Skill Overview
The standard spear is used for hunting game, some forms of fishing and, of course, for killing people. A typical Iridine spear has a haft about six feet long with a foot-long blade of bronze on the end. It can be thrown, though accuracy is difficult to attain, and used in hand-to-hand fighting. Well-crafted spears will have a haft of varying width, growing slightly wider the farther it gets from the blade. This allows for balance during more complex maneuvers.
Sometimes feathers or a small pennant is hung from just below the blade. This serves to distinguish or identify the wielder and, sometimes, to distract or startle game. Spears designed for melee combat also often carry tassels just below the head. These serve to absorb blood and prevent it from dripping down the haft, which would affect grip, as well as for decoration.
Many Iridine soldiers, on a mass battlefield, will use spear and shield, switching to gladius and shield after throwing the spear. Neighboring nations, notably Aestiva, have been known to prefer massed formations of long spears of varying lengths, known as sarissa, though their use differs greatly from the Iridine six-footers.
Though spears have often been used in conjunction with shields, most who specialize in that weapon in single combat situations, such as in the gladiatorial arena, prefer two-handed styles which allow for more intricate motions that involve the 'turning' of the spear. These fighting styles, using strikes with the haft in a manner similar to staves as well as slashing motions with the spear's blade, allow for combat at close quarters- whereas fighting taking place inside of two feet is usually very difficult for one who only knows how to stab at a distance.
This skill set is complemented well by Hoplite Combat.
For guidance on using the skill set, see the Spears Guide.
| Skill Info | Ranks Taught by Trainer | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skills/Actions | Difficulty | Hands | Range | Wound | Prerequisites | Gilven | Uiseann | Regul | Concinnant | **Prestis |
| Spears | Easy | - | - | - | - | 300 | 130 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Ebros' Scorpion Stance | Easy | 2 | Either | - | - | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 154 |
| Spear Jab | Easy | Either | Either | Pierce | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Stab | Easy | Either | Either | Pierce | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Charge | Easy | 2 | Long | Pierce | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Overhead Thrust | Average | Either | Either | Pierce | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Butt Smash | Average | 2 | Short | Bruise | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Chop | Average | 2 | Long | Cut | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Throw | Average | Either | Missile | Pierce | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Feint | Average | Either | Either | - | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Weapon Strike | Difficult | 2 | Either | Pierce | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Slash | Difficult | 2 | Short | Cut | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Impale | Difficult | 2 | Either | Pierce | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Sweep | Difficult | 2 | Either | - | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Round Strike | Impossible | 2 | Either | Pierce | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Parting Jab | Easy | Either | Short | Pierce | 10 Ranks in Spear Jab or 10 Ranks in Spear Stab |
300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Upward Slash | Average | 2 | Either | Cut | 20 Ranks in Spear Slash | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Parting Slash | Average | 2 | Short | Cut | 40 Ranks in Spear Slash | 300 | 125 | - | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Stepping Stab | Average | Either | Either | Pierce Pierce |
40 Ranks in Spear Jab 40 Ranks in Spear Stab |
300 | 125 | - | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Simple Block | Easy | 2 | - | - | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Butt Block | Easy | 2 | - | - | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Rotation Block | Difficult | 2 | - | - | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Rounding Block | Difficult | 2 | - | - | - | 300 | 125 | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Spear Accuracy | Difficult | - | - | - | - | 100 | 125 | 100 | 100 | 154 |
| Spear Grip | Impossible | - | - | - | - | 100 | 125 | 100 | 100 | 154 |
Directions to Gilven (Iridine): Walk to Bronze Lane, Ex2, NEx2, N, Ex5, Nx2, E
Directions to Uiseann (Town of Rock Valley): Walk to Hospice, wait for drover to appear, follow drover, Ex12, Sx5, Ex3, Sx2, W, Sx3, Ex12, S, E, N
Directions to Regul (Vetallun): Walk to Vetallun Road, Walk to Vetallun Crossroads, W, Nx3, Wx5, S, W
Directions to Concinnant (Seld): Walk to Seld (Town Square), Nx2, Wx3, N, W
Directions to Prestis (Colosseum): Walk to Colosseum, Nx2, Wx2, N.
