The Barghest and the Bullock - Oathmark Narrative Battle Report

Receiving word of a Goblin incursion, Edmund the Ox, Champion of Goldenfields, leads a force of Men and Dwarves south across the Stoney Creek River to drive them off.

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The Brace rule has been a bugbear of mine for a while. It makes spears great against Goblins, but it's pretty lackluster against anything else. I think spears should be a meaningful upgrade, they were the dominant battlefield weapon throughout history for a reason! But this is also a game, so we can't make them too dominant (can we?)
The way I see it, there are two chief advantages of spears or other polearms: Reach and concentration of force. Spears are longer than hand weapons and can strike a sword armed enemy before he's in range, and spears concentrate a larger number of weapons into an area, through both ranks and reach. But these advantages require numbers and coordination to achieve.

So my thoughts at the moment are to replace the current Brace rule entirely. Instead we give them a "Spearwall" or "Reach" special rule stating something like:

“During combat in their front arc a unit containing models with the “Reach” rule may force the enemy unit to discard one combat die. The “Reach” deduction is made after all other factors determining Combat Dice except Shielding are considered, and it may never lower a unit's Combat Dice below 1. In order to benefit from this ability the unit:
Must have at least two full ranks,
Must not be Disordered."

-This gives spears a much needed defensive boost: They become great at holding ground when charged in the front, add in Shielding and their opponent is reduced to 3CD, sucking some of the oomph out of a cavalry or monster charge, though they will now get their full charge bonus.
-A relative offensive boost: They receive no actual buff to their damage, but their advantages are reflected in their enemies reduced effectiveness.
-Adds in some counterplay: Disorder them with arrows before a charge, whittle their numbers down, flank them (they no longer get Brace to their flank!) counter their spears with your own for a grindy slugfest!
-And it gives Goblins a wee buff! Now they can benefit from their charge!