Allow Druids to Carry Polearms/Spears

[Mythox]

+1

[Lahire]

It's a big enigma why in most RPGs blunt weapons are considered "non-bloodshed" or even "non-violent", and why RPG-druids are usually bound to use non-sharp weapons (except daggers, and scimitars, and... uh... claws & fangs). Both statements are false in real life: a hit with a simple wooden club will provoke internal bleeding and death (causing death is a main purpose of any weapon, after all), and there is no historical evidence of RL druids restraining from any kind of weapon (seems they used whatever was at hand), but still RPG-druids are hugging trees and pooping rainbows

It doesn't come from the idea that staffs were "non-violent", it's a relic of the habit of giving a walking staff to old magician characters. The walking staff trope comes from medieval novels: the old christian pilgrim, or old monk, were already tropes in medieval litterature and they walked with a stick or staff.

Then it passed to Gandalf ("the grey pilgrim" : it is probable the magician staff in lotr is inspired by the pilgrim staff of old novels). Then to all magicians, as Tolkien is one of the major inspirations of all fantasy world created recently. Then to all magician-like characters (including druids).

It's just an ageless litterature characterization tool copied and copied in all materials. The staff is a shorthand to express the characterization: "I am a sage and wanderer like the pilgrim of old".

[Tortuga]

Not necessary to be old to have a staff. Looks like all "civil" travelers used it, if they could not hire a mercenary for protection. That's the one reason

The other could be the alleged druidic rejection to wear metal, coined in early D&D I think. Druids were amended clerics, the healers-in-plate. Gygax &team wanted a "cleric of Nature", so the druids had to wear leather and hides (what's the best way to demonstrate how they love nature? skin the beasts!), and reject axes and swords, so the staves and clubs were all what was left... also (stone?) daggers and then somehow scimitars sneaking-in o_O

Just an old illogical and inconsistent view of imaginary "druids", better be called Wiccans or what

[Nerasw]

Not necessary to be old to have a staff. Looks like all "civil" travelers used it, if they could not hire a mercenary for protection. That's the one reason

The other could be the alleged druidic rejection to wear metal, coined in early D&D I think. Druids were amended clerics, the healers-in-plate. Gygax &team wanted a "cleric of Nature", so the druids had to wear leather and hides (what's the best way to demonstrate how they love nature? skin the beasts!), and reject axes and swords, so the staves and clubs were all what was left... also (stone?) daggers and then somehow scimitars sneaking-in o_O

Just an old illogical and inconsistent view of imaginary "druids", better be called Wiccans or what

Round.

[Serener]

yeah that would be amazing

[Spriggit]

+1

After all, what is, say, a spear, but a staff with a knife strapped to the tip?

[Xudo]

I'd like to see some analytics before supporting this change. What weapons will be allowed for druids?
How they are comparing to weapons available at this time?

[Shamma]

I'd like to see some analytics before supporting this change. What weapons will be allowed for druids?
How they are comparing to weapons available at this time?

Ice Barbed Spear https://database.turtle-wow.org/?item=19106

This is what is all about.

[Mac]

Old old thread but yes it would be cool if druids could use polearms.

And despite what some people said in this thread like a year ago, druids using spears is a part of fantasy roleplaying games. Druids in D&D can use spears, it’s been a thing since their introduction to that game if memory serves correct. So the idea that a druid using a spear doesn’t fit their fantasy identity is just patently false. Druids using spears fits fantasy roleplaying tradition.

[Xudo]

I'd like to see some analytics before supporting this change. What weapons will be allowed for druids?
How they are comparing to weapons available at this time?

Ice Barbed Spear https://database.turtle-wow.org/?item=19106

This is what is all about.

May be it is better to propose staff with similar stats? Or Mace?
There is a lot of other polearms, which also will be available for druids with this change. Will they be useful?

[Balake]

May be it is better to propose staff with similar stats? Or Mace?
There is a lot of other polearms, which also will be available for druids with this change. Will they be useful?

Yes.
Allow druids to use polearms and put some feral attack power on items like this
https://www.wowhead.com/classic/item=21 ... and-reaver

[Kazgrim]

Hell ya

[Flameroller]

I agree with this suggestion.

Also Lahire, D&D druids CAN use spears and polearms...

[Xudo]

There are alternatives to Barb of the Sand Reaver https://database.turtle-wow.org/?item=21635 "with feral AP".
AQ40 has a mace with feral AP for druids. Blessed Qiraji War Hammer https://database.turtle-wow.org/?item=21268
and Mace of Unending Life https://database.turtle-wow.org/?item=21407
Why do you need this spear changed and granted to druids?

There are no alternatives to Ice Barbed Spear https://database.turtle-wow.org/?item=19106 though. I think it is better to add a blue staff for 60 lvl with feral AP. Instead of adding one additional weapon type for druids.

[Balake]

huh? It is not relevant to the conversation that feral druids have different gearing paths. All classes get to use multiple weapon types. Barb of the Sand Reaver is an awful drop anyway.

[Maceuhh]

+1

[Remmo87]

+1

[Andromath]

+2

[Jammyxx]

+1, I hit 60 on my druid and was still using the wailing caverns lvl 16 staff. I'd have definitely replaced it if I could have equip that blue pole arm I found.

[Gantulga]

Why was it removed during beta? There must have been a good reason for the designers to make this decision.

So that warriors can wield staves.

[Kefke]

I think that this is a fine change. Restoring an advertised feature that was cut seems right up Turtle's alley, spears have stats that Druids could find useful, and then there's the "class fantasy" angle. The image of a Druid with a spear is almost as iconic as a Druid with a staff. Overall, I just don't see any downsides to this.

+1

[Noce]

And hunters be able to use maces maybe? Not trolling just a suggestion for melee hunters

hunters should not be able to use 2h wpns with range usage id say. how can they carry all that weight?.
also shamans should be able to use fists [also dual wield if possible]
and mbe give rogues bucklers as intended originaly.

i got carried away, + for druid using polearms/spears.

[Andromath]

Why was it removed during beta? There must have been a good reason for the designers to make this decision.

So that warriors can wield staves.

Should've been Paladins. At least they make sense wielding staves, given they have the Holy Spec.

[Excarillion]

+1