Notes on Learning
**Prestis will only teach you once you have enough reputation.
Skill Details
#Spear Sweep sweep <target>
The wielder attempts to swing the spear at the opponents legs and knock him on his rear end. Only works against humanoids standing on their feet.
When you see this in use you see:
Shifting his grip on his spear, Uiseann sweeps at a thug's feet, knocking him down!
#Spear Slash slash <target>
The wielder slashes the tip of the spear across the opponent's body in an attempt to cut him. It is a slashing attack.
When you see this in use you see:
Regul cloak slashes horizontally at a thug with the tip of his spear! He suffers a deep cut to his right thigh.
#Spear Stab stab <target>
A quick stab in which the wielder stabs forward, aiming the tip of the spear at his opponent. It is a simple attack. Suffers a 20 point penalty at close range.
When you see this in use you see:
Gilven makes a quick stabbing motion at a thug with his spear! He suffers a deep puncture to his right thigh.
#Spear Charge charge <target>
The wielder charges forward from long range and rushes straight at the opponent, attempting to jab the spear into them.
When you see this in use you see:
Uiseann rushes towards a thug with his spear leveled. The spear connects!
#Spear Butt Smash smash <target>
The wielder swing around the butt end of the spear to slam into the opponent, causing a bruise.
When you see this in use you see:
Using a spear as a stave, Regul swings the butt around at a thug, but misses.
#Spear Jab jab <target>
The wielder jabs forward, aiming the tip of the spear at his opponent. This is a simple attack. Suffers a 20 point penalty at close range.
When you see this in use you see:
Gilven jabs at a thug with the point with the point of his spear! He suffers a puncture to his left thigh.
#Spear Impale impale <target>
The wielder slams the tip of the spear completely through the flesh of a prone opponent, impaling him to the ground. This maneuver can only be used against an opponent that is sitting, kneeling, or laying prone on the ground. A skilled opponent might be able to roll away from this attack while on the ground.
When you see this in use you see:
He suffers a severe puncture to his right thigh. Regul grips his spear tightly and thrusts forward, impaling a thug and driving him to the ground!
#Spear Feint feint <target>
The wielder attempts to feint an attack with the tip of the spear in order to get his opponent to lower his guard. The difficulty for a feint to be used is dependent on the opponents overall fighting ability, a less skilled opponent will fall for a feint easier then a more skilled warrior.
When you see this in use you see:
Regul leans forward, feigning a strike at a thug with his spear.
#Spear Simple Block
The wielder uses this maneuver to block simple attacks aimed at the midsection with the haft of the spear.
When you see this in use you see:
Uiseann blocks a thug's tin dagger with his spear!
#Spear Throw throw <spear>
The wielder thrusts the spear through the air, attempting to hit the opponent from long range.
When you see this in use you see:
Regul throws a spear at a thug, but misses.
#Spear Butt Block
The wielder shifts his grip and pulls up the blunt end of the spear, blocking with it as he would with a quarterstave. While no more effective or complex then Simple Block, this defends higher areas that Simple Block cannot.
When you see this in use you see:
Shifting his grip, Gilven pulls up the blunt end of his spear and blocks a thug's tin dagger!
#Spear Rounding Block
When the opponent tries to knock the spear aside or strike from an indirect angle, the wielder catches the attack with his spears haft and forces it to circle in his grip, rather then actually moving away from the impact. If successful, this maneuver counteracts the attack smoothly and rapidly.
When you see this in use you see:
Regul catches a thugs tin dagger with the haft of his spear, skillfully forces it to circle in his grip, and diverts the attack away from him!
#Spear Overhead thrust thrust <target>
A one or two-handed strike involving lifting the spear above the wielder's head and thrusting at a downwards angle, using the momentum and weight of the spear to the attackers advantage. This attack hits hard, and is not defended by most overhead blocks except that of the shield.
When you see this in use you see:
Lifting it in one hand, Uiseann raises his spear over his head and drives it at a thug with a powerful downward thrust, but misses.
