"Chinese halberdiers in melee" Topic

should they get a bonus for "having weird weapons", or just let them fight as "normal" Boxers?

I have no idea if all those splendid "martial arts weapons" mean you are REALLY good, or if they are just flashy and colorful. I lean towards the latter,

I sometimes think that the "martial arts" culture goes a bit far. Next thing you know, players will be claiming a +1 in melee if the figure has its back to its opponent.

Were these weapons aquired in various ways? I mean picked up from their previous owners, or otherwise 'inherited'. If so, it's not like these guys had them made to their specifications. I don't think most of these guys were professionals. Not unskilled, just they've done more than be warriors in life.
Being from California, one learns that not all Japanese are into karate.
So I think they should be treated as normal Boxers. Unless you add something for the greater reach of pole weapons.

Nothing more than a +1 in the frst round.
Maybe counter that with a -1 in the 3rd? All that whirling around with your back turned and doing flips should catch you off your game eventually!

I don't game the Boxer rebellion. But I have done Medievals. Even to the point of years in the SCA as a fighter. I have found that a single opponent with a pole weapon was at a disadvantage. I always used a sword so I found it relatively easy to get inside their reach. When such weapons were used as part of a group situation they added to the group's fighting ability to the front. But their longer reach only allowed them to help those with shorter weapons.
Maybe including the first two ranks in a melee would be more to the point in such situations than a die roll bonus.
Just a thought.

TSATF melees are individual figure vs individual figure. There are some bonusses for being in a line or square, but the more irregular forces do not get them. Sometimes they get a +1 for charging.

Just so. Thus my suggestion that the second rank be included. At least where they are armed with pole weapons. This would be more about such a group being on the defense. Of course, the regulars can just blast away at such.
The rules are the rules, but some modify them to suit themselves. And just how regular are Midieval fighters? At least Europeans.

They only get a bonus if you play Carl Douglas' "Kung Fu Fighting" track during the game.

A Big Pointy Stick is a Big Pointy Stick when the other guy has a Mauser, a Krag, or a Lee-Metford…

Eric

But when they close to melee…
Is a halberd better than a Krag with a bayonet?

Or, more importantly, is a weird Chinese halberd better than a "normal" Chinese sword?

When they close to melee the Big Pointy Stick can be inconveniently long and unwieldy.

And then the Rightous Harmonious Fist, gets "civilized with a Krag".

I would say the Sword is mightier than the Big Pointy Stick. Give the Tiger Cubs a +1, but the Pyjama Party not so much. For lance armed cavalry, I've give them a +1 for the first round, but not after that.

Eric

Havent you watched 55 Days at Peking? Boxers are all experts with their weapons,unless,of course,they run into a certain US Marine Major. :)

If the Boxers were anything like modern martial arts groups, figure the leader/instructor of each group was really quite tough, the senior students fairly tough, other students in varying degrees. As for the peasants/urban street toughs who joined in on the way to the fight and made up the larger part of the mob….

I was into kendo when I was in college and had the opportunity to fight shinai (bamboo sword) versus a female wielding an bamboo naginata (halberd). I did not enjoy the experience.

Good question

I think that the big halberd-thing in an average Boxer would be a wash versus the average bayonet-Krag armed Marine

If anything, I would let the second rank fight, but that would be about it

Treat them like spears.