A lances were a long member of the spear family of polearms, specially designed for use in mounted combat.[2][7]
Description[]
The design of these spears varied between cultures, but they generally consisted of a long shaft made of tough wood with an iron head shaped like a laurel. These spearheads had cutting edges and a sharp point meant to penetrate armor. Also fitted to the shaft, just behind where a wielder would grip the lance, was the "graper" — a thick leather ring that acted as a stop against the wielder's armpit. This was meant to halt any rearward momentum brought about by impacts.[2]
Weaponology[]
Lances were meant to be aimed diagonally above a mount's neck and gripped close to their bottom end, the latter of which was meant to put a great distance between their wielder and a target. Is aimed diagonally above the horse's neck.[2] A lance relied in part upon the weight and speed of a wielder's mount to effectively penetrate a target.[8] If a lance was too heavy for the mount being ridden upon, its effectiveness would be reduced.[9]
Without the aid of stirrups, a lance had to be wielded with two hands[9] and it was generally impossible be couched for a charge.[9][10] Prior to the invention of stirrups, lancers fought by stabbing overhand or even throwing the weapon.[9]
It was common for lances to be tossed aside once their wielder became engaged in close quarters combat.[8]
History[]
Around 1300 NY (−2559 DR), the lance was first adopted by many cultures on Toril. The adoption of lances as mounted weaponry was directly linked to the adoption of stirrups many years prior.[11]
In 1360 DR, in the Battle of the Fissures, the Bedine fought against the asabi with lances.[12]
In the late 15th century DR, one could find some fighters in the Sword Coast North wielding lances that were made from titansteel.[13]
Varieties of Lances[]
Lances were divided into three classes of size and weight, designating what kind of mounts they were suitable to be used with — light, medium, and heavy. For example, light warhorses could only handle light lances.[2][9]
Each lance was heavier and longer than the last. Measuring 10 ft (3 m), 12 ft (3.7 m), and 14 ft (4.3 m) in length respectively; weighing around 5 lb (2.3 kg), 10 lb (4.5 kg), and 15 lb (6.8 kg) respectively.[2]
- Flight lance
- A type of lance that was designed for use by aerial combatants.[14]
The flimsiness of jousting lances on full display.
- Jousting Lance
- The "jousting lance",[2][9] also known as a "tourney lance",[15] was a type of lance designed for use in jousting tournaments.[2][9][15] These measured 13 ft (4 m) in length and weighed around 20 lb (9.1 kg).[2] They were typically made of light wood that could easily be broken and as a consequence were designed to widen outward, thus protecting their wielder from any wood shards or splinters. The head of a tourney lance was made of either metal or wood.[15] Instead of ending in a sharp point,[2][15] these heads were fitted with short, blunt, three-pronged projections.[2] This blunt tip design was meant to lessen the force of impact[15] and prevent the lance from penetrating armor,[2] thus decreasing chances of injury.[2][15] However, tourney lances could still potentially cause fatalities if used at full tilt.[2]
Notable Lances[]
- Anhur's lance, a unique enchanted lance that was wielded by the avatar of Anhur.[16]
- Flight lances, a variety of lances designed especially for use in aerial combat.[17]
- Great Rift skylance, a variety of enchanted lances that were wielded by the Great Rift skyguards.[18]
- Lance of Faerûn, a variety of holy lances.[19]
- Lance of burning blackfire, a variety of enchanted heavy lances that were the preferred weapon of the Griffon Cavalry.[20]
- Lance of Nhamashal, an enchanted lance from Evermeet.[21]
Notable Users[]
Classes[]
Groups[]
One of the Knights in Silver holds a lance outside of combat.
