1 Me: Ah... AD&D First Edition... the good old days...
2 {a table from the book}
2 [graphic]: POLEARM TABLE XVIII: POLEARM VERSUS POLEARM ADJUSTMENTS
2 [graphic]: Polearm Type
2 [graphic]: Glaive
2 [graphic]: Spetum
2 [graphic]: Voulge
2 [graphic]: Ranseur
2 [graphic]: Guisarme
2 [graphic]: Bardiche
2 [graphic]: Fauchard
2 [graphic]: Fauchard-Fork
2 [graphic]: Bill-Guisarme
2 [graphic]: Glaive-Guisarme
2 [graphic]: Guisarme-Voulge
2 [graphic]: Glaive-Bardiche
2 [graphic]: Glaive-Ranseur-Spetum
2 [graphic]: Glaive-Guisarme-Voulge, Footman's
2 [graphic]: Glaive-Guisarme-Voulge, Horseman's
2 [graphic]: Guisarme-Fauchard-Bohemian Earspoon
2 [graphic]: Glaive-Glaive-Glaive-Guisarme-Glaive
2 [graphic]: Glaive-Fauchard-Bardiche-Voulge, Short
2 [graphic]: Glaive-Fauchard-Bardiche-Voulge, Bastard
2 [graphic]: Glaive-Fauchard-Bardiche-Voulge, Two-Handed

Ah, yes indeed. I can see the memories of all those old gamers out there flooding back...

What the hell were all these friggin' weapons?!?

Actually, I won't be surprised if I get e-mail telling me, "Oh, by the way, a spetum isn't a polearm." I don't really care... All these outré weapon names were basically meaningless back when I played AD&D, and remain so. All you need to know is:

How much damage does it do?

And oh, those AD&D First Edition weapon and combat tables... If you think this comic is an exaggeration, pull out your old copy of the Player's Handbook and turn to page 38. Yeah, look familiar? Now tell me, did you ever use this table?