Weaponry: Poleaxes
By the late 14th century, European warfare had changed in fundamental ways. Knights and men-at-arms increasingly fought on foot, armor had become heavier and more sophisticated, and the sword alone was no longer enough to reliably end a fight. The poleax emerged from this shift as a purpose-built weapon designed to deal with armored opponents at close range. Used throughout France, England, Italy, and the Holy Roman Empire, it became the signature weapon of disciplined, professional warriors rather than levies or common soldiers.
The poleax was compact, brutal, and efficient. It combined several tools into one weapon: an axe blade for cutting, a hammer or spike for crushing plate, a thrusting point on top, and often a spike at the butt of the haft. Contemporary fight manuals show it used with precision rather than flourish. Combat focused on short, controlled strikes, hooking and shoving, knocking an opponent off balance, and then finishing the fight with a well-placed blow or thrust. Against plate armor, raw cutting power mattered less than leverage, control, and concentrated force.
Introducing the Poleax in Your Shadowdark Game
This same mindset translates cleanly into Shadowdark RPG. The poleax is at its best when used aggressively and decisively, especially by Fighters who are willing to take the front line and dictate the flow of combat. It excels against armored foes, elite enemies, and monsters that rely on toughness rather than speed. In play, the poleax should feel like a problem-solver: something you bring out when you need an enemy broken, knocked down, or forced to give ground so the rest of the party can act.
Tactically, Fighters wielding a poleax should think in terms of positioning rather than trading blows. Step forward, strike hard, and force enemies to react. Doorways, narrow tunnels, stairwells, and chokepoints all favor the poleax, where its leverage and control matter more than wide swings. Even in cramped dungeon spaces, it becomes a weapon of shoves, short haft strikes, and brutal follow-ups rather than long arcs.
For GMs, the presence of a poleax is a clear signal of danger. NPCs armed with them are trained, confident, and prepared to fight armored adventurers head-on. A single poleax-wielding guard can hold a passage, while a small group becomes a serious threat even to seasoned characters. In Shadowdarkâs lethal, low-margin combat, the poleax embodies the tone of the game: practical, unforgiving, and designed to end fights quickly.
DOWNLOAD (FREE) – Poleax-for-Shadowdark_EDM
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