- Various orcish tribes in the Fallen Lands would wield lances while mounted upon axebeaks, including the Black Bone, Bloody Scar, Black Slasher, Seven Eye, and Severed Fist.[23]
- Great Rift skyguards.[18]
- The Hawkynfleur noble house's members delighted in using lances while hunting boars and deers from horseback.[24]
- The Hellriders were typically proficient in the use of lances.[25]
- All members of the Knights of the Flying Hunt were proficient in the use of enchanted lances.[26]
- The Knights of the Griffon were typically proficient in the use of lances.[27]
- The Riders of Blood.[28]
- The Sailors of the Crimson Sea, a mercenary company in Chessenta, commonly equipped their cavalrymen with lances.[29]
- The Shad'iar of the Land of the Lions often utilized lances.[30]
- The Sisters of Synnoria wielded silver lances.[31]
Individuals[]
- Alias was proficient in the use of lances.[32]
- Alusair Obarskyr, the princess and regent of Cormyr, was proficient in the use of lances.[33]
- Azoun Obarskyr IV, the king of Cormyr and father of Alusair, was skilled in fighting with heavy lances.[34]
- Mourngrym Amcathra was proficient in the use of heavy lances.[35]
- The Porcelain Warrior wielded a +2 lance.[36]
- Sozarro carried a light lance when trekking across the Pasocada Basin.[37]
- Tabja Rung wielded legendary lances that had been forged on the fabled Mount Shun.[38]
- Xale, an aasimar paladin, wielded a shattermantle lance.[39]
Races & Sentient Creatures[]
In the bottom left, an armanite charges into battle with a lance.
- Aarakocra were often found wielding flight lances.[40]
- The centaurs of Faerûn,[41] the nomadic centaurs of the Hordelands,[42] and the pegataurs of Mystara all commonly utilized lances in combat. Pegataurs particularly preferred light lances, as they were easier to use in aerial combat,[43] while Faerûnian centaurs held a preference for heavy lances.[41]
- Armanites, a centaur-like tanar'ri, sometimes fought with lances.[44]
- The most prominent weapon of narzugons, the elite cavalrymen of the baatezu, were lances forged in hellfire.[45]
- Some dohwar specialized in combat would wield lances while mounted upon space swine.[46]
- Locathah would wield light lances while riding upon the backs of giant eels.[2]
- Seelie often wielded tiny lances while mounted upon large insects.[47]
- Lances were among the weapons favored by shieres.[48]
Regions & Settlements[]
- The Axe of Mirabar, the standing militia of Mirabar, utilized lances.[49]
- Archendale's standing military, the Archenriders, were often equipped with lances.[50]
- Calishite warriors often preferred the use of heavy lances in combat.[51]
- Impiltur's standing militia, the Warswords, often wielded lances.[52]
- Lances were among the weapons often preferred by Tethyrians.[53]
- The core of Tymanther's military forces, the Lance Defenders, were specialized in fighting with lances, both on foot and while mounted upon giant bats.[54]
- The army of Ubar fielded camel mounted lancers.[55]
Trivia[]
- A number of mercenary and military organizations in the Realms were named for this weapon. This included the Ahrakshar of Iliphanar,[1] the First Lancers,[56] the Lance Defenders,[54] the Lances of Leilon,[57] the Lancers of Death,[58] the Nightfire Lances,[59] the Order of the Silver Lance,[60] and the Purple Lancers contingent of the Company of the Ebon Spur.[61]
- There were some spells in the Realms named for this weapon due to their unleashed effect resembling a lance, such as fire lance,[62] icelance,[63] Laeral's silver lance,[64] lance of disruption,[65] and lance of faith.[66]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Video Games
Gallery[]
The centaur Dalthyria charges into battle with a lance.
A paladin rides with a flag hung on his lance.
A faerie dragon is attacked by a knight with a lance.
An Aglarondan griffonrider wielding a lance.
A narzugon charges into combat with his hellfire lance.
A dwarf cavalier brandishes a lance.
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ed Greenwood (2012-10-19). Bringing a City to Life. Forging the Realms. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved on 2018-03-06.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 76. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
- ↑ Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 108. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 117. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ Jeremy Crawford, Stephen Schubert, et al. (September 2011). Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium. Edited by Cal Moore, Tanis O'Connor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 21. ISBN 978-0-7869-5744-6.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 149. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August, 1985). Unearthed Arcana (1st edition). (TSR, Inc.), pp. 123–124. ISBN 0880380845.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jeremy Crawford, Stephen Schubert, et al. (September 2011). Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium. Edited by Cal Moore, Tanis O'Connor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 22. ISBN 978-0-7869-5744-6.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Richard Baker, Skip Williams (1995). Player's Option: Combat & Tactics. (TSR, Inc), p. 139. ISBN 0-7869-0096-2.
