Balanced Great Lance vs Balanced Long Awlpike

[Claude Alpha]

The Great Lance can couch lance, has superior range and superior damage if you land a couch attack, but it's weak in uneven terrain and not a very good weapon on foot. On the other hand the Long Awlpike has superior normal damage, decent range, higher speed and it's better on uneven terrain and on foot. Personally I prefer the long awlpike because I find myself getting more kills per battle because its attacks are fast, doesn't need recharching and doesn't need high speed to deal good damage, so you can invest on a more tanky horse, as well as being more versatile on any kind of ground. The only thing that I like from the great lance compared to the long awlpike, is that the couch attacks can go through weapon blocks, while the awlpike thrusts can be blocked indefinetely by a weapon, but if you learn to strike as soon as they let their guards down, then you get over that barrier (good pun?) with this weapon. What do you prefer?

[cqqks]

I use both on horse back :)

[Claude Alpha]

Originally posted by cqqks:

I use both on horse back :)

So you switch between them depending on the terrain. That's not a bad idea.

[cqqks]

@ Claude Alpha,

Not terrain. I use my Lance to thrust at on-coming horsemens horses that are charging at me w/ their lances down. I win the majority of the time :) Or if they are chasing me and thrusting their lances/poles/spears at me. I have a high riding stat and ride a Heavy Courser for its speed, I run ahead of them, turn at an angle so I have a shot at them or their horses head.
I use my Awlpike if I'm chasing horsemen for its speed and lenght and ground troops.

[Tuidjy]

I am with cqqks on this one. It is better to keep a number of different weapons on your character and even in your inventory, and use whatever works best in the relevant situation, than obsess over a weapon that is the best compromise for all situations.

Most of my characters (not all) have in their inventory both a lance for couching, and polearm for thrusting. There are very, very few mods where a weapon perfectly fulfills both roles.

Usually, the lance is chosen for length, because that's what lets you win against an enemy charging straight at you. You hit and take down his horse before his lance connects, and then take him out as well, on his way down. Damage does not matter because it is usually enough, and speed matters very little when your riding skills are up to par, and by that I mean both your character's riding, and your personal skill at anticipating the AI, identifying weapons and horses, and controlling a horse in Warband.

The polearm is usually chosen for high damage and speed. Your skill should get you to your mounted enemies from their vulnerable sides, so length matters less. But because your horse's speed counts for less with a thrust, damage matters more.

[Doug]

The one with the bigger stick tends to win. but having a second stick never hurts.