I hate lances

[Drunken Durfin]

Lances in GS have always seemed stupid to me. Every time I saw someone running around swinging one all I could picture in my head were the guys from Monty Python in the Holy Grail movie pretending to ride horses while their servants banged coconut halves together.

Well, I'm playing a bard in Shattered (and loving it) and when it comes to the math, few things beat a lance pole arm. So, I started looking around on the site today for alternative names to "lance" and pike was listed. A few googles later I came up with these two links.

If you use a lance, give them a read. If you hate people who use them for the same reasons I did, give them a read. I'm gonna be swinging a pike from now on.

http://www.traynedbandes.org.uk/content.php?content=pikemen

http://ageofsail.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/the-boarding-pike/

http://ageofsail.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/pike-team.jpg

[Tisket]

That'll take an eye out.

[Stunseed]

Arthur from Ghosts and Goblins disagrees with you.

[AnticorRifling]

Arthur from Ghosts and Goblins disagrees with you.

That game pwnd so hard.

[Farn]

I used a pike (altered lance) for what I'm guessing are similar reasons - you read "lance" and think of those huge, long bulky things knights use on horseback and need extra gear just to hold steady. Using them on foot seems ludicrous. However, I believe the term "lance" doesn't exclusively refer to those huge polearms. Take a quick glance at the infallible Wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lance



A lance in the original sense is a light throwing spear, or javelin. The English verb to launch "fling, hurl, throw" is derived from the term (via Old French lancier), as well as the rarer or poetic to lance. The term from the 17th century came to refer specifically to spears not thrown, used for thrusting by heavy cavalry, and especially in jousting. A thrusting spear which is used by infantry is usually referred to as a pike.


Some source say lances can refer to any spears which are not thrown. Some say they are used to refer to the longer types of spears such as awl-pikes. There doesn't seem to be a universal consensus.

So, while "lance" doesn't necessarily mean "those ridiculously huge pointy sticks used in jousting," that's what the majority of people are going to envision when they see you wielding one and they are likely snickering at you behind your back. So: go pikes.

[Drew]

I wish pike was the standard verb, not lance.

[Fallen]

Conversely, were I to use one, I would get it altered into a massive horseman's lance, and wave it about like I just don't care.

[Farn]

Conversely, were I to use one, I would get it altered into a massive horseman's lance, and wave it about like I just don't care.

Because like so many Anime/RPG characters with oversized weapons, you're just that awesome.

[TheLastShamurai]

Conversely, were I to use one, I would get it altered into a massive horseman's lance, and wave it about like I just don't care.

Don't forget to wear your riding boots.

[Fallen]

Don't forget to wear your riding boots.

Hah.

[Omrii]

Footman's Lance is also something practical...

http://wikimartialarts.org/index.php/Footman's_Lance

[Methais]

That game pwnd so hard. Especially the part where he was in his underwear.

Fixed.

[Drakefang]

Don't forget to wear your riding boots.

I actually have an entire outfit of "riding" wear. It's obvious that Elanthians ride something...but it's a rare sight to see an actual horse. Interestingly, I use a lance as well.

[Anebriated]

I use a lance and have been planning on altering mine to a pike as well but I'm waiting to get something better than my disposable 4x one.

[Seizer]

Always liked the corseque.

http://www.evado.co.uk/Hector%20Cole/Blades/album/slides/Royal%20Armouries%20Corseque5.jpg

In GS though its spelled korseke. One of my most used sonic weapons. Would like someday to get the sonic alter for it.

[Drisco]

They used them all the time in the time in Ancient Rome. Gladiators used them in arenas.

[Deadelf]

Yep always had an issue with "lance" being the base line name for the weapon. Always like pike myself and would change the name to that at the first chance I got with anyone I bought to use long term.

[Asha]

Even though the term 'lance' could mean a spear of sorts, from the officials, a lance means one of the big long stupid deals.