- ↑ Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 49. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 30. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ Troy Denning (July 1991). The Parched Sea. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 264–266. ISBN 1-56076-067-2.
- ↑ Cryptic Studios (February 2017). Neverwinter: The Cloaked Ascendancy. Perfect World Entertainment.
- ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 156. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 BioWare (September 2006). Designed by Ben Wynniatt-Husey. Neverwinter Nights: Wyvern Crown of Cormyr. Atari.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 97. ISBN 978-0786906574.
- ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 156. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 54. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 143. ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 148. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
- ↑ Anne Gray McCready et al. (March 1994). Elves of Evermeet. (TSR, Inc), p. 74. ISBN 1-5607-6829-0.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August, 1985). Unearthed Arcana (1st edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 15. ISBN 0880380845.
- ↑ slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 14. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 53. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), pp. 84, 85. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- ↑ Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds (Nov. 2005). Champions of Valor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 106. ISBN 0-7869-3697-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 41. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ Tim Beach, Tom Prusa and Steve Kurtz (1993). “Gem of Zakhara”. City of Delights (TSR, Inc), p. 31. ISBN 1-56076-589-5.
- ↑ Scott Bennie (February 1990). Old Empires. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 63. ISBN 978-0880388214.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 129. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 56. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ Dale Donovan, Paul Culotta (August 1996). Heroes' Lorebook. (TSR, Inc), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-0412-7.
- ↑ Dale Donovan, Paul Culotta (August 1996). Heroes' Lorebook. (TSR, Inc), p. 13–14. ISBN 0-7869-0412-7.
- ↑ Dale Donovan, Paul Culotta (August 1996). Heroes' Lorebook. (TSR, Inc), p. 21. ISBN 0-7869-0412-7.
- ↑ Dale Donovan, Paul Culotta (August 1996). Heroes' Lorebook. (TSR, Inc), p. 89. ISBN 0-7869-0412-7.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), p. 77. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ John Nephew and Jonathan Tweet (April 1992). City of Gold. (TSR, Inc), p. 38. ISBN 978-1560763222.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), p. 71. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 83–84. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
- ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 132. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 133. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). “Monstrous Compendium”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ John Nephew, John Terra, Skip Williams, Teeuwynn Woodruff (1994). Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), p. 86. ISBN 1-56076-875-4.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur and Lester Smith (1994-07-01). “Monstrous Supplement”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Chaos (TSR, Inc), pp. 24–25. ISBN 1560768746.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (May 29, 2018). Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 167. ISBN 978-0786966240.
- ↑ Scott Davis, Newton Ewell, John Terra (1991). Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix 2. Edited by Allen Varney. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 16–17. ISBN 1-56076-071-0.
- ↑ Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Monstrous Compendium”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ Richard Baker (October 1995). Monstrous Compendium Planescape Appendix II. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 35. ISBN 0-7869-0173-X.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 152. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ Richard Baker (1993). The Dalelands. (TSR, Inc), p. 15. ISBN 978-1560766674.
- ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 84. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 202. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 105. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 186. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-1560766476.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 25. ISBN 978-1560766476.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1987). Waterdeep and the North. (TSR, Inc), pp. 6–7. ISBN 0-88038-490-5.
- ↑ Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman, Philip Meyers, Peter Rice, William John Wheeler (May 1987). Desert of Desolation. (TSR, Inc.), p. 109. ISBN 978-0880383974.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (January 2000). Secrets of the Magister. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 54. ISBN 978-0786914302.
- ↑ Tim Beach (1992). Gold & Glory. (TSR, Inc), p. 31. ISBN 1-56076-334-5.
- ↑ Troy Denning (February 1998). Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 9–11. ISBN 0-7869-0724-X.
- ↑ Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 96. ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 49. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 156. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
- ↑ Richard Baker (1996). Player's Option: Spells & Magic. (TSR, Inc), p. 143. ISBN 0-7869-0394-5.
- ↑ Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, James Wyatt (June 2008). Player's Handbook 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 63. ISBN 0-7869-4867-1.