Training Manual: Pole Hammer

Book One

1. Combat Skill Name:
Pole Hammer (late version war hammer)

2. Short Description:
Learning the skills of the pole hammer transforms an archaic weapon (the war hammer) into the more graceful later version of the war hammer known as the pole hammer. This skill enables one to fight with the long and short shaft versions of the weapon and to fight while mounted.

3. Background:
The war hammer is an old weapon that has been in use since before the time of the Aelyrian Empire. The dwarves of Dargis, the wild men of the ancient city of Lux, and the saurids of the Arakmat desert all used the early war hammer as a cheap and easily produced weapon. The war hammer was the main weapon used by all these peoples for many ages and eventually it was adopted by orcs and trolls. The weaker races such as the wild men of the northeastern lands and the elves of Aelyria began reducing the war hammer's weight by shaping blades into the head instead of leaving the head as a large chunk of iron (or the familiar hammer-style). The orcs had the biggest influence on the evolution of the early war hammer by their custom of modifying all their weapons to appear more deadly. Spikes, blades, hooks, and studs were added that completely masked the old war hammer and made it look like a totally new weapon. The dwarves were the first to realize the limits of this weapon and began to move away from the war hammer and use the battle axe. Other races began the same move toward battle axes but the orcs held on to the weapon due to their ability to wield large, heavy, and bulky weapons. They evolved the weapon further by adding long shafts to make up for the reach disadvantage. The shafts eventually grew to longer and longer lengths to deal with the growing forces on horseback. These new versions of war hammers were more commonly referred to as “pole hammers” as the shaft made it look more like a pole arm than a blunt club weapon.

Over time, the orcs began to move toward battle axes as well but many orcs and trolls still recognize the potential power one could strike with using this weapon and that appeal has kept the weapon in the orkish armories up to this day. The human and elvish races both began using the pole hammers to combat the more stronger races but their pole hammers always tend to look more appealing and usually had more of a blade than the orkish versions to limit the weight of the weapon.

4. Required for training:
Pole Hammer, long and short shafts, a mount, and adequate armor to use during training and practice.

5. Skill Tree:

BEGINNER: One that completes the beginner level training with the war hammer should be able to at least know his own weapon. Basic Terminology is a must here as the student that wishes to advance any higher in his proficiency must know what his instructor is talking about during his training lessons. Knowing the Descriptions of the various parts of the weapon are just as important as knowing how to use the weapon. The basic user must have learned the Spear Stance, the most basic stance that forms the foundation for all other stances and attack positions. The weak and strong points of this stance will be covered and it’s principal attack from this position.

Skills learned: Knowledge of weapon, Spear Stance, and Dague Thrust.
Average Time of Mastery: At least one brighting and one thread showing the beginner practicing what he learned in this level.

INTERMEDIATE: The intermediate user now moves from just a savage swinging a bulky weapon into more graceful movements through Guard Techniques. A nifty new stance, the Short Shaft Close Stance, enables a variety of new attacks such as the Shaft Choke and Shadow Fist. The intermediate user will now begin to understand all the knowledge and teachings drilled into him as a beginner.

Skills learned: Guard Techniques, Short Shaft Close Stance, Demy-Hache Shove, Maillet Block, Shaft Choke, and Shadow Fist.
Average Time of Mastery: Three brightnings (for training) and at least two practice threads demonstrating the lessons of this level or (Training +) just one thread showing a combat situation using the attacks of this level.

ADVANCED: Advanced weapon training includes more Terminology and a new stance, the Reverse Stance. It Is a very aggressive stance and the advanced user will learn the strong and weak points of this new stance. With this new stance comes new attacks, the Overhead Blow and the Queue Thrust. The advanced user will learn the positioning and uses for these attacks.

Skills learned: Reverse Stance, Overhead Blow, and Queue Thrust.
Average Time of Mastery: One cycle (for training) and a whole cycle of practice using the skills learned at this level or (Training time +) two combat situations using the lessons learned at this level.

EXPERT: The Expert user will expand his knowledge of the war hammer by learning Mounted Pole Hammer Handling Techniques. With these new techniques, the expert user will be able to take his weapon to the mounted charge. The dismounted warrior need not worry about being left out as the expert user will learn yet another stance, the Lower Reverse Stance. After learning the strong and weak points of this stance, two new attacks, the Side Maillet Blow and the Snake Tail.

Skills learned: Mounted Pole Hammer Handling Techniques, Lower Reverse Stance, Side Maillet Blow, and the Snake Tail.
Average Time of Mastery: Three or more cycles (for training) and three combat situations where the pole hammer was the primary weapon and several skills learned over the previous and current level are demonstrated.

MASTER: A Master of the pole hammer is a more fearsome warrior than many other Masters of other weapon types simply because of the shear power of the pole hammer. That power a master will have augmented by learning a Special Technique to throw his opponent into disarray. More specializing will be learned by a master with the addition of the Hanging Stance and manipulating other older attacks into more formidable attacks such as the Maillet Blow (advanced).

Skills learned: Special Techniques, Hanging Stance, and Maillet Blow (advanced).
Average Time of Mastery: Two years (training with the hammer and in the new special technique) and five or more combat situations. The special technique learned at this level must be demonstrated in at least one of the combat situations.

*The trainer has the say over which "combat situations" are sufficient to be used to meet the mastery at each level. A level cannot be taught until the lower level masteries have been accomplished.