#Spear Weapon Strike strike
The wielder swings the butt end of the spear at the opponent's weapon or shield, trying to knock it aside for a follow-up stab with the sharp end. If successful this may busy the opponent for several seconds in an attempt to regain balance. If the defender is particularly unskilled, this attack will remove the opponents ability to parry for a few moments.
When you see this in use you see:
With a quick snapping motion, Gilven aims the butt end of his spear at a thugs tin dagger and fails to knock it away.
#Spear Round strike round <target>
The wielder stabs forward while expertly stabbing the blade in a circle. The intention of this maneuver is to penetrate a block by a weapon or small shield. If it succeeds, the attacker gets an opportunity for a quick, weak stab.
- Ranks in Spears and Round Strike increase the chance to circumvent the target's defenses.
When you see this in use you see:
Expertly darting the blade of his spear forward in a circle, Regul quickly stabs at a thug, but misses.
#Spear Parting Jab pjab <target>
Like any other stab or jabbing type attack, the wielder aims the tip of the spear directly at their opponent, only at the same time taking a step backwards into a retreated position.
When you see this in use you see:
Uiseann retreats.
Uiseann steps back while jabbing at a thug with his bronze-tipped spear!
#Spear Chop chop <target>
Not much unlike any other chopping type attack, albeit much more complex, the wielder chops with the spear tip in a powerful attack similar to Overhead Thrust and Weaponstrike in terms of damage. Those particularly unskilled with this move are far more likely to lose control and drop their weapon upon missing their intended target, than a skilled user of Chop will be.
When you see this in use you see:
Gilven slides his grip toward the butt of his spear and directs a heavy chop at a thug, but misses.
Gilven slides his grip toward the butt of his spear and directs a heavy chop at a thug, but misses. Gilven loses control of his spear and it flies out of his grip!
#Spear Upward Slash upslash <target>
An easier and less powerful version of the hard-hitting Spear Slash, this version is very useful as it is executed is such a way that it can be used at both close ranged and at a distance. You must be familiar in Slash to use Upward Slash.
- This attack has defense penetrating capability.
When you see this in use you see:
Regul twists his wrists and sweeps the blade of his spear upward, slashing across a thug, but misses.
#Spear Rotation Block
When you see this in use you see:
Gilven spins his spear in a forward rotation, knocking aside the attack, before snapping it back into a ready position.
#Spear Stepping Stab sstab <target>
The only multi-hit maneuver available for spears, this attack will cause you to adopt a more aggressive stance without incurring an additional roundtime. It is a moderately damaging move and aims mid by default. Stepping Stab can be used either one or two handed and from short or long range making it a very versatile maneuver. However, it does not benefit from Hoplite Combat.
When you see this in use you see:
Stepping forward aggressively, Gilven clears the way with rapid stabs of his spear, all thrusts aimed at a thug!
#Spear Parting Slash pslash <target>
A parting maneuver that has the added advantage of auto-assuming a more defensive stance upon execution. It is a powerful slash, aimed high by default, and does damage on par with that of the standard Spear Slash maneuver. It can only be used while wielding the spear in both hands and only from close range.
When you see this in use you see:
Sliding his front leg back, Gilven pivots away from a thug while extending his spear horizontally in a parting slash!
#Spear Ebros' Scorpion Stance scorpion
A combat stance focused on two handed maneuvers, granting a passive bonus to the following: Weapon Strike, Chop, Round Strike, Charge, Smash, Slash, Upward Slash, Parting Slash & Sweep
When you see this in use you see:
Gilven wields his spear in two hands, with the point angled downwards and the rear elevated.
#Spear Accuracy
With enough training in Accuracy, you are able to raise your perception in combat situations. A grandmaster in this skill will be equivalent to low-end great perception.
When you see this in use you see:
(This is a passive skill that improves your perception, making it easier to hit targets.)
#Spear Grip
With enough training in Grip, you are able to raise your dexterity in combat situations. A grandmaster in this skill will be equivalent to low-end great dexterity.
When you see this in use you see:
(This is a passive skill that improves your dexterity, making it significantly easier to hit targets.)