I use it a lot actually. It's a fantastic support weapon especially with its overhead of doom. If I really need to break a shield, I just pull out my German Poleaxe.

[Seawied]

Bill-Hooks weren't designed to break shields; they were designed to pull knights off horses, and trim trees. Giving them a bonus to shields would be like giving a scimitar a bonus to shields: it would not fit the weapon in question.

[Paul]

Wut? The bill is an awesome weapon and a great long range tin opener. I got a whole character dedicated to billing and its fun. No buff needed.

[HarunYahya]

Bill-Hooks weren't designed to break shields; they were designed to pull knights off horses, and trim trees. Giving them a bonus to shields would be like giving a scimitar a bonus to shields: it would not fit the weapon in question.

This.

[Thucydides]

you want to break shields use a slashing weapon nub. Pierce weapons are OP enough.

[Cyclopsided]

Wut? The bill is an awesome weapon and a great long range tin opener. I got a whole character dedicated to billing and its fun. No buff needed.

I have to agree. It is the best at opening tin cans. And it is one of the if not the best overheading weapon in the game for use in a support role too!
I have so many gimmick character names I want to make use of it still based on can openers, bill collectors, tax men, tree trimmers...
One day.


Now, on the note it should be given bonus to shield? it wasn't used vs shields. Yes, you could hook and pull a shield from somebody, but that was not it's primary role. It was best at pulling knights off horses and pinning them down. You could hook into the armor slots on a dismounted knight too and completely incapacitate (then kill) him with 2 or so more of your peasant buddies! A great weapon historically.

[MouthnHoof]

I am not sure why it does pierce damage on overheads - it has a curved blade, but it is still a blade, not a beak. If it could have knockdown that would be more appropriate, but I think KD only works on blunt damage even if it has the KD flag.

Anyway, old Bill it perhaps the best 2-way polearm. It is not less useful than the Swiss, quite the opposite, except that the swiss is a bit easier to use in close quarters (which neither is very suited to). I don't consider "bonus vs. shields" a big thing unless you have a very high damage (40++) weapon that can repeatedly hack on the shield. The Swiss looks so cool and I suck so bad anyway that I used it even though I had 1 wpf in poles.

[Tzar]

In my opinion the Swiss needs a buff rather then the English bill who has and insane nice overhead