Does a spear NEED to be fast? What was the justification for this in the rules?

I've removed the FAST trait from it temporarily as a house rule.

jh

I could see the "in-game" justification as a jab with the spear being quick.

If you're looking for a balance reason I don't have any idea.

Balance reason? It costs an extra point of encumbrance. I wouldn't be too concerned about ending up with an entire party equipped with the same weapon, as the great weapon and morning star are pretty good, especially for characters with low strength. If you still think spears are overpowered, add some breakability rules. Two banes and it snaps.

Jabbing with a spear is a quicker/easier action than swinging a sword or axe, supposedly.

With a spear you thrust it to your opponent and in the "fast" ability there is the range bonus, too... maybe...
Swinging a sword or club has a longer "way". Swing backwards and then to your opponent.

That's my explanation.

It could reflect the length of the spear as well, so it would reach the target faster than a sword or dagger. Personally, I like to think of it as being an awesome Kung-Fu style spear with the wielder whipping it around. I know it doesn't fit WHFRP but it is an extremely satisfying mental picture for me.

Zengbo1234 said:

It's Your game, Your rules, Your pictures.

When I first saw the Spear stats I was convinced there was a misprint and, to be honest, I still think that.

Compare:

• Hand Weapon: DR 5; CR 3; 25s
• Spear: DR 5; CR 2; Fast; can be thrown; DR6 when used 2-handed; 20s

So not only Fast, but a Spear is also CR2 like a Great Weapon (even when 1-handed) and can be used 2-h for extra damage. It's also cheaper and can be thrown.

My gut feeling is that it should be DR4, CR3, Fast and have the option to go to DR5, CR3, Fast when used 2-handed. This effectively makes it a more encumbering but more versatile dagger. Any thoughts?

I was also thinking on not allowing to parry with a spear. You can only parry with a spear if it's a quarterstaff or another spear attacking you but a sword or axe will destroy it. So basically you can parry with it against a sword but you'll lose the spear. Also you can see the stats on the spear when thrown and the CR is 3. So it maybe a misprint.

The reach and thrusting motion of a spear makes it faster then the standard cutting motion of a sword. It's also far quicker to recover a thrust attack then a slashing attack. Notice Rapiers/fencing swords also benefit from the fast option. Where a spear gains it's damage bonus in CR2 over a fencing sword is that it has a longer penetrating point and it's usually diamond shaped to create very penetrating and bleeding wounds that are geared to causing a lot of internal damage. Factor in that they are much cheaper to make, easier to maintain and easier to train with. They are very devastating weapons. Specially when you are using a shield in your off hand for defense, turtleling up is very effective.

Dramatic Exit said:

Personally I'd give some extra difficulty dice to a spear in normal melee combat. It's just not as practical a weapon as a sword. Apart from that the stats seem accurate. Used right, at the proper range it's a really deadly weapon... and it's much cheaper than a sword.

As Gallows says a spear is cheap to make.

It is also easy to use, point and jab, as compaed to the skill needed to use a sword well. However once a swordsman or axeman etc is within the reach of a spear the spearman is at a huge disadvantage.

As for parrying - you can parry with a spear. When parrying, even with a sword or shield, you never parry the edge of the attacking weapon straight on -that's asking for trouble. You parry the flat of the weapon, or at an angle such that the weapon can't bite. In saying that, because the haft of a spear is wood there is less room for error - I like the 2 boon on an attacking roll damages the spear... hmmmm something to look into.

Of course, a spears strength is when it is used en masse - a mass of infantry, shields locked, spears bristling is pretty much unmovable as long as their discipline holds and their flanks are secure.

Spears actually are good weapons. That's why they are so popular in our world. There's no need to nerf them to "balance" them against other weapons.